No Offseason: The Athletic Women's Basketball Show

Episode: Will the WNBA bring more balance to their schedule? + Paige Bueckers’ record-breaking night
Hosts: Zena Keita & Sabreena Merchant
Date: August 22, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode focuses on the growing pains of the WNBA as it expands—specifically the challenges around scheduling with a larger league, the impact this has on players (notably injuries and travel), and the future of the regular-season calendar in CBA negotiations. The hosts also celebrate Paige Bueckers’ historic 44-point night and discuss other league storylines, from Sue Bird’s statue to behind-the-scenes drama in Connecticut, as well as returning stars and what’s at stake for playoff bubble teams.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Historic Moments: Sue Bird’s Statue and Paige Bueckers’ Big Night

Sue Bird’s Statue in Seattle

• First WNBA player statue ever, installed outside Climate Pledge Arena.
• Both hosts were struck by its quality and symbolic weight for women’s sports.
  • Zena Keita: "If these statue makers are capable of capturing wind in ponytails... I think we can figure out wrinkles in a man's face." (03:27)
  • Sabrina Merchant: “She is Seattle, right? She is the Seattle Storm. And for her to actually have a statue outside the arena... was such like a lovely ceremony.” (04:14)

Paige Bueckers’ Record-Breaking 44-Point Game

• The Sparks edged out the Wings 81-80—in a game remembered for Bueckers’ feat more than the result.
• Game Breakdown:
  • Paige had just 16 points at half, then exploded for 28 in the final 15 minutes.
  • Finished 17/21 from the field—over 80% shooting.
  • The game drew a celebrity crowd; Chad Holmgren was notably animated.
• Quote:
  • Sabrina Merchant: “Paige fans travel...it was a very pro-page crowd. The roar every time she scored a basket...she was just special.” (06:41)
  • Zena Keita: “I'm looking at Paige and I'm like, sis is tired and she's still dropping buckets.” (08:29)
  • Funny aside: Bueckers named Shemar Moore as her dream courtside guest, and he indeed showed up (08:59).

2. Rivalry Week: Liberty vs Lynx & The Importance of Matchups

New York Liberty vs Minnesota Lynx

• Liberty snapped the Lynx’s hopes of a season sweep with a key win (85-75).
• Sabreena and Zena discuss what truly makes a rivalry.
  • Notable Quote:
    • Sabrina Merchant: “Rivalry is great. Of course we're rivals. Of course we don't like them.” (11:40)
• Noted drama with players switching teams and exchanging spicy quotes.
• Emphasis on televised games meeting the moment, even with stars Stewie and Napheesa Collier sidelined.

3. Player Comebacks and the Worrying Injury Trend

Recent Returns

• Celebrated Angel Reese’s strong return: 19 pts, 7 reb, 4 ast vs Storm.
• Noted concern over numerous key injuries: Ileana Rupert (concussion), Sophie Cunningham (torn MCL), Li Yuru (ACL sprain).

Impact on Playoff Race

• Fever’s guard rotation decimated as Caitlin Clark, Sydney Colson, Arie McDonald, and now Cunningham are out.
  • Sabrina Merchant: “It dramatically changes what they're capable of... It's very different.” (15:38)
  • Zena Keita: “You just feel for the Fever... it's just terrible adversity.” (17:20)

4. Behind the Scenes: Connecticut Sun Sale Saga

• The Sun are fielding a $325M offer from Steve Pagliuca (possible Boston move), but the WNBA prefers keeping the team within the current NBA owners’ circle.
• Tribe could sell to the league directly for $250M—a move with league-wide implications.
  • Sabrina Merchant: "It is really interesting just to see how the WNBA wants... the future of this on the look versus what the Connecticut sun want their future to look like." (18:24)
  • Zena Keita: "Apparently the league has $250 million just sitting there… All you people negotiating the CBA, just, you know, taking mental notes here." (20:15)

5. WNBA Scheduling Dilemma: Expansion, Injuries, and the Path Forward

(Main Discussion: 22:46–51:00)

Current State & Mechanics of Scheduling

• 2025: First season with 44 games and a best-of-7 Finals.
• Scheduling is dictated primarily by arena availability; the league then maximizes rest, limits back-to-backs, and prioritizes not playing the same opponent more than three times in a row.
  • Sabrina Merchant: “There's all of these factors... maximize rest versus travel.” (24:20)

Arena Unavailability Issues

• Playoff teams often displaced due to concerts, renovations, or other events (ex: Phoenix, Las Vegas, Washington, Minnesota).
  • Zena Keita: “It devalues the product…You’re telling the team and the fans this isn’t important enough to prioritize.” (28:23)

