If there’s one thing you can count on with Shaquille O’Neal, it’s that he’s never afraid to toss out a bold opinion. Whether he’s talking NBA playoffs, barbecue, business ventures, or life in general, Big Diesel usually says exactly what’s on his mind.
And when the conversation turned to WNBA salaries, Shaq delivered another classic hot take.
Appearing on Angel Reese’s Unapologetically Angel podcast, the Hall of Famer shared his thoughts on one of the biggest questions in sports today: How can WNBA players earn even bigger paychecks?
Shaq’s answer? Create even more excitement.
His theory is pretty straightforward. Higher attendance, stronger TV ratings, bigger merchandise sales, and more sponsorships all lead to more revenue. And when the league earns more, the players benefit too.
So what would he change?
Lower the rims just enough to encourage more dunks.
“Bro! A pretty girl dunking on the rim? I’m watching that all the time,” Shaq said with his trademark enthusiasm.
Now, before anyone starts measuring basketball hoops, it’s worth pointing out that Shaq wasn’t taking a shot at the talent in today’s WNBA. Quite the opposite.
He praised the incredible skill level already on display throughout the league. Fans are watching Caitlin Clark launch deep three-pointers from seemingly impossible distances. A’ja Wilson continues to dominate both ends of the floor. Sabrina Ionescu has become one of basketball’s elite guards, and Angel Reese has developed into one of the sport’s biggest stars and personalities.
From Shaq’s perspective, adding more above-the-rim action would simply create another highlight that casual sports fans might find irresistible.
Angel Reese, however, saw the issue from a different angle.
“I feel it still won’t be good enough — it’s never good enough,” Reese replied. “People always disrespect women regardless. They’re always not going to give us the same value as a man.”
Her point was that the challenge goes beyond highlight plays. In her view, changing public perception of women’s sports is every bit as important as creating more exciting moments on the court.
It made for an interesting conversation because both viewpoints carry some weight.
There’s little doubt that excitement fuels revenue. The NBA has spent decades building one of the most successful sports entertainment brands in the world, with massive television contracts, sold-out arenas, merchandise sales, and sponsorship deals driving player salaries ever higher.
At the same time, the WNBA has been gaining remarkable momentum of its own.
The league’s 2026 collective bargaining agreement significantly boosted player compensation, opening the door for contracts that were almost unimaginable just a few years ago. Television audiences continue to grow, attendance has climbed, and household names like Reese, Clark, Wilson, and Ionescu are attracting millions of new fans.
That kind of growth suggests the league is already heading in the right direction.
As for Shaq, he’ll probably never stop believing that a thunderous dunk is one of the greatest sights in basketball. After all, he built a Hall of Fame career rattling rims and making defenders question their career choices.
Whether his idea ever becomes reality or not, one thing is clear: conversations like this show just how far the WNBA has come—and how bright its future continues to look.