No Offseason: Listener Mailbag – Biggest Surprises? Can UConn Go All the Way? + Coaching Legend Tara VanDerveer

Release Date: March 21, 2025

Hosts: Zena Kato, Chantelle Jennings, Sabrina Merchant, and Ben Pickman
Produced by: The Athletic

Introduction

In this episode of No Offseason: The Athletic Women's Basketball Show, hosts Zena Kato, Chantelle Jennings, Sabrina Merchant, and Ben Pickman dive deep into listener questions surrounding the ongoing March Madness tournament. The panel also welcomes coaching legend Tara VanDerveer for an insightful conversation about her illustrious career and the evolving landscape of women's college basketball.

Unrivaled 3v3 League Inaugural Season

Ben Pickman kickstarts the discussion by recapping the inaugural season of the Unrivaled 3v3 women's professional basketball league. The Rose Basketball Club emerged victorious, defeating the Vinyl Basketball Club with a score of 62-54 to clinch the championship.

Ben Pickman [07:01]: "Rose Basketball Club, led by Chelsea Gray, who was your finals MVP, delivered a strong performance with Gray scoring 18 points and dishing out eight assists."

Sabrina Merchant lauds the league's success in providing visibility and competitive opportunities for WNBA players while expressing concerns over the high volume of injuries reported during the season.

Sabrina Merchant [08:36]: "The financial rewards were incredible, with players like Az Fudd earning nearly half of her WNBA salary through Unrivaled."

Ben Pickman further emphasizes the financial impact, highlighting how participation in Unrivaled has benefited players financially and set the stage for future Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) negotiations.

Ben Pickman [11:11]: "Angel Reese, for instance, made $50,000 through Unrivaled, a significant boost compared to her rookie salary in the WNBA."

Listener Mailbag: March Madness Bracket Questions

1. Biggest Surprise of the Tournament

Zena Kato predicts a strong performance from North Carolina State, Duke, and Carolina, noting the historic basketball prowess of the Triangle area.

Zena Kato [16:00]: "I think NC State, Duke, and Carolina are going to surprise a lot of folks and find a way deep into the tournament."

Shantelle Jennings points to Kansas State as a potential dark horse, contingent on star player Aoka Lee’s health and performance.

Shantelle Jennings [17:18]: "If Aoka Lee plays heavy minutes, Kansas State could really surprise people."

Ben Pickman selects the West Virginia Mountaineers as an unexpected contender to reach the Elite Eight.

Ben Pickman [19:05]: "West Virginia is a really tough out and I think they could end up in the Elite Eight, which would surprise a lot of people."

2. Can UConn Go All the Way?

The discussion centers on UConn's pathway to the championship, focusing on key players like Sarah Strong and Paige Beckers.

Ben Pickman [21:34]: "The sauce lies with Sarah Strong playing like the best big in the country."

Shantelle Jennings emphasizes the importance of three-point shooting and strategic playmaking for UConn’s success.

Shantelle Jennings [22:31]: "The three-point line is going to be a huge differentiator for them."

Sabrina Merchant highlights UConn's depth and the potential increased minutes for key players.

Sabrina Merchant [24:12]: "If you up their minutes to 35 or 36, that's 12 more minutes of All-Americans on the court."

3. Can Texas Make a Deep Postseason Run Without a Strong Three-Point Threat?

Ben Pickman argues that Texas can advance deeply due to their elite offense and defense, despite a lesser emphasis on three-point shooting.

Ben Pickman [29:52]: "Texas's defense and overall talent are certainly good enough to get to the Final Four."

Conversation with Tara VanDerveer

The episode features a special segment with Tara VanDerveer, a revered figure in women's basketball, discussing her transition post-coaching and her perspectives on the sport's future.

Adjusting to Life Post-Coaching

Tara reflects on her retirement and the bittersweet experience of watching her sister’s team during the tournament.

Tara VanDerveer [35:22]: "It's very weird, but I'm really excited to watch my sister Heidi's team and break down film with her."

Evolving Landscape of Women's College Basketball

Tara delves into significant changes in women's basketball, including revenue sharing, CBA negotiations, conference realignments, and the impact of NIL (Name, Image, Likeness) deals.

Tara VanDerveer [41:45]: "It would be nice to have more transparency in revenue sharing and perhaps national antitrust legislation to stabilize the league."

She advocates for better regional competition to reduce travel burdens on student-athletes and emphasizes the need for enhanced marketing and support for women's sports.

Tara VanDerveer [42:30]: "We should be more visionary about how we divvy up revenue sharing and how we promote both women's and Olympic sports."

Memorable March Madness Moments

Tara recounts her most memorable tournament experience in 1990 when Stanford hosted a regional, leading to a thrilling championship game.

Tara VanDerveer [48:30]: "The championship game against Auburn was phenomenal. Winning that was just so sweet."

Wrap-Up: Preparing for the Tournament

As the tournament approaches the first round, hosts discuss key games and players to watch, highlighting matchups like Michigan State vs. Harvard and California vs. Mississippi State. They encourage listeners to participate in the bracket challenge and stay engaged through their YouTube channel for exclusive content.

Zena Kato [57:36]: "California versus Mississippi State is going to be a lot of fun with both teams bringing strong offenses and defenses."

Notable Quotes

• Ben Pickman [07:01]: "Chelsea Gray hit a half-court shot to give her team the lead over Vinyl at the end of the third quarter."

• Sabrina Merchant [08:36]: "Unrivaled was super fun to have during the WNBA offseason."

• Tara VanDerveer [41:45]: "Women's sports are poised for significant growth in revenue over the next 15 years."

Conclusion

This episode of No Offseason offers a comprehensive analysis of the current women's basketball season, blending expert insights with listener engagement. From the successes of the Unrivaled 3v3 league to strategic tournament predictions and reflections from a coaching legend, the hosts ensure fans are well-informed and entertained as March Madness unfolds.

Don’t miss out! Participate in the No Offseason Bracket Challenge on Yahoo Fantasy Sports Hub. Join the conversation and test your bracket skills with fellow listeners. Follow No Offseason on your preferred podcast platform and subscribe to their YouTube channel for full episodes and additional content.

Credits:
No Offseason is hosted by Zena Kato, Chantelle Jennings, Sabrina Merchant, and Ben Pickman. Produced by Tanika Perez, with executive producers Andrea B. Scott and Cassius Fleming. Theme music by Marcus Bagala. Video editor Brenna Haupt. Managing Editor Shannon Ryan and Head of Audio Jesse Burton. Directed by Tim McMaster.

Sponsored by:
LinkedIn Sales Navigator, Wayfair, Liquid IV, Discover, and Aura.

For more details and to join the bracket challenge, visit the show notes below and follow No Offseason on Acast.