Episodes
Zena, Ben, and Sabreena break down the latest news heading into the start of the regular season, including what we learned from preseason games, the WNBA’s broadcast challenges, roster crunches, and a home-run hire in the Bay Area. -Follow Zena on X: @itszenakeita -Follow Ben on X: @benpickman -Follow Sabreena on X: @sabreenajm Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Published 05/07/24
In what has been a busy week in women's basketball, Zena Keita, Ben Pickman and Sabreena Merchant discuss the potential new winner of the college basketball offseason. Then, they reflect on Candace Parker's retirement from the WNBA and her impact on the sport, before finishing up with their impressions from the start of WNBA training camps and which roster battles are especially intriguing. -Follow Zena on X: @itszenakeita -Follow Ben on X: @benpickman -Follow Sabreena on X:...
Published 04/26/24
With just a few days to go until the transfer portal closes, Zena, Ben and Chantel discuss the college teams that have had the best (and the worst) times with the portal this offseason. And with WNBA training camps around the corner, Ben gives an update on what each franchise is going through right now as they prep to have players in market for camps starting Sunday. -Follow Zena on X: @itszenakeita -Follow Ben on X: @benpickman -Follow Chantel on X: @chanteljennings Learn more about your ad...
Published 04/24/24
Zena, Ben, and Sabreena break down the most anticipated WNBA Draft in history. Ben shares stories from on the ground in Brooklyn. They also dive into the frontcourt duos that were created in the first round as well as what the defending champion Las Vegas Aces were able to accomplish before crowning their steals and surprises and revisiting some pre-draft predictions. -Follow Zena on X: @itszenakeita -Follow Ben on X: @benpickman -Follow Sabreena on X: @sabreenajm Learn more about your ad...
Published 04/16/24
Zena, Ben, and Sabreena go deep on the WNBA Draft. They outline the projected outcomes of the lottery picks, highlight players who could go higher than expected, and make bold predictions for Monday. -Follow Zena on X: @itszenakeita -Follow Ben on X: @benpickman -Follow Sabreena on X: @sabreenajm Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Published 04/15/24
Zena Keita, Ben Pickman and Chantel Jennings discuss the new Tennessee coach, Kentucky’s hiring of Kenny Brooks, Tara VanDerveer’s sudden retirement and the names filling up the transfer portal in women’s college basketball. -Follow Zena on X: @itszenakeita -Follow Ben on X: @benpickman -Follow Chantel on X: @chanteljennings Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Published 04/12/24
Sabreena Merchant, Ben Pickman and Chantel Jennings reconvened the morning after the national title game to discuss how the Gamecocks — with an entirely new starting lineup — found a way to win their program's third championship. Then, Sabreena and Chantel look ahead to next season as they break down the Way Too Early Top-25. -Follow Ben on X: @benpickman -Follow Chantel on X: @chanteljennings -Follow Sabreena on X: @sabreenajm Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Published 04/09/24
From Cleveland, Ben Pickman, Sabreena Merchant and Chantel Jennings preview the national championship match up between the nation's two top teams — South Carolina and Iowa. They examine the keys for each team, discuss the legacy implications for the potential winners and finally, make their picks. -Follow Ben on X: @benpickman -Follow Chantel on X: @chanteljennings -Follow Sabreena on X: @sabreenajm Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Published 04/06/24
From Cleveland, Sabreena Merchant, Ben Pickman, Grace Raynor and Chantel Jennings gather for another floor episode of the podcast. They discuss Iowa’s chances of returning to the title game, NC State’s shot at an upset and deliver their most important unimportant nuggets of knowledge they’ve gleaned from Cleveland. -Follow Ben on X: @benpickman -Follow Chantel on X: @chanteljennings -Follow Sabreena on X: @sabreenajm -Follow Grace on X: @gmraynor Learn more about your ad choices. Visit...
Published 04/05/24
Zena Keita and Sabreena Merchant break down the Elite Eight games from Portland, explaining how UConn managed to get to Cleveland with four first-year players in their seven-player rotation and how NC State controlled games with its guard group. Then, Ben Pickman and Chantel Jennings look at how South Carolina's depth was on display in Albany and how Caitlin Clark continues to push this Iowa program further. -Follow Zena on X: @itszenakeita -Follow Sabreena on X: @sabreenajm -Follow Ben on...
Published 04/03/24
Zena and Sabreena preview what they're looking forward to in Portland while Chantel and Ben set the scene for what to expect in Albany. Tune in for breakdowns, predictions, and behind-the-scenes stories from the regionals! -Follow Zena on X: @itszenakeita -Follow Ben on X: @benpickman -Follow Chantel on X: @chanteljennings -Follow Sabreena on X: @sabreenajm Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Published 03/29/24
The tournament field is now merely sixteen, after four days of tightly-contested games. Sabreena and Ben touch on the madness that was, and wasn't, before diving into the news around Virginia Tech, breaking down the stellar freshman performances, and providing their first reactions on what might happen in the next round. Then, Zena shares her thoughts on the developing situation around Utah's decision to change hotels. -Follow Zena on X: @itszenakeita -Follow Ben on X: @benpickman -Follow...
