No Offseason: The Athletic Women's Basketball Show
Episode: Future Power Rankings: Best WNBA Teams in 5 Years
Release Date: July 17, 2025
Hosts Ben Pickman and Sabrina Merchant delve into their comprehensive analysis of the WNBA's future power dynamics, unveiling their power rankings for the next five years. This episode covers a range of topics from franchise branding to player development, offering listeners an in-depth look at what shapes a successful WNBA team.
Introduction to Future Power Rankings
The episode kicks off with Ben Pickman introducing the dual focus of the show: predicting the best WNBA teams over the next five years. [01:56] They share their excitement about finalizing the rankings and reveal a significant update—the official naming and branding of the new Portland franchise, the Portland Fire.
Portland Fire: Name and Branding
Ben and Sabrina discuss the rebranding of Portland's new WNBA team, touching on the implications and aesthetic choices behind the name "Fire."
Sabrina Merchant:
"I don't love the idea of a team being named the Fire... but I do understand the nostalgia of it. I like the Rose sort of being encrypted, like in the Fire logo itself. Considering Portland is the Rose City, that was a nice touch." [02:29]
They analyze the updated logo, appreciating the enhanced design and subtle nods to Portland's heritage, such as the references to the city's 12 bridges and the highest point in Oregon. Sabrina expresses cautious optimism, stating, "I kind of just feel like we're headed for this nostalgia play over and over again." [03:08]
Caitlin Clark's Injury Update
The conversation shifts to recent developments in player injuries, specifically Caitlin Clark of the Indiana Fever.
Ben Pickman:
"Caitlin Clark went down with an injury on Tuesday night... She's questionable to play in Wednesday night's game versus the New York Liberty." [04:18]
They discuss the potential impact of Clark's injury on the Fever's performance and future prospects, highlighting the uncertainty surrounding her participation in the upcoming All-Star Weekend.
WNBA's Sideline Hat Policy Controversy
Ben introduces a contentious topic about the WNBA's enforcement of a hat-wearing policy on the sidelines, highlighting fines issued to players Natasha Cloud and Izzy Harrison.
Ben Pickman:
"It's a crazy rule that isn't publicly accessible... We kind of dove into that rule and find transparency." [06:05]
Sabrina Merchant:
"It's just one of the strange minutiae things that exist in the WNBA that I can't quite understand but apparently is just there." [07:35]
They critique the league's focus on such regulations amidst more pressing issues like refereeing and pay equity, questioning the rationale and enforcement of the policy.
Methodology Behind the Future Power Rankings
Ben and Sabrina delve into the intricate process of developing their future power rankings, outlining the categories and weighting system they employed.
Sabrina Merchant:
"We landed on ownership, the players, and the facilities as the big three... We tried to keep a very objective yet entirely subjective ranking of those things." [09:22]
Ben Pickman:
"Players was 35%. Within that, we broke it down between young players who were 25 and under and veteran players." [11:24]
They emphasize the challenges of balancing objective data with subjective judgments, especially concerning player contracts and front office effectiveness.
Top Ranked Teams
The hosts unveil their top-ranked teams, starting with the Indiana Fever as number one, followed by the Golden State team.
Sabrina Merchant:
"Indiana Fever have the best under 25 duo in the WNBA in Caitlin Clark and Aaliyah Boston... all being poured into the Fever organization." [14:52]
Ben Pickman:
"Because of the formula, the 35% in the player category came down to Clark and Boston being the best under 25 duo in the league." [15:37]
They explain that Indiana's strong player base, ownership investment, and upcoming facilities contribute to their top position.
Second Place: Golden State
Golden State secures second place due to excellent ownership, strategic roster assembly, and a supportive environment under coach Natalie Nakase.
Sabrina Merchant:
"Golden State has a lot of young upside talent, especially from their European players, and a great head coach... an environment that looks like everybody wants to play in." [16:13]
Third Place: Seattle Seattle ranks third, surprising Sabrina initially, but their strong draft capital, upcoming picks, and promising young talent like Dominique Malanga justify their position.
