No Offseason: The Athletic Women's Basketball Show

Another history-making night in the W - Jackie Young sets a new WNBA Finals record with 21 points in a single quarter. The Athletic’s senior columnist Marcus Thompson II joins Ben and Sabreena to analyze the Aces' victory over the Mercury in Game 2. Together, they cover the defensive strategies employed by the Aces and the challenges faced by the Mercury.  Plus - they share their insights int...

Following an absolutely electric Game 1 of the WNBA finals - Ben and Sabreena are live from Michelob ULTRA Arena in Las Vegas, breaking down moments from WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert’s response to player criticism, officiating and player-league dynamics. Is Engelbert's latest response enough to quiet the criticism? How will  the league move forward after her controversial remarks? ...

Zena, Ben, and Sabreena gather to discuss Napheesa Collier’s explosive exit interview statement, examining Phee’s words and the meaning underlying them from nearly every angle — what players really think about WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert, the power dynamics at play and the NBA’s role behind the scenes, the physicality of the current game and the rise of injuries, the influence of Unrivaled,...

Zena, Ben, and Sabreena take a dive deep into the highly anticipated Game 5 semifinals match-up between the Aces and Fever. Will A’ja Wilson bring her A-game? What adjustments will the Aces make? And how can the Fever pull off the ultimate upset? Then, the crew share their thoughts on the emotional end to the Lynx’s season – and the Mercury’s ascendance to the Finals.  Next, following Cheryl...

Following two technical fouls during Game 3 of the semifinals – and some very choice comments during the post-game press conference – Minnesota Lynx Head Coach Cheryl Reeve has been suspended from Game 4. Zena, Ben, and Sabreena gather to break down the details behind the suspension, and answer the question: is it justified? _________________ References: Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve suspended for Game...

Zena, Ben, and Sabreena dive into the semifinal games, breaking down what made the difference for both the Aces and the Mercury in securing their wins. Then, they turn their attention towards Game 3 in each series: Can the Fever regain their momentum? Will the Mercury make the most of their homecourt advantage and edge ahead against the Lynx?  Later, the crew goes behind the scenes of recent...

Zena and Sabreena are joined by Brendan Glasheen, play-by-play announcer for the Connecticut Sun and Unrivaled. Together, they dive into the WNBA semifinals, discussing the performances of the top MVP vote-getters in their respective Game 1s, plus what adjustments the Aces and the Mercury need to make if they’re going to notch a win next time around.  Then, it’s a deep dive into Unrivaled: th...

The WNBA playoffs have reached a fever pitch, and Zena and Sabreena are processing their feelings in real time. After a dramatic Thursday of Game 3s, the pair breaks down the clutch performances from the Fever and Aces to advance to the semifinals and salutes the efforts of the Dream, and especially the Storm, in defeat. They also preview Game 3 in Phoenix and figure out what lessons the Libe...

The first games of the postseason are in the books! Zena, Ben, and Sabreena share their takeaways after Sunday's games, from the Liberty’s road overtime win to the Aces continued hot streak -- providing insights into player performances and strategies that could impact each series in game 2. Plus, we discuss the impact of the growing popularity of the WNBA -- specifically on ticket prices and fan...

Zena, Sabreena and Ben discuss the final few days of the Chicago Sky’s season before turning their attention to 2025 WNBA Playoffs. They break down each of the four first-round series, discussing key matchups and X-factors, before predicting who will advance. Then, they offer predictions for who will win it all this postseason.  _________________ Visit our YouTube page! _________________ Get...

We will have our full 2025 WNBA playoff preview episode dropping later today!   _________________ Visit our YouTube page! _________________ Get in touch! Leave a comment wherever you’re listening, or write to us at: NoOffseason@theathletic.com You can also find us on social media: -Instagram: @tanooffseason -TikTok: @no_offseason -Zena on BlueSky: @zenakeita -Ben on BlueSky: @benpickman...

As the playoff standings are taking shape - Zena, Ben and Sabreena delve into the impressive win streak of the Las Vegas Aces and the evolving dynamics of teams like the New York Liberty and the Golden State Valkyries.  Then, their conversation shifts to their award predictions!  Will this be a year of repeats? Who will be the MVP? Is it an easy choice for Coach of the Year? The crew con...

With the WNBA season nearing a close, Zena, Sabreena and Ben discuss Angel Reese’s comments on the future of the Chicago Sky before coming with a group of made-up WNBA awards. Then, Las Vegas Aces forward Cheyenne Parker-Tyus joins the show to share her insights on returning to the court two months after giving birth, balancing motherhood with her playing career and her decision to join the Las Ve...

