Shaquille O’Neal has a new message for Caitlin Clark. The Hall of Famer wants the Indiana Fever star to get more physical. He believes she should stop absorbing hard fouls in silence.
O’Neal pointed to Chicago Sky forward Angel Reese as a model for pushing back. His comments came after a physical moment with Sky guard DiJonai Carrington. Clark answered that moment with one of the best games of her season.
Shaq urges Clark to get more physical
Shaquille O’Neal spoke with Fox News Digital about the physical treatment Caitlin Clark has received. He said opposing players single her out because of the attention she draws to the league. His advice was direct. He suggested that Clark should show more of the toughness Angel Reese displays.
O’Neal referenced a comment he often hears from rival players about Clark’s teammates. Some players say they will not talk about Clark but will talk about others on her roster. O’Neal sees this as an opening that Clark and the Fever should use to their advantage.
O’Neal has previously discussed the attention and physical treatment Clark receives. He has spoken about this topic for much of the past two seasons. This time, though, his tone carried a clear challenge for Clark to change her response.
Angel Reese becomes the example to follow
O’Neal named Chicago Sky forward Angel Reese as the player Clark should study. O’Neal pointed to Reese’s willingness to play aggressively and stand up for herself, praising her for being vocal and showing that she is not afraid of physical play.
According to O’Neal, Reese lets everyone on the floor know she is not scared, and he wants Clark to carry a similar edge into her own games. Reese and Clark have been rivals since being drafted in the same 2024 class, and their different styles have drawn constant comparisons from fans and media, with O’Neal framing their contrast as two ways a star can handle pressure.
Carrington bump sparks the latest flashpoint
The moment that prompted O’Neal’s comments happened during a game against the Chicago Sky. Sky guard DiJonai Carrington bumped Clark after she made a 3-pointer. Clark waved off Carrington and returned to play.
Carrington and Clark have a history of physical moments on the court. Fans and analysts noted the timing, since Carrington had posted about the date beforehand. The Fever won 113-90.
Clark waved off the contact and continued playing. Her calm response drew praise from some fans and criticism from others who wanted her to respond. O’Neal’s comments arrived just as that debate was picking up again.
Clark posts a career night against Chicago
Clark finished the game against Chicago with 37 points and 10 assists. She made 8 3-pointers, the best total of her career. The Fever cruised past the Sky by more than twenty points.
The win pushed Indiana’s record to 25 wins and 14 losses on the season. Clark is averaging about 22 points and more than 8 assists per game this year. Those numbers mark her best statistical season since entering the league.
Her turnovers have also dropped compared to earlier seasons in her career. The improved efficiency has come even as opponents continue to play her physically. Her recent performances have added to her impact on the Fever’s offense.
Fun fact: Clark set WNBA rookie records with 769 points, 337 assists, and 122 3-pointers in 2024.
League veterans have faced similar tests before
Rookies who arrive with heavy expectations often face extra physical attention from opponents. Veteran players have long used physical play to test how newcomers respond under pressure. Clark’s situation fits a pattern that has shown up across many sports for decades.
Fever general manager Lin Dunn raised similar concerns about targeting during Clark’s rookie season. Their comments reflect ongoing tension between the league office and teams over enforcement.
At least one incident resulted in a suspension for the player involved. These reviews show the league is aware of the pattern, even as the debate continues.
O’Neal frames toughness as a rite of passage
O’Neal compared Clark’s situation to what past superstars faced early in their careers, mentioning Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, and LeBron James as players who endured similar tests. He said the league will not simply hand Clark anything because of her popularity and that she must prove herself through performance and resilience over time.
O’Neal has described what Clark is going through as one of the “rites of passage” every rising star must earn, a message he has repeated in multiple interviews across outlets this year. The specific advice has grown more pointed, but the core message has stayed consistent.
The debate over physicality continues
WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert has addressed questions about whether Clark is being targeted. She has pointed to the sport’s physical nature as a broader explanation.
Teammate Kelsey Mitchell said early in Clark’s career that she should feel physically safe on the floor. That comment came after a string of hard fouls during Clark’s first season. The topic has followed Clark from her rookie year through her most recent games.
Some analysts argue the extra contact reflects how much attention Clark draws to every game. Others say the league needs stronger enforcement to protect its biggest draw. The disagreement shows no sign of settling as Clark’s profile continues to grow.
What comes next for Clark and the Fever
The Fever continues to face a difficult stretch of games as the season moves forward. Clark remains the focal point of nearly every opposing game plan, a role that guarantees she will continue to face tough physical challenges in the games ahead.
How Clark responds to O’Neal’s advice may shape the next chapter of her career. She has so far chosen to let her play speak rather than engage in confrontation, and whether that approach changes could depend on how opponents continue to treat her.
Little-known fact: Clark holds the NCAA Division I all-time scoring record for both men and women at Iowa.
TL;DR
- Shaquille O’Neal wants Caitlin Clark to get more physical on the court.
- He pointed to Angel Reese as an example of the mindset Clark should adopt.
- The comments followed a bump from Chicago Sky guard DiJonai Carrington.
- Clark answered with 37 points and a career-high 8 3-pointers.
- O’Neal described Clark’s experience as a ‘rite of passage.
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This article was made with AI assistance and human editing.
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