No Offseason: The Athletic Women's Basketball Show

The WNBA players have unanimously approved the 2026 CBA agreement, and Zena, Chantel, and Sabreena kick off the episode by walking through the first steps of the CBA becoming official—and what happens next. They then break down the defining moments from the weekend in the women’s tournament. Next, they dive into who could emerge as the next star of March Madness, exploring how personality, leaders...

As more news emerges about the WNBA CBA deal, Chantel and Sabreena break down the biggest wins for both sides. Then with March Madness in full swing, they preview the weekend’s biggest matchups, diving into the storylines, potential upsets, and chaos that define the tournament. They break down teams like TCU and West Virginia, examine why South Dakota State could shake up brackets, and debate whet...

From negotiations to victory — the WNBA and its players reach a historic CBA deal. Zena and Layshia, joined by Sabreena, break down key changes in revenue sharing, salary caps, and player benefits, as well as the timeline for the upcoming season. Next, Zena and Layshia explore the evolution of CBA negotiations, the influence of star power, and the players’ fight for dignity, representation, and eq...

Zena Keita, Sabreena Merchant, Chantel Jennings, and our newest co-host—former WNBA star Layshia Clarendon—react LIVE to the seedings, snubs, and surprises revealed in the Women’s NCAA Tournament bracket, breaking down their March Madness picks in real time. Our resident bracketologist, Eden Laase, also joins the show to share her insights and analysis of the bracket. REFERENCES:  UCLA’s path...

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 th...

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. __ No Offseason is a part of The Athletic Podcast Network Email us: NoOffseason@theathletic.com Sign up for the No Offseason newsletter! YT:  @No-Offseason  IG: @tanooffseason TikTok: @no_offseason...

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 fo...

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 __ No Offseason is a part of The Athletic Podcast Network Email us: NoOffseason@theathletic.com Sign up for the No Offseason newslet...

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...

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 coll...

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...

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 f...

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 tal...

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 l...

Zena and Sabreena discuss the ongoing CBA negotiations, highlighting recent updates and the potential for a player strike. They then shift to Angel Reese’s return to the Rose Basketball Club and the exciting on-court action in the Unrivaled one-on-one tournament. From there, they dive into the upcoming WNBA Draft, exploring the rise of international prospects, the potential impact of an expansion...

Zena, Chantel, and Sabreena kick off their discussion with the unveiling of Unviraled’s 1-on-1 tournament bracket. They highlight what fans can look forward to and share their predictions on who might come out on top. Next, the crew dives deep into UCLA’s surge in the Big Ten, breaking down roster changes, the impact of transfers, and why this season feels so urgent. They also explore how NIL has...

Sabreena and Chantel kick things off with the latest on CBA talks following this week’s meeting between the league and the players’ union. With little coming out of the meeting, they discuss what it means for WNBA free agency, the expansion draft, and the league’s hopes of starting the season on time. From there, bracketologist Eden Laase joins the duo to break down the concept of “bubble teams”—...

Zena, Chantel, and Sabreena take a look around women’s college basketball, kicking off their conversations with UCLA’s impressive run in the Big Ten, UConn’s resilience against Tennessee, and the excitement of a thrilling rivalry game between Michigan and Michigan State. Then, we dive into some of our favorite moments from the college season—like which on-court duo runs the best pick-and-roll, who...

Big moves in women’s basketball! Caitlin Clark joins NBC Sports for Basketball Night in America — Zena, Chantel and Sabreena break down all elite basketball IQ and competitive insight she’ll bring to the broadcast. Then, Unrivaled hits Philadelphia, making a statement for the league. Next, we take a deep dive into one program that changed women’s basketball forever — UConn. We explore decades of d...

What a weekend in women’s college hoops! Zena, Chantel, and Sabreena kick things off with an association-wide roundup, breaking down Vanderbilt’s first loss of the season to SEC rival South Carolina, Iowa’s dominant victory over Ohio State, and the teams making impressive pushes at this stage of the season. We then take a moment to acknowledge the tragic events in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Turning b...

The 2026 WNBA schedule has officially dropped! Zena and Sabreena dive into the release, exploring it amid ongoing CBA negotiations, the FIBA World Cup’s impact on the season, the league’s 30th season celebration, and the creative ways teams unveiled their schedules. Next, bracketologist Eden Laase joins the conversation to break down early NCAA tournament seeding predictions. She highlights potent...

Zena and Sabreena start their discussion by evaluating Rebecca Lobo and Sue Bird’s view that the league’s offer to players is favorable. They then break down the weekend’s biggest upsets—from Kansas State’s surprising win over Texas Tech to the coaching decisions and team chemistry that made the difference. The duo also dives into the Coretta Scott King Classic, unpacking must-see matchups like Oh...

WNBA players continue to make waves into Hollywood! Zena, Sabreena, and Ben discuss the crossover of women’s basketball stars into the entertainment world, looking at the history of WNBA players making media appearances and the cultural significance of these transitions. Next, Zena and Sabreena dig into Unrivaled’s Season 2 TV viewership decline, unpacking everything from sophomore-season challeng...

Zena and Sabreena open their conversation with the latest updates on the CBA negotiations, discussing what comes next as talks hit their deadline with no agreement. From there, they shift to a recap of the association, covering Texas’ first loss of the season, Ohio State’s rise as a contender, Notre Dame’s unusual campaign, and the need for UNC and Duke to find consistency. Next, the duo explore t...

Zena, Sabreena, and Ben begin with a check-in on the CBA negotiations,  explaining what a work stoppage and a status quo period really mean for players and the league. Then they turn to the Power Four conferences, breaking down whether the Big 12 has multiple teams capable of making a deep tournament run, what it will take to turn the ACC around, which SEC programs are on the rise, and who’s...