Shaquille O’Neal has come up with a controversial plan to get WNBA players paid more after the NBA Hall of Famer told Angel Reese that the league’s limits should be lowered.
O’Neal and Reese were talking about her Podcast ‘Unapologetic Angel’ how NBA players earn much more than their female counterparts, with rookie sensation Caitlin Clark earning a base salary of just $76,535 this season.
And after Reese said the WNBA doesn’t pay its players enough, O’Neal revealed to his fellow LSU alum his vision to help close the gender pay gap in basketball.
“I have a solution for that, no one is going to like my solution,” he began, before suggesting that the WNBA rims should be lowered slightly so more women can dunk.
“A lot of people will comment, they’ll hate this, but… that’s the only thing missing [in the women’s game],” he continued.
Angel Reese was extremely disapproving of Shaquille O’Neal’s idea to lower WNBA rims
Reese, who can dunk, was extremely disapproving of the idea, shaking her head and saying, “I hate it when men say that.”
The Chicago Sky center didn’t believe that more dunking in the women’s game would result in WNBA players getting paid more, adding, “People always respect women no matter what.” It will never give us the same value as a man.”
O’Neal also mentioned Clark in his explanation, as he said, “It’s about seeing things you’re not supposed to see… Why do you think people love Caitlin Clark?” Besides her skills?’
“She can shoot threes from the logo,” Reese said.
‘We’ve never seen that before. That’s my point,” O’Neal said.
Nevertheless, O’Neal claimed that the WNBA action resembled a “high school game” unless certain players were involved, adding, “Our game is different because we do all the things.” Alley-oops…’
He also said, “A pretty girl dipping on the rim, I would watch that all day,” which made Reese, who is standing below him at Reebok, chuckle.
Reese recently revealed that her WNBA salary doesn’t come close to paying her rent in Chicago
Clark rakes in millions from her endorsement deals, but earned just over $76,000 from the WNBA
However, Reese disagreed with O’Neal’s idea, which he said he drew from the nets being slightly lower for women in beach volleyball.
While Reese brings in money from deals with Reebok, Reese’s and Beats By Dre, her base salary was comparably low by professional sports standards to Clark’s.
Reese took in just $74,909 for her rookie season after being selected No. 7 overall by the Sky.
She will earn even more from her participation in the recently launched Unrivaled 3-on-3 competition, which previously announced that each player would earn a minimum six-figure salary.
The league, which kicks off in January in Miami, recently signed a TV deal with TNT Sports.