“It’s like watching high school game!” Shaquille O’Neal gives Angel Reese BRUTAL truth about WNBA
Shaquille O'Neal and Angel Reese discuss the ways to grow the popularity of the WNBA, while Shaq voices admiration for Reese and Caitlin Clark's game.
Follow Us
Shaquille O'Neal tells Angel Reese that WNBA game is boring
This WNBA season, when Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese came in, they blew viewership figures out of the window. But it was not always the case, as the league has long struggled to attract viewers. NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal details what was not working for the game.
The four-time champion was a guest on the podcast, Unapologetically Angel. As they were speaking about ways to improve league viewership, O’Neal suggested to reduce the height of the basket to help women basketball stars such as Angel Reese, dunk with ease.
But she was not agreeing to it as that would undermine the game as it is. Then the Diesel continued to give the example of how Caitlin Clark and her game excites fans as she is doing something that nobody watching the WNBA has it consistently being produced.
When they came back to women dunking, Angel Reese suggested that even if they did, people still do not give women’s basketball the respect. Right then, Shaquille O’Neal decided to get tough with his words, as he explained.
I don’t want to use the B-word, unless its certain people playing. It’s like you are watching a high school game. Our game is different because we do a lot of stuff, alley-oops, throwing it off the glass, trying to break through.
Shaquille O’Neal on what women’s basketball lacks
The B-word the 52-year-old was referring to was ‘boring’, as he was suggesting that women’s basketball is akin to watching a high school game. High school games are played mostly below the rim, with very few who go on dunking sprees, whereas men in college and NBA games play above the rim.
Shaquille O’Neal gave props to Angel Reese and Caitlin Clark for bringing excitement to the WNBA
Prior to discussing the lack of excitement in women’s basketball, Shaquille O’Neal brought up Angel Reese’s $8K rent controversy. She first tried to avoid the topic, but went on to suggest that the WNBA does not pay enough. To this the former NBA MVP had a discourse to talk about.
The fans have to do the same thing they do for the NBA. Gotta show support, you gotta show up, you gotta buy jerseys, you gotta buy shoes, they are starting to do that now. That’s because of how you play and Caitlin and the thing you all have, the game is more popular than ever now. I do agree with, you all need to get paid more.
Shaquille O’Neal said
O’Neal believes if Angel Reese and Caitlin Clark can continue to bring the excitement into the league, it can continue to grow. Along with growth will come increased revenue from various avenues. That will help the league and the teams to earn more.
Eventually, it will come around in the form of higher salaries for WNBA players. With the WNBPA set to enter into negotiations for a new CBA, the likes of these young stars could see a significant increase in salaries. With the league set to earn $2.2 billion per year, expect Angel Reese’s salary to rise multifold.
Stay Updated!
Joseph Varghese
(2393 Articles Published)