Former New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski has told Caitlin Clark to continue silencing her haters with her WNBA performances for the Indiana Fever.

Clark’s third year as a professional has been a wild one, laden with controversy and drama at every turn. Earlier this summer, she found herself at the epicenter of a huge incident, which saw Alyssa Thomas of the Phoenix Mercury force her fist down into Clark’s neck, the result of which saw the former suspended for one game by the WNBA.

However, that was not the end of the incident. Republican lawmakers sought to use Clark’s name for political gain, with a committee sending WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert a letter warning that a federal probe into the league could be opened if the Indiana guard is not better protected. Meanwhile, Brittney Griner’s marriage is “irretrievably broken” as the WNBA star files for divorce.

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Prior to the recent All-Star game in Chicago, Clark admitted the media scrutiny surrounding her this season had left her exhausted, adding that while it has not dulled her love of basketball, it has made life tricky to navigate at just 24.

Speaking to ESPN’s Malika Andrews, Clark said: “It’s basketball. When I walk out of the locker room, I shouldn’t be fearful of what the conversation is going to be, but you know, it’s emotionally exhausting. It’s draining.

“It makes your shoulders tense because … people don’t want to talk about the basketball, they just want to stir it up and make it something else.”

However, one individual impressed by how Clark has carried herself this season is four-time Super Bowl-winning tight end Rob Gronkowski, who wants to see the Fever star continue to silence her detractors with her on-court performances in the WNBA.

“She’s doing a great job handling herself. She really is. I’m not in her shoes. I’m not in her situation. If I was, though, I would kind of handle it very similar to how she’s handling it. She really is doing a great job,” Gronkowski told Fox News.

“I would just say one piece of advice: Keep balling because if you keep balling, you’re going to keep shutting up the haters.”

And Clark wasn’t the only Fever player Gronkowski has been impressed by. The former Patriots star admitted he was also impressed by how Clark’s teammates have supported her during what has been a challenging third year in the WNBA.

“What I do appreciate, what she’s going to need to help with is her teammates,” added Gronkowski.

“That’s who’s going to lift you up. If you’ve got your teammates protecting you, that says a lot right there. It really does. And she does. Her team does pick her up. They protect her as well, and that’s huge.”

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“That says a lot about your personality and about who you are throughout the season, how you practice, how you prepare, is that if your teammates are behind you, you know that doing the right things.”

He also said of the league getting involved to protect Clark on the court following the physicality she faces whenever she steps out onto the floor, “I think she’s going to be the face eventually, like truly where the WNBA steps in, and they’re like, ‘OK, like enough of all this wishwashing that’s going on with her and the punishment that she’s taking out on the basketball court.

“Let’s truly make her face of the league. I think I would say it once she keeps balling out and also wins something pretty significant.”

Meanwhile, Angel Reese’s response to Paige Bueckers betting scandal has been slammed by WNBA fans.