Caitlin Clark of the Indiana Fever and Shaquille O’Neal.
Mike Lawrence | National Basketball Association | Rob Kim | Getty Images
NBA great Shaquille O’Neal told CNBC he thinks Caitlin Clark is facing a rite of passage that “all the greats went through” as the Indiana Fever guard navigates her third season in the WNBA.
“Once she passes through that, the league will belong to her,” O’Neal said during a CNBC Sport interview on the set of his show, “Dunkman.”
Clark has been the target of some harsh fouls that include hip checks, eye pokes and a recent blow to the throat. That, combined with league officiating, has spurred national debate and even prompted some lawmakers to seek “accountability” from the league for its handling of behavior against Clark.
O’Neal said he experienced similar treatment during his playing days and that he watched the same take place with basketball legends such as Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, LeBron James and…
