No Offseason: The Athletic Women's Basketball Show
Episode: Our Power Four Contenders and Pretenders
Original Airdate: January 9, 2026
Hosts: Zena Keita, Chantel Jennings, Sabreena Merchant, Ben Pickman

Episode Overview

In this mid-season episode, the No Offseason team breaks down women's Power 4 conference basketball, diving deep into which teams are contenders versus pretenders as conference play heats up. Expect candid insights into the WNBA’s ongoing CBA negotiations, detailed analyses of the Big 12, ACC, SEC, and Big Ten, as well as a new segment highlighting the journeys of the show’s own journalists. The hosts debate team strengths, conference power dynamics, and highlight rising programs—delivering the kind of informed, engaging commentary The Athletic is known for.

Key Segments & Discussion Points

WNBA CBA Update: High Stakes & Frigid Negotiations

[01:56 - 07:14]

• Current Status: Entering January 9th, there is still no deal between the WNBA and the Players Association. Previous extensions (from Oct 31 and Thanksgiving) have brought the process here, but “[t]he lack of progress as it currently stands on another extension ... indicates that the sides appear to be either heading towards a status quo period ... or a work stoppage.” (Ben Pickman, 04:09)

• What’s at Stake:

  • Work stoppage would eliminate players’ access to facilities, medical care, and communication with team offices.
  • Status quo would keep things operating as usual, but either side could still call a strike or lockout at any time.

• Public Sentiment Play: The WNBPA updated its social media icon to an hourglass, signaling urgency to fans:

  • “When you want to get public sentiment, you change your IG photo. ... Like, time is of the essence.” (Zena Keita, 06:44)

• Summary: The situation is tense, with no extension yet in sight and major implications for the league and its players.

Power Four Conference Deep Dives

Big 12: Unpredictable Standouts & New Faces

[10:31 - 18:38]

• Strength & Surprises: This season, teams beyond TCU (preseason favorite) have surprised with their performance—most notably Texas Tech, now undefeated and claiming signature wins over Baylor and West Virginia.
  • “This team continues to be, I think, one of the big surprises in the sport.” (Ben Pickman, 13:30)
  • Texas Tech adds further intrigue with the arrival of 7’1” Stephanie Okechukwu from Nigeria, the tallest women’s player in the sport’s history.
• Contender Count: Hosts see Baylor, West Virginia, and Iowa State (“a little bit of smoke and mirrors...but ... Number 4 field goal percentage in the country”) as likely Sweet-16 level teams. (Zena Keita, 15:56)
• Defensive Emphasis: Big 12 lauded for depth, but hosts flag that only two teams are top-ranked defensively, compared to nine in the SEC—a possible concern for tournament longevity. (Ben Pickman, 18:07)
• Quotes
  • “If I were picking a tournament team, I’d be more inclined to go with a Baylor, West Virginia, Texas Tech, because all of them have been defending quite well.” (Sabrina Merchant, 17:18)

ACC: Where Has the Power Gone?

[18:38 - 34:09]

• Down Year Analysis: The ACC’s “dominance” has faded, both due to outbound stars (recent senior class to the WNBA and transfers) and recruiting/financial disadvantages.
  • “For the last five years, ACC Conference has sent over eight teams [to the tournament]...then last year, we see the Big Ten blow them out the water.” (Zena Keita, 20:53)
  • Financial Factors: With an $8.2M average roster spend (over $1.3M less than SEC/Big Ten), and locked into a less lucrative ESPN deal, the ACC struggles to stay competitive in NIL and recruiting.
• On-Court Observations: Historically deep, the ACC now appears “bottom heavy”—without the high-level national contenders currently found in other Power 4s.
  • “ACC isn’t found in the top 10 anywhere. They’re just ... average.” (Zena Keita, 34:09)
• Teams to Watch:
  • Louisville—perennial Sweet 16/Final Four team, deep bench, poised but suffered early stumbles
  • NC State & Duke—experienced turnover but are “closer to what we thought ... if not national title contender material.” (Sabrina Merchant, 29:22)
  • Stanford (now ACC)—new star in Lara Sampay, showing promise
  • Virginia—possible deep sleeper, improved top-15 offense, increased investment via alum Alexis Ohanian

SEC: Top-Heavy & Defensive Juggernauts

[34:09 - 44:44]

