Shaq on WNBA pay & Angel Reese during Chicago Sky vs Caitlin Clark & Indiana Fever WNBA basketball.
The Chicago Sky are taking on the Indiana Fever on Friday night in an important matchup with playoff implications. However, NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal stole the spotlight before tip-off due to his wardrobe choice.
Before Angel Reese and Caitlin Clark could take the floor, O’Neal was spotted on the sideline wearing a colorful shirt and sunglasses. He also donned a massive chain with a crown emblem.
The former superstar center drew plenty of interest from fans in attendance and on social media. The video shared by Yahoo Sports quickly garnered over 1,000 views, 30 likes, and five reposts in a short amount of time. Those numbers will surely go up throughout the evening.
O’Neal is well-known for serving as a mentor for Reese since her days in college. They both attended LSU and that connection has kept them in contact with one another. The former NBA superstar attends Friday night’s game to watch Reese compete against Clark during Chicago’s “Barbie Night” in honor of Reese.
The former NBA superstar showed up to the Sky-Fever game looking like Ken. Regardless, WNBA fans were just happy to see O’Neal in attendance to watch Reese and Clark.
He even showed up to the game in style. O’Neal was spotted entering the arena in a nice looking SUV. The video shows O’Neal mingling with fans before taking a seat.
It’s cool to see an NBA legend supporting Reese and the WNBA. He’s been an advocate for women’s sports over the years. During a live interview at Friday night’s game, O’Neal claimed he’d love to see WNBA athletes to receive better pay like the men in the NBA, according to Timeout Sports.
With that said, WNBA viewership is way up. Reese and Clark have played major role in that, as they’ve brought eyes to women’s basketball since their days in college.
This season, Reese is averaging 13.3 points, 12.9 rebounds, and 1.8 assists per game. If she can reel in 11 rebounds against the Fever, then Reese will break the WNBA’s rookie record for most rebounds in a single season.
Meanwhile, Clark has been on fire throughout most of the season. The Fever star is averaging 18.0 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 8.1 assists per game. She’s also broken the WNBA’s rookie records for most assists and three-pointers made in a single season.
Both women are in the running for Rookie of the Year with the final stretch of the regular season underway. Additionally, both the Sky and Fever are firmly in the hunt for a playoff spot.
Caitlin Clark toppled an Indiana Fever franchise record as she helped the team to its 17th win of the season against the Dallas Wings, 100-93.
Clark had 28 points, 12 assists and four rebounds. She was 10 of 19 from the field with five 3-pointers and had clutch back-to-back long-range shots to help the Fever maintain a two-point lead.
She scored the 595th point of her career, surpassing WNBA legend Tamika Catchings for the most in a single season by a rookie in Fever history. She finished with 617 points as Sunday’s game ended.
Kelsey Mitchell led the Fever with 36 points on 12 of 22 from the floor. It was the first 30-point game for Mitchell this season and the first since Sept. 3, 2023, when she had 30 points against the Wings in a win on the road. NaLyssa Smith added 14 points and eight rebounds.
Clark, Mitchell and Smith were the only Fever players in double figures.
Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark shoots during the first half against the Dallas Wings in Arlington, Texas, on Sept. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
Wings sharpshooter Arike Ogunbowale lit the net on fire in the loss. She scored 34 points and made nine 3-pointers. She added eight rebounds and three assists in the defeat.
Satou Sabally had 25 points and Natasha Howard 18 points for the Wings.
The win for the Fever puts the team over the .500 mark for the first time this season.
Dallas Wings guard Arike Ogunbowale motivates fans during the second half against the Indiana Fever, Sept. 1, 2024, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
Indiana hasn’t had a winning season since going 20-14 in 2015. This year’s team has seven games left to solidify a winning record and a playoff spot.
