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The Athletic Women's Basketball Show brings you the latest news from the WNBA, Women's College Basketball and more each week. Zena Keita hosts along with Sabreena Merchant, Ben Pickman, Chantel Jennings and guests from around the sport.
89 Episodes
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Zena and Sabreena dive into the bottom of the WNBA standings as the lottery race heats up in the final weeks of the season. They get into the organizational motivations for tanking, as well as how that manifests on the court before taking a look ahead at the 2025 draft prospects worth keeping an eye on.
-Follow Zena on X: @itszenakeita
-Follow Sabreena on X: @sabreenajm
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It's trade deadline day in the W, but Zena and Sabreena get into why that doesn't mean much in this league. Instead, they focus on the lessons learned from Aces/Liberty before diving deep into Dearica Hamby's lawsuit against Las Vegas and the WNBA and what it means for working mothers, the CBA, and more.
-Follow Zena on X: @itszenakeita
-Follow Sabreena on X: @sabreenajm
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With the Olympics over, Zena and Ben pick up where the WNBA left off, discussing which teams were on top before All-Star Weekend and which teams are poised to make a surge in the second half of the season. They also explore how the Olympics may have impacted teams around the league and share thoughts on teams to watch as they vie for the playoffs.
-Follow Zena on X: @itszenakeita
-Follow Ben on X: @benpickman
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Chantel, Ben and Sabreena recap a thrilling gold medal game between Team USA and France. They discuss the scene from Paris, Cheryl Reeve’s lineup decisions and why the U.S. almost fell. Then, they put a bow on their favorite moments from the Paris Games and take a very early look at what might be different at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
-Follow Ben on X: @benpickman
-Follow Chantel on X: @chanteljennings
-Follow Sabreena on X: @sabreenajm
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Ben and Chantel break down Team USA's Olympic journey and analyze the final three teams that could stand in way of Team USA bringing home its eighth-consecutive gold medal.
-Follow Ben on X: @benpickman
-Follow Chantel on X: @chanteljennings
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Chantel joins from Paris to discuss Team USA's performance through the group stage with Zena and Ben. They talk about Cheryl Reeve's lineup decisions and if the world has caught up to the Americans before previewing the quarterfinal matchup against Nigeria. Then, Ben and Sabreena recap Team USA's bronze in the 3x3 tournament and look ahead to the future of the sport in the U.S.
-Follow Zena on X: @itszenakeita
-Follow Ben on X: @benpickman
-Follow Chantel on X: @chanteljennings
-Follow Sabreena on X: @sabreenajm
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Zena Keita and Sabreena Merchant are joined by Chantel Jennings who is in France with Team USA. Chantel describes the scene around Lille, where the basketball is being played and how the athletes are adapting to life at the games. Then they get into the game discussing Team USA's slow start, how Japan was able to succeed by being physical. They also checks in on the other teams in the field including Australia, Belgium and China who all lost their openers.
Hosts: Zena Keita, Sabreena Merchant and Chantel Jennings
Producer: Tim McMaster
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Zena and Sabreena are joined by Chantel Jennings to preview all-things Team USA at the Paris Olympic Games including how the group is preparing for success, the schedule, the storylines, the 3x3 squad, and much more.
-Follow Zena on X: @itszenakeita
-Follow Sabreena on X: @sabreenajm
-Follow Chantel on X: @ChantelJennings
Producer: Chris Flannery
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Zena, Sabreena and Ben recap a busy All-Star Weekend in Phoenix. They discuss everything that went on, from the Orange Carpet to the Friday night festivities, to Saturday's All-Star Game itself. They weigh in on who were the winners of the weekend, their favorite behind the scenes moments and much more.
-Follow Zena on X: @itszenakeita
-Follow Ben on X: @benpickman
-Follow Sabreena on X: @sabreenajm
Producer: Chris Flannery
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Zena Keita, Sabreena Merchant and Ben Pickman preview this week's WNBA All-Star Game in Phoenix by looking back on the history of the event. What can we take from the 2021 matchup between Team USA and Team WNBA? How competitive will the game be? Who are the MVP favorites? How will the rookies, Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese, perform? Who will shine in the 3-point shootout and skills competition?