Published 03/27/24
The NCAA Tournament is about to begin and Sabreena, Chantel and Ben put the final touches on previewing the field. They discuss the impact of Elizabeth Kitley's injury, answer reader questions and shine a light on some of the stories they've been reporting that will shape the broader tournament conversation. -Follow Ben on X: @benpickman -Follow Chantel on X: @chanteljennings -Follow Sabreena on X: @sabreenajm Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Published 03/22/24
After Selection Sunday, Zena, Ben, Mark and Sabreens discuss notable snubs, toughest regions and teams that have a potential to make a Cinderella story. -Follow Zena on X: @itszenakeita -Follow Ben on X: @benpickman -Follow Mark on X: @MG_Schindler -Follow Sabreena on X: @sabreenajm Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Published 03/18/24
Zena, Ben and Chantel check in ahead of Sunday's selection show to discuss the parity we've seen in the women's game, and how that was especially evident during conference tournaments. Then, they ponder: With talent dispersed across the country, could this be a season when a mid-major team can really make a run? And how should people start thinking about their brackets when the seedings might not be as indicative as they were before? -Follow Zena on X: @itszenakeita -Follow Ben on X:...
Published 03/15/24
Zena and Sabreena go deep on the final Pac-12 tournament and what it means for the NCAA Tournament prospects for USC, UCLA, and Stanford. Then, Mark joins Zena to talk about how the conference tournament results shook up the bracket. -Follow Zena on X: @itszenakeita -Follow Sabreena on X: @sabreenajm -Follow Mark on X: @MG_Schindler Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Published 03/12/24
USC coach Lindsay Gottlieb joins the show to discuss her unique start in college coaching, recruiting JuJu Watkins while building the Trojan program and how her experience in the NBA has informed her during her time in Los Angeles. -Follow Zena on X: @itszenakeita -Follow Ben on X: @benpickman -Follow Chantel on X: @chanteljennings Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Published 03/08/24
After another confusing top 16 seed reveal, Zena brings on Mark and Sabreena to discuss the mechanics of bracketology. They get into the thought process behind seeding and determining the field of 68 and as well as what hangs in the balance before Selection Sunday. -Follow Zena on X: @itszenakeita -Follow Sabreena on X: @sabreenajm -Follow Mark on X: @MG_Schindler Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Published 03/05/24
Zena, Sabreena and Chantel sit down with Ohio State sophomore and Big Ten champ Cotie McMahon to discuss what she has learned since early enrolling at Ohio State, how her experience with Team USA has changed her as a player and Cotie's love for all things The Grinch. -Follow Zena on X: @itszenakeita -Follow Chantel on X: @chanteljennings -Follow Sabreena on X: @sabreenajm Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Published 03/01/24
Zena and Sabreena break down the player of the year races across the power five conferences (plus the Big East). While some leagues have a clear-cut favorite, the abundance of great candidates in other conferences forces the two hosts to dive into some nitty, gritty details to make their choices. -Follow Zena on X: @itszenakeita -Follow Sabreena on X: @sabreenajm Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Published 02/27/24
Notre Dame head coach Niele Ivey and freshman Hannah Hidalgo join Sabreena and Chantel to discuss the biggest storylines from South Bend this season. Ivey and Hidalgo dig into how Hidalgo has gotten to five steals a game, what that season opener in Paris against South Carolina taught them and their thoughts on this impressive freshman class nationwide. -Follow Chantel on X: @chanteljennings -Follow Sabreena on X: @sabreenajm Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Published 02/23/24
Mark Schindler is back to join Zena to take a look back on the week in women's basketball. With the NCAA tournament on the horizon, Mark explains how brackets, being in the bubble and quadrants work in the tournament. Then, Chantel talks with broadcaster Ann Schatz, who was on the call for the Oregon State-UCLA game, which featured one of the most exciting finishes we’ve ever seen in college hoops. -Follow Zena on X: @itszenakeita -Follow Chantel on X: @chanteljennings -Follow Mark on X:...
Published 02/20/24
The Queens of Cassell join Chantel, Sabreena, and Zena to discuss their role in turning Virginia Tech into a must-watch team. Liz and Georgia share the origins of their chemistry on and off the court, how they're gearing up for another Final Four run, what's playing in the locker room before games, and so much more. After the Virginia Tech interview, stay tuned for The Athletic's new Bracketology contributor Mark Schindler and what to expect in the lead up to March Madness. -Follow Zena on...
Published 02/16/24
Zena, Chantel and Sabreena are back together to break down several headlines from the past week, touching on Oregon State's recent rise, Nebraska upsetting Caitlin Clark and Iowa on Super Bowl Sunday, Team USA's trip to Belgium and SC's dominant play against UConn. -Follow Zena on X: @itszenakeita -Follow Chantel on X: @chanteljennings -Follow Sabreena on X: @sabreenajm Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Published 02/13/24