Shaquille O’Neal may be treading in controversial waters, but he’s making waves with a point that many whisper behind closed doors. Equal pay between the NBA and WNBA should already be a reality-but it’s nowhere close. And that, according to Shaq, is a serious problem. The former NBA superstar was stunned when he learned just how little WNBA players make. What followed was a bold suggestion that instantly lit up social media.
Highlight plays = higher paydays?
In Shaq’s eyes, the pay gap between male and female players isn’t just unfair-it’s flat-out insulting. But his proposed solution? That’s where things get heated. To make the women’s game more dynamic, more marketable, and ultimately more profitable, he suggests lowering the rim slightly in the WNBA. Not by much-just enough to open the door for more dunks, more highlights, and more fan engagement. It’s not about saying women can’t compete; Shaq believes it’s about giving them the platform to showcase their talent in a way that draws more eyes to the game.
That’s the core of Shaq’s argument. And he’s got the numbers to back it. A’ja Wilson, one of the WNBA’s biggest stars, currently earns around $200,000 a year. Caitlin Clark? Just $80,000. Meanwhile, Stephen Curry pulled in $55 million last season and is set to top $59 million next year. Shaq points out the obvious: Curry makes more in a single game than Wilson will in two full seasons. And Clark and Angel Reese combined won’t sniff that figure even over several years.
It’s not the first time this kind of adjustment has been brought up in sports. In golf, they tee off from closer distances. So Shaq argues-why not tweak the rim in the WNBA? It’s a suggestion meant to amplify, not diminish, the game’s excitement.
The debate is bigger than the rim
Not everyone agrees, of course. Some players and fans feel the proposal undermines the athleticism of female players, suggesting they need help to reach NBA-level excitement. But Shaq insists that’s not the point. He believes stars like Wilson, Clark, Reese and all WNBA players deserve to be household names with salaries to match-and if that means changing the product slightly to boost attention and growth, then it’s at least worth discussing.
Shaq’s not calling out the women. He’s calling out the system. And whether you love or hate his idea, one thing is certain: the conversation around WNBA salaries just got a lot louder with a big ally in every sense.
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