In the latest edition of her “Unapologetically Angel” show, WNBA star Angel Reese sat down with NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal to discuss a range of topics, including the overwhelming Caitlin Clark phenomenon. Shaq, known for his inquisitive and sometimes off-the-wall questions, finally got to the one that’s apparently been keeping him up at night: why does everyone go wild for Caitlin Clark? The Indiana Fever rookie sensation has been draining logo threes and generating buzz even beyond the WNBA fan base.
Without missing a beat, Reese dropped her answer with the kind of directness that only she can pull off: “She can shoot 3s from the logo.” Boom. Sometimes, it’s as simple as that.
Shaq, seemingly taken aback but ever the analyst, immediately compared Clark’s range to the one and only Steph Curry. “You know why I love Steph Curry?” he explained, leaning in as if he was letting Angel in on a secret. “I’ve never seen that before. And I’ve seen a lot.” He even gave a nod to Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf, one of the OG deep shooters, but admitted that Clark has truly carved out her own niche.
Reese chimed in on a deeper level, too, pointing out that no matter how many game-changing elements women bring, they’ll still face an uphill battle for the same recognition men’s basketball has. Shaq argued that people get hyped by the unexpected—like Clark’s sharpshooting skills, which have fans flocking to her games, filling seats, and even sparking rivalries. This girl has the range—and not just on the court.
Shaq as Angel’s Mentor and “Big Friend”
As the conversation continued, Shaq got a little sentimental, reflecting on his mentorship of Reese during her college days at LSU. “Me and Angel, we’re close,” Shaq revealed. “She’s like a daughter to me.” Apparently, when Reese faced some time out of the lineup last season, Shaq swooped in with fatherly wisdom. “I told her, ‘Part of the game, take it on the chin, stay quiet, don’t make a scene,’” Shaq said, clearly relishing his new role as the sage WNBA whisperer.
Reese sees Shaq as a bit of a father figure herself, but she’s never one to be overshadowed, especially not on her own show. From calling out unfair double standards in the sport to playfully keeping Shaq in check, Reese delivered on all fronts, showing fans she’s not only a beast on the court but also a powerhouse in conversation.