No Offseason: The Athletic Women's Basketball Show

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 Carolina, LSU’s scoring streak, and A...

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—how the lottery works, the top pr...

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 down the 2024 vs. 2025 WNBA roo...

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 big question: What makes for a gre...

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 move. From there, it’s on to WNBA A...

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 appeal of golf among athletes and th...

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 involvement, what the league brings...

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 Traveled”

REFERENCES: 

P...

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 is poised to be the face of colleg...

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. Drake, senior advisor and legal co...

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 catch reigning champs UConn? Ho...

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 revisit the 2019 WNBA Draft — a class...

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

-TikTok...

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 officiating standards in the WNB...

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 absolutely stumps Zena and Sabreena wi...

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 Phoenix Mercury. 

Then - they tur...

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 Finals end?

Then -the crew discuss th...

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 into what the Mercury need to do to...

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? 

Then they turn their attention t...