Shaq Does "Too Small" Gesture at Angel Reese
Shaquille O'Neal mimicked Angel Reese's signature taunt on the LSU sideline during a 31-13 loss to Alabama.
Updated on Nov. 8, 2026 in Basketball
Shaquille O'Neal performed the "too small" celebration toward Angel Reese on the LSU sideline at Tiger Stadium before LSU lost to Alabama 31-13. Reese was filming O'Neal at the time and responded, "it's okay, it's okay," before jokingly pushing her camera toward his face.
Why it matters
The gesture links a national sports figure to a rivalry that has drawn attention since the WNBA Finals, where the taunt was first directed at Reese. It also shows how the celebration has spread beyond the court into college football and fan culture.
Gabby Williams scored 30 points in the Valkyries' 68-63 Game 7 win, including 28 in the second half, per the extraction's game data. The LSU-Alabama final of 31-13 came the same season the gesture was performed on the sideline, but the extraction does not provide team-level stats for that game.
The players
Shaquille O'Neal
Hall of Fame center who won four NBA championships and spent his first four NBA seasons with the Orlando Magic.
Angel Reese
LSU alumna and WNBA player drafted No. 7 by the Chicago Sky, known for her high-profile college and professional career.
Yaxel Lendeborg
Golden State Valkyries player who performed the "too small" celebration toward Reese after the Game 7 win.
Festus Ezeli
Former NBA center who wore a Reese shirt and performed the gesture at the Valkyries parade.
The details
O'Neal put two fingers together and performed the "too small" celebration toward Reese after she pointed her camera at him and asked him to say something. The taunt was first aimed at Reese during Game 3 of the WNBA Finals, and Yaxel Lendeborg later performed it toward her after the Valkyries won Game 7. Festus Ezeli also wore a Reese shirt and performed the gesture for fans at a Valkyries parade.
Timeline
Game 3 of the WNBA Finals: the "too small" celebration was first directed at Reese.
Game 7 of the WNBA Finals: the Valkyries won 68-63, and Lendeborg performed the taunt afterward.
A week before the LSU-Alabama game: Ezeli wore a Reese shirt at the Valkyries parade.
November 7, 2026: O'Neal performed the gesture on the LSU sideline during the Alabama game.
Season Trajectory
The gesture extends a rivalry that became a defining storyline of the 2024 WNBA season between Reese and Caitlin Clark, showing how the feud has spread beyond professional basketball. Its appearance at a college football game underscores how the celebration has become a recognizable piece of sports culture.
The taunt is now a recurring element in WNBA and college sports fan culture, so fans following Reese and the Valkyries can expect it to appear again in games and merchandise. Fantasy and broadcast coverage tied to the Valkyries may also highlight the rivalry during upcoming matchups.
The takeaway
The moment shows how a single gesture can move from a playoff game to a college football sideline within weeks. Following the rivalry across both leagues gives a clearer picture of why it has drawn so much attention.
Further reading
For more on the WNBA rivalries driving this story, explore Basketball coverage.
Source note: This article includes information reported by New York Post.
