Shaquille O’Neal isn’t buying the notion that Caitlin Clark is being unfairly targeted in the WNBA and he thinks her road is one that every all-time great has followed before her.
Shaq believes Caitlin Clark has to go through the same physical challenges every superstar faces. pic.twitter.com/scsftPVYhb
— Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) August 6, 2026
Shaq compared her predicament to the struggles faced by Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Magic Johnson and even Muhammad Ali in the early stages of their careers.
“All the greats have to go through what we call rites of passage,” O’Neal said. “She’s a great player but we’re not giving you anything, ever. You got to work for it.”
His comments came on the heels of one of the most scrutinized stretches of Clark’s career, including an incident on June 24 when Phoenix Mercury forward Alyssa Thomas hit her in the throat, according to Yahoo Sports
The league later changed the no-call to a flagrant foul and punished Thomas for one game. Clark since has openly pushed back, claiming officiating “needs to be better.”
O’Neal’s advise to Clark going forward is simple: Take the hits and don’t show it. “She’s got to toughen up and take those licks and show them these licks don’t bother me. Once she does that, the league is hers”
