Shaquille O’Neal thinks that the WNBA players would make more money if the rims were lowered. Can you believe that? I mean, it’s Shaq we’re talking about here, so people are paying attention to his opinion. But come on, lowering the rims? That’s a bit controversial!
But let’s give it a thought. Shaq mentioned it while discussing with Angel Reese on her ‘Unapologetically Angel’ podcast.
O’Neal and Reese were discussing on her ‘Unapologetically Angel’ podcast how NBA players make far more than their female counterparts, with rookie sensation Caitlin Clark making a base salary of just $76,535 this season.
And after Reese said that the WNBA doesn’t pay its players enough, O’Neal revealed to his fellow LSU alum his vision for helping to level the gender pay gap in basketball.
‘I have a solution for that, nobody’s gonna like my solution,’ he began, before suggesting that the WNBA rims should be lowered slightly so that more women can dunk.
‘A lotta people gonna comment, they gon hate this, but… that’s the only thing missing [in the women’s game],’ he continued.
Reese, who can dunk, was extremely disapproving of the idea, as she shook her head and said ‘I hate when men say that.’
The Chicago Sky center didn’t feel that more dunking in the women’s game would get WNBA players paid more, as she added, ‘People always disrespect women regardless. There’s always not gonna give us the same value as a man.’
O’Neal also mentioned Clark in his explanation, as he said, ‘It’s about seeing stuff you ain’t supposed to see… Why you think people love Caitlin Clark? Besides her skills?’
‘She can shoot threes from logo,’ Reese said.
‘We never seen that before. That’s my point,’ O’Neal said.
Nonetheless, O’Neal claimed that WNBA action resembled a ‘high school game’ unless certain players were involved and added, ‘Our game is different because we do all the stuff. Alley-oops…’
He also said, ‘A pretty girl dunking on the rim, I would watch that all day,’ which did get a chuckle out of Reese, who is signed under him at Reebok.
And as for Angel Reese, well, I’m sure she’s flattered to be part of this discussion. She’s a talented player, and if anything, this controversy has shed more light on her potential and the future of women’s basketball. Let’s hope that her success continues to inspire and push for change in the industry.
Flip to the next page to watch Shaquille O’Neal drop his solution to WNBA players earning less as compared to NBA players…
