Episode Overview

Main Theme

This episode of No Offseason: The Athletic Women’s Basketball Show explores a fascinating hypothetical: What if college basketball had a player loan system, modeled after European soccer? Hosts Zena Kada, Sabrina Merchant, and Ben Pickman play "college trade machine," debating which players could be "loaned" to save underperforming teams, rebalance contenders, or gain experience for draft prospects. They also provide an update on ongoing WNBA CBA negotiations, share inside info from Team USA’s training camp, and discuss the cultural impact of catchphrases and nicknames in women’s basketball.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. WNBA CBA Negotiations Update

[03:00 – 13:13]

• Status & Core Issues

  • Ben explains the recent progress (or lack thereof) in WNBA’s collective bargaining agreement talks. The main dispute centers on the percentage of league and team revenue allocated to players.
  • Players' Proposal: Revenue share ramps up from 29% (2026) to 34% over several years, with all revenue pooled together.
    • “Players would receive 29% of the prior season's gross revenue, with a one time adjustment...In each subsequent season, the player's share ...would increase by 1%.” — Ben Pickman [04:43]
  • League’s Proposal: Offers less than 15% of revenue and defines a more limited “shareable revenue” pool, similar to but less transparent than the NBA's BRI (Basketball Related Income).

• Transparency Gap

  • Sabrina: The players want all revenue in one visible bucket, but the league’s offer is based on ambiguous metrics.
    • “The main thing here is transparency...the players seem to be trying to simplify this as much as possible.” — Sabrina Merchant [07:29]

• Wearable Tech & Developmental Spots

  • New proposed mandates around wearable tech for player tracking during games, with phased implementation.
  • A union proposal would allow teams two additional ‘developmental’ players for in-house training and supplemental roster depth.
    • “A way to potentially alleviate [injuries] and have more players in your building, a part of your system, a part of your culture...” — Ben Pickman [12:24]

2. Team USA Women’s Basketball Camp

[13:13 – 22:44]

• New Era Under Coach Kara Lawson

  • Camp atmosphere set by a young, evolving roster with ten first-timers, as several WNBA stars sat out.
  • "Generational shift" observed with increased focus on player development and identity.

• Player Highlights

  • Caitlin Clark: Returned after injury for her first 5-on-5 action since July. Was notably energetic and happy to be back, showing flashes of signature playmaking.
    • “She looked like Caitlin, right? The step back three was there, the passes were there...” — Sabrina Merchant [17:54]
  • Angel Reese: Addressed rumors about leaving Chicago, saying she plans to stay—“I mean I'm under contract so yeah, I'll be there next year.” [18:21]. Her bond with Paige Bueckers continues, fueling fan speculation.
  • Juju Watkins: The USC star, recovering from injury, attended as an observer, signifying USA Basketball’s commitment to integrating young stars.

• Locker Room Moments & Culture

  • Fun moments described, like Kelsey Plum teasing Caitlin Clark, and coaches laughing at on-court antics, maintaining strong WNBA-to-NT crossover vibes.

3. "What If": Creating a College Basketball Loan System

[26:11 – 51:08]

• Premise:

  • Borrowing from soccer’s loan mechanism, the hosts imagine one-season "loans" for players stuck on struggling or non-contending teams to join other programs—spicing up parity and individual development.

• Sample Loan Proposals

  • Zena’s Pick: Achol Akat (Oklahoma State) → Duke
    • Duke needs efficiency, rebounding, and scoring inside the arc; Akat’s two-point percentage and rebounding fit perfectly.
    • “She's leading Division One in two-point field goal percentage.” — Sabrina Merchant [30:46]
  • Sabrina’s Pick: Gracie Merkle (Penn State) → USC
    • Penn State’s post presence could radically alter USC’s thin frontcourt rotation.
    • “Having somebody you can give the ball to on any possession...it’s a point of real need.” — Sabrina Merchant [33:39]
  • Ben’s Pick: Shay Czeski (Indiana) → USC/North Carolina/Ole Miss
    • High-usage scoring guard could transform offenses in need of dynamic shot creation or three-point shooting.
    • "I mapped her to USC for...another proven ball-handler...but also interesting in North Carolina or Ole Miss." — Ben Pickman [37:52]

• Meta Conversation:

