Caitlin Clark’s been setting the WNBA on fire with her record-breaking plays and all the media buzz. But with all that praise, she’s also catching some serious heat. Former Lakers star Shaquille O’Neal is one of those throwing shade, saying that while Clark’s definitely got the game, she hasn’t reached the level of legends like Diana Taurasi and A’ja Wilson just yet. Shaq thinks these seasoned stars, who are still crushing it, should be getting the same props Clark is getting.

Shaquille O’Neal’s point isn’t to put Caitlin Clark down but to make sure that the praise is spread around fairly. He’s all about giving props where they’re due, noting that real greatness takes time. However, ex-ESPN analyst, Dan Dakich, hit back hard on the OutKick podcast, calling Shaq’s opinion “stupid.” “Nobody gives a rat’s a– about A’ja Wilson, America’s most immature, most valuable player,” Dakich said, via OutKick.

He further added, “Nor did they ever truly give a rat’s a– to the level of Caitlin Clark and Diana Taurasi.” Even though A’ja Wilson has been killing it, Dakich feels she’s not getting the same level of hype that Clark did right out of the gate, and that is true, isn’t it?

“Nobody’s really watching the WNBA other than Caitlin Clark games,” Dakich added. And honestly, he’s not wrong. Clark has been a game-changer for the league—no rookie has shaken things up like this. The 2024 WNBA regular season just blew up viewership records on ESPN, all thanks to Clark’s jaw-dropping performances. She helped the league hit a huge milestone with 21 games racking up over 1 million viewers each.

Clark’s impact has been off the charts, turning this season into something special. Her game is the real showstopper here, so let’s break down what makes her such a standout player.

How great is Caitlin Clark?

Caitlin Clark’s stats? They’re nothing short of groundbreaking. She’s rocking it at eighth place in points per game and leading the league in assists per game, but that’s just scratching the surface. Clark’s been smashing records left and right: she’s set the bar for rookie assists and is zooming towards the overall assists record for a season. She’s already the rookie three-point champ and is on track to snag the overall record for most threes in a season.

She’s also the fastest to 100 three-pointers in WNBA history and holds the record for the most games with 20+ points, 5+ assists, and 5+ rebounds in a season. Plus, she’s the only rookie ever to pull off a double-triple—and she’s done it twice this year. With all these epic feats, she’s set to finish the season with the highest average of points scored or assisted by any player ever.

And guess what? This is just the beginning. Clark’s rookie season isn’t just a start—it’s a sneak peek into a future of pure greatness and endless potential. What are your thoughts on her?