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3 months ago
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Caitlin Clark is the victim of 'professional jealousy' in her debut WNBA season, according to Shaquille O'Neal.
Clark, who was selected by the Indiana Fever with the first overall pick at this year's WNBA Draft, has endured a challenging start to life in the big leagues after her historic college career in Iowa.
As well as losing 10 of her first 13 games, the Fever rookie has been subjected to brutal treatment on the court from rival players - with Chicago Sky's Chennedy Carter sparking outrage by bodychecking her earlier this month.
The shocking moment has even sparked a debate around race and sexuality, with late-night talk show host Bill Maher recently claiming she is only being targeted by WNBA rivals because she's white and heterosexual.
Caitlin Clark is the victim of 'professional jealousy' in her debut WNBA season, according to Shaquille O'Neal
And amid the controversy, O'Neal has weighed in on Clark and why opposition players are making a beeline for her.
'So I think where people get upset is, as a player you don't want to be forgotten,' he said on 'The Big Podcast With Shaq'.
'You know what I call it, I call it stealing props. It's professional jealousy.
'I just think people should focus more on not just her, cause she is a great player, but don't forget about the beautiful Cardoso and my girl Angel.'
Clark is bringing more eyeballs to women's basketball than ever before, with her record-breaking success in college making her the WNBA's biggest attraction upon arrival.
The 22-year-old's Indiana debut smashed ESPN viewership records last month, while the WNBA as a whole enjoyed all-time high attendances in May largely thanks to her impact on the sport.
Clark has been subjected to brutal treatment on the court in her debut WNBA campaign
O'Neal believes the likes of Kamilla Cardoso (left) and Angel Reese (right) should be afforded the same level of coverage in the WNBA
However, O'Neal is wary of Clark dominating the spotlight and highlighted the star quality of other players in the league.
'Let's make something clear, one person may have all the props, but it's never one person,' he added.
'Don't say we're getting new sponsorships because of Caitlin. No... what about Angel [Reese], what about [Kamilla] Cardoso? What about my favorite, Kelsey Plum?'
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