No Offseason: The Athletic Women's Basketball Show

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 wrap -games to have your eye on this weekend during the Commissioner's Cup.

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References:

Without Caitlin Clark, what will the Indiana Fever look like? by Ben Pickman

Without Caitlin Clark, the Fever must avoid spiraling. Here are 3 pieces of advice by Sabreena Merchant

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Get in touch! Leave a comment wherever you’re listening, or write to us at: [email protected]

You can also find us on social media:

-Instagram: @tanooffseason

-TikTok: @no_offseason

-Zena on BlueSky: @zenakeita

-Ben on BlueSky: @benpickman

-Sabreena on BlueSky: @sabreenajm

Visit the Yahoo Women’s Sports Hub

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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.

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.

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Visit our YouTube page!

_________________

Get in touch! Leave a comment wherever you’re listening, or write to us at: [email protected]

You can also reach out on on social media:

-Instagram: @tanooffseason

-TikTok: @no_offseason

-Zena on BlueSky: @zenakeita

-Ben on BlueSky: @benpickman

-Sabreena on BlueSky: @sabreenajm

Visit the Yahoo Women’s Sports Hub

__

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.

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.

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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 record valuation of $450 million: Sources by Ben Pickman

Paige Bueckers’ pro debut in Minnesota was a reflection of her roots and inspiration by Chantel Jennings

Q&A: Dawn Staley says Charlamagne tha God convinced her to write her memoir by Chantel Jennings

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Get in touch! Leave a comment wherever you’re listening, or write to us at: [email protected]

You can also find us on social media:

-Instagram: @tanooffseason

-TikTok: @no_offseason

-Zena on BlueSky: @zenakeita

-Ben on BlueSky: @benpickman

-Sabreena on BlueSky: @sabreenajm

Visit the Yahoo Women’s Sports Hub

__

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.

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 Bird’s new role at USA Basketball, and the Liberty’s record-breaking valuation. Then, Diana Taurasi sits down with Ben to talk about fellow UConn alum, Paige Bueckers’ adjustment to the WNBA, her own life in retirement, and what might be next in her basketball future.

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Visit our YouTube page!

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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 record valuation of $450 million: Sources by Ben Pickman

Paige Bueckers’ pro debut in Minnesota was a reflection of her roots and inspiration by Chantel Jennings

_________________

Get in touch! Leave a comment wherever you’re listening, or write to us at: [email protected]

You can also find us on social media:

-Instagram: @tanooffseason

-TikTok: @no_offseason

-Zena on BlueSky: @zenakeita

-Ben on BlueSky: @benpickman

-Sabreena on BlueSky: @sabreenajm

Visit the Yahoo Women’s Sports Hub

__

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 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 too early for some way too early half-baked takes, which the crew dishes out based on this opening weekend of games. To wrap, Zena tests Ben and Sabreena’s knowledge of record-making players and their stats.

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Visit our YouTube page!

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References:

Sabreena's Power Rankings

WNBA looking into allegations of hateful comments toward Angel Reese by Ben Pickman

Match That Player trivia created by Erin Shupe 

_________________

Send us a question for our mailbag episode!

Leave a comment wherever you’re listening, or write to us at: [email protected]

Or reach out on on social media:

-Instagram: @tanooffseason

-TikTok: @no_offseason

-Zena on BlueSky: @zenakeita

-Ben on BlueSky: @benpickman

-Sabreena on BlueSky: @sabreenajm

Visit the Yahoo Women’s Sports Hub

__

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 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 cutdowns, and news that impacts upcoming international competitions.

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Visit our YouTube page!

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References:

WNBA predictions: Who will win the 2025 championship? Who will win MVP? by Sabreena Merchant, Ben Pickman and Chantel Jennings

All-WNBA preseason teams: A’ja Wilson, Napheesa Collier, Caitlin Clark and more by Sabreena Merchant, Ben Pickman, Chantel Jennings, Zena Keita, and Shannon Ryan

Connecticut Sun ownership exploring sale of team: ‘All options are on the table’ by Ben Pickman

WNBA Schedule

_________________

Send us a question for our mailbag episode!

