No Offseason: The Athletic Women's Basketball Show

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 shaped the team, how the players have stayed together, and how UCLA is viewed nationally, ending with a look at their potential WNBA draft prospects.

The conversation wraps up with a fun game of Start, Bench, Cut.

REFERENCES: 

Duke’s season turnaround is official after taking down No. 6 Louisville by Sabreena Merchant

Women’s college basketball rankings: Tennessee’s troubling tumble, Texas impresses by Sabreena Merchant

__

No Offseason is a part of The Athletic Podcast Network

Email us: [email protected]

Sign up for the No Offseason newsletter!

YT: @No-Offseason 

IG: @tanooffseason

TikTok: @no_offseason

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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”— those fighting for a spot in the NCAA Tournament. They explore why signature wins matter, how conference schedules shape resumes, and which teams to keep an eye on as the season winds down. Eden provides insights into the challenges faced by mid-major teams and the fluctuating nature of rankings as the tournament approaches.

Lastly, we wrap things up with a matching exercise where we pair women's basketball players with an olympic sport.

REFERENCES: 

A question for WNBA, players union during CBA talks: Where’s the urgency? by Sabreena Merchant 

Women’s basketball bubble watch: Will Iowa State make the tournament? by Eden Laase

__

No Offseason is a part of The Athletic Podcast Network

Email us: [email protected]

Sign up for the No Offseason newsletter!

YT: @No-Offseason 

IG: @tanooffseason

TikTok: @no_offseason

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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, whose team defense you absolutely don’t want to face, and which player you’d trust with the final shot. These are the moments that make us stop and ask: which would we rather have?

Finally, we wrap things up by answering a question from one of their listeners.

REFERENCES: 

Women’s college basketball rankings: Iowa, TCU, Maryland slip after injuries by Sabreena Merchant

UConn’s undefeated quest in women’s basketball embodies chase for total perfection by Chantel Jennings

__

No Offseason is a part of The Athletic Podcast Network

Email us: [email protected]

Sign up for the No Offseason newsletter!

YT: @No-Offseason 

IG: @tanooffseason

TikTok: @no_offseason

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 dominance, from the legendary era of Rebecca Lobo, Diana Taurasi, Maya Moore, Breanna Stewart, to Paige Bueckers. We break down how this sustained success has left its mark on women’s college basketball — and question whether it’s been entirely good for the sport. Plus, we wonder: could this year’s team run the table and win back-to-back championships? 

Then, Chantel quizzes Zena and Sabreena on quotes from Geno Auriemma, challenging them to guess which player each quote is about. Finally, we close with the must-watch games to set your screens to this weekend.

REFERENCES: 

Caitlin Clark joining NBC Sports for its new Sunday night NBA pregame show by Devon Henderson and Andrew Marchand

We want to hear from you! We’re asking you to fill out a quick survey about you and your podcast habits by going to theathletic.com/survey26. Three lucky entries will win $100 worth of Amazon vouchers!

__

No Offseason is a part of The Athletic Podcast Network

Email us: [email protected]

Sign up for the No Offseason newsletter!

YT: @No-Offseason 

IG: @tanooffseason

TikTok: @no_offseason

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 back to the court, the conversation shifts to Indiana football’s historic win under Coach Curt Cignetti. They examine how investment, coaching, transfer portal strategy, and culture came together to form a championship formula—and discuss how women’s college basketball programs can adopt a similar blueprint, highlighting teams already on that path.

Finally, we wrap things up with a question: Is there a “hot seat” in women’s college basketball?

REFERENCES: 

Aaliyah Chavez, Oklahoma stun South Carolina in overtime victory by Sabreena Merchant

Women's college basketball rankings: Is Duke's 11-game winning streak legit ... or a quirk? by Sabreena Merchant 

South Carolina cruises past Vanderbilt, ending Commodores’ undefeated season by Chantel Jennings

Right now, ‘nothing feels right’ in Minneapolis. An NBA basketball game is no exception by Jon Krawczynski

We want to hear from you! We’re asking you to fill out a quick survey about you and your podcast habits by going to theathletic.com/survey26. Three lucky entries will win $100 worth of Amazon vouchers!

__

No Offseason is a part of The Athletic Podcast Network

Email us: [email protected]

Sign up for the No Offseason newsletter!

