Dunks have always been the NBA's biggest selling point, and Shaquille O'Neal thinks their absence explains a lot about how casual fans perceive the WNBA.

Speaking on Angel Reese's "Unapologetically Angel" podcast, O'Neal did not hold back when addressing the comparison.

"I don't wanna use the B-word. But unless there are certain people playing, it's just like you're watching a high school game," he said on "Unapologetically Angel" on July 3, 2026. "Our game is different because we do all the stuff. Alley-oops, throwing off the glass, fast break threes."

This observation made by O'Neal is not new. Since the WNBA began in 1997, only eight players have ever completed a dunk. Brittney Griner tops the list with a career tally of 27 dunks while everyone else barely makes one or two.

It is precisely because of this that the opinion put forward by O'Neal fails to see the bigger picture.

The attendance and viewership of the WNBA have both seen record numbers irrespective of the presence or absence of dunks. The 2025 season has averaged 969,000 viewers nationwide, hitting a peak of 1.3 million on the Disney networks.

The number of viewers has remained high throughout the current season. The WNBA game between Fever and Liberty, broadcast on CBS in June 2026, garnered 2.56 million viewers, the third-largest audience in the league's history.

While attendance and viewership are increasing, O'Neal is also considering whether players' salaries are keeping pace with this rise.

Shaquille O'Neal Talks Angel Reese's Rent Comments And Player Pay

Before discussing the entertainment problem, however, O'Neal commented on the issue regarding Reese and her recent $8,000 rental problem. Initially, she tried to evade the question, but ultimately admitted that the WNBA's player salaries are too low.

"The fans have to do the same thing they do for the NBA. Gotta show support, you gotta show up, you gotta buy jerseys, you gotta buy shoes, they are starting to do that now," O'Neal said on "Unapologetically Angel" on July 3, 2026.

"That's because of how you play and Caitlin and the thing you all have, the game is more popular than ever now. I do agree with, you all need to get paid more," he added.

O'Neal thinks that if Reese and Caitlin Clark continue to bring this excitement to the league, then growth will be the result. Increased attention usually results in increased earnings, and increased earnings mean higher salaries eventually.

As the WNBPA enters negotiations for a new CBA while earning an estimated $2.2 billion a year, star players such as Reese may find themselves getting paid many times their current salary within the next few years.

Comment on the differences between NBA and WNBA audiences.

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Written by

Utsav Gupta

Edited by

Utsav Gupta