Podcast Summary: "Will Angel Reese Leave Chicago? Will Arike Stay in Dallas? The Free Agency Bonanza Begins! — No Offseason: The Athletic Women’s Basketball Show"

Podcast: No Offseason: The Athletic Women's Basketball Show
Hosts: Zena Keita, Sabrina Merchant, Ben Pickman
Air Date: October 17, 2025

Overview

This lively episode explores the looming chaos of the 2025-26 WNBA offseason — a period defined by a possible lockout, unprecedented free agency, a yet-to-be-negotiated CBA, and the introduction of two new franchises (Portland Fire and Toronto Tempo). The hosts break down what’s at stake with upcoming CBA negotiations, explain free agency intricacies, and dive deep into potential ripple effects for top teams and star players. The discussion is rich with insider context, speculation, and amusing social media moments from the offseason.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. WNBA Growth and Looming Labor Issues

• Record Viewership: The WNBA saw its most-watched season ever, with postseason games averaging 1.2 million viewers (up 5% year-over-year).
  “All that growth leads us to a nicely new segment that we're gonna call Deal or no Deal.” – Zena Caida (03:06)
• CBA Deadline: The current collective bargaining agreement is set to expire on October 31, 2025, just as momentum in the league hits new highs.

Deal or No Deal? (CBA Extension/Lockout Discussion)

• Status: Unlikely a new CBA will be signed by the deadline; an extension is possible to keep negotiations alive and avoid a full lockout.
  • "Currently they stand at no Deal...I would not bet that a deal gets signed by the October 31 deadline." — Ben Pickman (03:08)
• Implications of Lockout: Players would lose access to facilities and front office staff—much more disruptive today due to team investments.
  • "There is actual, like, can actually be locked out of facilities in a way that, like, would materially impact the players during their offseason time." — Sabrina Merchant (04:40)
• Public Perception: Both sides want to avoid a lockout to maintain the league's momentum amid unprecedented fan engagement.
  • "Having a lockout would just absolutely kill that fire..." — Zena Caida (06:13)
• Likelihood of Work Stoppage: Missing games is viewed as unlikely at this stage, but any timeline for a new CBA could delay free agency or other offseason operations. (07:19)

2. Expansion Teams Drama: Portland Fire's Bizarre Head Coach Announcement

• The Portland Fire accidentally revealed their head coaching hire (Alex Sarama) in a LinkedIn post before deleting it, echoing a previous Toronto Tempo leak.
  • "On Tuesday morning, it was announced that the Portland Fire were hiring Alex Sarama as the franchise's first head coach. And then it was swiftly deleted, but not before some people saw the announcement, put it on Reddit..." — Sabrina Merchant (09:23)
• Discussion around the modern "LinkedIn era" of sports announcements—and the power of relationships in new front office hires.

3. Officiating: Referee Promotion Debate and WNBA-NBA Dynamics

• Noted referee Jenna Renau (controversially involved in a recent playoff ejection) was announced as moving to NBA officiating; the NBA's press release carefully dubbed this “advancement” rather than a “promotion,” sparking a lively semantics debate.
  • "To me, kind of sounds like a promotion, even if you're not using the treasure." — Sabrina Merchant (13:36)
• Real pay/benefit disparities: NBA referees are full-time, salaried professionals; WNBA refs are contractors, often working NCAA games for extra income.
• Broader issue: The league may be losing top officials to the NBA, impacting WNBA game quality and fairness.

4. WNBA Free Agency, CBA, and the Perfect Storm

• Sheer Volume: Over 100 free agents, including nearly every veteran not on a rookie contract.
  • "Basically the contracts that Players are signing are short term deals..." — Ben Pickman (25:38)
• Types of Free Agents: Differentiation between unrestricted, restricted, and reserved free agents. The influential “core” designation gives teams limited control to retain stars.
  • "So there's three basically tiers of free agents and they all have different opportunities..." — Sabrina Merchant (23:55)
• Why Now?: Players and agents anticipated a jump in pay tied to the CBA, timing their contracts to hit free agency this particular offseason.
  • "If we're looking at the NBA, this is like over a hundred players being available in one summer...It also includes the LeBrons and the Stephs..." — Zena Caida (26:53)
• Historical Comparison: Unprecedented, akin to the NBA’s superstars and All-Stars all hitting the market at once.

Team-by-Team Free Agency Outlook

Chicago Sky: Will Angel Reese Stay?

• Status: Angel Reese, still on her rookie deal, expressed dissatisfaction with the team's competitiveness and locker room issues.
  • "She is not going to stay in Chicago, but that is not sourced. That's just a gut feeling." — Sabrina Merchant (28:04)
• Impact: Reese's presence or departure will directly influence Chicago's desirability for incoming free agents.

