No Offseason: The Athletic Women’s Basketball Show

Episode: Which Conference Really Runs Women’s Hoops?
Date: December 9, 2025
Hosts: Zena Keita, Sabreena Merchant, Ben Pickman

Episode Overview

In this episode, Zena, Sabreena, and Ben dive into a hotly debated question: Which of the Power Four conferences—SEC, Big Ten, ACC, or Big 12—truly "runs" women’s college basketball? The crew tackles recent games, particularly the ACC/SEC Challenge, ranks key programs, spotlights rising and star players, and debates the strengths and weaknesses of each conference as the season heads into league play. They wrap up with a fun basketball connections game focused on rebounding legends.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. The Sabrina Scale: UCLA, USC & Player Impact

(02:22–15:14)

UCLA vs. Oregon Postgame Analysis

• UCLA Dominance Despite Flaws

  • Sabreena notes Lauren Betts' box stats "undersold how good she’s been" on court, adding,

    “Her finishing was a little all over the place…[but] 21-point victory to open conference play. Exactly what you need out of the Bruins.” (03:54, Sabreena)

  • Zena points out UCLA’s depth, even with rotation absences, and the confidence it brings after a Texas loss.

• Importance of Charlisse Ledger-Walker

  • Ben highlights her on/off splits:

    “UCLA is almost 20 points better per 100 possessions with her on the floor…She’s certainly a player I have my eye on as conference play begins.” (06:00, Ben)

USC vs. Washington Breakdown

• USC’s Defensive Identity

  • Sabreena:

    “Defensively, I think they’re just about as good as anybody…Kennedy Smith is like, among the best wing defenders in the country.” (09:18)

  • Offense remains inconsistent but the defense kept them in games vs. top teams.
  • Zena: Kennedy Smith’s pervasive impact—“She was everywhere on the floor…I think is going to be a contributing factor.” (11:53)

• Washington’s Offensive Struggles

  • Washington’s lowest point total “since last March” (14:16), with starters rushing shots and struggling against USC’s smothering D.

• Gerda Raulshe’s Best Game for USC

  • Called out for what Sabreena says was “her best game of the season,” praising her physicality and efficiency off the bench—a hopeful sign at the post spot.

2. The ACC/SEC Challenge: Results & Implications

(16:04–26:09)

• SEC’s Increasing Dominance

  • After a 7–7 split in Year 1, this year finished 13–3 in SEC’s favor.
  • Zena:

    “It wasn't really close…outside of that Louisville–South Carolina and Notre Dame–Ole Miss games.” (17:34)

• Moral Victories & Louisville’s Growth

  • Ben:

    “My top-line takeaway...was Louisville, and that is, of course, in a close loss to South Carolina. We’re not talking about wins—we’re talking the value in close losses.” (17:34)

  • Louisville's turnover reduction and improved 3-point shooting highlighted.

• South Carolina’s Bench Concerns

  • Zena notes S. Carolina’s lack of bench minutes: “The winner still had a very prominent issue they’re going to have to address once SEC play starts...the bench just isn’t playing.” (20:28)

• Notre Dame vs. Ole Miss – Coaching Adjustments

  • Sabreena:

    “Really smart coaching adjustment by Coach Yo...they just played bigger...Notre Dame doesn’t have the option to actually bring in more frontcourt players to address that deficit....” (23:35, Sabreena)

  • Cody McMahon’s athleticism and Ole Miss’s attempt at out-rebounding despite poor outside shooting analyzed.

3. Conference Power Rankings & Lingering Questions

(29:43–55:16)

Basics of Conference Structure

Sabreena explains:

“There are about 30 conferences in Division 1...Power 4 are just deeper, have multiple teams with a chance of making the tournament even if you don’t end up winning your conference.” (30:06)

ACC: Depth Issues

• Sabreena asks,

  “How many ACC teams do you think will make the tournament?” (33:22)

• General consensus: 4–6, with only Notre Dame, UNC, and Louisville as "locks". Sabreena:

  "The depth of the ACC...really is more mid-major-ish these days." (33:29)

• Ben notes:

  “The Big Ten has 11 schools in the top 30 in net rating. The ACC has three.” (34:02)

Big 12: Who’s the Star?

