Shaquille O'Neal's ex-wife Shaunie Henderson gets impressive sideline view as Coach Prime's Buffs face BYU

Shaquille O’Neal’s ex-wife, Shaunie Henderson, attended one of the most anticipated bowl games in college football on Saturday. Henderson was on the sidelines of the Alamo Bowl between the BYU Cougars and the Colorado Buffaloes, led by Deion “Coach Prime” Sanders.

Henderson showed her sideline view inside the Alamodome in San Antonio on her Instagram story on Saturday as she sat on the other side of the team’s benches.

“ALAMO,” she wrote in her story’s caption.

Henderson's IG story

In the story, Henderson was behind the photographers’ row, giving her a great close look at the action inside the field.

The No. 17 ranked BYU then took down Coach Prime and the Buffaloes in a lopsided game, 36-14. It was BYU’s second straight bowl victory and third in the last four years. Among those who starred in the matchup were Heisman Trophy-winner Travis Hunter and Shedeur Sanders of the Buffaloes, and LJ Martin and Isaiah Glaker of the Cougars.

Henderson and O’Neal were together from the late 1990s until 2009 when the two ended their marriage in a divorce. The former couple had four children together: Shareef, Amirah, Shaqir and Me’arah.

Henderson was on O’Neal’s side during his heydays with the LA Lakers alongside the late great Kobe Bryant and his years with the Miami Heat. Shaq won three NBA championships with the Lakers, completing a three-peat from 2000 to 2002, before winning one more with the Heat in 2006 with a young Dwyane Wade.

During her marriage to the NBA great, Henderson made strong connections with various basketball stars, including Gary Payton, who played with O’Neal in LA and Miami from 2003 to 2006.

Shaquille O'Neal's ex-wife Shaunie Henderson once attended a Warriors game to support injured Gary Payton II

Shaquille O’Neal’s ex-wife, Shaunie Henderson, and Gary Payton’s wife, Monique, have been close friends through the years. In Shaunie’s memoir titled "Undefeated," she looked back at the time she supported Monique’s son, Gary Payton II, in a game in 2023.

Henderson attended a Golden State Warriors game in 2023, even if she was not a fan of any of the teams. However, GPII was only in street clothes as he was injured. She wrote:

“In 2023, I went to a Warriors-Rockets game because her son, Gary Payton II, plays for the Warriors. As far as I’m concerned, he’s my nephew. He’s over thirty years old now, but I’ve known him since he was fourteen.

“When he heard I was coming to the game, he texted me, 'Auntie, I’m not playing. I’m still injured, so you don’t have to come.' I replied, 'Absolutely not. I’ll be there. I’m coming to see you.' I’m not even a Warriors fan.”

Monique’s kids continue to call Henderson “Auntie” even to this day, showing the bond they made in their family’s friendship.