Angel Reese took Shaquille O’Neal to task over his view that WNBA players would earn more money if they could dunk.
O’Neal, 52, is regularly seen attending WNBA matches where he watches the likes of Reese, Caitlin Clark and many more female basketball stars. Nevertheless, there is still a significant wage gap between the women’s division and the NBA, with WNBA players earning an average $119,540 (£92,230) salary while NBA players bank an average $9.7million (£7.5m).
Reese, 22, thinks such a difference is down to the sporting world not giving women’s players the same value as the men. When the four-time NBA winner contradicted her, a brief exchange played out between the pair.
During his appearance on the Unapologetically Angel podcast, Shaq suggested that lowering the height of the baskets could make a huge difference. He said: “I’m telling you now, if you lower it just like this (a tiny bit), right there, I’m not saying go (a lot smaller) – you know what you need to do one day.”
Reese replied: “I feel like it still wouldn’t be good enough, it’s never good enough. People always disrespect women regardless, they’re always going to not give us the same value as a man.”
O’Neal interrupted and said: “That’s why you’ve got to do what you’ve been doing. I’m telling you know, if you lower that thing to 9.9999 ft…” Reese cut in by sarcastically asking: “And what’s going to happen now? The money going to go through the roof?” New Jersey native O’Neal replied: “Yes, the same amount.”
(Image: YouTube/Unapologetically Angel)
He then elaborated on his point when he said: “Unless it’s certain people playing, it’s just like watching a high school game. Our game is different because we do all the stuff.
“We’re throwing off the glass and fast-breaking. I’m telling you, my best friend and former agent Leonard Armato, he used to run the AVP (Association of Volleyball Professionals). In volleyball and beach volleyball, the women were more popular than the men.
“I’m telling you, if you were dunking with the Shaq emblem, with your knees up, you’re tripping. Britney Griner just busting through the lane.”
When asked if he wants to see more women’s players slam-dunking, he said: “Yes. A lot of people are going to comment that they are going to hate this, but I know exactly what I’m about, that’s the only thing missing.
“You all have got everything we’ve got and you all do everything we do.” In the history of the WNBA, only two players have dunked in a game – Griner and Jonquel Jones.
