No Offseason: The Athletic Women's Basketball Show

Zena, Sabreena, and Ben kick off 2026 by recapping two wild weeks of conference play. From undefeated teams falling to surprise wins across the board, the crew breaks down their biggest takeaways from the action. Then they turn their attention to Year 2 of Unrivaled, exploring how the league has grown from its inaugural year. With new faces, bigger teams, and an added night of competition, they di...

Zena, Sabreena, and Ben wrap up the year with a celebration of women’s basketball—breaking down the top duo of 2025, standout performances, teams that showed up big, and their favorite reporting moments— before turning their attention to things to look forward to in 2026. REFERENCES:  2025 winners vs. losers: Which women’s basketball stars deserve gifts? Who gets coal? by Sabreena Merchant an...

We’re diving into the mailbag to tackle your biggest questions about women’s basketball. What lies ahead for the CBA negotiations? How can fans show their support for WNBA players? What’s the connection between NCAAW programs and WNBA coaches? And which college teams that haven’t been to the NCAA Tournament in a while are poised for a turnaround? Tune in for all this, plus insights and takes you w...

The WNBPA has authorized its executive committee to call for a strike “when necessary” amid ongoing CBA negotiations. Sabreena and Ben break down what the authorization means, the league’s response, and how perceptions of fairness in negotiations can differ from each side. Then, new Dallas Wings head coach Jose Fernandez sits down with the duo to talk about the evolution of college basketball, his...

Zena, Sabreena, and Ben dig into the latest in the WNBA’s CBA talks, focusing on revenue sharing, before shifting to Team USA training camp and Caitlin Clark’s return to the court. From there, they explore the idea of player loans in NCAA basketball—how it might work, who could benefit, what it could mean for draft stock and teams looking to get over the hump. We wrap up with a fun look at sports...

Zena, Ben, and Sabreena react to A’ja Wilson being named Time’s 2025 Athlete of the Year and the impact that recognition has on her and the WNBA.  Then they get into the New York Liberty introducing their new head coach, Chris DeMarco, and what his plan and coaching style could bring to the team.  After that, Sonia Raman stops by to share her unconventional journey into basketball—from h...

Zena, Sabreena, and Ben recap the weekend in the Association, discussing matchups like USC vs. Washington and UCLA vs. Oregon, and breaking down the ACC/SEC Challenge. They then dive into the ACC’s competitive landscape, Big 12 standouts, Big Ten competition, and SEC dominance, highlighting key players such as Audi Crooks and Olivia Miles, as well as programs like Maryland, Iowa, and Michigan—whil...

Additional details have emerged in the ongoing WNBA CBA negotiations. Zena, Sabreena, and Ben unpack the latest proposals on the table—from revenue sharing and draft combine rules to housing stipends and player welfare—that could shape the league’s future. Next, we dive into our expansion mock draft, exploring how teams balance protecting young talent versus veterans, the challenges facing franchi...

Zena, Ben, and Sabreena break down the latest WNBA-CBA updates, including the January 9th deadline and its impact on the offseason. They then dive into Team USA Women’s Basketball, looking ahead to the upcoming training camp and the exciting mix of new talent with the veteran stars. Next, the crew shifts to women’s college hoops, spotlighting the Texas Longhorns' big wins over UCLA and South Carol...

Dallas snagged the top pick—now the real decisions begin. Zena, Ben, and Sabreena kick things off with the New York Liberty’s set to hire Chris DeMarco as their next head coach, unpacking what it means and the ripple effect it could have on coaching diversity across the league.  Then they break down one of the season’s best showdowns: UConn vs. Michigan. From there, it’s all WNBA Draft talk—h...

Big money, big moves, big debates. Zena, Ben, and Sabreena unpack the WNBA’s proposed salary increase—potentially exceeding $1.1 million—and what it means for the ongoing CBA negotiations, from revenue sharing to prioritization rules and the core system. They also dive into Project B, the emerging global women’s league aiming to offer the highest average salaries in the sport. Then the crew breaks...

Zena, Ben, and Sabreena are back and diving into all the latest around the association! They discuss Sarah Strong and UConn’s impressive depth, Marta Suárez’s huge impact in TCU’s win over NC State, and South Carolina already settling into its identity. They also spotlight other storylines—including Duke’s concerning offensive issues and the rise of mid-majors like Richmond. Then it’s on to the bi...

