No Offseason: The Athletic Women’s Basketball Show

Episode: Angel Reese's Comments, WNBA Awards & Cheyenne Parker-Tyus on Motherhood

Date: September 5, 2025

Hosts: Zena Keita, Sabrina Merchant, Ben Pickman

Episode Overview

This episode of No Offseason dives headfirst into the never-ending drama of the WNBA, starting with Angel Reese’s candid and controversial remarks about the Chicago Sky’s roster and future. The team unpacks the fallout, assesses Chicago’s options, and reflects on how honesty in women’s basketball can challenge player and fan dynamics alike. The crew then hands out their own, tongue-in-cheek “mock awards” for standout players, moments, and personalities of the season. Finally, Ben Pickman interviews Las Vegas Aces forward Cheyenne Parker-Tyus, exploring the realities of returning to WNBA play just two months after giving birth, the challenges of motherhood in the league, and how teams can better support player-parents.

Main Segments & Timestamps

1. Angel Reese’s Comments and Sky Fallout (01:53–10:43)

Key Discussion Points

• Angel Reese's Public Frustration

  • Context: Reese’s remarks in the Chicago Tribune, airing frustrations over Sky’s roster construction and calling for more “great players.”
  • Sabrina summarizes:

    “Angel Reese provided a great sort of obituary of what the 2025 Chicago Sky season was...she doesn’t trust the playmakers other than Courtney [Vandersloot]...she wants Tyler Marsh to coach them harder. She said lack of talent isn’t an excuse.” (03:18)

  • Reese pointedly questions why free agents would want to come to the Sky, saying, “It’s not like we’re offering them things that other teams cannot.” (03:55)

• Team Dynamics and Locker Room Impact

  • Sabrina points out the timing:

    “She had to go back in the locker room and address all of those teammates afterwards. So the timing is a little different from where you would expect most stars to make a statement like this.” (04:55)

  • Zena: “It’s unprecedented for someone to be so direct and so vocal.” (07:08)

• Immediate Fallout and Possible Futures

  • Ben explains:

    “The fallout is a little bit TBD...who maybe comes back next year, who doesn’t, what players end up joining the Chicago Sky. Angel...did apologize to her teammates.” (05:40)

  • Ben on why frustrations are valid:

    “Chicago has 30 losses as of Thursday night. They have lost 10 of those games by 20 or more points. That is pretty crazy.” (06:12)

• Sky’s Next Steps & Team-Building Dilemmas

  • Sabrina: “Angel Reese wants this to be a swift process...I look at the Sky and I see a team that needs to take more time to be more discreet in how they build...They’ve boxed themselves into a corner.” (08:43)
  • Advice: Accept the need for a slow, patient rebuild and focus on undervalued players.
  • Zena, in summary:

    “Angel said what needed to be said about her organization...Many players have done this before. She will not be the last.” (11:50)

2. WNBA “Mock Awards” – Recognizing the Season’s Standouts (12:09–29:31)

a. Role Player of the Year (13:05)

• Ben’s Pick: Haley Jones (Dallas Wings)
  • Award Name: “Atlanta Smith Long Acronym Award or Odyssey Sims Hardship Queen Award”

    “Waived at the end of training camp…but has started the last 13 games...really changed the trajectory of her career.” (13:25)

• Sabrina’s Pick: Sammy Wickham (Phoenix Mercury)
  • “Just a player who can shoot the ball like hell... brings a lot of joy to that Mercury team.” (15:04)
• Zena’s Pick: Kyla Charles (Golden State Valkyries)
  • “She has done everything that a role player should do.” (16:12)

b. “Mama” Leadership Award (18:54)

• Zena: Dearica Hamby (Los Angeles Sparks) – “the mama of the league”
• Sabrina: Nneka Ogwumike (Seattle Storm) – “She is the president of the players union, making sure everyone has what they need — that mom energy.” (18:54)

c. Best Game or Moment (20:06)

• Ben: Sammy Wickham’s 29-point first half on July 7 against the Wings

  “First player this season to score 20 in any quarter...a once in a lifetime performance.” (20:06)

• Zena: Paige Bueckers’ 44-point game – “came out of nowhere...especially in a clutch situation.” (21:06)
• Sabrina: Caitlin Clark’s three-point barrage vs. New York & her face-off with Breanna Stewart – “I really enjoyed that moment.” (21:42)

d. Best Bench Celebrations/Conduct (24:35)

• Zena & Sabrina: Golden State Valkyries’ bench (esp. Caitlin Chen and Leticia Amihir) – “It feels like NCAAs...they have done a great job of bonding.” (24:35, 25:24)
• Ben: Mercury/Liberty coach confusion & bench “hat and beret” fine – “I’ve never seen a coach do that before...that is my overall bench conduct award.” (25:58)

e. Best Team Social/“Admin” Account (27:43)

