WNBA Fans Are Not Happy With ESPN's Holly Rowe - The Spun

ESPN’s Holly Rowe has been covering college and pro sports at the network for 30 years. Tonight, she’s on the WNBA Draft.

Rowe, 58, is well-respected in general for her experience and expertise as an interviewer, but that doesn’t mean she hasn’t elicited criticism for her work. Just last month, Rowe came under fire from women’s basketball fans for her comment about USC star JuJu Watkins. During the NCAA Tournament, Rowe said that covering a prior game of Watkins’ at USC felt like being “at the BET Awards” because “every star in that community” was there.”

You can understand why that remark would be considered inappropriate. Rowe has not said anything particularly controversial at tonight’s WNBA Draft, but she has earned some fan disapproval on social media.

ESPN reporter Holly Rowe

RALEIGH, NC – JANUARY 20: ESPNs Holly Rowe reports prior to the game between the Louisville Cardinals and the NC State Wolfpack at Reynolds Coliseum on January 20, 2022 in Raleigh, North Carolina. NC State won 68-59. (Photo by Lance King/Getty Images)

“Holly Rowe is cringe as hell #WNBADraft,” one fan said.

“I’m sure I’m in the minority, but holly rowe can go. Bring in a new voice who isn’t building sob stories all the time,” a second fan added.

“I Iike holly rowe — but there’s gotta be other folks in the rotation lol,” a third fan joked.

“You’d think Holly Rowe is the only person employed at ESPN lol,” a fourth person said.

“They waterboarding us with Holly Rowe interviews man,’ a fifth person added.

Holly Rowe on ESPN.

Holly Rowe/IG

We do have to be fair: if you search Rowe’s name on X/Twitter, she does have her fair share of supporters who think she’s done a good job.

In particular, some have noticed that Rowe is not going overboard on the emotional story lines this year, which may be a deliberate move on her part. If you want our opinion, the longtime ESPN broadcaster is a very solid pro who does her job well.

You can watch Rowe and the rest of the WNBA Draft in general right now on ESPN.