Shaquille O’Neal is no stranger to bold opinions, but his latest proposal for the WNBA has met with a reaction as powerful as one of his signature backboard-shattering dunks—except this time, it’s A’ja Wilson rejecting the shot. The 2024 MVP didn’t just sidestep Shaq’s suggestion; she dunked on it metaphorically, leaving critics and fans alike buzzing.
Shaq’s controversial idea? Lower the rim in the WNBA to less than 10 feet. His reasoning? Dunking sells. In an Instagram post brimming with unsolicited advice, the Hall of Famer claimed that a shorter rim could lead to more dunks, higher TV ratings, and—most importantly—fatter paychecks for players. Shaq even threw out a friendly tag for Wilson, urging her to consider the $300 million that could supposedly follow.
“60% of fans said dunking is their favorite thing,” Shaq argued, as if a Twitter poll is the ultimate authority on basketball. “The WNBA has none of that. Just trying to get y’all that bag.”
But if O’Neal expected applause, he might’ve forgotten who he was dealing with. A’ja Wilson, the reigning queen of the Las Vegas Aces and a player with no shortage of personality, was quick to spike the idea during a recent podcast appearance.
“What is it gonna do?” Wilson asked, her tone dripping with incredulity. “I’d rather focus on maxing out my vertical in the offseason. Lowering the rim even an inch could mess up all of our shots. Do y’all not understand that?”
A Slam or a Foul?
Wilson’s reaction goes deeper than just a “no, thanks.” Basketball is a game of precision, honed by years of repetitive practice. Change the rim height, and you risk unraveling the muscle memory players have spent their entire careers perfecting. Shooting mechanics aren’t something you tweak on a whim, no matter how many dunk-hungry fans might be lurking online.
Shaq’s suggestion isn’t entirely out of left field. Other sports—like volleyball and track and field—have adjusted rules to account for physiological differences between male and female athletes. Even the WNBA itself uses a smaller, lighter ball than the NBA. But Wilson’s point is clear: tweaking the fundamentals of the game to pander to spectacle might be more gimmick than growth.
Do Dunks Define Basketball?
Let’s not forget, the WNBA is already thriving in its own right. The league has built a reputation for electrifying teamwork, nail-biting strategy, and impeccable shooting—not just gravity-defying dunks. Players like Caitlin Clark and Wilson herself have drawn massive audiences for their skills, not their air time.
In fact, one might argue that Shaq’s obsession with dunking feels a little dated. Sure, it was the bread and butter of his heyday, but today’s fans aren’t just looking for flashy highlights—they want nuance, drama, and game IQ. The WNBA delivers that in spades, even if the rim stays firmly at 10 feet.
A Parting Shot
As the debate rages on, Shaq’s idea does raise an interesting question: Should the WNBA embrace change to attract casual fans, or should it double down on the integrity that has endeared it to its loyal base?
For now, A’ja Wilson and her peers seem pretty clear on where they stand. Lower the rim? They’d rather raise the bar. After all, if it ain’t broke, why fix it?