  • Debate over ethics/logistics of “lending” a star from a non-contender (would you rob a mid-major of its rising star?).
  • The player movement exercise mirrors real-world transfer portal and its impact on draft stock and program success.
    • “It's always interesting when star players...shift into other roles at other programs.” — Ben Pickman [46:18]

4. Impact of Player Movement on Draft Stock

[43:00 – 51:08]

• Opportunity for mid- or low-major stars who join bigger programs (or ‘loan’ hypothetically) to showcase NBA skills, akin to real-world examples like Lou Lopez Sénéchal (Fairfield → UConn → WNBA).
  • “If you can hang a banner...I wouldn’t want to take a player from that team.” — Sabrina Merchant [39:29]
• Caution that sometimes moving to a power school means becoming a role player—not always maximizing individual stats but potentially improving visibility and draft prospects.

5. Catchphrases, Nicknames & Team Culture

[54:42 – 62:36]

• Harvard’s leaning into “nerds can hoop too” culture and upcoming “Nerds Jersey” giveaway versus Columbia.
• Widespread adoption of “We all we got, we all we need” as a team mantra, trickling down from Liberty to other college and pro teams.
• Fun (and promotional) examples:
  • Seton Hall: “Monday Mozzarella with Tony Bozzella” (mozzarella sticks with the coach) [59:11]
  • Azzi Fudd: “Fudd Around and Find Out” fan sign/podcast catchphrase
    • “It's the ‘Fudd around and find out.’ ...Love the evolution from one fan sign to an actual podcast.” — Zena Kada [61:29]
  • UCLA suggestion (by Ben): “Tuesday Toast with Cori Close”

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the Loan System:

  • “It's our college basketball version of a trade machine.” — Zena Kada [03:02]
  • “We're sort of just thinking about like a loan system like they have in European soccer...let’s let them contribute their talents to a program that really needs something specific.” — Sabrina Merchant [27:26]

• On CBA Transparency:

  • “Transparency...is really the main thing here, because the players seem to be trying to simplify this as much as possible. Right. Like, let's just put all of the revenue in one bucket.” — Sabrina Merchant [07:29]

• On Team USA Youth Movement:

  • “…part of this generational shift that is going on with USA Basketball...the beginning of a shift in who is making up the Team USA player body.” — Ben Pickman [20:31]

• Nickname Humor:

  • “One of the funnier things about that is when Paige said it for the first time, a couple people thought that she was saying that they were the ‘young interns’.” — Sabrina Merchant [23:03]

• On Player Movement Impact:

  • “It’s always interesting not only thinking about if we’re gonna put somebody on loan for a semester...it’s interesting to think about them leaving a situation in which they might be the focal point...” — Zena Kada [48:07]

Timed Breakdown of Important Segments

| Time | Segment | Summary | |-----------|-----------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------| | 03:00 | CBA/Deal or No Deal | Revenue split, salary structure, transparency issues| | 11:01 | Wearable Tech/Dev. Contracts| Player tracking, ramp-up in player share, adding dev spots | | 13:13 | Team USA Camp | First look at new coach, insights on Clark, Reese, Watkins | | 20:29 | “Young and Turnt” Generation| Paige Bueckers’ “young and turnt” nickname, camp vibes | | 26:11 | NCAA “Loan” System | Hypotheticals: which players could revitalize which teams | | 43:00 | Transfer Impact on Draft | How role changes/destinations shape pro prospects | | 54:42 | Nicknames & Culture | Harvard’s “nerds,” Liberty’s catchphrases, Fudd’s podcast | | 59:11 | Mozzarella w/Tony Bozzella | Best niche team promotion ideas & local flavor | | 61:29 | Fudd Around and Find Out | Fan signs becoming personal brands |

Tone & Atmosphere

Warm, curious, and playful with a blend of insider expertise and creative what-ifs. The hosts use good-natured ribbing, reference inside jokes (“young interns”), and provide insightful, yet accessible breakdowns of complex topics. Frequent callbacks to quirky basketball culture elements keep the conversation fresh and relatable.

Conclusion

This episode highlights not just the “what if” mechanics of a hypothetical loan system in college basketball, but also the broader state of women’s hoops: from CBA bargaining complexities and labor dynamics to the evolving face of Team USA and the buzzy, grassroots cultural resonance of catchphrases and campus traditions. The hosts blend journalism, fandom, and creativity, offering both deep dives and lighthearted banter—a must-listen for fans and insiders alike.