NBA Icon Shaquille O’Neal Furious with Aliyah Boston’s Name Omitted from WNBA All-Defensive First Team.. “Because She Doesn’t Play Like a Thug”
In a blistering rant that lit up social media, NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal unleashed his fury over Indiana Fever star Aliyah Boston’s snub from the WNBA All-Defensive First Team. The 2025 honors, announced today, placed the 6-foot-5 powerhouse on the Second Team—a respectable nod, but not the elite recognition Shaq believes she deserves. Boston, the 2023 Rookie of the Year, anchored the Fever’s paint with 1.2 blocks, 8.9 rebounds, and suffocating rim protection across 40 starts, propelling Indiana to the playoffs for the first time in eight years.
Shaq, a four-time NBA champion and defensive titan himself, didn’t mince words during a heated segment on TNT’s *Inside the NBA*. “Aliyah’s out there swatting shots like a boss, holding down the fort for that young squad— and they put her on Second Team? That’s straight disrespect!” O’Neal bellowed, slamming his massive fist on the desk. When co-host Kenny Smith pressed for the root cause, Shaq dropped the mic: “Because she doesn’t play like a thug. Nah, Aliyah’s got that clean, fundamental game—textbook blocks, no flopping, no dirty elbows. Voters want that gritty, street-ball edge, but that’s not her. She’s a technician, a wall. Wake up, WNBA—reward the real anchors!”
The outburst struck a chord in the basketball world, echoing debates on defensive metrics versus “swagger.” Boston’s stats—leading the league in contested shots at the rim—scream First Team, yet voters favored flashier enforcers like A’ja Wilson and Breanna Stewart. Shaq’s not alone; WNBA icon Candace Parker recently griped about Boston’s All-WNBA snub, calling it a “rookie bias” oversight.
Boston, ever graceful, posted on X: “Grateful for Second Team—defense wins, and I’m just getting started.” But Shaq’s fire has fans rallying, with #JusticeForBoston trending. In a league exploding with talent, O’Neal’s reminder rings true: true defense isn’t about thuggery—it’s about quiet dominance. Will the WNBA listen? Time, and tape, will tell.
