Episode Summary: "WNBA Player Poll: Trash Talkers, Expansion + More"

Podcast: No Offseason: The Athletic Women's Basketball Show
Hosts: Zena Keita, Chantel Jennings, Sabreena Merchant, and Ben Pickman
Release Date: July 16, 2025
Episode Title: WNBA Player Poll: Trash Talkers, Expansion + More

Introduction to the Episode

The hosts kick off the episode by delving into the recent WNBA player poll conducted by Sabrina Merchant, Ben Pickman, and Shantelle Jennings. This anonymous survey targeted players across all 13 WNBA teams, excluding rookies, to gather insights on key issues affecting the league.

Notable Quote:
Sabrina Merchant ([02:01]): "This is all non rookies in the WNBA. This is our sample size and we got about a third of those non rookies."

Expansion Preferences: Miami Takes the Lead

A central theme of the episode centers on WNBA players' preferences for league expansion. Miami, Florida, emerges as the top choice, favored for its beautiful weather and vibrant fan base. Ben Pickman highlights the overwhelming support for Miami, emphasizing its attractiveness for summer travel and existing fan enthusiasm.

Notable Quote:
Ben Pickman ([03:31]): "Miami was the overwhelming response that we received."

Zena Keita adds that the absence of state taxes in Florida may have also influenced players' preferences, making Miami an even more appealing destination.

Geographical Considerations:
Sabrina Merchant points out the strategic importance of expanding into the Southeast United States, a region currently underrepresented in the WNBA with only Atlanta holding a team. Players expressed a desire for more teams in this area to cater to existing and potential fan bases.

Notable Quote:
Sabrina Merchant ([04:50]): "Nashville or you know, we even had somebody who just said like somewhere in the Southeast."

CBA Negotiations: Salary Demands and Financial Security

The discussion shifts to the pressing issue of the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA). Players overwhelmingly prioritize higher salaries, reflecting a strong demand for increased financial compensation within the league.

Notable Quote:
Sabrina Merchant ([12:50]): "One of the things we asked was if there was one thing you could include in the new CBA, what would it be? And overwhelmingly, like two thirds of the responses here were higher salaries, just more money."

Zena Keita underscores the necessity for the WNBA to address these salary concerns, especially in light of the league's growth and rising costs.

Notable Quote:
Zena Keita ([13:38]): "With all of the growth that's happening, with all of this, you know, this investment that's happening, they cannot cry poor and they can't say that they can't afford to pay these players."

Ben Pickman discusses the range of salary expectations revealed in the poll, with some players advocating for maximum salaries as high as $1.5 million.

Notable Quote:
Ben Pickman ([14:59]): "A million dollars. Eight players said that at least one million was another response we got from a few players."

Impact of Unrivaled on WNBA Players' Perspectives

The hosts examine how the emergence of the Unrivaled league has influenced WNBA players' expectations and perceptions. While Unrivaled operates differently, its existence offers players a competitive alternative that may set new standards for player compensation and league operations.

Notable Quote:
Ben Pickman ([21:26]): "Unrivaled is another high level competitive alternative that is based in the United States where a lot of the best players in the world can play."

Zena Keita reflects on how Unrivaled serves as a benchmark, pushing the WNBA to elevate its offerings to retain and attract talent.

Notable Quote:
Zena Keita ([22:44]): "That serves as a reference point. Even if some people maybe in the league office would say it's a little bit of an unfair reference point."

Trash Talkers in the WNBA: Passing the Baton

Transitioning to a lighter yet engaging topic, the episode explores the best trash talkers in the WNBA. Diana Taurasi is acknowledged as a legendary figure in this realm, but Alyssa Thomas of the Phoenix Mercury is highlighted as the current top trash talker, effectively passing the torch to the next generation.

Notable Quote:
Ben Pickman ([27:35]): "That would be Alyssa Thomas of the Phoenix Mercury who has taken the baton from Diana Taurasi."

The hosts engage listeners with a fun game segment, presenting memorable quotes and having each other guess the speaker, adding an entertaining dynamic to the discussion.

Conclusion and Upcoming Content

As the episode wraps up, the hosts encourage listeners to subscribe and stay tuned for upcoming episodes, which will feature franchise power rankings and deeper analyses of the WNBA's evolving landscape.

Notable Quote:
Zena Keita ([31:37]): "We're kitty cup rides if you want, but we also are roller coasters. Okay. We got a lot of that."

Behind the Scenes

The episode is produced by Tanika Burrell, with executive producers Andrea B. Scott and Cassius Fleming. Other key contributors include Monica Compton (video editor), Shannon Ryan (managing editor of Women's Basketball at The Athletic), Jesse Burton (head of audio), and Tim McMaster (director of Audio operations). The theme music is composed by Marcus Bagala.

This comprehensive summary captures the essence of the episode, highlighting key discussions on league expansion preferences, salary negotiations, the influence of Unrivaled, and the culture of trash talking within the WNBA. By incorporating notable quotes with timestamps and providing clear section divisions, the summary ensures a coherent and engaging overview for listeners and non-listeners alike.