Shaquille O’Neal’s daughter, Me’arah O’Neal, is preparing for her sophomore year with the Florida Gators women’s basketball team. While the men’s squad conquered Division I basketball last season, O’Neal and Co. ended the season with a 19-18 (5-11 in the conference) record after the Minnesota Golden Gophers beat them 66-52 in the semifinals of the Women’s Basketball Invitational Tournament.
O’Neal felt a strong connection with the university since her visit in November 2023. The 6-foot-4 guard explained that she felt the Gators would give them the best opportunity to shine.
“I went on the Florida visit, and I had a feeling that’s where I belonged, and that I was going to be most successful if I went to go play at Florida,” Me’Arah said, via ESPN.
Heading into her second season in college basketball, O’Neal is working hard to improve her game. She averaged 4.8 points and 3.9 rebounds per outing in 35 games.
Shaquille O’Neal’s daughter isn’t running away from the grind
On Saturday, Me’arah O’Neal shared a series of photos on her Instagram profile, which included pictures of herself hitting the gym and lifting weights.
“summers over— but i’m just gettin started,” she captioned the post.
O’Neal explained the influence coach Kelly Rae Finley has had on her, which is another factor why she feels playing for the Gators was the right decision for her career. Although she isn’t a dominant as her father, Me’arah O’Neal is writing her own story, and this season could be the start of something good.