• Sabrina: Las Vegas Aces social accounts – "They're always very good at promoting their players...it helps that they have big personalities." (27:43)
• Ben: Minnesota Lynx for Stud Buds (Natisha Hiedeman and Courtney Williams) and Golden State Valkyries for their mascot rollout. (28:54)
• Zena: Honorable mention to Phoenix Mercury’s Kalia Copper bobblehead video. (29:31)

3. Interview – Cheyenne Parker-Tyus on Motherhood & Returning to the WNBA (32:11–52:32)

Balancing Motherhood & Elite Basketball

• Cheyenne opens with how her days are now structured between newborn care, training, and playbook study:

  “It takes two days, it takes a lot of hours out of the day, but it’s been worth it. I’ve enjoyed every moment of it. Just having to nurse and pump in between workout sessions or learning the plays...” (33:19)

• On support systems, Cheyenne credits her husband and Aces’ staff:

  “It takes a village...some mornings my daughter wants to go with me and the staff is like, ‘Please bring her!’” (35:55)

• Best Aces babysitter?

  “Probably Jewell [Loyd]...Her and Naomi have clicked...but Naomi’s a handful. She probably runs circles around Jewell.” (37:26)

Choosing Las Vegas Aces & Organizational Support

• Cheyenne’s move to the Aces:

  “I really appreciated how invested they were in me from the jump...Becky’s championship pedigree...I want to win a championship before I hang it up.” (38:13)

• On the past Derica Hamby situation:

  “I appreciate that they were that invested in me as a player and willing to wait for me to have my child and come back, because it could have went another way, you know.” (39:40)

Message to Other Players & Policy Needs

• Returning post-childbirth:

  “Being a professional athlete should not...stop a player from wanting to compete. There’s been a stigma...that once you have a baby you’re done...I want to portray that it can be done.” (43:15)

• What the league can do better for mothers:
  • Improved per diem for caregivers
  • Better housing (extra bedroom for caregivers/children)
  • Private family/nursing rooms in arenas

• “Just little things like that to support our moms in the league.” (45:56)

On Community Among Player-Parents

• “There should be like a mom group in the league...so we can have a support system because sometimes it can feel a little isolating.” (48:47)

On the Aces’ Team Chemistry

• “The best thing so far...is just watching the team go through adversity and staying together...and I haven’t seen that in my career.” (50:32)

4. Setting Your Screen: Previewing the Must-Watch Games (54:04–56:03)

Featured Matchups

• Sabrina: Chicago Sky vs. Las Vegas Aces (high stakes, defensive test for Chicago). (54:44)
• Ben: New York Liberty at Seattle Storm – Storm fighting for playoffs, Liberty looking to regroup. (55:21)
• Zena: Sunday’s Dallas Wings vs. Sparks for “bragging rights.” (56:03)

Notable Quotes & Moments

• On Angel Reese’s Candid Remarks
  Sabrina Merchant:

  “Said a lot of the quiet parts out loud, Angel Reese did.” (03:55)

• On Team Building & Fast Fixes
  Sabrina Merchant:

  “Sometimes you just have to accept the sunk cost... I just don’t think they can be competitive this quickly. Maybe that’s not good enough for Angel, but I think it’s the only way that really makes sense for this team right now.” (09:36)

• Mock Award, “Role Player of the Year”
  Ben Pickman:

  “Haley Jones gets the nod for me...really changed the trajectory of her career with how she has played especially in the second half of the season.” (13:25)

• Cheyenne Parker-Tyus on Motherhood:

  “Having a baby doesn’t end all. It actually enhances in a way. It brings like another level of strength and another level of motivation because now I have two little ones that I want to show...mommy has the strength and the power to do anything I set my mind to.” (43:15)

• On the Need for Better Support for Moms:
  Cheyenne Parker-Tyus:

  “Just having a private, intimate room in the arenas for moms, that’s not something that’s very common...just little things like that to support our moms in the league.” (45:56)

Episode Tone & Style

• Spirited, irreverent, and personal — the hosts don’t shy from mixing candid opinions with deep basketball analysis.
• Peer-to-peer respect and humor throughout, especially in awards banter.
• Interview segments are warm, empathetic, and highly informative, spotlighting Cheyenne’s openness about motherhood and her WNBA journey.

Takeaways for Non-Listeners

• Angel Reese’s public criticism signals a new era of athlete candor—but also spotlights the ongoing struggles and high stakes facing the Chicago Sky.
• The season has been defined by unexpected contributions from role players, charismatic leadership, unforgettable moments (especially in high-scoring and close games), and the infectious joy of bench celebrations.
• Social media and off-court personalities are shaping fan engagement as much as on-court performance.
• Cheyenne Parker-Tyus’s candid interview exposes the persistent challenges faced by mothers in pro basketball and calls for improved systemic support.
• The league remains wide open and must-watch as the postseason approaches.

Next Up: Stay tuned for the next episode with the crew’s official WNBA award picks and in-depth playoff preview!