Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark has been the subject of an officiating controversy from the moment she entered the league.

It reached a fever pitch earlier this season, though, when she was hit on the throat from Phoenix Mercury forward Alyssa Thomas on June 24. While no foul was called at the time, the WNBA eventually reviewed the play and suspended Thomas for one game.

Former NBA star Shaquille O'Neal, who is no stranger to the abuse a star player can take in a given game (just think hack-a-Shaq), sent an indirect message to Clark, telling the WNBA star she needs to "toughen up" to become the face of the league.

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“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,” O’Neal said. “So for her, she needs to toughen up, take those licks, and show them that, ‘These licks don’t bother me.’”

The three-time All-Star became the fastest player to hit 1,000 points, 250 rebounds and 250 assists — in just 54 career games, breaking WNBA legend Diana Taurasi’s previous record of 62 games.

On July 17, she scored a career-high 45 points against the Seattle Storm.

“Keep doing that, and the rites of passage will start to open up, and they will invite you in and give you the throne,” O’Neal said.

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