Podcast Summary: No Offseason – The Athletic Women’s Basketball Show

Episode: Without Juju, Who’s the Face of Women’s College Basketball?
Date: October 31, 2025
Hosts: Zena Keita, Sabrina Merchant, Ben Pickman
Special Guest: Flau’jae Johnson (LSU Guard)

Episode Overview

In this episode, Zena, Sabrina, and Ben tackle one of women's college basketball's pressing questions for the upcoming season: With Juju Watkins sidelined, who becomes the new face of women's college basketball? The team explores what it means to "carry the mantle" in college hoops, which players are poised to step up, and the shifting landscape that elevates individual stars. The episode includes a compelling interview with LSU’s Flau’jae Johnson, a star both on the court and in the NIL and music arenas.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. WNBA CBA Negotiations Update

Segment: 02:18–10:44

• Deal or No Deal: The WNBA and the players association have agreed to a 30-day extension on the collective bargaining agreement (CBA), moving the expiration to November 30.
  • “We have a deal. Sort of a kind of a deal.” – Ben Pickman (03:14)
• Why the Extension:
  • Allows continued league business: press conferences, player access to facilities, routine operations.
  • Demonstrates both sides’ good faith and desire to maintain the league’s current momentum.
  • Shorter than past extensions, indicating urgency due to critical offseason business—like the expansion draft and record free agency pool.
• Transparency:
  • Details on each side’s proposals remain scarce; journalists are actively seeking more specifics.
  • “This extension does allow certain league business to go through.” – Sabrina Merchant (04:10)
  • The extension is a positive signal, but negotiations remain tense; both sides want to avoid work stoppages.

2. Unrivaled Women’s Pro League: Expansion & Star Signings

Segment: 10:44–15:40

• Coaching Updates:
  • Two new teams added: Breeze BC (Noelle Quinn as coach) and Hive BC (Rena Wakama as coach) join the league following successful inaugural season metrics.
  • Notable new coaches include Noelle Quinn, Rena Wakama, Reneka Hodges, and Zach O'Brien.
• Player Pool Grows:
  • Final three players added: Aari McDonald, Bec Allen, and Dominique Malonga (No. 2 pick, 2025 WNBA Draft).
  • Malonga’s injury recovery and contract situation in Turkey noted.
• League Improvements:
  • Enhanced health and performance infrastructure for players: each team gets dedicated trainers, performance coaches, and a larger practice space.
  • Back-to-back games eliminated to prioritize rest.
  • Commitment to player experience as league ambitions grow.

3. Women’s Basketball Stars Crossing into Entertainment

Segment: 15:40–24:12

• Paige Bueckers Starring in a Movie:
  • Set to star in “Jess and Pearl,” an Apple Original, paralleling other recent athlete entertainment crossovers (Kelsey Plum, Angel Reese).
  • Discussion on athletes' ability to transition to acting—mixed track records, but excitement for Bueckers’ involvement and executive producer credit.
  • “I need Paige Beckers to make sure she’s got the best acting coach.” – Zena Keita (16:38)
• Impact:
  • Athletes now more visible in mainstream entertainment due to NIL (Name Image Likeness) and brand-building opportunities.

4. Who’s the Face of Women’s College Basketball Now?

Segment: 24:12–53:00

a) Why the Obsession with a “Face” of the Sport?

• Historically, women’s college basketball was defined by iconic coaches (Pat Summitt, Geno Auriemma, Tara VanDerveer), not players.
• NIL’s advent has shifted the spotlight to players, allowing them to become marketable celebrities.
• “Coaches were synonymous with the program... now we’ve transitioned into—oh, players can be the faces of college basketball too.” – Sabrina Merchant (25:27)
• Players' longer tenures and stronger brands compared to men's side, where “one-and-done” is common.

b) What Makes Someone ‘The Face’?

• Must be elite: Star on a top team, producing and winning big games; needs high-level exposure deep into tournaments.

• Must embrace spotlight: Willingness to cross over into pop culture and media—brand deals, fashion weeks, commercials, social media.

• Visibility varies by generation: Older fans may value multi-positional bigs; Gen Z fixates on social media-savvy guards/forwards.

• Social & Media Impact: TV deals, virality, and curated personal branding critically shape status.

• “You kind of have to want to be the face of a sport to be the face of a sport.” – Ben Pickman (31:51)

• “It’s a tough conversation to wiggle your way into. Maybe we just have a year with no single face.” – Sabrina Merchant (37:12)

c) Front-Runners & Key Names

• Flau’jae Johnson (LSU): Poised as a frontrunner: All-American, national champion, rapper, major NIL presence, and massive social following (+2 million on Instagram).

