No Offseason: The Athletic Women's Basketball Show

The WNBPA issued a statement emphasizing unity among players as negotiations continue with the league on a new CBA. Zena, Chantel, and Sabreena discuss the implications of the statement and where the players’ union and the league stand ahead of the drop-dead deadline. They also recap the Unrivaled championship, highlighting standout performances and the league’s continued growth.

From there, they share their predictions for the major national awards in college basketball, including Coach of the Year, Freshman of the Year, and Player of the Year. They begin by breaking down Shea Ralph’s impressive coaching success at Vanderbilt and why it makes her a strong Coach of the Year candidate. From there, they spotlight some of the most impactful freshmen across the sport before wrapping up with a debate over their Player of the Year selections, weighing each candidate’s stats and influence on their team’s success.

Finally, we wrap things up with a question from the mailbag.

REFERENCES:

WNBA player union emphasizes unity as fissures exposed in CBA negotiations by Sabreena Merchant

Breanna Stewart outduels Kelsey Plum as Mist claim Unrivaled championship by Sabreena Merchant

UConn's Sarah Strong: The Athletic's women's basketball Player of the Year by Chantel
Jennings

Vanderbilt’s Shea Ralph earns The Athletic’s women’s basketball Coach of the Year by Chantel
Jennings

The Athletic’s women’s college basketball All-America team by Sabreena Merchant, Chantel Jennings, Zena Keita and Eden Laase

Check out The Athletic Show on March 8th for an exclusive interview with Napheesa Collier

__

No Offseason is a part of The Athletic Podcast Network

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

Show Links:
-YouTube: @No-Offseason
-Instagram: @tanooffseason
-TikTok: @no_offseason

Credits:
-Zena on BlueSky: @zenakeita
-Sabreena on BlueSky: @sabreenajm
-Chantel on BlueSky: @chanteljennings
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Zena, Chantel, and Sabreena look ahead around the association, beginning their conversation with Rutgers parting ways with head coach Coquese Washington and highlighting the growing pressure to win in women’s college basketball. From there, they dive into the Sabreena Scale, focusing on some of the tight matchups from the weekend.

Next, the crew break down predictions and insights for women’s college basketball conference tournaments, including the Big Ten, SEC, ACC, Big 12, and key mid-major conferences. They discuss team performances, potential upsets, and standout players, offering a comprehensive look at what the tournaments mean heading into the NCAA Tournament.

To close things out, we play one of our recurring favorites: Something in Common.

REFERENCES:

Women's basketball power rankings: Vanderbilt, Texas will fight for No. 1 seed in SEC tourney by Sabreena Merchant

Texas jumps to No. 4 as last year’s Final Four lead updated NCAA top-16 rankings by Chantel Jennings

UConn completes 11th unbeaten regular season with rout of St. John’s by Chantel Jennings

__

No Offseason is a part of The Athletic Podcast Network

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

Show Links:
-YouTube: @No-Offseason
-Instagram: @tanooffseason
-TikTok: @no_offseason

Credits:
-Zena on BlueSky: @zenakeita
-Sabreena on BlueSky: @sabreenajm
-Chantel on BlueSky: @chanteljennings
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The WNBA is trying to create a sense of urgency with the March 10th deadline. Zena, Chantel, and Sabreena break down what’s at stake and discuss the implications if the league and the players’ union are — or aren’t — able to reach a handshake agreement in time.

Next, Chantel and Sabreena welcome Project B’s Chief Basketball Officer and WNBA Hall of Famer Alana Beard to discuss the league’s launch and its mission to fill a gap in women’s basketball. Beard also reflects on her overseas playing career, her transition into the business side of the sport, and the unforgettable message she received from the late NBA legend Kobe Bryant.

The crew wraps up by making their Unrivaled postseason predictions.

REFERENCES:

What a March CBA deal would mean for WNBA free agency, expansion and the draft by Sabreena Merchant and Chantel Jennings

__

No Offseason is a part of The Athletic Podcast Network

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

Show Links:
-YouTube: @No-Offseason
-Instagram: @tanooffseason
-TikTok: @no_offseason

Credits:
-Zena on BlueSky: @zenakeita
-Sabreena on BlueSky: @sabreenajm
-Chantel on BlueSky: @chanteljennings
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The WNBA has reached its revenue-sharing target for the first time. Chantel and Sabreena break down what that milestone means and explore its potential impact on the ongoing CBA negotiations.

They then turn to college basketball, taking a look around the country and analyzing the performances of the TCU, Minnesota, and Kentucky as they approach the NCAA tournament.

Next, they break down the race for the final No. 1 seed, explaining how the selection committee evaluates teams. They discuss strengths and weaknesses of Texas, Vanderbilt, and other SEC and Big Ten contenders, emphasizing the importance of head-to-head matchups and the implications of the SEC tournament.

To close the show, we take an early look ahead and discuss where Paige Bueckers might rank in 2026.

REFERENCES:

WNBA offers housing concession in CBA counterproposal to players by Sabreena Merchant

WNBA says 2026 season will be impacted if no deal on a CBA by March 10 by Sabreena Merchant

Women’s college basketball rankings: How Louisville, Duke tripped against bubble teams by Sabreena Merchant

Iowa puts clamps down on No. 6 Michigan for signature victory by Chantel Jennings

__

No Offseason is a part of The Athletic Podcast Network

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

Show Links:
-YouTube: @No-Offseason
-Instagram: @tanooffseason
-TikTok: @no_offseason

Credits:
-Zena on BlueSky: @zenakeita
-Sabreena on BlueSky: @sabreenajm
-Chantel on BlueSky: @chanteljennings
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Zena and Sabreena begin their conversation by discussing the complexities of the ongoing CBA negotiations, including revenue sharing, player salaries, and the potential for a strike, as both sides work to meet their demands.

Next, Zena is joined by NBA writer Shakeia Talyor to discuss the remarkable business journey of basketball star Angel Reese. They explore how Angel has leveraged her talent and social media presence to build a brand that transcends the court.

We close by examining which Unrivaled Coach has the strongest chance of transitioning into a WNBA head coaching role.

REFERENCES:

WNBA players submit counterproposal with lower revenue share, salary cap by Sabreena Merchant

The business of Angel Reese: acting, modeling, branding and, of course, basketball by Shakeia Taylor

__

No Offseason is a part of The Athletic Podcast Network

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

Show Links:
-YouTube: @No-Offseason
-Instagram: @tanooffseason
-TikTok: @no_offseason

Credits:
-Zena on BlueSky: @zenakeita
-Sabreena on BlueSky: @sabreenajm
-Chantel on BlueSky: @chanteljennings
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.