Shaquille O’Neal, much like many other sports fans these days, has found himself in a situation he’s never been in before. He is a bigger fan of women’s college basketball than he is of the men’s side.
“Well the boys suck, so I’m not following, but I’ve definitely been following the girls,” O’Neal said on this week’s episode of The Big Podcast.
“Actually, women’s basketball is kicking a–.
Like, it’s really, it’s kicking a–. Dominating.“Like, it was kind of like an epiphany. Like, last week was the first time I watched all girls’ games.
“Like, I’ve never done it before, ever, but last week, oh, it was crazy,” he continued.
“JuJu Watkins, Caitlin [Clark], my girl Angel Reese, like, they’re just killing it. I don’t think I even know any men’s [players].”
Don’t forget Cameron Brink, Rickea Jackson, Kamilla Cardoso, Jacy Sheldon, Aaliyah Edwards, Nika Muhl, Hannah Hidalgo, Georgia Amoore, Alissa Pili, Rori Harmon, Aneesah Morrow, Lauren Betts, Elizabeth Kitley, and on and on it goes.
The WNBA, if it’s smart, is going to have to add new franchises just to have enough roster spots for all of the great players that will be coming out of college in the next couple of years.
Shaq isn’t alone. LeBron James also says he is more interested in women’s college basketball than the men these days.
“I don’t think there is much difference between the men and women games when it comes to college basketball. I think the popularity comes in is the icon’s they have in the women’s game. You look at Angel Reese, you look at JuJu, you look at Caitlin Clark. You look at Paige.”
LeBron James believes the popularity of the women’s NCAA tournament this year compared to the men’s is the “icons” involved in the women’s game. But he pointed out the Catch-22 of those players growing their profile because they’re prevented from being one-and-done. pic.twitter.com/h1VZXhIwd7
— Dave McMenamin (@mcten)
Now, and here comes the hard part for women’s basketball, it must maintain, grow and spread its newfound popularity.
As UConn star Paige Bueckers said this week, “It’s more important for the game to share the spotlight — to grow the game and show all the stars of college basketball and not focus on one particular player, whether it be me, Caitlin, Angel [Reese], Juju [Watkins]. I mean, there’s so many names in college basketball that are huge, that are stars, that deserve credit. And I think — it’s not my job — but the media can do a better job of making sure everybody gets love.”
Paige Bueckers was asked about potentially replacing Caitlin Clark as the star of women's college basketball next season.
"I honestly hope next year I'm not the focal point and the only person that gets attention. I hope as media, as players, we can spread the love a little bit… pic.twitter.com/vWGfPIf8pZ
— The Sporting News (@sportingnews)
Someone who has been there and done that, Candace Parker, shared a similar sentiment.
“Any time you’re able to have new eyeballs and a new fanbase … it’s going to be beneficial to not only just the Fever but to the entire WNBA,” Parker said on King Charles this week. “My challenge to the WNBA is to continue to raise the bar, and know that with more stars comes more expectations. So I hope that we’re ready to continue to grow, and continue to build.”
"Make her more of a star"
Candace Parker reflects on her own experience as an NCAAW phenom and challenges the WNBA and sports world to continue covering and promoting Caitlin Clark beyond her Iowa career pic.twitter.com/kYv4XrKvJw
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing)
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