SHOCKING REVELATION: Shaquille O’Neal Unveils the Harsh Truth About Caitlin Clark’s Impact on the WNBA
The world of sports was rocked this week as Shaquille O’Neal, NBA Hall of Famer and outspoken analyst, revealed the staggering aftershocks of Caitlin Clark’s recent injury on the WNBA. In a candid interview that quickly went viral, Shaq didn’t mince words: “Caitlin Clark’s absence has dealt a severe blow to the WNBA. The league is feeling it in every way—from ticket sales to TV ratings. The numbers don’t lie.”
Clark, the Indiana Fever rookie who took the basketball world by storm, was sidelined after a hard foul left her with a sprained ankle. The news sent shockwaves through the league and her massive fanbase. But as Shaq pointed out, the repercussions went far beyond the court. “As soon as Clark went down, ticket prices dropped like a rock. Overnight, games that were sold out or going for hundreds of dollars on resale sites were suddenly available for a fraction of the price. That’s the Caitlin Clark effect. She’s not just a player—she’s a phenomenon.”
Indeed, the numbers back up Shaq’s assertion. Since Clark’s debut, the WNBA has enjoyed a surge in popularity not seen in decades. Fever games have routinely sold out, and away games featuring Clark have seen record crowds. Merchandise bearing her name has flown off the shelves, and television ratings have soared as new fans, many of them young girls, flocked to watch her play. But with her injury, that momentum stalled. Attendance figures for the Fever’s next two home games dropped by nearly 30%. Ticket resale prices for key matchups across the league plummeted, in some cases by more than 50%. Social media buzz, once dominated by Clark’s highlights and interviews, turned to speculation about her recovery and frustration over her absence.
In a move that many called desperate, the WNBA released a public statement urging Clark to return as soon as possible. “Caitlin Clark is an integral part of our league’s growth and excitement this season. We look forward to seeing her back on the court, inspiring fans and teammates alike,” the statement read. But what was intended as encouragement sparked immediate backlash. Clark’s fans—known for their passionate support—were outraged by what they saw as a thinly veiled demand for her to put the league’s financial interests ahead of her own health and well-being.
Social media erupted with the hashtag #RespectCaitlin, as thousands of fans called on the WNBA to prioritize Clark’s recovery over profits. “She’s a human being, not a money-making machine,” tweeted one supporter. “If you care about her, let her heal. The league will survive, but her career might not if she rushes back.” Others pointed out the double standard, noting that male athletes are rarely pressured so publicly to return from injury for the sake of ticket sales.
Shaq, never one to shy away from controversy, doubled down on his criticism of the league’s response. “You can’t put that kind of pressure on a young star,” he said during a TNT broadcast. “Clark has changed the game for the WNBA, but she’s still a rookie. She deserves respect, time to heal, and support—not to be treated like a cash cow. If the league wants to grow, it should focus on building up all its stars, not just relying on one player to carry the load.”
Former WNBA players also chimed in. “The league is bigger than any one player, but you can’t ignore what Clark has done for the sport,” said legend Tamika Catchings. “Still, we have to remember she’s a person first. The WNBA should be about empowering women, not exploiting them.”
Clark herself has remained silent on the controversy, focusing on her rehab and recovery. In a brief statement released by the Fever, she thanked fans for their support and said she was “doing everything possible to get back on the court, but only when I’m 100% ready.” Her coach echoed those sentiments, emphasizing that Clark’s long-term health was the team’s top priority.
Yet the debate rages on. Some argue that the WNBA’s rapid growth is fragile and that Clark’s presence is essential to maintaining momentum. Others say the league must use this moment to invest in marketing and promoting other talented players, ensuring that interest in women’s basketball is sustainable and not dependent on a single superstar.
What is clear is that Caitlin Clark’s impact on the WNBA cannot be overstated. Her injury exposed both the league’s reliance on her star power and the passionate loyalty of her fanbase. It also raised important questions about athlete welfare, media pressure, and the true meaning of respect in professional sports.
As Shaquille O’Neal so bluntly put it, “The WNBA has a golden opportunity here. Either they show they care about their players as people, or they risk losing the trust of fans forever. Caitlin Clark changed the game. Now it’s time for the league to change, too.”
For now, all eyes remain on Clark’s recovery—and on how the WNBA responds to the growing call for respect, responsibility, and real change.
SEE MORE: The real reason WNBA players ranked Caitlin Clark so low in All-Star voting
Jesse Johnson-Imagn Images
The WNBA All-Star game is headed to Indianapolis in a few weeks, and the starters for the big event were announced earlier in the week. The voting to choose the starters was weighted 50% with fan votes, 25% with media ballots, ans 25% with the players making a ballot themselves. In the end, Napheesa Collier and Caitlin Clark were named captains of the teams with the most fan votes.
Joining them in the starting group will be Paige Bueckers, Nneka Ogwumike, Sabrina Ionescu, A’ja Wilson, Allisha Gray, Breanna Stewart, Aliyah Boston and Satou Sabally.
As always, the full voting breakdown was released by the WNBA, but this year, one factor shocked fans: Caitlin Clark was ranked No. 9 among guards by her peers, the players.
However, despite the outrage by some Clark fans online, the Fever star getting ranked a little lower by players isn’t about jealousy or resentment, because it actually… makes sense for basketball reasons. Stay with me here!
First, players are making these choices based on everyone’s performances this season. Not a player’s potential on paper, not their 2024 season, not their accolades and records, or how much interest they bring to the WNBA. Simply how they have played in the first 15ish games of 2025.
When you contextualize it like that, a few facts come to mind about Clark’s 2025 season:
She’s only played in nine games so far, as she’s been in and out with injury. First, it was the quad strain that kept her out for three weeks; now she’s been out with a groin injury. That’s only in the 29th percentile of the league for games played this season, per Her Hoop Stats.
Clark ranks 12th in the WNBA in points per game (18.2), 13th in field goals made (6.1 per game), 88th in three-point percentage (29.5%), 3rd in three-pointers made (2.6 per game), 35th in rebounds per game (5.0), 2nd in assists per game (8.9), 1st in turnovers per game (5.9), and 14th in steals per game (1.6).
Players very likely took a look at these stats when making their choices for All-Star voting. They also watch a ton of film just in their everyday training, in order to learn the scouting report on opponents and prepare for games. They aren’t going to have the same allegiances fans have, and know these stats and how much they affect games better than anyone.
The players do not hate Clark, and these votes aren’t evidence of some grand conspiracy against her; if anything, they respect her enough to rank her fairly despite some of her struggles. The conspiracy that everyone is out to get Clark, that everyone hates her, just infantilizes her more. She can handle criticism of her game because, hopefully, it will make her better.
Constructive criticism and challenges are good things for anyone, regardless of what kind of career you have. Take writing, for example — if no one gives writers notes, they would never know how to become better writers. It’s the same for players — how can they look at the stats they rank lower in and make adjustments to their games to improve?
It’s good that Clark hasn’t hit her peak in her second professional season. We want her to get better. Imagine how fun that will be to watch? She’s also had a challenging season physically, as her body adjusts to playing more games in a shorter amount of time. In college, they play once a week, if not less, and anyone would need to adjust to playing nearly every other day. When you add on how much Clark does on the floor as well, her body needing time to rest makes sense too.
All of this being said, it’s okay that she got ranked No. 9 among guards. She’s still a starter, she’s still a captain, she’ll be at the game. She’s a great player with great potential, but these players’ votes are purely about the season she is having right now.