What a week in women’s college hoops! Zena and Sabreena open up with the week’s wildest stat lines  — Hannah Hidalgo swiping 16 steals, Audi Crooks pouring in 43, and Grace College exploding for 172 points. They unpack all these record-breaking performances and just how impressive they were to watch. Then they pivot to JuJu Watkins’ investment in Boston Legacy FC and what might be behind the...

Zena and Ben kick things off by diving into college women’s hoops — breaking down the standout performances from Week One, the nail-biting finishes, and just how deep some of these teams really are. From there, they shift gears to golf, exploring how WNBA players like Caitlin Clark are getting into the sport. The Athletic’s golf writer, Gabby Herzig, joins the conversation to discuss the growing a...

Zena, Sabreena, and Ben dive into the latest Unrivaled news — from roster reshuffles and reveals (featuring 2025 No. 1 draft pick, Paige Bueckers and 2025 No. 2 draft pick Dom Malonga teaming up on the Breeze), to nearly 30 players signing multi-year deals in the ascendant league. Then they break down the buzz around Project B , exploring Seattle Storm star – and WNBPA President – Nneka Ogwumike’s...

The women’s college basketball season is officially underway! Zena, Sabreena, and Ben dive into their way-too-early predictions: Which teams are poised to dominate ?Who will be the freshman to rise above the rest? And which team will surprise everyone this season? Get ready for unexpected takes, surprising picks and thought-provoking predictions! Plus — Ben rolls out a new game called “She Travele...

It’s CBA deadline day! Or at least it was. Zena, Sabreena, and Ben discuss the news that the WNBA and WNBPA agreed to a 30-day extension of the CBA and what it means going forward. They also touch on some Unrivaled news and a Paige Bueckers movie project before moving onto college basketball, as the 2025-26 season tips off Monday. In the absence of Bueckers and JuJu Watkins, the trio discusses who...

It’s gut-check time for the WNBA and its players, as less than a week remains until the current collective bargaining agreement expires. After catching up on the latest coaching hires in Dallas and Seattle, Zena, Sabreena, and Ben set the stage for the CBA deadline, explaining why the players opted out, what issues are at play, and how tensions have risen. Then, Sabreena and Ben speak with Erin D....

Zena, Ben, and Sabreena talk through the latest developments in WNBA coaching news and CBA negotiations, including Sandy Brondello’s likely hire as the first ever coach of the Toronto Tempo and NBA Commissioner Adam Silver’s comments regarding salaries and revenue-sharing in the W. Then, they turn their attention to some burning questions for the upcoming NCAA women’s basketball season: can anyone...

The 2019 class became a bridge between eras, combining the tail end of the old guard with a new wave of dynamic, skilled players ready to lead franchises. Zena, Sabreena, and Ben kick things off with updates on current coaching vacancies, diving into how some teams are using search firms to fill front office roles — moves that often set the stage for the next head coach hire. Then, it's time to re...

Due to the AWS outage our full episode will be released later this week. Thanks for your patience! _________________ No Offseason is a part of the The Athletic media network.  Visit our YouTube page! _________________ Have feedback or a question? Email us! And we'll try to answer on a future episode: NoOffseason@theathletic.com You can also find us on social media: -Instagram: @tanooffseason...

Zena, Sabreena, and Ben kick things off with an unintentional announcement — the Portland Fire’s head coach was announced via a deleted, unexplained post. They dive into the resulting awkwardness and debate whether the announcement was meant for another time. Then, the conversation shifts to the NBA’s announcement of three new referees advancing into its ranks — a move that raises questions about...

After one more look back on the WNBA Finals — and Finals MVP A’ja Wilson taking a seat next to Ben Pickman at her victory press conference — Zena, Sabreena, and Ben take a bigger-picture look at the 2025 WNBA season. They get into some of the trends that defined this year, from the demographics of the fans and the explosion of the WNBA into popular culture to some on-court trends. Finally, Ben abs...

The Aces completed a four-game sweep of the Phoenix Mercury in the first-ever best-of-seven WNBA Finals - Ben, Sabreena and senior writer Marcus Thompson II were on the scene at the Mortgage Matchup Center, where the Aces’ were crowned as the 2025 WNBA champions. Together, they discuss A’ja Wilson's outstanding performance, the Aces' dominance over the Phoenix Mercury, and the future of the Phoeni...

The Aces are now one win away from their third WNBA championship in four years! Zena, Ben and Sabreena share their takeaways on A’ja Wilson’s pivotal performance and the impact of the Aces supporting cast that  impeded on a Mercury comeback.  Why have the Mercury struggled so hard to find their rhythm in the Finals? Are the Aces’ just too dominant to overcome? And how will the WNBA Final...