YT: @No-Offseason 

IG: @tanooffseason

TikTok: @no_offseason

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 potential host teams, surprise teams that could get in, the significance of NET rankings, and the contenders for the top seed.

Finally, we close out with Set Your Screens, your guide to catching all the action in women’s college basketball.

REFERENCES: 

WNBA releases 2026 schedule amid CBA negotiations by Sabreena Merchant 

How NYU women’s basketball quietly became DIII’s No.1 team. No NIL, little attention, just winning by Eden Laase

We want to hear from you! We’re asking you to fill out a quick survey about you and your podcast habits by going to theathletic.com/survey26. Three lucky entries will win $100 worth of Amazon vouchers!

__

No Offseason is a part of The Athletic Podcast Network

Email us: [email protected]

Sign up for the No Offseason newsletter!

YT: @No-Offseason 

IG: @tanooffseason

TikTok: @no_offseason

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 Ohio State vs. TCU and Vanderbilt vs. Michigan, where strengths were tested and flaws exposed. They step back to assess UConn’s continued dominance, Notre Dame’s challenges, and the bigger question looming over the season: is women’s college basketball finally leveling out?

Plus, Chantel Jennings returns as she takes the hot seat for a game of Two Truths and a Lie.

REFERENCES: 

Kansas State stuns Texas Tech, hands Red Raiders first loss of season by Sabreena Merchant 

Women’s college basketball power rankings: South Carolina’s Raven Johnson finds her touch by Sabreena Merchant 

We want to hear from you! We’re asking you to fill out a quick survey about you and your podcast habits by going to theathletic.com/survey26. Three lucky entries will win $100 worth of Amazon vouchers!

__

No Offseason is a part of The Athletic Podcast Network

Email us: [email protected]

Sign up for the No Offseason newsletter!

YT: @No-Offseason 

IG: @tanooffseason

TikTok: @no_offseason

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 challenges and launch timing to competition with the NFL playoffs. They discuss how media rights and cross-promotion affect visibility—especially after last year’s NBA-on-TNT boost—plus how roster turnover impacts team-building. To close, they highlight the player pairings that have stood out most so far. They also dive into roster turnover and what it means for team cohesion, along with the player pairings that have caught their attention so far.

Finally, we close things out with a major news update about one of our hosts.

REFERENCES: 

WNBA and players union agree to free agency moratorium until CBA deal is reached by Sabreena Merchant

__

No Offseason is a part of The Athletic Podcast Network

Email us: [email protected]

Sign up for the No Offseason newsletter!

YT: @No-Offseason 

IG: @tanooffseason

TikTok: @no_offseason

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 the evolving landscape of women’s college basketball, focusing on the growing impact of international players in the NIL era and implications for the WNBA. They discuss how the influx of international talent brings excitement and challenges for college programs, introduces diverse playing styles, and highlights different pathways to the professional level—where international players often have more flexibility than American players facing strict draft eligibility rules. They also examine the need for clearer NCAA regulations around international participation.

Finally, we wrap things up with one of our recruiting games: “Something in Common”.

REFERENCES: 

WNBA, players union fail to reach CBA deal at deadline by Sabreena Merchant

WNBA and players union agree to free agency moratorium until CBA deal is reached by Sabreena Merchant 

No. 12 LSU women hand No. 2 Texas first loss of season by Sabreena Merchant

__

No Offseason is a part of The Athletic Podcast Network

Email us: [email protected]

Sign up for the No Offseason newsletter!

YT: @No-Offseason 

IG: @tanooffseason

TikTok: @no_offseason

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 emerging as the contender for No. 2 in the Big Ten. The crew highlights the drama and challenges teams face as the season unfolds.

Plus, we reflect on our early days in journalism, sharing personal anecdotes to inspire the next generation of reporters.

REFERENCES: 

WNBA, players union remain in CBA deadlock. Could a player strike or lockout happen? by Ben Pickman 

LSU women’s basketball stumbled to an 0-2 SEC start. Will Kim Mulkey’s squad recover? by Sabreena Merchant

__

No Offseason is a part of The Athletic Podcast Network

Email us: [email protected]

Sign up for the No Offseason newsletter!

YT: @No-Offseason 

IG: @tanooffseason

TikTok: @no_offseason

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.