No Offseason: The Athletic Women's Basketball Show

Episode: How Golf Helps Caitlin Clark on the Court
Date: November 11, 2025
Hosts: Zena Keita, Ben Pickman
Guest: Gabby Herzig (The Athletic Golf Writer)

Overview

This episode explores the rising crossover between women's basketball and golf, particularly highlighting Caitlin Clark’s participation in the LPGA’s Annika Pro-Am. Hosts Zena Keita and Ben Pickman first break down standout performances and storylines from the opening week of college basketball, before welcoming Gabby Herzig to discuss how golf is helping basketball players—both in skill and visibility—and how athletes like Caitlin Clark can impact the LPGA. The conversation covers athlete mentality, media narratives, the opportunity for diversity in golf, and the shared challenges facing women’s sports.

College Basketball Week 1 Rundown (01:45–16:54)

Key Teams, Players, and Trends

• USC vs. NC State (Jazzy Davidson Breakout) [02:39–05:05]

  • Jazzy Davidson scores 21 points, including the game-winning layup with 8.2 seconds left.
    • "Her length... It allows her to kind of play at her own pace... She was 7 of 13 in the second half including that game-winning finish." – Ben Pickman (04:16)
  • Juju Watkins's absence handled well, showing USC's depth.
  • Davidson praised for her athleticism and switchability: "Big Guard energy. You guys know I love talking about it." – Zena Keita (05:05)

• Maryland's Early Surge [05:58–07:58]

  • Start 3–0 but nearly upset by Georgetown before a dominant 34–9 fourth quarter.
    • Freshmen impact: Addie Mack (17 of 23 points in the fourth), Leah Bartelmu (Slovenia).
    • Notable transfer: Alucia Konawa from Duke.
    • "They’re clearly going to be a pretty good team... you just want to watch and see how teams are playing against important competition." – Ben Pickman (07:27)

• Texas Longhorns: Depth and Scheduling [09:04–11:03]

  • Praised for non-conference scheduling: Richmond, UCLA, UNC, Baylor, South Dakota State.
  • Depth beyond Madison Booker; freshman Aaliyah Crump and ball pressure from Brianna Preston.
    • "There’s just a lot of options. Jordan Lee plays pretty well. We can start to see like Texas has a little bit of depth and they still can defend at a very high level." – Ben Pickman (10:44)
  • Youth development stressed, with freshmen stepping up throughout games.

• Freshman Watch [12:07–13:46]:

  • Aaliyah Chavez (Oklahoma): Aggressive, learning pace.
  • Jalea Davis (Kansas): Impressive 28 points in debut.
  • Lara Shamphey (Stanford): Australian freshman averaging a double-double, part of Stanford’s big incoming class.

• Experience Matters: Baylor’s Talia Scott [14:44–16:14]

  • Transfer impact; 24 points in win over Duke, highlighted aggressiveness and experience.
    • “She’s an instant impact player who certainly has caught my eye.” – Ben Pickman (16:12)
  • Value of veteran guards in close games.

Golf & Basketball Crossover: Caitlin Clark at the Annika Pro-Am

With Gabby Herzig (Golf Writer)
[19:04–43:00]

Main Topics

Why Caitlin Clark's Participation Matters [19:39–22:19]

• Clark is ambassador for Gainbridge (sponsor), playing in the fun, high-visibility Pro-Am just before the LPGA’s Annika tournament.
• “It’s a huge opportunity for networking... but also to gain eyeballs and attention for the event, they tend to invite celebrities and pro athletes like Caitlin Clark.” – Gabby Herzig (20:13)
• Her presence boosts visibility, media coverage, and social engagement.

The Appeal of Golf for Elite Athletes [24:07–26:36]

• Mental side: “Golf is such a difficult sport that even the pros can play the best round of their lives and still only hit like two or three shots perfectly solid... So there’s always something to be pushing towards.” – Gabby Herzig (24:28)
• Basketball shooters especially drawn to the repetition and obsessive technique: “There’s a diligence involved there that you also need when that little white ball is just sitting on the tee or sitting in the fairway...” – Ben Pickman (25:44)
• Both require routine, resilience, and the ability to overcome mental blocks—“the yips” in golf, “shooting slumps” in basketball.

