No Offseason: The Athletic Women's Basketball Show

Episode: Final Four Predictions: Will Iowa make it back to the National Championship?
Release Date: April 5, 2024

Introduction

In this episode of No Offseason: The Athletic Women's Basketball Show, hosts Sabrina Merchant, Chantelle Jennings, Ben Pickman, and guest Grace Rayner delve deep into the intricacies of the upcoming Final Four matchup between Iowa and UConn. Recorded in Cleveland following media day at the Rocket Mortgage Field House, the discussion navigates through player dynamics, team strategies, media attention, and the evolving landscape of women's basketball.

Player Interactions and Legacy

Chantelle Jennings opens the discussion by addressing the apparent fatigue Caitlin Clark and Paige Beckers exhibit when repeatedly asked about their legendary 2021 Sweet 16 game. She notes, "They never actually rolled their eyes, but you could just sense it... they're a little tired of talking about that." [00:05:46]

Sabrina Merchant concurs, highlighting the extensive history between Clark and Beckers, having competed in AAU and USA Basketball. She empathizes with Caitlin Clark's exhaustive press schedule, stating, "I honestly felt a little badly for Caitlin for having to do so many press conferences today." [00:06:31]

The conversation shifts to the impact of Nika Mule's foul trouble on UConn's defensive strategy. Chantelle emphasizes, "If she gets into early foul trouble, especially, I could see it getting out of hand." [00:08:10]

Team Strategies and Key Match-Ups

Ben Pickman raises concerns about Nika Mule's approach to defense, questioning whether she might adopt a more aggressive stance that could jeopardize her availability. He asks, "Does she go into this match with that same mentality, like, I'm gonna go get my four and go be super physical, or is she going in, pumping the brakes a little bit?" [00:09:58]

The hosts dissect the potential defensive switches, especially if Mule accumulates fouls, possibly forcing Paige Beckers to take on Caitlin Clark for extended periods. Sabrina speculates, "...there's gonna be some shifting and a lot more team defense, because, you know, it's Caitlin Clark. You can't just have one person guard her for 40 minutes." [00:09:58]

Chantelle brings attention to the graceful handling of defensive assignments during high-pressure moments, noting how Beckers managed to elevate her game against Juju Watkins in previous matchups. She adds, "...she really has played well when she was guarding Juju... that was really special." [00:11:27]

Media Attention and Growth of Women's Basketball

A significant portion of the discussion revolves around the burgeoning media attention surrounding women's basketball. Chantelle shares anecdotes of casual conversations where fans refer to players by their first names, indicating a deepening connection with the sport. "This tournament has put [coach] Wes Moore on such a pedestal..." [00:16:56]

Love recounts instances where even non-basketball fans are engaging with the sport, such as overhearing someone refer to Caitlin Clark by her first name alone in a CVS store. "Like, we saw that firsthand and I think it was a moment that stuck out to us to start the day." [00:17:47]

Ben Pickman remarks on the familiarity fans now have with the players, stating, "...we're on that first name basis with where, you know, you can just talk to a casual fan and be like, oh, my gosh, have you seen what juju did this year?" [00:16:39]

Underdog Story: NC State's Rise

The conversation shifts to NC State's unexpected journey to the Final Four. Ben Pickman shares his intrigue with their underdog spirit, "They are the loosest team here, which is such an interesting thing to watch, given that they have probably the hardest matchup." [00:20:27]

Sabrina Merchant elaborates on NC State's resilience and key players, mentioning Aziah James, Mimi Collins, and Madison Hayes as pivotal contributors. She posits, "If they can just hold them, you know, run him off the line, pow pow doesn't get going... NC State's an awesome defensive rebounding team." [00:28:02]

Chantelle Jennings highlights coach Wes Moore's charismatic presence and the team's relaxed demeanor, which contrasts with more seasoned squads. She notes, "...they are fine that if they win on Friday night and they win on Sunday and they are the national champions, and they didn't lead podcasts, they didn't lead debate shows..." [00:24:09]

Predictions and Conclusions

As the episode progresses towards its conclusion, the hosts share their predictions for the semifinal games and the national championship.

• Ben Pickman supports South Carolina, citing their bench depth as a decisive factor. "I like South Carolina and Iowa and I like South Carolina to win it all. I just think their bench scoring something ridiculous, like 33 points a game is the biggest matchup problem in this tournament." [00:37:57]

• Sabrina Merchant leans towards Iowa securing a victory over NC State, hoping for a "storybook ending" for Caitlin Clark. "I think we're due for a Caitlin Clark storybook ending. So I think it's gonna be Iowa over NC State." [00:38:16]

• Chantelle Jennings also favors Iowa but envisions a championship matchup between Iowa and South Carolina. "I am going to go with South Carolina over Iowa in the national championship, completing the undefeated season." [00:38:48]

• Love echoes the sentiment of South Carolina's potential dominance, emphasizing their balanced gameplay and historical resilience. "I am going to go with South Carolina over Iowa in the national championship, completing the undefeated season." [00:38:48]

Sabrina wraps up by encouraging listeners to stay tuned for further coverage and to subscribe to the podcast for ongoing analysis. "Make sure you subscribe to the Athletic Women's Basketball show wherever you listen to your podcasts and enjoy the Final Four." [00:39:14]

Final Thoughts

This episode offers a comprehensive analysis of the Final Four dynamics, highlighting player interactions, strategic nuances, and the ever-increasing spotlight on women's basketball. The hosts provide insightful predictions, backed by observations from the tournament's progression, making it a valuable listen for fans eager to understand the intricacies of the sport's pinnacle moments.

Note: Timestamps are approximate and correspond to sections of the transcript provided.