No Offseason: The Athletic Women's Basketball Show

Zena is back from vacation – and stepping into a world where the WNBA dominates her social feed. She and Ben talk about All-Star Weekend, and how the W – from the StudBudz to the players’ viral warmup shirts – has moved into a new space of cultural prominence. Next, Ben shares reporting updates on the CBA – the new collective bargaining agreement being negotiated in the WNBA – including who exactl...

Ben is joined by James Boyd, a writer for The Athletic based in Indianapolis, to dish on the winners and losers from WNBA All-Star Weekend. They go behind-the-scenes in Indy, from the CBA negotiations on Thursday to the 3-point contest on Friday night to the pre-game activism on Saturday – and the 72-hour StudBudz stream that captured it all. Then, they do a deep dive on what’s behind the “Pay Us...

Ben and Sabreena are joined by The Athletic’s very own Indianapolis-based writer, James Boyd, for a rundown of WNBA All-Star Weekend – complete with recommendations for where to eat, drink, and catch some players off the court. They talk to James about the current mood in Indianapolis, amidst the reality of another sidelining injury for Caitlin Clark -- how disappointing Clark's absence on the cou...

Ben and Sabreena dig into the details behind another big reporting project: Future Power Rankings in the WNBA. How might WNBA teams stack up against each other in five years? Which franchises are poised to be the most successful? Ben and Sabreena share the methodology behind it all – from weighting players and coaches to draft picks and facilities – and give a window into the W’s future. Plus, tho...

In our second episode covering The Athletic’s anonymous WNBA player poll project, Zena talks to Ben and Sabreena about the players’ responses to some more business-related matters: Which city should get a WNBA expansion team? If you had to pick one thing to include in the new CBA, what would it be? And: what should the maximum salary be? Then, the crew dishes on who got called out for being the le...

Zena talks to Ben and Sabreena about The Athletic ’s anonymous WNBA player poll project – drilling down on the players’ answers to two big questions: Who’s the best player in the WNBA? And five years from now, who will be the face of the league? Ben and Sabreena also divulge some answers to a question around which there was no consensus: Who is the WNBA’s most underrated player? Plus, a Phoenix-do...

Caitlin Clark’s rookie salary in the WNBA is $78,066 per year. But what is she really worth to the WNBA - and to the wider world of women’s sports? Zena talks to Ben and Sabreena about their recent reporting regarding that very question – and how that one inquiry – "what is Caitlin really worth?" – ripples out to touch nearly every aspect of the sport, from CBA negotiations to expansion, from NBA...

The full list of 2025 WNBA All-Stars is set – so it’s time for our first-ever No Offseason Mock All-Star Draft! Ben plays along as Caitlin Clark and Sabreena as Napheesa Collier, as they select their teams player by player. Then, Zena, Ben, and Sabreena admit their worst early takes of the WNBA season – and offer one new take each for good measure. The crew also checks in on how teams are faring i...

On Tuesday night, the Indiana Fever defeated the Minnesota Lynx to become the 2025 Commissioner’s Cup champs. But can the Fever sustain that momentum, especially with Clark still on the sidelines? Zena, Ben, and Sabreena discuss the game and what both teams need to do to keep improving for the rest of the season. They also get into Caitlin Clark’s comments about the disparity between the prize mon...

It’s official: starting in 2028, Cleveland will be home to the newest WNBA franchise – followed by Detroit in 2029 and Philadelphia in 2030. Zena, Ben, and Sabreena break down how these cities were decided upon, what all this expansion means for players and teams in the WNBA, what impact NBA teams and ownership have on expansion in the W, and so much more.  Plus, Caitlin Clark and Napheesa Co...

Assuming Caitlin Clark is back on the court tonight, she and Paige Bueckers will square off for their first matchup in the WNBA. But these two stars have been running alongside each other on parallel (and sometimes overlapping) tracks since their AAU days in the midwest. Zena, Ben, and Sabreena take a look at how the careers of these back-to-back #1 draft picks stack up – the similarities and the...

Zena, Ben, and Sabreena break down a big weekend of games in the WNBA – highlighting the Aces big win over the Fever, the Storm’s victory over an injury-laden Liberty, and the Valkyries’ hot streak. They also check in on the Sabreena Scale, which has a new top team this week. Then, the crew digs into our deep dive for the week – the dominance of the power forward position in the WNBA. When did thi...