Dallas Wings: Arike Ogunbowale’s Future

• Situation: Paige Bueckers is a franchise anchor; Arike Ogunbowale’s role diminished as the franchise shifted focus to Bueckers.
  • "It certainly seems like this past season they turned the keys to the car over to Paige and not Arike Ogunbowale." — Ben Pickman (32:11)
• Coaching Search: Filling the head coach vacancy is the most immediate priority.
• Frontcourt Needs: Looking to find an ideal frontcourt partner for Paige Bueckers, leveraging the Wings’ salary cap flexibility, new facilities, and market perks.
• Arike Suitors: Chicago and expansion teams (Toronto, Portland) could build around Ogunbowale if she departs Dallas.

Indiana Fever: Building Around Caitlin Clark and Frontcourt Tweaks

• The team found a strong defensive identity in Clark’s absence but needs a complementary playmaking/scoring guard and power forward alongside Aaliyah Boston.
• Potential Targets: Dream options like Jackie Young (Las Vegas) or more attainable ones like Azurá Stevens as a stretch 4.
  • “If I'm them, I'm making a...plea for Jackie Young...she is an Indiana native.” — Ben Pickman (41:04)

New York Liberty: Is the “Big 3” Core Sustainable?

• Retaining Jonquel Jones, Breanna Stewart, and Sabrina Ionescu is the GM’s top priority, but Jonquel Jones’ struggles raised questions.
  • “I think Brianna Stewart sort of sets the floor...and Jonquel Jones elevates them to their ceiling.” — Sabrina Merchant (45:37)
• Roster churn possible with return of Benijah Laney-Hamilton and development of younger talent; head coaching search comes first.

Other Teams to Watch

• Phoenix Mercury: High-end facilities, a strong core of Alyssa Thomas, Kahleah Copper, and Satou Sabally make Phoenix extremely attractive for free agents.
  • "Players are treated really well there...ownership group really reflects investment..." — Ben Pickman (47:32)
• Minnesota Lynx: Major roster uncertainty with a host of key players (Kayla McBride, Alanna Smith, Courtney Williams, etc.) all unrestricted free agents; expansion draft will force hard choices.
  • “There's just so much uncertainty with the Lynx...you can't keep all of them.” — Sabrina Merchant (48:53)
• Expansion Teams (Portland & Toronto): These franchises will be able to pick from a much deeper, star-studded free agent pool than the Golden State Valkyries did, potentially building competitive rosters instantly.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On CBA Uncertainty:
  "If a deal isn't done by October 31st and there is no extension... that's what would trigger the lockout." — Zena Caida (04:17)

• Angel Reese Status Speculation:
  "My gut tells me that she is not going to stay in Chicago, but that is not sourced." — Sabrina Merchant (28:04)

• Defining This Free Agency:
  "This feels unprecedented...if we're looking at the NBA, this is like over a hundred players...it also includes the LeBrons and the Stephs..." — Zena Caida (26:53)

• Social Media “Say What?!” Moment:
  “Arike Gumbawale [responding to her own All-WNBA campaign post]: Delete. Not this year.” — Sabrina Merchant (57:16)

Social Media "Say What?" Segment (53:51–58:00)

A lighthearted wrap-up where hosts share the oddest, most cringeworthy, or funniest social-media moments recently:

• Zena: The drama of the Wings trading NaLyssa Smith, followed by her emotional tweet ("Sick to my stomach, dog. Never seen this coming.")—and teammate reactions.
• Ben: Phoenix’s wild "carryover player" stat graphic ("First to two finals in five years without a single carryover player") drawing mass Twitter incredulity.
• Sabrina: Dallas Wings posting a (not-credible) "All-WNBA" campaign for Arike, quickly rebuffed by Arike herself commenting “delete. Not this year.”

Timestamps of Major Segments

• CBA/Lockout Breakdown: 03:00–07:19
• Portland Fire Head Coach Leak: 08:47–12:39
• Officiating Advancement Debate: 12:39–17:41
• Free Agency 101 & CBA Impact: 20:09–27:27
• Player/Team Deep-Dives (Reese, Arike, Clark, Liberty, Mercury, Lynx): 27:28–50:27
• Expansion Teams’ Unique Opportunity: 50:27–51:21
• ’Say What?’ (Social Media moments): 53:51–58:00

Conclusion

The 2025 WNBA offseason stands as the most tumultuous and transformative in league history. With the convergence of a new CBA, a massive free agent class (including all-time greats), and two expansion franchises, the league is facing unprecedented change — and drama worthy of a Shonda Rhimes script. The hosts bring depth and humor to the conversation, making sense of the chaos and highlighting the stakes for players, teams, and fans.

Subscribe, rate, and follow No Offseason for ongoing coverage of a wildly unpredictable WNBA winter.