Ben Pickman

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Over the past three years, I’ve worked alongside some of the most talented people in sports media. I’ve written countless stories I’m proud of — features datelined from around the world and from the sidelines of some of the most thrilling moments in the U.S.  We launched a podcast! Seeing the growth in our No Offseason community has been a particular highlight (as has been hearing from so many of you about it). Rest assured, it will continue on.  It’s hard to step away from working with so many colleagues who have become friends. But that’s what I’m doing, and I’m excited for what my next chapter holds. Please continue to follow my brilliant colleagues covering WBB at The Athletic. And thank you for reading and listening. I’ll be forever grateful. More to come soon…

🚨 SOME PERSONAL NEWS 🚨

This is my last week at The Athletic...

More to come soon!

YouTube video by No Offseason: The Athletic Women's Basketball Show Our Power Four Contenders and Pretenders

New No Offseason Ep!

@zenakeita.bsky.social, @sabreenajm.bsky.social and I share the latest re: the WNBA CBA talks.

Then, we dive into the four power conferences in WCBB with a big question on each as we try and sort out recent chaos
www.youtube.com/watch?v=CCVo...

Just want to issue a point of correction on the above... that the entire day of 4 games — night AND afternoon — combined to average 107K viewers...not just the afternoon slate.

Unrivaled's 2025 Opening Night averaged 313K viewers.

Last year, the top performing game was the 1 on 1 tournament, which averaged 377K viewers.

NEWS: Some Unrivaled viewership #s, per sources:

Unrivaled Opening Day on Monday averaged 175K viewers during its primetime window of games

Afternoon window averaged 107K viewers

All that is down from 208K average viewership during regular season games in Unrivaled Y1.

Sometimes it feels like history can repeat itself in the WNBA.

From 2003:

"They said if we didn't accept those terms, they would cancel the season at 5 o'clock," WNBA Players Association spokesman Dan Wasserman said.

WNBA, players union remain in CBA deadlock nearing deadline. Is work stoppage looming? If Friday's deadline passes, what's next in negotiations?

NEWS: Despite a Jan. 9 deadline approaching, neither the WNBA nor the WNBPA have offered an extension of the CBA to the other party as of Thursday morning, sources tell The Athletic.

The latest on where things stand with another deadline looming:
www.nytimes.com/athletic/695...

YouTube video by No Offseason: The Athletic Women's Basketball Show Will Unrivaled Reach New Heights In Year 2?

New No Offseason Ep!

@zenakeita.bsky.social, @sabreenajm.bsky.social and I discuss the late December CBB chaos. Then, a deep-dive on Unrivaled S2.

We discuss both the league's basketball — and business — and how it fits into the WBB landscape:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZUm1...

Today is the day!

Unrivaled is back, and @benpickman.bsky.social has the latest on what you need to know, such as:

◽️ Year 2 growth and changes
◽️ How were rosters created?
◽️ Who isn’t participating? Who’s new?
◽️ How does Unrivaled’s play compare to the WNBA?

And much more.

Napheesa Collier to miss Unrivaled season and possible WNBA start after ankle surgeries The Lynx star is expected to need four to six months of recovery after next week's surgery.

NEWS: Napheesa Collier will miss the upcoming Unrivaled season as she is set to undergo surgery on both of her ankles next week

Her recovery/rehab might also impact her start of the WNBA season
www.nytimes.com/athletic/693...

YouTube video by No Offseason: The Athletic Women's Basketball Show How A’ja Wilson Won 2025 | Our Best Moments of the Year

Our final No Offseason Ep of the Year!!

Our Year in WBB, awards wrap-up. @sabreenajm.bsky.social, @zenakeita.bsky.social and I name our top games, performances, quotes, reporting stories and more...

www.youtube.com/watch?v=c_qy...

Looks like we've gotten more people on here lately. So it's time to share this if you're looking for more smart, fun, interesting accounts to follow for NBA, WNBA, and basketball in general

go.bsky.app/FGmgtea

YouTube video by No Offseason: The Athletic Women's Basketball Show Jose Fernandez on Coaching Paige Bueckers—and Why the WNBA Was the Right Next Step

New No Offseason Ep!

@sabreenajm.bsky.social Merchant and I react to the WNBPA's latest CBA move, what else we've learned, and what's next

Then, Dallas Wings coach Jose Fernandez joins us. We discuss his 8 (!) rescue dogs, the state of CBB, coaching Paige and more
www.youtube.com/watch?v=1LFs...

WNBPA authorizes executive committee to call for strike ‘when necessary’ amid CBA talks The announcement marked the latest development in a tense saga of labor talks between the union and league.

The WNBPA's vote to authorize its executive committee to call for a strike when necessary occured earlier this week.

Results were received Thursday.

More on the timeline, league's latest proposal and what's next. With @sabreenajm.bsky.social
www.nytimes.com/athletic/690...