The Relatability and Growth of Golf [29:13–30:32]

• Events like the Pro-Am let fans see star athletes as novices in golf, making them relatable.
• “You’re seeing... this incredible star athlete... becoming the more relatable version of herself out there on the golf course.” – Gabby Herzig (30:23)

LPGA vs. WNBA: Visibility and Star-Making [31:06–35:31]

• The LPGA lacks a Caitlin Clark–level crossover star; Nelly Korda’s achievements haven’t generated mainstream attention.
• LPGA’s unique structure—international, sporadic TV windows, lack of repeated winners—makes narrative-building harder.
  • “There weren’t any repeat winners across the entire LPGA schedule... it also is hard to create stars that way.” – Gabby Herzig (35:16)
• Internet/YouTube golf content (e.g., Ryan Howard & Aari McDonald’s ATL Vibes) could be a model to create player-driven storylines.

Diversity and Accessibility in Golf [35:31–38:05]

• Basketball-to-golf crossovers (e.g., Ryan Howard, Alicia Gray filming themselves golfing) increase diversity and accessibility in a historically exclusive sport.
• “Being able to have a crossover... I think is a really cool thing that the LPGA can tap into in terms of a new community, new support system, and being able to develop a new lane.” – Zena Keita (36:49)
• Steph Curry’s junior golf tour and his sponsorship at Howard University as an example of fostering inclusion.

Working Conditions: LPGA vs. Other Women’s Sports [38:21–39:47]

• LPGA purses have risen significantly; player experience generally improving.
• Visibility/media coverage and primetime access still lag, especially compared to men’s sports.

Fun Segment: Athlete Skill Transfer [40:36–42:09]

• Which golfer would be a good basketball player?
  • Gabby: “Charlie Hull... she absolutely rips the ball... amazing passion for fitness... would be great in terms of keeping the stamina required to play a game of basketball.” (40:51)
• Which basketball player would make a good golfer?
  • Zena: “Napheesa Collier... her temperament works for golf as well. So I’m gonna go with Nafessa Collier...” (41:21)
  • Consensus: Touch, patience, and temperament (as much as athleticism) dictate crossover potential.

Key Quotes & Memorable Moments

Jazzy Davidson’s Impact:

• "Her length... allows her to play at her own pace... she was 7 of 13 in the second half including that game-winning finish." – Ben Pickman (04:16)

Golf as Mental Challenge:

• “Golf is such a difficult sport that even the pros can play the best round of their lives and still only hit like two or three shots perfectly solid.” – Gabby Herzig (24:28)
• “[For shooters] there’s a diligence involved... to do the same thing over and over and over again.” – Ben Pickman (25:44)

Golf’s Crossover Appeal:

• “You’re seeing... this incredible star athlete... becoming the more relatable version of herself out there on the golf course.” – Gabby Herzig (30:23)
• “This is a really cool thing that the LPGA can tap into in terms of a new community, new support system, and being able to develop a new lane.” – Zena Keita (36:49)

Comparative Challenges:

• “There weren’t any repeat winners across the entire LPGA schedule... it also is hard to create stars that way.” – Gabby Herzig (35:16)
• “There is, like, this kind of lack of the one big star right now... golf is not basketball, it’s a much more niche sport.” – Gabby Herzig (31:06)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Opening and College Hoops Rundown: 01:45–16:54
• Transition to Golf Crossover / Caitlin Clark’s Involvement: 19:04–22:19
• Mental Benefits & Athlete Parallels in Golf: 24:07–27:33
• Visibility, Diversity, and Media Engagement: 31:06–38:05
• Comparing Working Conditions for Women’s Sports: 38:21–39:47
• Fun Segment—Skill Crossover Discussion: 40:36–42:09

“Set Your Screens” – Games to Watch (46:01–48:47)

Highlighted Upcoming Games:

• Tuesday: Clemson vs. South Carolina (6pm ET, ESPN2)
• Wednesday: Colorado vs. Louisville (7pm ET, ACC Extra)
• Thursday: UNC vs. UCLA (9pm ET, ESPN2)
• Friday: Duke vs. West Virginia (7pm ET, ESPNU)

Tone & Closing Notes

The discussion is lively and warm, with a conversational and sometimes humorous tone, especially during quick-fire segments (“Big Guard energy!”, “I might be influenced...”). The episode is both an informative update for college hoops fans and a thoughtful look at the synergy between women’s basketball and golf.