  • “She is almost untouchable right now... she feels like she’s everywhere and also is, like, owning it casually.” – Zena Keita (38:58)

• Azzi Fudd (UConn):

  • Stamped early by Kobe Bryant and Steph Curry; increased profile after overcoming injury; seen as “America’s sweetheart,” especially with public personal stories.

• Other Contenders:

  • Sarah Strong (UConn): Considered likely the best player, but “not the most media-friendly.”
  • Olivia Miles (TCU): Now the central figure in her team post-transfer; unique play style garners attention.
  • Lauren Betts (UCLA), Hannah Hidalgo (Notre Dame), and rising freshmen like Aaliyah Chavez (Oklahoma) and Jazzy Davidson (USC).

• “It starts with being excellent at their jobs... but this year, maybe there’s no single face. Maybe it’s a battle for the crown.” – Sabrina Merchant (37:12)

d) The Changing Nature of Stardom

• The “face” may shift throughout the season, depending on tournament heroics, viral moments, or media narratives.
• Sometimes, a “face” may not even be the best player, just the most visible and relatable.

Memorable Quotes & Moments

• On NIL & Changing Visibility:

  • “Players can be the faces of college basketball too, because they are marketable and accessible and visible in a way that they just weren’t able to be before NIL.”
    – Sabrina Merchant (25:27)

• Flau’jae Johnson’s Perspective:

  • “I know I have that responsibility, but I kind of just want my game to speak for itself.” (58:28)
  • On staying with LSU: “I’m loyal to the soil.” (55:50)
  • On balancing basketball and music:
    “In this generation... we let our phones use us when we should be using our phones to get to where we really want to go.” (62:47)
  • On Kim Mulkey:
    “She doesn’t care about what people think... she demands excellence.” (65:44)

• Generational Shifts:

  • “We engage with them in a different way. I think that also influences the face of the league conversation—who has a better social media following versus who has better positioning in these culturally relevant moments.”
    – Zena Keita (34:46)

• On Teamwork, Leadership, and Legacy:

  • “I have to be an active leader, lead by example, so they know what to do and do the right things on and off the court.”
    – Flau’jae Johnson (56:55)

Special Segment: Interview with Flau’jae Johnson (LSU Guard)

(54:33–68:06)

Flau’jae discusses:

• How partnering with Team Galaxy (Samsung) aids her in managing athletics, music, and academics using tech for organization and recovery.
• Pride in completing four years at LSU with Coach Kim Mulkey (“loyal to the soil”).
• Leadership duties as a senior on a team with eight new players and the pressure to be more vocal.
• Taking inspiration from older players on self-care and setting an example for newcomers ("the freshmen call me grandma").
• Embracing her multifaceted platform: “Being a rapper, being an athlete, being one of the leaders in NIL, I really just want my game to speak for itself... there’s no pressure though.”
• Evolving as an artist and person; music as “release and therapy.”
• Giving back via the KL Foundation, inspired by family losses to cancer; stressed the importance of advocacy and helping the next generation.
• “Music is really my release and my therapy for everything that comes with basketball and the fame and everything else.” (64:34)

Timestamps for Key Segments

| Topic | Timestamp | |--------------------------------------------------------|---------------| | WNBA CBA Extension and Implications | 02:18–10:44 | | Unrivaled League Expansion & Player/Coach Announcements| 10:44–15:40 | | Basketball Stars in Entertainment | 15:40–24:12 | | The “Face” of Women’s College Basketball Debate | 24:12–53:00 | | Flau’jae Johnson Interview (LSU Guard) | 54:33–68:06 |

Conclusion: Who is the Face?

• The hosts argue there is no clear, undisputed “face” this year, unlike in previous seasons. Flau’jae Johnson and Azzi Fudd are positioned as co-front-runners—one for cultural splash and consistency, the other for mainstream, crossover, and narrative intrigue.
• The shifting criteria of “the face”—top performance and media savviness—reflect the changing landscape for college athletes, especially in the NIL era.
• The landscape is ripe for a surprise candidate to emerge, possibly via a breakout freshman or a dominant postseason run.

Final Thoughts & Call for Listener Feedback

• The hosts invite listeners to chime in: Who do you think is the new face of women’s college basketball?
• Next episodes will dive deeper into on-court analysis and more off-court cultural conversations.

This summary captures the episode’s in-depth breakdown of the college basketball stardom debate, the evolving visibility of athletes, and direct insights from one of the sport’s ascendant stars, Flau’jae Johnson.