The WNBA has released the following statement re: the WNBPA's strike authorization vote.

"While we acknowledge the players’ right to authorize a future work stoppage, we strongly disagree with the WNBPA’s characterization of the current state of negotiations"

The league was not surprised by the WNBPA's decision to authorize its executive committee to call for a strike when necessary, sources told The Athletic.

The two sides have been meeting throughout the week, and have continued exchanging proposals since their last extension

Joined @seeratsohi.bsky.social and the Ringer WNBA show to talk more about my recent CBA reporting (see link)… but we talked about a lot else. Including what’s mentioned below. Plus, Seerat’s on-court basketball skillset 😂!

www.nytimes.com/athletic/688...

Adam Silver is "optimistic" there will be a deal on a new WNBA CBA.

"We acknowledge that our players deserve to be paid significantly more than they have so far based on the increased success of the league," he said. "It’s just a question of finding a meeting of the minds on what is a fair deal."

NEWS: The WNBPA is asking for more than double the share of revenue proposed by the league

The WNBPA's proposed salary system entitles players to around 30% of league/team rev.

Union also proposing:
-2 developmental player spots
-Increased security
www.nytimes.com/athletic/688...

WNBA players’ proposal more than double revenue share proposed by league: Sources The league and union are also negotiating on parental leave, retirement benefits as deadline extension looms.

NEWS: Sources told @theathletic.com, the WNBPA’s salary system proposal would entitle players to around 30% of league/team revenue — more than double the league's proposed share

Full details on the system, 2 proposed developmental spots(!), # of games + more
www.nytimes.com/athletic/688...

WNBA players’ proposal more than double revenue share proposed by league: Sources The league and union are also negotiating on parental leave, retirement benefits as deadline extension looms.

NEWS: Sources told @theathletic.com, the WNBPA’s salary system proposal would entitle players to around 30% of league/team revenue — more than double the league's proposed share

Full details on the system, 2 proposed developmental spots(!), # of games + more
www.nytimes.com/athletic/688...

YouTube video by No Offseason: The Athletic Women's Basketball Show Sonia Raman gets candid on coaching Dominique Malonga, WNBA transition & more

New No Offseason Ep!

@zenakeita.bsky.social, @sabreenajm.bsky.social and I discuss A'ja Wilson's Time honor and Chris DeMarco's Liberty intro presser.

Then, Seattle Storm coach Sonia Raman joins us. We discuss her unique journey, coaching Malonga and much more.
youtu.be/sBxpzEonQS4?...

Liberty coach Chris DeMarco has concluded his intro press conference and is set to appear at a youth clinic across the street.

The kids participating all made him welcome signs

YouTube video by No Offseason: The Athletic Women's Basketball Show Which Conference Really Runs Women's Hoops?

New No Offseason Ep!

@zenakeita.bsky.social, @sabreenajm.bsky.social and I ask (and answer) a big question about each of the four power conferences in WCBB. Thoughts on Michigan, Audi Crooks, the lack of an ACC power, SEC depth and much more.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=DHJz...

New No Offseason Ep!

@zenakeita.bsky.social, @sabreenajm.bsky.social and I share more about our latest reporting on the WNBA CBA negotiations,

Then, we dive fully into our Expansion Draft exercise. On player protections, draft set-up, specific picks and more.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=EAcW...

WNBA mock expansion draft: Who will Toronto Tempo and Portland Fire select? Our experts make the picks for the WNBA's two newest teams. A four-time WNBA All-Star is among the players on the move.

A year ago this week, the Valkyries held their expansion draft.

So to mark the occasion, @sabreenajm.bsky.social and I conducted a mock expansion draft for the Portland Fire and Toronto Tempo. We mapped out rules, team protections, and then made our picks.

www.nytimes.com/athletic/683...

WNBA mock expansion draft: Who will Toronto Tempo and Portland Fire select? Our experts make the picks for the WNBA's two newest teams. A four-time WNBA All-Star is among the players on the move.

A year ago this week, the Valkyries held their expansion draft.

So to mark the occasion, @sabreenajm.bsky.social and I conducted a mock expansion draft for the Portland Fire and Toronto Tempo. We mapped out rules, team protections, and then made our picks.

www.nytimes.com/athletic/683...

NEWS: Among the more than a half-dozen new CBA proposal items we’re reporting on, the WNBA has proposed a draft combine.

Players that are invited, and elect not to participate without an excused absence would have their salaries reduced.
www.nytimes.com/athletic/685...

WNBA CBA proposal includes mandatory draft combine, new revenue-sharing model: Sources The league proposed a draft combine requirement that ties participation to rookie salary.

Sources told @theathletic.com the WNBA’s salary structure proposal would result in players receiving less than 15% of total league revenue.

Plus, news on many more proposal items with @benpickman.bsky.social, including a (mandatory?) draft combine, benefits and more. www.nytimes.com/athletic/685...