No Offseason: The Athletic Women's Basketball Show Episode: What the WNBA Can Learn from the NWSL CBA + Here Come the Aces (and Violet!) Release Date: August 15, 2025

Introduction and Game Recap

Hosts: Zena Keita, Chantel Jennings, Sabreena Merchant, and Ben Pickman kick off the episode with a recap of the recent Las Vegas Aces versus New York Liberty game held on Wednesday night in Las Vegas. The game was a nail-biter, featuring 13 lead changes and nine ties, ultimately ending with the Aces securing an 83-77 victory.

Ben Pickman highlights the significance of the Aces' performance post their earlier 53-point loss to the Minnesota Lynx in early August:

“Las Vegas’s offensive rebounding rate is over 41%. That is up from 27.8% at the start of the season up until that loss. They are crashing the glass more... they are using their size, their physicality to try and create second chance opportunities.” ([03:36])

Sabreena Merchant discusses the challenges faced by the Liberty without key players like Breanna Stewart, Niara Sabili, and Izzy Harrison:

“It's just a very different Liberty team than we saw at the start of the season when they had that dominant 90 start... There's a certain, like, I don't know, look that championship teams have, and you just haven't seen that from the New York Liberty of late.” ([05:33])

Aces' Strategic Adjustments and Team Dynamics

The hosts delve deeper into the Aces' strategic enhancements, particularly focusing on Jewel Lloyd's impactful performance off the bench and the overall positive locker room vibe contributing to their five-game win streak.

Sabrina Merchant emphasizes the Aces' lineup adjustments and the increasing team cohesion:

“There is just like there's some sort of like mentality shift involved like Jewel Lloyd being willing to sacrifice and putting the team over herself... There's just like a better locker room vibe with the Las Vegas Aces.” ([10:35])

Violet the Valkyrie: A Mascot Makeover

The conversation shifts to the introduction of Violet (Vi), the new mascot for the Valkyries. The hosts discuss the creative unveiling and the mixed reception from fans and other teams.

Ben Pickman critiques the involvement of Quinton Post, a Warriors player, in Violet's introduction:

“They brought on Warriors forward Quinton Post... But, Violet does end up making a layup later in the game through another timeout. So that was really good.” ([12:43])

Sabrina Merchant and Zena Keita comment on Violet's attempts to make layups, questioning the necessity of such actions for a mascot:

"A mascot does not need to know how to make layups. They just need to know how to entertain us." ([14:16])

Ownership and Relocation Concerns: Connecticut Sun

Ben Pickman provides an update on the Connecticut Sun, detailing the complexities surrounding the potential sale and relocation of the team:

“We know the Connecticut Sun very much are up for sale. There has been some reporting... Houston is also an option to potentially acquire the Connecticut Sun via sale.” ([18:14])

Interview with Meg Linehan: NWSL CBA Lessons for the WNBA

The show features an insightful interview with Meg Linehan, Women's Sports Lead at The Athletic and host of the podcast Full Time. Meg shares her expertise on the recent NWSL Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) negotiations and explores what the WNBA can learn from them.

NWSL CBA Negotiations Overview

Meg outlines the progression of the NWSL CBA negotiations, emphasizing the shift from the contentious first agreement tied to the NWSL abuse scandal to a more collaborative second negotiation:

“In this version of the CBA, they tied revenue share to the salary cap itself... if a certain number is hit in terms of profit from the league, a certain percent, I think 10%, goes right back into the salary cap.” ([26:09])

Revenue Share and Financial Transparency

The discussion highlights the critical aspect of revenue share and financial transparency. Meg explains how the NWSL secured player salaries through revenue sharing mechanisms tied directly to league profitability:

“They tied revenue share to the salary cap itself. And the salary cap in the NWSL is, in theory, sticking around to maintain parity across the teams.” ([30:00])

Sabrina Merchant underscores the importance of these negotiations for the WNBA:

“Financial transparency. What a concept, right? What a concept.” ([33:16])

Public Opinion and Its Impact

Meg and the hosts discuss the role of public opinion in the success of collective bargaining, drawing parallels to the U.S. Women's National Team's fight for equal pay:

“There was a real sense of, you know, they went out, they made a documentary... public sentiment is always going to be behind the players.” ([35:40])

Challenges and Opportunities for the WNBA

The conversation moves to the WNBA's unique challenges, including player load and injury prevention. Meg highlights the necessity for comprehensive medical resources and roster depth to sustain player health amidst an expanding season:

“Player load in terms of again adding games to a calendar. That's been a real sticking point for years.” ([43:15])

Growth and Star Power in Women's Sports

The hosts reflect on the burgeoning popularity of women's sports, citing stars like Caitlin Clark in basketball and Trinity Rodman in soccer as catalysts for increased viewership and engagement.

Sabrina Merchant raises critical points about racial dynamics and the representation within women's sports:

“You think about Caitlin Clark being the face of a league that is predominantly black. And now you look at the NWSL, which is becoming increasingly more diverse and what that means.” ([52:12])

Upcoming Games and Hosts' Picks

In the concluding segment, the hosts share their predictions for upcoming WNBA games:

• Ben Pickman selects the Phoenix Mercury vs. Seattle Storm game, anticipating a pivotal matchup for playoff standings.
• Sabrina Merchant picks the WNBA's first regular-season game in Canada, highlighting the Dream vs. Canadian team as a must-watch event.

Closing Remarks

The episode wraps up with reminders to follow and subscribe to the podcast, alongside information about the next episode's lineup.

Notable Quotes:

• Ben Pickman ([03:36]): “Las Vegas’s offensive rebounding rate is over 41%. They are crashing the glass more... they are using their size, their physicality to try and create second chance opportunities.”

• Sabreena Merchant ([05:33]): “There's a certain... look that championship teams have, and you just haven't seen that from the New York Liberty of late.”

• Sabrina Merchant ([33:16]): “Financial transparency. What a concept, right? What a concept.”

• Meg Linehan ([26:09]): “They tied revenue share to the salary cap itself... if a certain number is hit in terms of profit from the league, a certain percent, I think 10%, goes right back into the salary cap.”

• Madison H. ([35:40]): “Public sentiment is always going to be behind the players.”

This episode of No Offseason offers a comprehensive analysis of the WNBA's strategic developments, the introduction of new mascots, ownership challenges, and valuable lessons from the NWSL's recent CBA negotiations. The insights provided by the hosts and guest Meg Linehan serve as a pivotal guide for understanding the evolving landscape of women's basketball and its intersection with broader women's sports dynamics.