Shaquille O’Neal is never shy about speaking his mind — and now he’s throwing his considerable weight behind the WNBA’s push for better pay.
During a recent interview with Bailey Jackson, the NBA legend was stunned to learn that Las Vegas Aces star A’ja Wilson — a seven-time All-Star with a signature shoe deal at Nike — is only making $200,000 a year.
Shaq’s reaction? Classic Diesel.
“She should be making $10 million a year,” O’Neal said. “I never knew this… Really.”
But he didn’t stop there. Shaq also offered up a bold idea to help boost the league’s revenue and, in turn, increase player salaries: lower the rims.
That’s right — O’Neal believes that making the rims a little more accessible for dunks could unlock a new level of excitement and draw in more fans.
“You wanna make more money?” Shaq said. “Let Caitlin [Clark] go baseline and fingertip dunk. Let Angel [Reese] do her layup like that, let her turn that wrist one time forever and throw it down, man. Trust me on this.”
Shaq’s comments come as WNBA players are speaking up for themselves more than ever. During All-Star Weekend, many athletes wore warm-up shirts that read “Pay Us What You Owe Us,” signaling a united front as they push for a more favorable collective bargaining agreement.
Right now, WNBA players receive just 9.3% of league revenue — a massive contrast to their NBA counterparts, who earn between 49% and 51% of basketball-related income. With the league growing rapidly, players want a system where their salaries grow along with the game’s success — not one that leaves them behind.
And the WNBA is definitely on the rise. In 2024, the league inked a $2.2 billion media rights deal — that’s $200 million a year — thanks in large part to a new wave of superstars and surging fan interest.
Shaq, who has been a consistent supporter of women’s sports, knows the power of star players. Whether it’s Caitlin Clark’s deep threes or Angel Reese’s fierce paint presence, he sees the potential for the WNBA to become even bigger — with a few tweaks.
Of course, his rim-lowering suggestion has sparked debate online, but at the heart of it, Shaq’s message is clear: these women deserve to be paid.
“Pay them what they’re worth,” he said. “I’ve played at the highest level. I know talent when I see it.”
Coming from a Hall-of-Famer who knows a thing or two about growing the game, that’s a powerful endorsement.