Shaquille O’Neal is so passionate about his favorite WNBA stars getting their due, he got himself in trouble over it. Even before Angel Reese and Caitlin Clark were officially in the league, Shaq was vouching for a specific change in the W to boost viewership. In the past, one of his favorite WNBA stars and now TNT colleague, Candace Parker blasted him (hilariously) for his suggestion. It didn’t stop him from doubling down on Angel Reese’s podcast. But now his WNBA fave is pulling the plug on the entire debate.

A’ja Wilson was on Jalen Brunson and Josh Hart’s podcast, Roommates Show, this week as the first ever female guest in the show’s two seasons. They took the chance to ask her about the raging side-debate going on about the WNBA – should they lower the rims?

Note: Knicks’ Brunson things it would be good. But the reigning WNBA MVP shut it down hard. “What is it going to do?” Now that got the show’s host flustered and stuttering. But Wilson had a different solution. If more dunks in the WNBA is what everyone wants to see, Wilson would rather work out in the offseason, improve her vertical, focus on jumpers and the likes. Because the change certain NBA players are demanding could have the opposite effect. “Versus lowering like an inch, that could change all our shots. Do y’all not understand that?”

Brunson represents all the campaigners for lower rims in the W after the Aces point-getter’s response. He admitted that the drawback is the reason why the league wouldn’t lower the rims anyway. In case someone like Shaq is still advocating for it, A’ja has a better solution. “I would much rather just like, ‘okay, let’s get in the gym, let’s work.’ You never know, next year I might dunk, Jalen. And y’all better go crazy.”

But as for this debate, A’ja shut it down sternly. “Lowering the rim is just a very childish discussion.” Hopefully Shaquille O’Neal got the memo.

Shaq annoyed a few WNBA players

Shaq’s been campaign for lowering the rims in the WNBA since 2021 at least. Candace Parker blasted him then and didn’t deter him. He’s made a case for it over and over, most recently on Unapologetically Angel. But his questionable comments about Reese in that buried the lede.

Pushback from A’ja Wilson could hurt his agenda though. She is one of his favorite WNBA superstars right now. When Shaq cautiously joined the Caitlin Clark bandwagon, he even said, “Calm down. We still got Diana Taurasi, we still got A’ja Wilson, if you’re gonna give (Caitlin) props make sure our girls that are dominating in this league get the same props.”

Shaq is comfortable enough to even fuel rumors about A’ja Wilson and a certain Miami star. But his agenda isn’t appealing to the very women he wants high viewership for.

Candace Parker recently stated she argued with Shaq on this subject a lot and tried to convince him that the women’s game is different. A’ja’s got the best solution though. She could dunk and make Shaq’s argument redundant for good.