No Offseason: The Athletic Women's Basketball Show – Details, episodes & analysis

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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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

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Get in touch: NoOffseason@theathletic.com

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

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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.

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Visit our YouTube page!

_________________

Get in touch: NoOffseason@theathletic.com

Follow us on social media:

-Instagram: @tanooffseason

-TikTok: @no_offseason

-Zena on BlueSky: @zenakeita

-Ben on BlueSky: @benpickman

-Sabreena on BlueSky: @sabreenajm

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Zena, Ben, Chantel, and Sabreena are together in Tampa to discuss the 2025 NCAA Women’s Basketball C hampionship game: UConn’s decisive victory over defending champs, South Carolina. They talk about the mood in the arena, the dominance of Bueckers, Strong, and Fudd, the way sarcasm bonds Geno and Paige, and where Dawn Staley might look to shore up South Carolina’s roster.

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Visit our YouTube page! https://www.youtube.com/@No-Offseason

Find us on socials:

-Instagram: @tanooffseason

-TikTok: @no_offseason

-Zena on X: @itszenakeita

-Ben on X: @benpickman

-Sabreena on BlueSky: @sabreenajm

-Chantel on X: @chanteljennings

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In what has been a busy week in women's basketball, Zena Keita, Ben Pickman and Sabreena Merchant discuss the potential new winner of the college basketball offseason. Then, they reflect on Candace Parker's retirement from the WNBA and her impact on the sport, before finishing up with their impressions from the start of WNBA training camps and which roster battles are especially intriguing.

-Follow Zena on X: @itszenakeita

-Follow Ben on X: @benpickman

-Follow Sabreena on X: @sabreenajm

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With just a few days to go until the transfer portal closes, Zena, Ben and Chantel discuss the college teams that have had the best (and the worst) times with the portal this offseason. And with WNBA training camps around the corner, Ben gives an update on what each franchise is going through right now as they prep to have players in market for camps starting Sunday.

-Follow Zena on X: @itszenakeita

-Follow Ben on X: @benpickman

-Follow Chantel on X: @chanteljennings

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Zena, Ben, and Sabreena break down the most anticipated WNBA Draft in history. Ben shares stories from on the ground in Brooklyn. They also dive into the frontcourt duos that were created in the first round as well as what the defending champion Las Vegas Aces were able to accomplish before crowning their steals and surprises and revisiting some pre-draft predictions.

-Follow Zena on X: @itszenakeita

-Follow Ben on X: @benpickman

-Follow Sabreena on X: @sabreenajm

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Zena, Ben, and Sabreena go deep on the WNBA Draft. They outline the projected outcomes of the lottery picks, highlight players who could go higher than expected, and make bold predictions for Monday.

-Follow Zena on X: @itszenakeita

-Follow Ben on X: @benpickman

-Follow Sabreena on X: @sabreenajm

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Zena Keita, Ben Pickman and Chantel Jennings discuss the new Tennessee coach, Kentucky’s hiring of Kenny Brooks, Tara VanDerveer’s sudden retirement and the names filling up the transfer portal in women’s college basketball.

-Follow Zena on X: @itszenakeita

-Follow Ben on X: @benpickman

-Follow Chantel on X: @chanteljennings

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Sabreena Merchant, Ben Pickman and Chantel Jennings reconvened the morning after the national title game to discuss how the Gamecocks — with an entirely new starting lineup — found a way to win their program's third championship. Then, Sabreena and Chantel look ahead to next season as they break down the Way Too Early Top-25.

-Follow Ben on X: @benpickman

-Follow Chantel on X: @chanteljennings

-Follow Sabreena on X: @sabreenajm

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From Cleveland, Ben Pickman, Sabreena Merchant and Chantel Jennings preview the national championship match up between the nation's two top teams — South Carolina and Iowa. They examine the keys for each team, discuss the legacy implications for the potential winners and finally, make their picks.

-Follow Ben on X: @benpickman

-Follow Chantel on X: @chanteljennings

-Follow Sabreena on X: @sabreenajm

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