Stay ConnectedNo Offseason is The Athletic’s show for all things women’s basketball. Hosts Zena Keita, Chantel Jennings, Sabreena Merchant, and Ben Pickman bring you the stories that matter the most and the insider info you need from the sport that never stops – served up alongside exclusive interviews with the biggest names in women’s hoops, from the NCAA to the WNBA and all points in between. New episodes drop Tuesday and Friday.
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The WNBA CBA negotiations are still ongoing, with no deal reached yet. Zena and Chantel break down the latest developments in the talks before diving into the FIBA Women’s World Cup qualifying tournament and the dynamics of the current Team USA roster.
Then, our resident bracketologist Eden Laase joins to dig into the biggest bracket storylines — from the battle between UConn and UCLA for the overall No. 1 seed to the bubble drama surrounding Colorado and Clemson. They unpack how conference tournament results are shaking up the field, what it means for teams fighting to get in, and why programs like USC and Tennessee could slip a bit lower than expected in the seeding.
REFERENCES:
Overnight WNBA, players’ union talks fail to result in collective bargaining agreement: Reports by Sabreena Merchant
WNBA proposes higher salary cap in latest CBA offer, but still no deal by Chantel Jennings
Caitlin Clark shines with double-double in dominant Team USA victory by Sabreena Merchant
Women’s NCAA Tournament Bubble Watch: Will Clemson, Iowa State, Virginia make the field? By Eden Laase
Catch us live this Sunday at 6:30 PM PT / 9:30 PM ET on YouTube for our bracket reactions!
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No Offseason is expanding to three episodes a week with the addition of new co-host former WNBA star Layshia Clarendon. Find us Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays wherever you get your podcasts.
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USA Women’s Basketball tips off Wednesday in Puerto Rico. Zena, Chantel and Sabreena dive into how Team USA is preparing for the World Cup, plus the return of Caitlin Clark to game action. They also break down the latest in the CBA talks as the drop-deadline approaches.
From there, they share their conference tournament takeaways from around the association—debating whether UCLA has done enough for the overall No. 1 seed, if West Virginia improved its seeding, and which mid-majors caught their attention this weekend, plus more.
We wrap things up with Two Takes and A Fake
REFERENCES:
Caitlin Clark preparing for Team USA debut, feels ‘even better’ than start of last season by Chantel Jennings
Women’s conference tournament takeaways: Texas takes down South Carolina by Chantel Jennings, Cameron Teague Robinson, Sabreena Merchant and Grace Raynor
Women’s basketball power rankings: If LSU can’t beat South Carolina, is it a tournament threat? by Sabreena Merchant
Check out Zena’s exclusive interview with WNBA star Napheesa Collier here!
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WNBA superstar Napheesa Collier joins Zena Keita to talk about how Unrivaled is giving players the ultimate power move: options. She also shares her thoughts on the WNBA’s CBA negotiations and more.
REFERENCES:
Check out the full episode on YouTube: The Athletic Show
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No Offseason is a part of The Athletic Podcast Network
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The WNBPA issued a statement emphasizing unity among players as negotiations continue with the league on a new CBA. Zena, Chantel, and Sabreena discuss the implications of the statement and where the players’ union and the league stand ahead of the drop-dead deadline. They also recap the Unrivaled championship, highlighting standout performances and the league’s continued growth.
From there, they share their predictions for the major national awards in college basketball, including Coach of the Year, Freshman of the Year, and Player of the Year. They begin by breaking down Shea Ralph’s impressive coaching success at Vanderbilt and why it makes her a strong Coach of the Year candidate. From there, they spotlight some of the most impactful freshmen across the sport before wrapping up with a debate over their Player of the Year selections, weighing each candidate’s stats and influence on their team’s success.
Finally, we wrap things up with a question from the mailbag.
REFERENCES:
WNBA player union emphasizes unity as fissures exposed in CBA negotiations by Sabreena Merchant
Breanna Stewart outduels Kelsey Plum as Mist claim Unrivaled championship by Sabreena Merchant
UConn's Sarah Strong: The Athletic's women's basketball Player of the Year by Chantel
Jennings
Vanderbilt’s Shea Ralph earns The Athletic’s women’s basketball Coach of the Year by Chantel
Jennings
The Athletic’s women’s college basketball All-America team by Sabreena Merchant, Chantel Jennings, Zena Keita and Eden Laase
Check out The Athletic Show on March 8th for an exclusive interview with Napheesa Collier
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No Offseason is a part of The Athletic Podcast Network
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Zena, Chantel, and Sabreena look ahead around the association, beginning their conversation with Rutgers parting ways with head coach Coquese Washington and highlighting the growing pressure to win in women’s college basketball. From there, they dive into the Sabreena Scale, focusing on some of the tight matchups from the weekend.
