Longtime UConn women's basketball coach Geno Auriemma usually has no problem sharing what's on his mind.
The eleven-time national championship winner shared his thoughts on Caitlin Clark on multiple occasions. But this week, he offered her latest thoughts on how Clark is adjusting to the WNBA, suggesting she was being negatively impacted by a “delusional fan base.”
“The delusional fan following her disrespected the WNBA players by saying she was going to come into that league and destroy it,” Auriemma said during a recent appearance on “The Dan Patrick Show.”
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM
UConn Huskies head coach Geno Auriemma addresses the media during a press conference at the conclusion of the game between the UConn Huskies and the Vermont Catamounts in the First Round of the NCAA Women's Basketball Championship Seattle Regional 3 on March 18, 2023, at Gampel Pavilion in Storrs, Connecticut. (M. Anthony Nesmith/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
“Actually, there were odds, like she's third or fourth in the betting odds to be WNBA MVP. These people are so disrespectful and so ignorant and so stupid that they give women's basketball a bad name. The girl “I was prepared for failure from the beginning.”
He also addressed the idea that opposing teams have “targeted” the former Iowa Hawkeyes star during his first games as a pro.
SKY PLAYERS SAY THEY WERE HARASSED OUTSIDE THE HOTEL BY MAN WITH CAMERA: 'DISGRATEABLE JOB'
“There's a big target on this little girl's back,” Auriemma said before adding that she believed Clark is singled out by “society, by her appearance, by her reputation, by the lack of respect they've shown the WNBA.” . ”
Caitlin Clark speaks with Connecticut Huskies head coach Geno Auriemma ahead of the 2024 WNBA Draft at the Brooklyn Academy of Music. Mandatory Credit: (Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports)
He doubled down on his stance Tuesday in Connecticut at the UConn Coaches Road Show. “Are you facing the rookie challenge, the difficulties inherent in being a rookie? Yes,” Auriemma said. “She is also being attacked.”
Auriemma praised Clark for how he is addressing the challenges he faced early in his professional basketball career.
“I think he's handling it very well. I think he talks a lot of s**t and gets a lot of s**t in return,” Auriemma said. “So she deserves everything she gets, because she gives it as well as she receives.”
While Auriemma doesn't believe Clark is “cut out for the physicality” of the WNBA, she noted that she will eventually acclimate and can always rely on her top-notch skills.
“She's just not built for the physicality of this league and she's not fast enough to get away from the physicality. So there's a lot of learning curve like Diana.” [Taurasi] saying. When she gets it, she will have elite skills that will really help her. But she needs to be on a better team and she needs to have more experience, and that will come.”
The WNBA logo on a basketball during warmups between the Seattle Storm and the Connecticut Sun at Climate Pledge Arena on June 20, 2023, in Seattle, Washington. (Steph Chambers/Getty Images)
Auriemma, who recorded her 1,200th career victory earlier this year, also poured some cold water on the hype and expectations surrounding the WNBA rookie class of 2024. She even suggested that the rookie group this year is lower than other recent classes.
“I thought Cameron Brink said something really smart,” Auriemma said. “He said that now they expect this rookie class to be perfect. This rookie class is not even one of the best rookie classes in the last 10 years. But they have been asked to be, because of the way the networks social media is today. So what kind of impact is this rookie class having on the WNBA?
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
Although it is well known that Auriemma did not recruit Clark when he was in high school, the legendary coach spoke highly of the NCAA Division I all-time leading scorer in men's and women's basketball ahead of the Final Four showdown from UConn in April.
Clark is averaging 15.6 points and 6.4 assists through the first 11 games of her WNBA career.
Follow Fox News Digital sports coverage in Xand subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.