Injury Trends & Correlation to Schedule

• Number of games has risen, but season length hasn’t.
  • Data shows all-WNBA players are missing more games on average:
    • 2021: 4.6 games missed
    • 2022: 3.2 games
    • 2023: 3.9 games
    • 2024: 5.9 games
    • 2025 (through 35 games): 8.3 games (!)
  • Sabrina Merchant: “If it feels like your favorite players...are missing more games, it kind of bears out, right?” (32:55)
  • Zena Keita: “Even if the injury data seems in line, it hits harder when the marquee players...are sitting out.” (33:02)

Scheduling Expansion: Feasibility and Pitfalls

• More teams mean even more games unless the format changes.
• Earlier start is essentially blocked by the end of college basketball; extending later into October/November runs into NBA, college football, arena, and ratings conflicts.
  • Sabrina Merchant: "It is easier with charter travel... but at what cost?" (36:13)
  • "I don't want to be in a situation where [owners must choose] a Mystics playoff game or a Wizards regular season game." (37:27)
• The league may have to experiment with splitting the calendar for major events like the FIBA World Cup (break for international play then playoff finish in November) in 2026.

CBA & Player Perspectives

• Players increasingly vocal about the “cadence” of games and toll on health.
  • Sabrina Merchant: “Sathu Sabli... did not feel that player health was being prioritized.” (41:41)
  • Zena Keita: “This isn’t AAU, these bodies can’t take three games in four days.” (45:01)
• Desire for more thoughtful scheduling to enable rest, recovery, and higher-quality games.

6. Commissioner for a Day: Sabrina and Zena’s Solutions (44:12–50:00)

Sabrina’s (Practical) Proposals:

• Rematch of previous year’s WNBA Finals as the opening game each season.
• No more three-games-in-a-row vs same opponent.
• No more three-games-in-four-days stretches.

Zena’s (Creative) Suggestions:

• Scale back season series to 2–3 games per opponent; fan-voted “Rivalry Week” would add a select third/fourth game to the most compelling matchups.
• Experiment with WNBA playoff games stacked back-to-back with NBA opening night games for shared excitement and broadcast synergy.
• Launch a Global/International Week: WNBA teams play overseas, leveraging the league’s growing international talent.

Sabrina’s Bonus:

• Bring back conference-based playoff seeding for more stakes and clarity.

7. Around the League: Set Your Screens Picks (53:05)

• Sabrina: Seattle vs Washington (Sun): Interested for player returns and draft pick intrigue (Seattle’s pick controlled by Washington due to trade).
• Zena: Connecticut Sun vs Chicago Sky (Sat): Drawn by Laila Lacan’s play and ex-LSU players Angel Reese and Anessa Morrow facing off.

Notable Quotes & Moments

• "If these statue makers are capable of capturing wind in ponytails, I think we can figure out wrinkles in a man's face."
  – Zena Keita on the artistry of Sue Bird and A’ja Wilson’s statues (03:27)

• "Paige fans travel...The roar every time she scored a basket...she was just special."
  – Sabrina Merchant on attending Bueckers’ 44-point game (06:41)

• "Rivalry is great. Of course we're rivals. Of course we don't like them."
  – Sabrina Merchant echoing players and coaches on Liberty-Lynx stakes (11:40)

• "It devalues the product…You’re telling the team and the fans this isn’t important enough to prioritize."
  – Zena Keita on teams being displaced from home arenas for playoffs (28:23)

• "If it feels like your favorite players...are missing more games, it kind of bears out, right?"
  – Sabrina Merchant on the rise in games missed by stars (32:55)

• "This isn’t AAU, these bodies can’t take three games in four days."
  – Zena Keita advocating for humane pace of play (45:01)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Historic Statues & Sue Bird: 02:28–04:57
• Paige Bueckers’ 44-Point Game: 04:57–09:31
• Liberty vs Lynx Rivalry: 09:31–13:53
• Injury Rundown, Fever Outlook: 13:53–18:24
• Connecticut Sun Sale Drama: 18:24–21:13
• WNBA Scheduling Deep Dive: 22:46–51:00
  • Schedule process: 24:20–25:46
  • Arena issues: 25:46–28:23
  • Injuries & data: 30:08–33:36
  • Calendar expansion: 34:38–40:39
  • Player CBA voices: 41:41–43:46
  • Commish for a day: 44:12–50:00
• Set Your Screens: 53:05–53:53

Tone

Balanced mix of insider analysis, irreverent humor, and fan perspective—with both hosts blending data, lived experience, and love of the game. The discussion is candid about league challenges but also creative and forward-thinking about solutions, reflecting both the seriousness and excitement around the WNBA’s growth.

Summary Takeaway

This episode captures the crossroads at which the WNBA finds itself: rapidly expanding, attracting investment and viewers, but challenged by a schedule that both underpins and threatens its growth. Through thoughtful reporting, personal insights, and playful creativity, Zena and Sabrina shine a light on the league’s pressing issues—and remind fans and decision-makers alike of what’s at stake for the sport’s future.