rewrite this title Shaquille O’Neal unleashes blunt advice for Caitlin Clark: ‘Toughen up, take those licks’

Long before she set foot on a WNBA hardwood, Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark had already been anointed as the new face of women’s basketball.

That didn’t sit well with some of her colleagues and even some decision-makers in the league.

Fast forward to today, and she’s been dragged into countless controversies off the court, not to mention her fair share of dirty plays on it.

Clark has downplayed everything and has tried to keep the conversation focused on basketball, but that’s clearly not enough anymore. That’s why NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal offered her a blunt piece of advice.

Shaquille O’Neal thinks Caitlin Clark can own the WNBA

“All the greats have to go through what we call rites of passage. She’s a fabulous player, but we’re not giving you anything, ever. You have to earn it,” Shaq told CNBC Sports. “So for her, she needs to toughen up, take those licks, and show them that, ‘These licks don’t bother me.’”

O’Neal, who also dealt with his fair share of criticism at the time, believes that’s what Clark needs to do to elevate her status:

“Once she passes through that, the league will belong to her,” O’Neal continued.

Basketball-wise, there’s no doubt that Clark has what it takes to go down as one of the all-time greats.

Her reputation doesn’t necessarily follow from that, and perhaps she’ll have to do some soul-searching, take a hard look in the mirror or change her P.R. strategy to steer the conversation elsewhere.

With great power comes great responsibility, and if people aren’t willing to show her some respect, she’ll just have to take it.