No Offseason: The Athletic Women's Basketball Show

Ben Pickman and Sabreena Merchant break down every upcoming WNBA playoff series and make their title picks. Can any underdogs make it to the second round? Are the Liberty and Lynx destined for a championship series? Can the Aces three-peat?  Hosts: Ben Pickman With: Sabreena Merchant Executive Producer: Taneka Burrell Producer: Dave DuFour -Follow Ben on X: @benpickman -Follow Sabreena on X: @sabr...

Ahead of the final week of the 2024 WNBA regular season, Chantel, Ben and Sabreena discuss A'ja Wilson reaching the 1,000-point mark and if her season is the best in league history. They wonder about Diana Taurasi's potential retirement, weigh in on Cathy Engelbert's recent polarizing comments, and discuss who should be the title favorite with just a few games left to play. Hosts: Chantel Jennings...

A discussion on the impact of Angel Reese's injury, her season and what it means moving forward for her, the Sky, and their Playoff hopes. Then Zena leads Sabreena and Ben through 4 Burning Questions about the rest of the WNBA season. Does anyone want the 8th seed? Who looks the scariest heading into the Playoffs? Who poses the biggest threat to the New York Liberty? What do the Aces need to do to...

It's awards season in the WNBA! Zena, Ben, and Sabreena go through their criteria for each of the six individual trophies (ROY, MIP, DPOY, 6POY, COY, and MVP) before breaking down their short lists of the candidates in play.  -Follow Zena on X: @itszenakeita -Follow Ben on X: @benpickman -Follow Sabreena on X: @sabreenajm __ No Offseason is a part of The Athletic Podcast Network Email us: NoOffsea...

Zena and Sabreena dive into the bottom of the WNBA standings as the lottery race heats up in the final weeks of the season. They get into the organizational motivations for tanking, as well as how that manifests on the court before taking a look ahead at the 2025 draft prospects worth keeping an eye on.  -Follow Zena on X: @itszenakeita -Follow Sabreena on X: @sabreenajm __ No Offseason is a part...

It's trade deadline day in the W, but Zena and Sabreena get into why that doesn't mean much in this league. Instead, they focus on the lessons learned from Aces/Liberty before diving deep into Dearica Hamby's lawsuit against Las Vegas and the WNBA and what it means for working mothers, the CBA, and more. -Follow Zena on X: @itszenakeita -Follow Sabreena on X: @sabreenajm __ No Offseason is a part...

With the Olympics over, Zena and Ben pick up where the WNBA left off, discussing which teams were on top before All-Star Weekend and which teams are poised to make a surge in the second half of the season. They also explore how the Olympics may have impacted teams around the league and share thoughts on teams to watch as they vie for the playoffs. -Follow Zena on X: @itszenakeita -Follow Ben on X:...

Chantel, Ben and Sabreena recap a thrilling gold medal game between Team USA and France. They discuss the scene from Paris, Cheryl Reeve’s lineup decisions and why the U.S. almost fell. Then, they put a bow on their favorite moments from the Paris Games and take a very early look at what might be different at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. -Follow Ben on X: @benpickman -Follow Chantel on X: @chant...

Ben and Chantel break down Team USA's Olympic journey and analyze the final three teams that could stand in way of Team USA bringing home its eighth-consecutive gold medal. -Follow Ben on X: @benpickman -Follow Chantel on X: @chanteljennings __ No Offseason is a part of The Athletic Podcast Network Email us: NoOffseason@theathletic.com Sign up for the No Offseason newsletter! YT:  @No-Offseas...

Chantel joins from Paris to discuss Team USA's performance through the group stage with Zena and Ben. They talk about Cheryl Reeve's lineup decisions and if the world has caught up to the Americans before previewing the quarterfinal matchup against Nigeria. Then, Ben and Sabreena recap Team USA's bronze in the 3x3 tournament and look ahead to the future of the sport in the U.S.  -Follow Zena on X:...

Zena Keita and Sabreena Merchant are joined by Chantel Jennings who is in France with Team USA. Chantel describes the scene around Lille, where the basketball is being played and how the athletes are adapting to life at the games. Then they get into the game discussing Team USA's slow start, how Japan was able to succeed by being physical. They also checks in on the other teams in the field includ...

Zena and Sabreena are joined by Chantel Jennings to preview all-things Team USA at the Paris Olympic Games including how the group is preparing for success, the schedule, the storylines, the 3x3 squad, and much more. -Follow Zena on X: @itszenakeita -Follow Sabreena on X: @sabreenajm -Follow Chantel on X: @ChantelJennings Producer: Chris Flannery __ No Offseason is a part of The Athletic Podcast N...