Next, the crew break down predictions and insights for women’s college basketball conference tournaments, including the Big Ten, SEC, ACC, Big 12, and key mid-major conferences. They discuss team performances, potential upsets, and standout players, offering a comprehensive look at what the tournaments mean heading into the NCAA Tournament.
To close things out, we play one of our recurring favorites: Something in Common.
REFERENCES:
Women's basketball power rankings: Vanderbilt, Texas will fight for No. 1 seed in SEC tourney by Sabreena Merchant
Texas jumps to No. 4 as last year’s Final Four lead updated NCAA top-16 rankings by Chantel Jennings
UConn completes 11th unbeaten regular season with rout of St. John’s by Chantel Jennings
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The WNBA is trying to create a sense of urgency with the March 10th deadline. Zena, Chantel, and Sabreena break down what’s at stake and discuss the implications if the league and the players’ union are — or aren’t — able to reach a handshake agreement in time.
Next, Chantel and Sabreena welcome Project B’s Chief Basketball Officer and WNBA Hall of Famer Alana Beard to discuss the league’s launch and its mission to fill a gap in women’s basketball. Beard also reflects on her overseas playing career, her transition into the business side of the sport, and the unforgettable message she received from the late NBA legend Kobe Bryant.
The crew wraps up by making their Unrivaled postseason predictions.
REFERENCES:
What a March CBA deal would mean for WNBA free agency, expansion and the draft by Sabreena Merchant and Chantel Jennings
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The WNBA has reached its revenue-sharing target for the first time. Chantel and Sabreena break down what that milestone means and explore its potential impact on the ongoing CBA negotiations.
They then turn to college basketball, taking a look around the country and analyzing the performances of the TCU, Minnesota, and Kentucky as they approach the NCAA tournament.
Next, they break down the race for the final No. 1 seed, explaining how the selection committee evaluates teams. They discuss strengths and weaknesses of Texas, Vanderbilt, and other SEC and Big Ten contenders, emphasizing the importance of head-to-head matchups and the implications of the SEC tournament.
To close the show, we take an early look ahead and discuss where Paige Bueckers might rank in 2026.
REFERENCES:
WNBA offers housing concession in CBA counterproposal to players by Sabreena Merchant
WNBA says 2026 season will be impacted if no deal on a CBA by March 10 by Sabreena Merchant
Women’s college basketball rankings: How Louisville, Duke tripped against bubble teams by Sabreena Merchant
Iowa puts clamps down on No. 6 Michigan for signature victory by Chantel Jennings
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Zena and Sabreena begin their conversation by discussing the complexities of the ongoing CBA negotiations, including revenue sharing, player salaries, and the potential for a strike, as both sides work to meet their demands.
Next, Zena is joined by NBA writer Shakeia Talyor to discuss the remarkable business journey of basketball star Angel Reese. They explore how Angel has leveraged her talent and social media presence to build a brand that transcends the court.
We close by examining which Unrivaled Coach has the strongest chance of transitioning into a WNBA head coaching role.
REFERENCES:
WNBA players submit counterproposal with lower revenue share, salary cap by Sabreena Merchant
The business of Angel Reese: acting, modeling, branding and, of course, basketball by Shakeia Taylor
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No Offseason is a part of The Athletic Podcast Network
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There was no shortage of women’s hoops news this weekend!
Zena, Chantel, and Sabreena kick things off with the news of Breanna Stewart signing with a EuroLeague Women team and what it means as she plans to join after Unrivaled. Then they break down Adam Silver’s latest comments on the WNBA CBA negotiations. From there, the crew shares their thoughts on Unrivaled’s 1-on-1 tournament final and the league’s plan to add a postseason tour stop.
Next, we take a look at the NCAA Division I Women's Basketball Committee’s Top 16 reveal and what it signals about the selection process and evaluation criteria.
Afterwards, it’s all about the South Carolina Gamecocks women's basketball. The trio breaks down how the Gamecocks have navigated challenges this season, highlighting the team’s flexibility as a defining strength. They discuss a frontcourt that has exceeded expectations despite key absences, the pivotal contributions of Raven Johnson, Joyce Edwards, and Madina Okot, the impact of new additions, and Dawn Staley’s masterful in-game adjustments. They also examine South Carolina’s reimagining following last season’s title loss — and whether a return to the championship game is within reach.
To close things out, we wrap up with a fun, Dawn Staley–inspired game.
REFERENCES:
Adam Silver ‘not ready to set a drop-dead date’ on CBA negotiations with WNBPA by Sabreena Merchant
Unrivaled schedules postseason games in New York following Philadelphia success by Sabreena Merchant
Breanna Stewart signing with EuroLeague team, will join after Unrivaled by Sabreena Merchant
Women’s college basketball power rankings: South Carolina flexes its SEC dominance by Sabreena Merchant
DRIVING; My Life, My Mercedes CL500 by Dawn Staley
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No Offseason is a part of The Athletic Podcast Network
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