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

OutKick host Dan Dakich talks on "Don't @ Me" about how the WNBA failed to ride the wave as Caitlin Clark's popularity rose with the Indiana Fever.

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. 

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Caitlin Clark of the Indiana Fever and Angel Reese of the Chicago Sky during their game on June 1, 2024, at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. (Jeff Haynes/NBAE via Getty Images)

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