In this bonus episode, Ben Pickman and Sabreena Merchant discuss Caitlin Clark's injury announcement and its implications for her season and the Indiana Fever. They analyze the impact of her absence on the Fever's future and the overall growth of the WNBA. The conversation highlights the challenges faced by the Fever this season and the missed opportunities for the league due to Clark's injury. Th...

It's time once again for our mailbag episode! Zena, Ben and Sabreena answer your questions on all the buzzworthy topics of the 2025 WNBA season. Is there transparency in injury reporting? Has advanced analytics changed the way rookies have come into the league? Does the WNBA lack the depth to sustain expansion? And do special whistles exist in the W? Tune in to find out!   ______________...

Ben returns to the show – joining Zena and Sabreena to discuss Rhyne Howard’s post-game comments concerning “MVP” chants breaking out for A’ja Wilson during the Aces-Dream game in Atlanta – plus, the crew digs in on Caitlin Clark’s new signature brand logo with Nike. Then, they do a deep dive on the Golden State Valkyries inaugural season – why they’ve had so much success both on the court and off...

Zena and Sabreena discuss the highlights from this past weekend in the WNBA – from the Aces extending their winning streak to the Storm increasing their playoff probability. And, in light of Chicago Sky coach Tyler Marsh’s ejection from the Sky-Sun game on Saturday, they debate the difference between the W’s infamous “physicality” and outright fouls. Then, Zena and Sabreena take a deep dive into t...

A record-breaking 2025 season continues for the WNBA, and Zena and Sabreena are back to break down two of the biggest moments of the week: Sue Bird’s statue unveiling in Seattle and Paige Bueckers’ rookie-record 44 points against the Sparks, even in a losing effort. They also touch on some more injury news out of Indiana and Dallas and even more drama regarding the attempted sale of the Connecticu...

Zena and Sabreena take stock of a historic WNBA weekend, including A’ja Wilson, Paige Bueckers, and Kelsey Plum all reaching individual milestones while the Golden State Valkyries set a record for the most wins by an expansion team. They also get into the latest injury news out of Indiana.  Then, senior investigative writer Carson Kessler joins Zena and Sabreena to discuss The Athletic’s late...

Zena, Sabreena, and Ben start with a temperature check of the WNBA. They dive into the Las Vegas Aces’ five-game winning streak and what their latest win over New York tells us about each of the rival squads. They also share their thoughts on the hatching of Violet, the new mascot of the Valkyries, and the increasingly complicated potential sale of the Connecticut Sun.  Then, Meg Linehan (wom...

Zena, Ben, and Sabreena break down the start to WNBA Rivals Week – discussing some key injuries around the W that have dampened excitement for some of these matchups. They also touch upon A'ja Wilson's historic night, and how DiJonai Carrington and Brittney Sykes are making an impact on their new teams. Then, the crew turns their attention to who could be the 2025 WNBA MVP. What gets factored into...

Zena and Sabreena recap the Brittney Sykes and Aaliyah Edwards trades made at the WNBA trade deadline, and assess Seattle's potential as a contender, plus Washington's direction after its surprising hot start.  Then, Ben joins to discuss his reporting on the wave of bright green sex toys being thrown onto WNBA courts. He takes us into the world of memecoins and crypto disruptions and what thi...

Zena, Ben, and Sabreena discuss a busy weekend in the W: Phee’s ankle injury, DiJonai’s trade to the Lynx, and the potential sale and relocation of the Connecticut Sun. Sabreena and Ben share their insider perspective and reporting around how likely this sale is to go through – and the complications that could derail it. Then, Sabreena’s power rankings are back in action - and so is the Sabreena S...

Zena and Ben talk about the wacky week that was in the W, with bright green instruments hitting the court and Sparky the LA mascot hitting the deck hard during halftime. Next, they discuss the first rematch of the Minnesota Lynx and the New York Liberty since their finals run last season. Then, with a few big upsets around the Association this week, they turn their attention to some bigger questio...

The gang is back together to talk about an action-packed weekend in the WNBA – from the Liberty-Sparks buzzer beater to fortunes starting to turn for the Valks and the Lynx.  Then, basketball and business writer for The Athletic Mike Vorkunov joins the pod to talk about the working relationship between the WNBA and the NBA. With a special focus on CBA negotiations and expansion, Zena, Ben and...