Sabrina Merchant:
"Seattle has great arena and practice facilities, plus Dominique Malanga... over the next five years could be one of the more special players in the WNBA." [19:01]
Las Vegas Aces and Lower Rankings
The conversation touches on why the Las Vegas Aces fall to number 12 in the rankings.
Sabrina Merchant:
"The Aces are at 12 because their key players are nearing free agency, and they lack draft capital and young talent to sustain success." [25:30]
They discuss the heavy reliance on Asia Wilson and the uncertainties surrounding the front office's ability to build a competitive roster for the future.
Surprising Exclusions and Middle Rankings
Ben and Sabrina explore the middle of the rankings, addressing teams like Minnesota Lynx, Chicago Sky, Dallas, and Atlanta.
Sabrina Merchant:
"Minnesota has Cheryl Reeve and Nafisa Collier, but lacks in draft assets and consistent young talent, which is why they rank lower than expected." [29:17]
They highlight the complexities in ranking teams with strong current performances but lacking future growth prospects.
Final Thoughts on the WNBA's Future
Wrapping up, the hosts reflect on the overall health and future potential of the WNBA, noting the league's expansion and investment in facilities.
Sabrina Merchant:
"Even if you're 11th or 10th on the future power rankings, the future is still pretty bright for the WNBA." [33:18]
Ben Pickman:
"More than 2/3 of the league is planning on opening new facilities, which bodes well for the future." [33:27]
They express optimism about the league's trajectory, despite the challenges and uncertainties faced by individual franchises.
Conclusion
This episode of No Offseason provides a thorough and nuanced analysis of the WNBA's future landscape. Ben Pickman and Sabrina Merchant expertly balance statistical evaluation with subjective insights, offering listeners a well-rounded perspective on what to expect in the coming years. From franchise branding to player development and organizational investments, the hosts cover all critical factors influencing the league's trajectory.
Notable Quotes:
-
Sabrina Merchant:
"When you're starting off with something new, it seems like your to do list keeps growing. Finding the right tool helps." [00:38] (Note: This quote is from an advertisement and should be excluded based on the user's instructions.) -
Ben Pickman:
"Do you own a business that's ready to thrive? It's time to let Intuit QuickBooks take things like unpaid invoices and tracking expenses off your plate..." [00:00] (Note: Advertisements are excluded.) -
Sabrina Merchant:
"I don't love the idea of a team being named the Fire... but I do understand the nostalgia of it." [02:29] -
Ben Pickman:
"Caitlin Clark went down with an injury on Tuesday night... She's questionable to play in Wednesday night's game versus the New York Liberty." [04:18] -
Sabrina Merchant:
"It's just one of the strange minutiae things that exist in the WNBA that I can't quite understand but apparently is just there." [07:35] -
Sabrina Merchant:
"We landed on ownership, the players, and the facilities as the big three... We tried to keep a very objective yet entirely subjective ranking of those things." [09:22] -
Ben Pickman:
"Players was 35%. Within that, we broke it down between young players who were 25 and under and veteran players." [11:24] -
Sabrina Merchant:
"Indiana Fever have the best under 25 duo in the WNBA in Caitlin Clark and Aaliyah Boston." [14:52] -
Ben Pickman:
"Because of the formula, the 35% in the player category came down to Clark and Boston being the best under 25 duo in the league." [15:37] -
Sabrina Merchant:
"Seattle has great arena and practice facilities, plus Dominique Malanga... over the next five years could be one of the more special players in the WNBA." [19:01] -
Sabrina Merchant:
"The Aces are at 12 because their key players are nearing free agency, and they lack draft capital and young talent to sustain success." [25:30] -
Sabrina Merchant:
"Minnesota has Cheryl Reeve and Nafisa Collier, but lacks in draft assets and consistent young talent, which is why they rank lower than expected." [29:17] -
Sabrina Merchant:
"Even if you're 11th or 10th on the future power rankings, the future is still pretty bright for the WNBA." [33:18] -
Ben Pickman:
"More than 2/3 of the league is planning on opening new facilities, which bodes well for the future." [33:27]
For fans eager to stay ahead of the curve in women's basketball, this episode offers invaluable insights into the factors shaping the WNBA's competitive landscape over the next half-decade.