Caitlin Clark's harsh reception by the WNBA is 'good for the game,' ESPN's Holly Rowe says

Caitlin Clark's harsh reception by the WNBA  is 'good for the game,' ESPN's Holly Rowe says 'I kind of love it because it is  supposed to be salty,' Rowe said Caitlin Clark's rookie season has seemingly  been defined by historic offensive numbers,   highly physical defense from opposing players  and a snub from the U.S. Olympic team. Many of the new fans that Clark brought over to  the WNBA this season from her record-breaking   NCAA career at Iowa quickly picked up  on some of the more bruising defensive   moments against her. Clark endured a handful of  controversial fouls from opponents this year,   including an infamous illegal hip check from  Chicago Sky forward Chennedy Carter on June 1   and a hit in the head from Sky rookie and her  longtime college rival Angel Reese on June 16. There have been more subtle moments of physical  intensity that didn't cross over into being a   foul, but straddled the line, when Clark has been  on the floor. Then, there is plenty of trash talk,   both from her on the court, and then against  her both on and off the court by opponents. Sky coach Theresa Witherspoon said "nobody talks  more crap than Caitlin," to reporters on June 27. ESPN women's basketball commentator Holly Rowe,   who has been a staunch supporter  of Clark since her career at Iowa,   believes that this reception by the league is a  positive for both Caitlin and the WNBA as a whole. "I love it because it's supposed to be  competitive… I love that people are kind of   talking smack and saying, ‘Hey, you need to prove  yourself!’" Rowe told Fox News Digital. "I kind of   love it because it is supposed to be salty, that's  why it's competitive, that's why it's sports." "I think it's good for the game," Rowe added. The adversity hasn't stopped Clark from putting  up record-breaking numbers in her rookie season. Rowe broadcasted the moment Clark broke  the rookie mark for assists in a season,   passing Ticha Penicheiro's record, set in 1998,   by dishing out her 225th assist in a win  against the Seattle Storm on Aug. 18. Clark has also broken the records for becoming  the fastest player to 400 points and 200 assists,   most assists in a game with 19, most combined  points scored or assisted in a game, becoming   the first rookie to record a triple-double,  and most All-Star votes with 700,000. "When she has proven herself and has played well,   then those same veterans are the ones that  come up and congratulate her," Rowe said. Rowe even compared Clark directly  to Reese, and highlighted how Reese   has publicly expressed a desire for  veterans to be physical with her. "She said, ‘I don’t want them to be easy on  me, I want it to be hard,'" Rowe said. "She's   only going to be the best version of herself if  those veterans are coming at her making it hard." Clark has scored at least 20 points in five  of her last six games. She is averaging 23.7   points on 47% shooting from the field, and 11.7  assists over that span. Indiana has one game   this week at Minnesota on Saturday as the team  looks to continue to solidify a playoff spot. Rowe has also partnered with the  Collegiate Licensing Company to   promote its College Colors Day campaign,  helping Americans show off their school   spirit by wearing their college colors, marking  the unofficial kickoff of college football.