Episode Summary: "First Week Surprises, Plus Bold Season-Long Predictions"

No Offseason: The Athletic Women's Basketball Show
Release Date: November 14, 2023
Hosts: Zena Keda, Chantel Jennings, Sabreena Merchant, and Ben Pickman

Introduction

In this episode of No Offseason: The Athletic Women's Basketball Show, hosts Zena Keda, Chantel Jennings, Sabreena Merchant, and Ben Pickman delve into the unexpected outcomes of the first week of the NCAA women's basketball season. They analyze surprising team performances, evaluate standout players, and present bold predictions for the season ahead. The discussion offers listeners insightful perspectives from seasoned writers covering women's basketball across various conferences and programs.

Key Surprises of the First Week

1. Top Teams LSU and UConn Experience Early Losses

• Ben Pickman highlights a significant upheaval: "As we record this on Sunday evening, both the number one team and number two team heading into the season have lost games already, so they will not be going undefeated. LSU and UConn." (07:07)

• Chantel Jennings expresses greater concern over UConn's loss, noting their historical resilience: "I think I'm more surprised by UConn losing... we saw a similar construction to this team advance to the NCAA final 18 months ago." (08:22)

• The hosts discuss the challenges faced by LSU, including roster changes and the difficulty of replacing key starters: "They are missing the 1 and the 5 from last year's team, which is... hard to replace those end points of your starting lineup." (09:08)

2. South Carolina's Impressive Depth and Performance

• Ben Pickman praises South Carolina's depth, emphasizing their ability to boost performances even without key starters: "All 10 players scored against Maryland, Don can go 10 deep. It's not like she's running 10 deep against some random school." (12:11)

• Chantel Jennings commends the functional depth of the team: "It seems like every player, at least the top eight, has a purpose in this rotation." (13:47)

• The team’s versatile playstyle is noted, with an emphasis on unselfishness and high assist numbers: "30 assists on 43 buckets. They're really sharing the ball really, really well." (15:52)

3. Concerns Surrounding UConn and Performance of Iowa’s Caitlin Clark

• Ben Pickman points out UConn’s defensive vulnerabilities: "UConn just being unable to play defense against NC State was a little bit surprising to me." (10:02)

• Chantel Jennings raises concerns about Iowa’s reliance on Caitlin Clark: "Iowa's kind of the exact opposite, right. They have the one queen on the chessboard that nobody else can really match up with." (19:49)

• The hosts discuss Caitlin Clark’s outstanding performances and the potential shortage of support from her teammates: "She's the one commodity that, you know, people know she's going to produce on a nightly basis." (30:01)

Final Four Predictions

1. South Carolina

• Chantel Jennings appreciates South Carolina's balanced team and depth: "This is their best offense. There are 126 points per 100 possessions there." (14:03)

• Ben Pickman emphasizes their unselfish play and versatility: "This is a group that can really play off one another in a lot of different ways." (15:52)

2. University of Southern California (USC)

• Ben Pickman selects USC, highlighting Juju Watkins’ potential growth and strong coaching: "Juju is going to have the ball in her hands a lot. She's going to have an opportunity to grow through the season in a really cool way." (33:26)

3. Colorado

• Chantel Jennings opts for Colorado, citing their experience and composure: "They have a ton of experience. They return six of their top seven players in terms of minutes from last year." (35:12)

4. Texas

• Chantel Jennings chooses Texas, noting their defensive prowess and strong leadership: "Rory Harmon is still in school. The Big 12 defensive player of the year last year." (37:32)

• Ben Pickman adds that Texas has a significant motivation factor, referencing coach Vic Schaefer’s strategies: "They're the favorite to win that conference. They have the biggest chip on their shoulder." (38:02)

Player Draft Decisions

The hosts engage in a lively debate on whether standout players will declare for the 2024 WNBA Draft or stay for another collegiate season. They discuss five key players:

1. Caitlin Clark (Iowa)

• Ben Pickman: "Caitlin... she's going to have a ton of opportunities through the Big Ten schedule to put up big numbers." (25:06)
• Chantel Jennings: "I'm going to take the field because that's good podcasting for me to disagree with you." (26:04)
• Consensus: All hosts agree that Caitlin Clark is likely to declare for the draft, recognizing her as the most talented player in the country. "She’s going to produce. She has the body of work even in losses." (30:27)

2. Angel Reese (LSU)

• Chantel Jennings: "I think she'll go." (40:18)
• Ben Pickman: Considers the possibility of her returning to refine her game.

3. Paige Beckers (UConn)

• Chantel Jennings: "I think she stays." (41:39)
• Ben Pickman: "If they win, maybe she goes, but I think if they lose, she absolutely stays." (42:01)

4. Cam Brink (Stanford)

• Chantel Jennings: "I think she's the top front court prospect in the country." (43:55)
• Ben Pickman: "She goes. Impact defender in the WNBA." (43:37)

5. Camila Cardoza (South Carolina)

• Chantel Jennings: "Camila is a toss-up. She might stay or go." (44:22)
• Ben Pickman: Highlights her unique skill set and potential draft interest.

Additional Insights

NIL Deals and Brand Partnerships

• Ben Pickman addresses misconceptions about NIL (Name, Image, Likeness) deals, debunking the notion that players taking a professional route will face brand cutoffs: "It's the idea that brands would just cut ties with college players because they're going to the WNBA... doesn't hold a lot of water to me." (46:41)

• Chantel Jennings emphasizes the enduring relationships between top players and brands, regardless of their professional status.

Conclusion

The episode wraps up with Zena Keda reflecting on the unique opportunity to have all three writers in the same room, providing a multifaceted view of the women's basketball landscape. She also shares a shout-out to Candace Parker’s new documentary, Unapologetic, praising its in-depth portrayal of Parker's life both on and off the court.

Notable Closing Remarks:

• Zena Keda: "Keep listening, keep learning and keep loving the game because that's the only way we're going to keep growing it." (49:01)

The hosts encourage listeners to stay engaged with the season, promising more insightful discussions in future episodes.

Notable Quotes with Timestamps

1. Ben Pickman [07:07]:
   "Both the number one team and number two team heading into the season have lost games already, so they will not be going undefeated. LSU and UConn."

2. Chantel Jennings [08:22]:
   "I think I'm more surprised by UConn losing... there was a similar construction to this team advance to the NCAA final 18 months ago."

3. Ben Pickman [12:11]:
   "All 10 players scored against Maryland, Don can go 10 deep. It's not like she's running 10 deep against some random school."

4. Chantel Jennings [13:47]:
   "It seems like every player, at least the top eight, has a purpose in this rotation."

5. Chantel Jennings [19:49]:
   "Iowa have the one queen on the chessboard that nobody else can really match up with."

6. Ben Pickman [25:06]:
   "She's going to have a ton of opportunities through the Big Ten schedule to put up big numbers."

7. Chantel Jennings [26:04]:
   "I'm going to take the field because that's good podcasting for me to disagree with you."

8. Ben Pickman [30:27]:
   "She’s going to produce. She has the body of work even in losses."

9. Chantel Jennings [43:55]:
   "I think she's the top front court prospect in the country."

10. Ben Pickman [46:41]:
    "The idea that brands would just cut ties with college players because they're going to the WNBA... doesn't hold a lot of water to me."

This episode provides a comprehensive analysis of the early season dynamics in women's college basketball, offering listeners valuable insights into team performances, player developments, and future projections. Whether you're a seasoned fan or new to the sport, the discussion equips you with the knowledge to stay informed and engaged throughout the season.