-Follow Zena on X: @itszenakeita
-Follow Ben on X: @benpickman
-Follow Sabreena on X: @sabreenajm
Producer: Tim McMaster
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Zena, Sabreena and Ben discuss the 2024 All-Star rosters, breaking down everything from Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese playing together, the dynamics caused by the format, and the snubs from the showcase. Then, with the season halfway over, they analyze the Rookie of the Year race, by highlighting both this year’s contenders and the history of the award.
-Follow Zena on X: @itszenakeita
-Follow Ben on X: @benpickman
-Follow Sabreena on X: @sabreenajm
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Zena, Ben and Chantel breakdown the Minnesota Lynx’s Commissioner’s Cup victory and dive into the franchise’s stellar first half. Then, they discuss how Minnesota coach Cheryl Reeve hopes to similarly get the most out of USA Basketball at the Paris Olympics.
-Follow Zena on X: @itszenakeita
-Follow Ben on X: @benpickman
-Follow Chantel on X: @chanteljennings
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Zena, Ben, and Sabreena check in on the top teams in league by previewing the Commissioner’s Cup final. They then take a look at the bottom of the standings and the state of the Los Angeles Sparks after Cameron Brink’s injury.
-Follow Zena on X: @itszenakeita
-Follow Ben on X: @benpickman
-Follow Sabreena on X: @sabreenajm
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It's a rivalry-themed episode, as Zena, Ben, and Sabreena first get into a burgeoning WNBA rivalry between Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese, and the Indiana Fever and Chicago Sky by extension. They discuss what makes a compelling rivalry and if Clark/Reese fits the bill before switching over to the the matchup between the Aces and the Liberty. They close out with some thoughts on the Dallas Wings and overall team-building.
-Follow Zena on X: @itszenakeita
-Follow Ben on X: @benpickman
-Follow Sabreena on X: @sabreenajm
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Zena, Sabreena and Ben discuss the reasons behind the Liberty's early-season surge, if there are reasons to be worried about the Aces' recent struggles and how dangerous the Mercury are. Then, they get into the U.S. Olympic team roster and if Caitlin Clark should have made the team, why she didn't and what the future of USA Basketball looks like as a result.
-Follow Zena on X: @itszenakeita
-Follow Ben on X: @benpickman
-Follow Sabreena on X: @sabreenajm
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Zena, Ben, and Sabreena discuss the hot start for the Connecticut Sun and if they've reached their ceiling. They then breakdown the potential importance of the new winter Unrivaled league before reacting to Kamilla Cardoso's debut with the Chicago Sky and talking about the franchise's long-term outlook.
-Follow Zena on X: @itszenakeita
-Follow Ben on X: @benpickman
-Follow Sabreena on X: @sabreenajm
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Zena hosts an emergency pod with Athletic NBA Writer Marcus Thompson to break down the tense WNBA-based exchange on ESPN's First Take between Stephen A. Smith and Monica McNutt, Pat McAfee's use of an expletive to discuss Caitlin Clark, and the overall opportunities and missteps when it comes to WNBA media coverage.
-Follow Zena on X: @itszenakeita
-Follow Marcus on X/Twitter @ThompsonScribe
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The four-time WNBA champ, three time Olympic gold medalist and recently named LSU assistant coach stops by the pod to discuss her return to Baton Rouge, her journey to coaching college basketball and her own memories of her Olympic experience. Then, Ben and Chantel discuss potential Olympic roster moves as we get closer to the roster release date, as well as some of the biggest storylines to watch with this 2024 team.
-Follow Chantel on X: @chanteljennings
-Follow Ben on X: @benpickman
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The first week of the 2024 WNBA season has come, and gone. Zena, Ben and Sabreena breakdown their takeaways from the first week of play from around the league, including assessing how Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever look after three games. They also discuss the Golden State Valkyries block party, the current travel policy and explain the latest investigation into the Aces.
-Follow Zena on X: @itszenakeita
-Follow Ben on X: @benpickman
-Follow Sabreena on X: @sabreenajm
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Zena, Ben, and Sabreena discuss what the WNBA's record-breaking opening night means for the league as a whole before diving into what we learned about each team and celebrating the milestones of DeWanna Bonner and Alyssa Thomas. They then pivot to Ben's feature on 2023 MVP Breanna Stewart and talk about the prioritization of mental health in this historic WNBA season.
-Follow Zena on X: @itszenakeita
-Follow Ben on X: @benpickman
-Follow Sabreena on X: @sabreenajm
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