• Dominance & Personality: South Carolina and Texas are branded the “knowns” at the top, but attention centers on whether Vanderbilt and Kentucky are real national threats.
• Vanderbilt:
  • Despite a light non-conference schedule and key player departures, Vandy is undefeated, showing “incredibly good defensive play ... in a way that I didn’t think was possible with this personnel last year.” (Sabrina Merchant, 37:52)
  • “Vanderbilt has both [headline players and impressive stats].” (Zena Keita, 38:04)
• Kentucky:
  • New coach Kenny Brooks brings stability post-Virginia Tech, with transfer Clara Strack (near double-double avg, elite defense) and point guard Tony Morgan leading the way.
  • Offensively, Kentucky and Vanderbilt are notable for high 3-point rates—providing a different look in a conference dominated inside by SC/Texas.
• Quotable Moment:
  • "I think Vandy of the two of them are for real. I like Vandy. ... They might not be Texas or South Carolina, but ... how does Vandy stack up with Oklahoma? How do they stack up with LSU?" (Ben Pickman, 44:03)

Big Ten: Bruising at the Top, Wide-Open Below

[44:44 - 53:43]

• Conference Shape: UCLA, with Lauren Betts and a physically dominant frontcourt, is the clear #1. The #2 spot, however, is “totally up for grabs.”
  • Nine(!) teams could realistically lay claim to being second-best: “Realistically, Michigan, Maryland, Iowa, Michigan State, maybe Ohio State...” (Sabrina Merchant, 46:01)
• Michigan: Hosts ultimately tab Michigan as their consensus Big Ten #2, citing their strong performances vs. UConn and South Carolina, perimeter shot-creation, and best defensive rating in the league.
  • “If I’m going to...bet on one team to play UCLA in the Big Ten tournament final...I think deep down...that’s the pick I’m going to go with.” (Ben Pickman, 48:39)
• Maryland: Once promising, now depleted by injuries and inconsistent performances; the depth of the conference raises concern of them being “brittle by March.” (Sabrina Merchant, 50:51)
• Ohio State: “Might have the best player outside of UCLA in the conference, right? Jelani Cambridge.” Still, their blowout losses to UConn and UCLA have us in “wait and see” mode. (Sabrina Merchant, 53:02)
• Humorous Note: Extended riff about “transitive property” wins in the Big Ten (e.g., “everyone beats everybody”)—a recurring, tongue-in-cheek college hoops meme.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “Time is of the essence. People are running out of time to figure out a decision for this [CBA].” (Zena Keita, 06:44)
• “Do I look like an all star when I’m doing two steps in on no defense? Okay, but...” (Zena Keita on Texas Tech’s 7'1" recruit, 14:54)
• “Nut cutting time is crazy. I haven’t heard that in a very long time.” (Zena Keita reacting to Sabrina, 44:44)
• “Runner up. Congratulations.” (Ben Pickman, mock-congratulating Zena on Yale’s ‘transitive’ national championship, 48:36)
• “If you go across all the major statistical categories ... ACC isn’t found in the top 10 anywhere.” (Zena Keita, 34:09)

Journalist Corner: Learning by Doing

[55:39 - 62:02]

A segment inspired by a listener’s heartfelt email, where Sabrina and Ben share early-career missteps to encourage aspiring journalists.

• Sabrina’s Story: Recorder battery dies in first major interview as a student reporter—has to shorthand her way through, only able to use one confirmed quote.
  • “I just like shorthand writing as fast as I can, trying to figure this out.” (Sabrina Merchant, 57:57)
• Lesson: Always carry backup batteries/chargers!
• Ben’s Story: Too-ambitious NBA feature as a nervous college freshman, “wet behind the ears,” but learned from the chaos.
• “I swung big. I was like, I’m gonna pitch a story on the NBA player who’s returning to school...” (Ben Pickman, 59:09)
• Zena’s Take: Embarrassing (but impactful) first profile on Dearica Hamby, “I hope Wake Forest has archived that thing.”
• The segment closes with encouragement for those interested in journalism: everyone starts rough, but growth comes with practice.

Conclusion

The No Offseason crew delivers a thorough, sharp, and often funny look at women’s college basketball, with special attention to the nuances of each Power 4 conference—helpful for any newcomer or veteran fan trying to grasp the true state of the sport mid-season. They balance statistical insight and personality, showing how off-court factors (like NIL, conference media deals, and recruiting) directly shape what we see on the floor.

For feedback, listener Mailbag, or more, follow No Offseason wherever you get your podcasts, and check out The Athletic’s Women’s Sports Hub.

Episode Structure:

• WNBA CBA Update and social media strategy ([01:56 - 07:14])
• Power Four deep dives: Big 12 ([10:31 - 18:38]), ACC ([18:38 - 34:09]), SEC ([34:09 - 44:44]), Big Ten ([44:44 - 53:43])
• Journalist Corner & listener shoutouts ([55:39 - 62:02])

Ad and intro/outro sections omitted per guidelines.