In recent times, NBA legend Shaquille O'Neal has become a huge advocate for women's basketball. It started out in 2023, when Shaq pushed to sign Angel Reese as the president of Reebok basketball, and has since been helping the brand establish itself in the women's game.

But recently, Shaq shifted his focus to the happenings on the court and pointed out one major difference separating the WNBA from the NBA, that being the art of dunking.

"I have a solution for the WNBA. In men's beach volleyball and women's beach volleyball, the net is lowered just a little bit. The only thing missing from the WNBA to the NBA game is the dunk. I'm not saying lower it to 9 feet or 8 feet… so they can dunk."

"I think if they did that, it would make the game more exciting. They got the handles, they got the shooters, they got the showmanship, they just don't have the dunk. Just imagine if you lower the rim just a little bit." O'Neal said on Revolt.

Dunking is one of the most entertaining ways a player can score, and in the WNBA, it is somewhat of a foreign concept.

As crazy as it sounds, one player in the WNBA accounts for over 70% of dunks. That player is Brittney Griner, who has recorded 27 slams in her career.

A select few other players, including Candace Parker, Sylvia Fowles, Jonquel Jones, Liz Cambage, and Michelle Snow, have successfully dunked during the regular season, playoffs, or All-Star events.

In total, there have been fewer than 40 dunks in WNBA history, so it makes sense why Shaq made this pitch, who otherwise believes the league already has everything else needed to entertain fans, pointing towards the skill and personality currently on display.

Shaq's idea is not to completely revolutionize the game, but to add a wow factor to the game that will definitely attract more viewers.

Shaq's opinion was highly debated on social media, with somewhat mixed reviews.

Fans React to Shaquille O'Neal's WNBA Idea

For the majority of fans on X, Shaq's pitch for lowering the rim was taken in well, while others believed there were far more important issues to be resolved first.

"I promise the WNBA doesn't need that. I think that the WNBA game as it is is fine. The issues that need to be ironed out are this schedule where they have like five games going on at one time. I think that's the real problem."

A user opined that the WNBA's gameplay is fine as it is, and would rather like the scheduling to be more streamlined than it currently is, so that fans could enjoy more games and watch their favorite players more frequently.

"100% fact. The basketball in the WNBA is good, no joke. It's super physical. Every team is like the Bad Boys Pistons. Lower the rim (aka the athletic ceiling), and the d*** game will be like 90s basketball."

Another user believed that the current basketball played in the WNBA is good and physical, but lowering the rim would add another element to their game and bring the vibe of the elite 90s basketball we all love and adore.

"Nah, they are manly enough. I like the fundamentals they have. AI rarely dunked, and look how exciting he was. He's just saying that cause thats all he could do."

Meanwhile, one netizen decided to take a dig at Shaq. He provided an example of the great Allen Iverson's exciting gameplay that barely had any dunking involved, and the Lakers legend is only saying this because it was his forte.

So, do you feel the WNBA needs more excitement in its game, and is dunking really the answer? Let us know in the comments.

Read more at Her Sports Nation!

Written by

Joy Bassy

Edited by

Joy Bassy