Zena, Sabreena and Ben recap a busy All-Star Weekend in Phoenix. They discuss everything that went on, from the Orange Carpet to the Friday night festivities, to Saturday's All-Star Game itself. They weigh in on who were the winners of the weekend, their favorite behind the scenes moments and much more. -Follow Zena on X: @itszenakeita -Follow Ben on X: @benpickman -Follow Sabreena on X: @sabreena...

Zena Keita, Sabreena Merchant and Ben Pickman preview this week's WNBA All-Star Game in Phoenix by looking back on the history of the event. What can we take from the 2021 matchup between Team USA and Team WNBA? How competitive will the game be? Who are the MVP favorites? How will the rookies, Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese, perform? Who will shine in the 3-point shootout and skills competition? -F...

Zena, Sabreena and Ben discuss the 2024 All-Star rosters, breaking down everything from Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese playing together, the dynamics caused by the format, and the snubs from the showcase. Then, with the season halfway over, they analyze the Rookie of the Year race, by highlighting both this year’s contenders and the history of the award. -Follow Zena on X: @itszenakeita -Follow Ben...

Zena, Ben and Chantel breakdown the Minnesota Lynx’s Commissioner’s Cup victory and dive into the franchise’s stellar first half. Then, they discuss how Minnesota coach Cheryl Reeve hopes to similarly get the most out of USA Basketball at the Paris Olympics. -Follow Zena on X: @itszenakeita -Follow Ben on X: @benpickman -Follow Chantel on X: @chanteljennings __ No Offseason is a part of The Athlet...

Zena, Ben, and Sabreena check in on the top teams in league by previewing the Commissioner’s Cup final. They then take a look at the bottom of the standings and the state of the Los Angeles Sparks after Cameron Brink’s injury. -Follow Zena on X: @itszenakeita -Follow Ben on X: @benpickman -Follow Sabreena on X: @sabreenajm __ No Offseason is a part of The Athletic Podcast Network Email us: NoOffse...

It's a rivalry-themed episode, as Zena, Ben, and Sabreena first get into a burgeoning WNBA rivalry between Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese, and the Indiana Fever and Chicago Sky by extension. They discuss what makes a compelling rivalry and if Clark/Reese fits the bill before switching over to the the matchup between the Aces and the Liberty. They close out with some thoughts on the Dallas Wings and...

Zena, Sabreena and Ben discuss the reasons behind the Liberty's early-season surge, if there are reasons to be worried about the Aces' recent struggles and how dangerous the Mercury are. Then, they get into the U.S. Olympic team roster and if Caitlin Clark should have made the team, why she didn't and what the future of USA Basketball looks like as a result. -Follow Zena on X: @itszenakeita -Follo...

Zena, Ben, and Sabreena discuss the hot start for the Connecticut Sun and if they've reached their ceiling. They then breakdown the potential importance of the new winter Unrivaled league before reacting to Kamilla Cardoso's debut with the Chicago Sky and talking about the franchise's long-term outlook. -Follow Zena on X: @itszenakeita -Follow Ben on X: @benpickman -Follow Sabreena on X: @sabreena...

Zena hosts an emergency pod with Athletic NBA Writer Marcus Thompson to break down the tense WNBA-based exchange on ESPN's First Take between Stephen A. Smith and Monica McNutt, Pat McAfee's use of an expletive to discuss Caitlin Clark, and the overall opportunities and missteps when it comes to WNBA media coverage. -Follow Zena on X: @itszenakeita -Follow Marcus on X/Twitter @ThompsonScribe __ No...

The four-time WNBA champ, three time Olympic gold medalist and recently named LSU assistant coach stops by the pod to discuss her return to Baton Rouge, her journey to coaching college basketball and her own memories of her Olympic experience. Then, Ben and Chantel discuss potential Olympic roster moves as we get closer to the roster release date, as well as some of the biggest storylines to watch...

The first week of the 2024 WNBA season has come, and gone. Zena, Ben and Sabreena breakdown their takeaways from the first week of play from around the league, including assessing how Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever look after three games. They also discuss the Golden State Valkyries block party, the current travel policy and explain the latest investigation into the Aces. -Follow Zena on X: @...

Zena, Ben, and Sabreena discuss what the WNBA's record-breaking opening night means for the league as a whole before diving into what we learned about each team and celebrating the milestones of DeWanna Bonner and Alyssa Thomas. They then pivot to Ben's feature on 2023 MVP Breanna Stewart and talk about the prioritization of mental health in this historic WNBA season. -Follow Zena on X: @itszenake...

Zena, Ben, and Sabreena comb through the big news heading WNBA tip-off, including travel upgrades and a potential expansion team in Toronto. They then preview the opening night matchups and break down some 2024 award races. -Follow Zena on X: @itszenakeita -Follow Ben on X: @benpickman -Follow Sabreena on X: @sabreenajm __ No Offseason is a part of The Athletic Podcast Network Email us: NoOffseaso...