Diana Taurasi shared advice for Caitlin Clark after the No. 1 overall pick struggled through her first two games for the Indiana Fever.

The Phoenix Mercury veteran had previously warned players like Clark that there would be a transition period from college to the WNBA. Taurasi, 41, said on “SportsCenter” during the Final Four of the NCAA tournament that “reality is coming” for the rookies.

“There’s levels to this thing,” she said. “And that’s just life; we all went through it. You see it on the NBA side, and you’re going to see it on this side. You look superhuman playing against 18-year-olds, but you’re going to come play with some grown women who have been playing professional basketball for a long time.

“Not saying that it’s not going to translate, cause when you’re great at what you do, you’re just going to get better. But there is gonna be a transition period where you’re going to have to give yourself some grace as a rookie. And it might take a little bit longer for some people.”

During training camp, Taurasi defended those comments in light of the controversy they caused, clarifying what she meant by them.

“The new fans are really sensitive these days, and you can’t say anything,” she remarked. “It’s kind of like when you go from kindergarten to first grade, there’s a learning adjustment; when you go from high school to college, there’s a learning adjustment.

Caitlin Clark has found it tough adjusting to the WNBA in her first two games as a pro

“I don’t think I said anything that wasn’t factually correct. Like anything, greatness is going to translate, and [Clark] has proven that in every level, and I don’t see that being any different in the WNBA.”

Taurasi has now doubled down on that stance during an “Arizona Sports” radio interview on the “Bickley & Marotta Show.” “You know, these days, everything takes a life of their own,” she lamented.

“Every little snippet, every little comment, any quote taken out of context. Look, I only said it because, when I watch games – you talk to any professional athlete – you just look at what will they look like as a pro? Right?

“You watch college football, college baseball, college hockey, college basketball, and we’re just so cemented in the pros that that’s the way I look at the game: How will it translate? And it’s going to translate, but, like any college quarterback, it’s going to take time.”

Taurasi then offered another piece of advice. “I know it’s very cliche when it comes to sports, but when you play with that joy and that passion, you can get back to being creative on the court, and that’s what’s made her just a legend,” she explained. “The one thing I’ve always admired about Caitlin is, when there’s a moment, she always steps up to the plate, which is just an unbelievable trait to have.”