Why Shaquille O'Neal Is Only Watching Women's College Basketball This Year

Shaquille O'Neal may have four NBA championship rings to his name, but this season, the former Los Angeles Lakers star isn't tuning in to any NBA games at all. Instead, Shaq is only focusing on women's college basketball.

The retired basketball legend gave his thoughts on the current basketball season and both the men's and women's March Madness tournaments in a new interview with People magazine. "I haven't even been paying attention to the guys, only been paying attention to the girls," he said. "I hate to say it, but the women players are kicking the men's butts. You've got my Angel Reese. You've got all the girls from South Carolina. You've got [University of Southern California's] JuJu Watkins, you've got [University of Iowa's] Caitlin Clark."

"It's just a better game, just more competitive," he added.

Players like Angel Reese and Caitlin Clark have gained widespread recognition in the past year for their hard work on the court. Earlier this month, for example, Clark set an all-time scoring record for both men's and women's Division I college basketball. Shaq, a Louisiana State University alum himself, even escorted Reese and her mother onto the court during her senior night tribute on March 3.

Women's college basketball is pulling in record TV audiences, and Shaq said he's seen the shift in person. "It was my first time ever seeing the girls' game way more packed than the boys' game, but it was actually a good feeling," he said. "I'm happy for the young female athletes, and it's inspiring to young girls."

As for the women's domination in viewership, Shaq said "It's definitely well deserved."

Related: Magic Johnson Says Recent College Game Had 'The Best Move in All of Basketball'

Shaq isn't the only basketball icon to shower women's college players with praise. Magic Johnson, another Lakers legend, was blown away by the skills of the University of South Carolina's MiLaysia Fulwiley.

"I’m watching the women’s basketball game between South Carolina and Notre Dame right now and I just saw the best move in all of basketball including the pros like LeBron [James], Steph [Curry], [Kevin Durant], Victor [Wembanyama], and [Nikola] Joki?," he wrote on social media in November. "Everyone must see the coast-to-coast, behind-the-back move by freshman guard MiLaysia Fulwiley from South Carolina. WOW!!"

Kevin Durant similarly gave Fulwiley and Notre Dame's Hannah Hidalgo their flowers, writing online they were "moving DIFFERENT out here" during their game.

The women's March Madness tournament continues this week and wraps up March 29.