The scuffle between the Indiana Fever and Connecticut Sun has sparked questions about officiating consistency and transparency. Zena, Ben, and Sabreena share thoughts about how that situation was handled and what challenges persist with WNBA refereeing, as well as why Caitlin Clark finds herself in so many dust-ups. Then, the crew give their All-Star locks, first-time All-Stars, and potential surp...

It was quite a weekend in the WNBA – and we’re here to break it down. Zena, Ben, and Sabreena dig into the details of Caitlin Clark’s return on Saturday afternoon, when she led the Indiana Fever to victory against a previously undefeated New York Liberty. Then, the crew discusses Angel Reese’s career-first triple-double, the Dallas Wings’ blown opportunity against the Aces, and the Minnesota Lynx’...

This season in the WNBA, there are seven new head coaches making their debut (not counting Stephanie White, who has held that title before at the Connecticut Sun). Some of those individuals and their respective teams are faring better than others. So, one month into the 2025 season, Zena, Ben, and Sabreena sit down to discuss these coaches – their programs, their backgrounds, their unique styles –...

Ben brings us behind-the-scenes inside the United Center this past weekend, when the Indiana Fever handed the Chicago Sky another big loss – and veteran guard Courtney Vandersloot went down with a season-ending ACL tear. Then, Zena brings us over to the Bay Area, to detail the Valkyries first blowout win – against a frustrated Aces team. Next up, Chantel breaks down everything you need to know abo...

The Commissioner’s Cup is underway – and Zena, Ben, and Sabreena are here to help you understand how the in-season tournament works and which teams and players might be set for a big payday come July 1. Next, the crew checks in on some injury updates about Paige Bueckers and Cailtin Clark, before getting into their picks for best “familiar face in a new place” – ie veteran players who’ve moved tea...

One of the greatest of all time, Candace Parker, joins the No Offseason crew to discuss her new memoir and dig into topics affecting the WNBA today like cultivating diverse coaching staffs and how the media can break away from “gentle commentating.” And to help us kick off Pride Month, Candace shares her journey to self-acceptance and embracing her sexuality. _________________ Visit our YouTube pa...

With two more guards injured on the Indiana Fever, Zena, Ben, and Sabreena discuss the intricacies of hardship contracts and roster spots – and what the near-future might look like for the Fever. Plus, they get into the latest rendition of the Sabreena Scale. Then, one of the greatest of all time, Candace Parker, joins the crew to discuss her new memoir and dig into topics affecting the WNBA today...

With Caitlin Clark out the Fever are forced to make adjustments. How will the Fever fare over the next couple weeks without Clark? Zena, Ben and Sabreena discuss Clark's overall impact and how it affects things in the W on and off the court. Then-  the rookie ladder! Who's climbing up the ladder with just a few weeks into the season? The crew tells us who their rookie of the year is. And to w...

You’ve got questions; we’ve got answers! Zena, Ben, and Sabreena get together to chat through your inquiries about the 2025 WNBA season and beyond. What makes someone a bucket? What exactly is a technical foul? Is the era of the “core four” over? And will any of the league’s big stars move teams next year with all that free agency? Tune in to find out. _________________ Visit our YouTube page! ___...

Retired WNBA star Diana Taurasi sits down with Ben Pickman as she shares her thoughts on Paige Bueckers adjusting in the WNBA, upcoming CBA negotiations and her future plans in retirement. _________________ Visit our YouTube page! _________________ References: What are WNBA players seeking in the next collective bargaining agreement? by Ben Pickman WNBA’s New York Liberty have raised capital at a...

It’s the story hovering over this entire WNBA season: the CBA, or collective bargaining agreement, is being renegotiated. Whatever document comes out on the other side is set to remake life in the W for years to come. But how exactly? Ben, Sabreena, and Chantel break down everything you need to know to wrap your mind around it all. Plus, the crew discusses Paige Bueckers’ Minnesota homecoming, Sue...

The 2025 WNBA season is underway, and off to an intense start. Zena, Ben, and Sabreena talk opening weekend - including Paige Bueckers’ big debut and the Indiana Fever’s dominant win over the Chicago Sky. The crew then gets deep into the explosive aftermath surrounding Caitlin Clark’s flagrant foul against Angel Reese, amidst the landscape of the WNBA’s No Space for Hate campaign. Plus, it’s never...

The 2025 WNBA regular season is finally here and in this episode, we’re sharing our predictions for how we think the year will shape out. We tell you who we’re picking for MVP, who we think will be on the All-WNBA teams, who we think will win the title, and which teams are going to surprise people. Also, we share our thoughts on recent developments involving Connecticut Sun ownership, roster cutdo...