Former NBA player Shaquille O’Neal assessed that Caitlin Clark faces a “rite of passage”, similar to that experienced by “all the greats”, during the beginning of her third season in the WNBA. The Indiana Fever point guard has been the target of intense marking, generating heated discussions in the sports scene since August 6, 2026.
“Once she gets past this phase, the league will bow to her,” said O’Neal in an interview, referring to the athlete’s future in women’s basketball.
Athlete Caitlin Clark has faced a series of aggressive plays, with incidents including bumping into each other, touching the eyes and a recent blow to the throat. This scenario, combined with arbitration decisions in the league, provoked intense discussions across the country and led legislators to ask for explanations about the league’s management in relation to the treatment given to the player.
O’Neal revealed that he went through similar situations in his own career and observed the same pattern with sports icons, such as Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, LeBron James and Magic Johnson in basketball, and Muhammad Ali in boxing.
“Great athletes invariably have to go through what we describe as rites of passage,” O’Neal explained. “She is an incredible player, but nothing will be given for free. She needs to earn her space”, added the former player, emphasizing the need for Clark “to strengthen herself, withstand the impacts and demonstrate that these difficulties do not affect her”.
Three-time WNBA champion and two-decade veteran of the league, Diana Taurasi, recently expressed disagreement with the perception that the current style of play has become more physical.
“If the impression is that basketball is physical now, just look back at the women’s finals from a decade and a half ago,” Taurasi declared during the Game Planning Summit last month.
The aggressiveness against Clark intensified on June 24, when Phoenix Mercury forward Alyssa Thomas struck her opponent in the throat. The play was initially not penalized, but, after widespread negative repercussion, the WNBA reassessed the incident and imposed a one-match suspension on Thomas for “reckless contact with the fist in the throat area”.
On July 3, Clark spoke out about the episode, stating that “officiating needs improvement” and that “the league must intensify its efforts to ensure the safety of its players.”
“The controversies involving Caitlin Clark are not limited to arbitration,” said Adam Silver, NBA commissioner, at an event held in July. “She has become a kind of political pillar in the country, and I consider this deeply unfair to her,” he added.
For O’Neal, Clark still needs to demonstrate her value and ability to the other athletes that make up the league.
“There are many other players with comparable talents, who do not receive the same chances to play or have their names highlighted, and this ends up generating envy — envy of a professional nature”, observed Shaquille O’Neal.
The young star, a three-time All-Star, quickly reached 1,000 points, 250 rebounds and 250 assists. Clark reached these numbers in just 54 games of her career, surpassing Diana Taurasi’s previous record, set in 62 games.
On July 17, the athlete recorded her best career performance, with 45 points, in a game against the Seattle Storm.
“Persist on this path, and the rites of passage will open, the invitation will be given, and the throne will be yours,” concluded O’Neal, addressing Caitlin Clark.