Leave a comment wherever you’re listening, or write to us at: [email protected]

Or reach out on on social media:

-Instagram: @tanooffseason

-TikTok: @no_offseason

-Zena on BlueSky: @zenakeita

-Ben on BlueSky: @benpickman

-Sabreena on BlueSky: @sabreenajm

Visit the Yahoo Women’s Sports Hub

__

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.

It’s our big Indiana Fever preview pod! Zena, Ben, and Sabreena break down everything you need to know about the upcoming WNBA season for Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever, including: Caitlin Clark’s offseason training regimen, new head coach Steph White’s strategic moves and Indiana roots, the depth of the roster, how far this team could go, and more. Plus, the inaugural rendition of the Sabreena Scales - aka Sabreena’s Weekly Power Rankings, and a whopper of a game called “Name That Clark!”

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Visit our YouTube page!

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References:

Sabreena's WNBA Preseason Power Rankings

Takeaways from Caitlin Clark, Indiana Fever’s preseason: Will her quad injury linger? by Ben Pickman

No Offseason Interview with Stephanie White and Kelly Krauskopf - from November 2024

_________________

Send us a question for our mailbag episode!

Leave a comment wherever you’re listening, or write to us at: [email protected]

Or reach out on on social media:

-Instagram: @tanooffseason

-TikTok: @no_offseason

-Zena on BlueSky: @zenakeita

-Ben on BlueSky: @benpickman

-Sabreena on BlueSky: @sabreenajm

Visit the Yahoo Women’s Sports Hub

__

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.

In this episode, we’re stepping off the court and into the culture – to discuss all the ways in which the WNBA, and women’s basketball in general, impact our society at large. We’re talking: what’s the purpose of rivalries? Do they exist in the W? Is Caitlin vs Angel even real? And we’re also talking style, fashion, and brands – downloading on the Met Gala, those iconic A’ja Wilson A’One ads, and the W references popping up all over TV. Then, Zena chats with stylist and fashion designer, Brittany Hampton, who shares the inside story on crafting Paige Bueckers’ looks for the recent WNBA Draft, as well as her takes on the fits from the Met Gala and the unique fire of WNBA Tunnel Style.

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Visit our YouTube page!

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References:

WNBA 2025 Rivalry Week Match-ups

WNBA players, WNBPA say Cathy Engelbert’s comments on Clark-Reese rivalry were a ‘fumble’ by Ben Pickman and Lukas Weese

A’ja Wilson A’One Nike Ads: Here and Here

Brittany Hampton featured in: Paige Bueckers: A Basketball Star is Born by Abigail Covington

_________________

Get in touch: [email protected]

Follow us on social media:

-Instagram: @tanooffseason

-TikTok: @no_offseason

-Zena on BlueSky: @zenakeita

-Ben on BlueSky: @benpickman

-Sabreena on BlueSky: @sabreenajm

Visit the Yahoo Women’s Sports Hub

__

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, Ben, and Sabreena check in on the first few preseason WNBA games, then turn their attention to the league’s first expansion team in over 15 years: the Golden State Valkyries. How did this team come together? What might the Valks’ first season look like? And who will be their starting five? Next, they dive into the future of expansion in the W – Toronto, Portland, and beyond. Which cities are rumored to be the league’s next team – or teams? What’s the going rate for a WNBA team? And why do so many ownership groups have ties to the NBA? The crew rounds out the show with another rendition of Two Takes and a Lie.

_________________

Visit our YouTube page!

_________________

Get in touch: [email protected]

Follow us on social media:

-Instagram: @tanooffseason

-TikTok: @no_offseason

-Zena on BlueSky: @zenakeita

-Ben on BlueSky: @benpickman

-Sabreena on BlueSky: @sabreenajm

__

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, Ben, and Sabreena turn their attention toward the Western Conference of the WNBA, and ask some pressing questions about the upcoming WNBA season. Is the Aces dynasty over? Can Napheesa Collier and the Lynx take the title this year? Will the LA Sparks ever be good again? Then, Sabreena and Ben attempt to blind rank some of Zena’s dynamic duos of the West.

_________________

Visit our YouTube page!

_________________

Get in touch: [email protected]

Follow us on social media:

-Instagram: @tanooffseason

-TikTok: @no_offseason

-Zena on BlueSky: @zenakeita

-Ben on BlueSky: @benpickman

-Sabreena on BlueSky: @sabreenajm

Visit the Yahoo Women’s Sports Hub

__

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.