Holly row Praises Caitlyn Clark's tough WNBA reception as a positive force for the league Caitlyn Clark's rookie season in the WNBA has been nothing short of dramatic marked by her incredible offensive numbers and the intense physical defense she faces from seasoned opponents add to that a notable snub from the US Olympic team and it's clear that Clark's transition from NCAA star at Iowa to WNBA rookie has been anything but smooth however according to ESPN's Holly row this rough reception might actually be a blessing in disguise for both Clark and the league since stepping onto the professional stage Clark has attracted a massive following thanks to her record-breaking college career however those new fans have quickly noticed the physicality of the WNBA as Clark has been on the receiving end of some particularly hard fouls the most infamous incidents include an illegal hip check from Chicago Sky chendy Carter in June and a hit to the head from Sky rookie Angel Reese a longtime College rival later that same month Beyond these blatant fouls Clark has also endured a variety of intense defensive strategies that while not always crossing the line into fouls certainly push the boundaries of physical play the trash talk has been just as Fierce both on and off the court Chicago Sky coach Teresa Witherspoon even commented on June 27th nobody talks more crap than Caitlyn yet despite these challenges Clark's performance has been nothing short of extraordinary she's broken several records in her rookie season in including the fastest player to reach 400 points and 200 assists and the most assists in a game with 19 she's also the first rookie to record a triple double and earned the most All-Star votes with 700004 Holly row this tough initiation is exactly what makes Sports exciting I love it because it's supposed to be competitive Ro told Fox News digital I love that people are kind of talking smack and saying hey you need to prove yourself Ro believes this adversity is not only good for Clark but also for the WNBA as a whole I think it's good for the game she added roow also noted how this competitive environment has helped Clark grow despite the harsh welcome Clark's resilience has earned her respect from even the toughest veterans who are now among the first to congratulate her after games row even drew a parallel between Clark and Angel Reese pointing out how Reese has expressed a desire for veterans to challenge her physically understanding that such challenges will only make her stronger. as Clark continues to light up the WNBA her recent performances indicate she's not only surviving this tough reception but thriving in it averaging 23.7 points on 47% shooting from the field and 11.7 assists over her last six games Clark is proving that she's here to stay with the Indiana Fever looking to secure a playoff spot for row this is all part of what makes the WNBA and Sports in general so compelling by facing an overcoming adversity Clark is becoming the best version of herself and in doing so she's helping helping to elevate the game to new heights [Music]