• Ben asks:

  “Is Audi Crooks of Iowa State the best player in the conference?” (39:26)

• Hosts debate Crooks’s historic numbers vs. competition level, with Sabreena adding TCU’s Olivia Miles to the conversation as a “multi-time All American...just one of the finest creators in the country.” (41:12)

Big Ten: Who’s Most Believable—Maryland, Michigan, or Iowa?

• Ben: “Who do you believe in most: Maryland, Michigan, or Iowa?” (47:46)
• Discussion highlights Maryland’s grit, but both Sabrina and Ben “lean Michigan” for their balance, defense, and the star sophomore trio—“Michigan...the only Big Ten school that’s top 10 in both offensive and defensive rating.” (50:54, Ben)
• Zena asks why Nebraska isn't in the mix—Sabreena predicts they’ll prove themselves in conference play.

SEC: Could They Dominate the Final Four?

• Zena wonders:

  “Will the SEC end up with all four spots in the Final Four?” (55:18)

• Sabreena: “UConn exists, so no. But I can talk about three.” (55:39)
• Zena: Texas and South Carolina are locked in, with LSU, Tennessee, or Ole Miss vying for a third spot.
• Ben’s bold take:

  “I think there’s going to be more teams from the Big Ten to make the Final Four than the SEC.” (57:27)

4. Memorable Quotes & Moments

• Sabreena on SEC’s domination:

  “It wasn’t really a challenge.” (16:30)

• Ben: On moral victories in women's hoops:

  “We're not talking about wins. We're talking the value in close losses.” (17:34)

• Zena: On Audi Crooks’ dominance:

  “She’s literally coming to games and then being like, ‘I'm gonna make reservations for dinner at halftime.’ Don’t worry, guys, I got things to do right after this.” (41:12)

• Sabreena: On ACC’s decline:

  “The depth of the ACC and Big 12 really is more mid-major-ish these days than on par with the SEC and the Big Ten.” (33:29)

5. Fun Segment: "She Traveled"—Legendary Rebounders Game

(62:29–67:06)

• Zena quizzes Ben and Sabreena on rebounding records, starting with Megan Nestor’s 34 points/31 rebounds and connecting NCAA rebounding greats Lauren Taylor, Courtney Paris, and Angel Reese.

• Sabreena wins with,

  “Courtney Paris was assistant coach on the Chicago Sky [with Angel Reese].” (66:43)

• Ben offers a UConn alternate with Sue Bird, Aaliyah Edwards, Stephanie Dolson, and Tina Charles, humorously noting how many player connections are possible with a legend like Bird.

Important Timestamps

• Sabrina Scale & UCLA/Oregon recap: 02:22–07:37
• USC/Washington recap: 07:37–15:14
• ACC/SEC Challenge analysis: 16:04–26:09
• Setting up conference questions: 29:43–36:22
• ACC depth debate: 33:22–38:55
• Big 12 star players: 39:26–47:05
• Big Ten contender debate: 47:26–55:16
• SEC Final Four debate: 55:16–60:16
• "She Traveled" connections game: 62:29–67:06

Takeaways

• SEC currently rules the landscape in terms of team depth and title threats, as seen in their ACC/SEC Challenge blowout.
• Big Ten parity and depth may ultimately send more teams deep into March Madness than the star-studded but possibly top-heavy SEC.
• ACC faces a transition year, with only a handful of bright spots among traditional powers.
• Big 12 boasts remarkable talent, but its major stars (Crooks, Miles) await big-game tests to validate early numbers.
• Player development is central—emerging stars, impact transfers, injury comebacks, and seamless integration have reshaped power rankings across every conference.

For New Listeners

This episode offers a whirlwind tour of where the women’s college basketball landscape stands as conference play begins—who to watch, which teams really have staying power, & how the balance of power could shift before March. It's an episode for the big-picture thinker who wants both sharp humor and deep analysis.