No Offseason: The Athletic Women’s Basketball Show

Episode: Is Texas Coming for the No. 1 Spot?
Date: December 2, 2025
Hosts: Zena Keita, Sabrina Merchant, Ben Pickman

Episode Overview

This episode dives into a momentous weekend in women’s college basketball, evaluating whether Texas is poised to claim the top national ranking. The hosts break down Texas's impressive wins over powerhouse programs, discuss evolving dynamics in USA Basketball’s selection camp, analyze South Carolina’s and LSU’s current trajectories, delve into individual standouts like Iowa State’s Audi Crooks, and close with major media news impacting women’s basketball coverage.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. WNBA CBA Negotiations Update

(01:38–06:30)

• Deal or No Deal:
  • The November 30th CBA deadline passed without agreement; a second extension was agreed upon, pushing the expiration to January 9th.
  • Impacts offseason plans including the Golden State Valkyries’ expansion draft, as CBA rules shape procedures like the ‘core’ franchise designation.
  • “If the core looks different, then maybe teams draft a little bit differently in the upcoming expansion draft.” – Zena Kada (04:25)
  • Priorities for both sides include salaries, prioritization (players’ offseason commitments), and benefits for retirees.

2. Team USA Women’s Basketball Training Camp

(06:30–15:05)

• 18-Player Roster Announced:
  • Mix of veterans and 10 first-time invitees, including high-profile young stars such as Caitlin Clark, Paige Bueckers, Angel Reese, and JuJu Watkins.
  • Camp at Duke University (Dec 12–14), coached by Duke’s Kara Lawson.
    “There’s some newness in the leadership component and now some newness in the overall player pool.” – Sabrina Merchant (07:25)
• Roster Selection Dynamics:
  • Not all major stars are attending, due to schedule conflicts or injuries (e.g., A’ja Wilson, Breanna Stewart absent, but still expected in future).
  • Some top players may opt out of the 2026 FIBA World Cup to protect their WNBA postseason runs.
  • “It wouldn’t be out of the question for some of the biggest veteran stars to elect not to play…” – Zena Kada (09:21)
  • The youth movement and revitalized leadership signal a new era for USA Basketball.
  • 3x3 vs. 5x5 paths also discussed, highlighting players like Veronica Burton for her dual commitment.

3. Women’s College Basketball – The Sabrina Scale

(Starts at 17:10; Texas Focus Begin ~18:04)

A. Texas’ Statement Vegas Tournament Win

• Results:
  • Texas defeated UCLA and then South Carolina in the inaugural Women’s Players Era tournament, securing a $1M prize and elevating them from #4 to #2 on the Sabrina Scale.
• What Set Texas Apart:
  • “If you’re gonna beat UCLA and South Carolina in one week and that’s not enough to get you to number one in the country—what is?” – Sabrina Merchant (19:35)
  • Rory Harmon named MVP after a game-winner vs. South Carolina.
  • Depth and injury absences kept Texas just behind UConn in rankings.
  • Hosts debate Texas’s and UConn’s depth and quality of opponents.

B. Texas’ Defensive Masterclass Over UCLA

• Perimeter Defense:
  • “It was a perimeter defense masterclass from Texas that really set the tone in that first half and just got UCLA out of rhythm.” – Sabrina Merchant (23:21)
  • UCLA struggled with turnovers and couldn’t get the ball to center Lauren Betts.

C. South Carolina’s Reliance on Starters

• Depth Concerns:
  • South Carolina’s bench production nosedived compared to last season (from 40 to 17 PPG off bench).
  • “South Carolina’s lack of depth, I think again revealed itself in this game, and it’s something to watch for going forward.” – Ben Pickman (36:58)
  • Chloe Kitts’ injury has forced major rotation adjustments.

D. LSU’s “Cakewalk” Approach

• Historic Scoring – But Against Weak Teams:
  • LSU has extended its streak of 100-point games to eight, albeit against no teams ranked in the top 100 per Her Hoop Stats.
  • Kim Mulkey’s philosophy is to avoid tough nonconference games to build confidence and test different lineup combinations.
  • “It makes the first part of the season for me a lot less interesting to watch LSU because it’s almost like they’re scrimmaging every night.” – Sabrina Merchant (44:25)

E. Iowa State’s Audi Crooks – The Reliable Star

• Brilliant Individual Play:
  • Crooks scored 47 points vs. Indiana, has the best true shooting percentage in the country (74%).
  • “She continues to be one of the most reliable players in the country…Everyone in the country knows that she’s going to score around the basket and that she is trying to score around the basket and yet nobody can stop her.” – Zena Kada (52:41)
  • Caution: Iowa State has a weak schedule and major defensive issues (conceded 95 points to Indiana).

4. Notable Quotes & Moments

• On Texas’s case for #1:
  “If you’re gonna beat UCLA and South Carolina in one week and that’s not enough to get you to number one in the country—what is?”
  – Sabrina Merchant (19:35)

• On USA Basketball youth movement:
  “There’s some newness in the leadership component and now some newness in the overall player pool.”
  – Sabrina Merchant (07:25)

• On South Carolina’s depth issues:
  “It doesn’t come all down to that…But the depth and the high quality depth is just not yet there for South Carolina.”
  – Ben Pickman (36:58)

• On LSU’s non-conference strategy:
  “It makes the first part of the season…a lot less interesting to watch LSU because it’s almost like they’re scrimmaging every night. But hey, this is their practice…”
  – Sabrina Merchant (44:25)

• On Audi Crooks’ unstoppable inside game:
  “Everyone in the country knows that she’s going to score around the basket…and yet nobody can stop her.”
  – Zena Kada (52:41)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• CBA Update: 01:38–06:30
• Team USA Camp & Roster: 06:30–15:05
• Texas Vegas Tournament Recap (and The Sabrina Scale): 17:10–22:17
• Texas-UCLA Matchup & Defensive Analysis: 22:17–24:42
• Texas-South Carolina Breakdown: 30:41–40:09
• LSU Hot Start – Schedule Strategy: 43:31–49:24
• Audi Crooks, Iowa State, and Women’s Center Matchups: 52:41–57:56

Bonus: Media News – Elle Duncan Leaves ESPN for Netflix

• Background: (62:42–64:50)
  • Elle Duncan, a popular host of ESPN’s women’s college basketball coverage and leader of the “Big Three” studio trio (with Chiney Ogwumike and Andraya Carter), is leaving ESPN for Netflix’s new sports division.
  • The move ends one of the most beloved studio crews in women’s basketball broadcasting.
  • “This was a rare example…of people that they had in house…coming together and having natural chemistry and having, you know, a show that broke through into the cultural zeitgeist.” – Zena Kada (63:09)
  • Uncertainty now surrounds ESPN’s women’s basketball studio coverage going forward.

Summary Takeaways

• Texas’s ascendance is the central story of the week—they beat both UCLA and South Carolina to stake a real claim for #1.
• UConn remains atop the Sabrina Scale due to depth and quality of wins, but Texas is closing the gap fast.
• Both South Carolina and LSU face questions: SC over bench depth after injuries, LSU over whether their cupcake schedule leaves them untested.
• USA Basketball is injecting youth into its pipeline, with new faces finally getting senior-level opportunities.
• Audi Crooks of Iowa State is putting up eye-popping numbers, but concerns remain about competition level and defense.
• The women’s college hoops media landscape shifts: Elle Duncan’s move to Netflix represents a loss for ESPN but signals the growing value and visibility of women’s basketball personalities.

For Newcomers: Why Listen?

This episode is a must-hear for insight into early season women’s college hoops, with real talk about how teams (and coaches) build for March—and for national dominance. If you want weekly context on the games, the key storylines, and how off-court moves (like TV deals and CBA talks) affect the women’s game, this pod brings energy, honesty, and deep know-how each episode.

End of Summary