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Ben Pickman @benpickman.bsky.social · 12h

Per the Mercury: Satou Sabally has been diagnosed with a concussion and has been ruled out of tomorrow’s Game 4 vs. the Aces

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Ben Pickman @benpickman.bsky.social · 12h

New No Offseason Ep!

@zenakeita.bsky.social returns with Game 3 impressions from TV. @sabreenajm.bsky.social and I share thoughts from courtside — takeaways, key moments, quotes, the scene from the Aces' thrilling win.

Plus, some CBA talk at the end
www.youtube.com/watch?v=KlLR...

A’ja Wilson Lifts the Aces to the Brink of a Ring

YouTube video by No Offseason: The Athletic Women's Basketball Show

www.youtube.com

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Ben Pickman @benpickman.bsky.social · 1d

A’ja Wilson.

What a time for her first basket in more than four minutes.

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Ben Pickman @benpickman.bsky.social · 1d

Follow along with our live blog from Phoenix with updates from our @theathletic.com team throughout Game 3.

www.nytimes.com/athletic/liv...

Aces vs. Mercury score and live updates: WNBA Finals Game 3 underway

www.nytimes.com

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Reposted by Ben Pickman

Mike Vorkunov @mikevorkunov.bsky.social · 1d

The Maverick Carter-backed basketball league doesn't have Carter associated now but it has still raised eyebrows around the NBA.

The league plans to start with women's basketball, attract WNBA players. And then...

With @samamick.bsky.social + @joevardon.bsky.social www.nytimes.com/athletic/669...

What is Project B? The latest on a new global league recruiting basketball stars

Speculation has bubbled for months about an international league that could pose a threat to both the NBA and WNBA.

www.nytimes.com

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Ben Pickman @benpickman.bsky.social · 1d

“The good Lord wired her differently from birth.” - Becky Hammon on Chelsea Gray.

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Reposted by Ben Pickman

thompsonscribe.bsky.social @thompsonscribe.bsky.social · 1d

His first real job was as Steve Kerr’s special assistant.

After nine years and six trips with the Warriors, soaking in lessons from Hall of Famers, Nick U’Ren is back in the Finals.

This time, he’s home.

www.nytimes.com/athletic/669...

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Reposted by Ben Pickman

Sarah Spain ✨ @sarahspain.com · 2d

The Athletic’s @sabreenajm.bsky.social on what she witnessed in games 1 & 2 of the WNBA Finals, whether we should be reading more into Alyssa Thomas’s hand injury, the cost-benefit of letting A’ja Wilson eat & what to expect next in the WNBA CBA negotiations.

podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/g...

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Ben Pickman @benpickman.bsky.social · 3d

FROM THE FLOOR OF GAME 2 OF THE WNBA FINALS —

New No Offseason Ep!

@sabreenajm.bsky.social, Marcus Thompson and I break down everything we saw Sunday

-Jackie Young’s Q3
-A’ja’s dominance
-Chelsea Gray’s passing and defense
-Does Phoenix still have a shot?

youtu.be/8bn08D6VM6A?...

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Ben Pickman @benpickman.bsky.social · 4d

Becky Hammon asked Jackie Young how she was feeling on Saturday

“Good. I’ll have my legs tomorrow,” Young told her.

Young had her legs. A jumper and much more. But she wasn’t alone in starring.

On Las Vegas’ convincing G2 win and if Phoenix can figure the Aces out
www.nytimes.com/athletic/669...

Are the Las Vegas Aces unstoppable? So far, the Mercury can't figure them out

www.nytimes.com

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Ben Pickman @benpickman.bsky.social · 4d

Follow along with our @theathletic.com WNBA Finals Game 2 live blog for in-person insights from me and @sabreenajm.bsky.social:

www.nytimes.com/athletic/liv...

Phoenix Mercury vs. Las Vegas Aces score: WNBA Finals 2025 live updates, highlights and analysis

Follow live coverage of Game 2 of the 2025 WNBA Finals as Las Vegas hosts Phoenix after thriller in Game 1.

www.nytimes.com

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Ben Pickman @benpickman.bsky.social · 4d

Sami Whitcomb had to go back to the locker room in the third quarter of Game 1, but said on Saturday that her right leg injury was "fine" and she doesn't expect it to be an issue.

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Ben Pickman @benpickman.bsky.social · 4d

Before every game, Mercury coach Nate Tibbetts thinks about his late-father Fred, who once won 111 straight games as a girls HS basketball coach in South Dakota

My latest, from Las Vegas, on Nate, Fred, and the state that bonds the Mercury coach with Becky Hammon
www.nytimes.com/athletic/669...

Aces’ Becky Hammon, Mercury’s Nate Tibbetts on South Dakota’s Mount Rushmore of coaching

Tibbetts and Hammon are competing in the WNBA Finals. As a player, Hammon faced Tibbetts' dad, who coached high school basketball.

www.nytimes.com

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Reposted by Ben Pickman

The Athletic @theathletic.com · 5d

Minnesota Lynx star Napheesa Collier has canceled a meeting that had been planned with WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert, a source briefed on the situation said Saturday.

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Ben Pickman @benpickman.bsky.social · 5d

FROM THE FLOOR OF GAME 1 OF THE WNBA FINALS —

New No Offseason Ep!

@sabreenajm.bsky.social react to everything we saw and heard Friday night.

-Cathy Engelbert's pregame address
-Vegas bench
-Aces zone
-AT's FTs
-Game 2 preview

🔈: podfollow.com/no-offseason
📺: www.youtube.com/@No-Offseason

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Ben Pickman @benpickman.bsky.social · 6d

Dana Evans could barely speak on the eve of the 2025 WNBA Finals. Her voice was beyond scratchy. The 5-foot-6 guard was barely audible.

A day later, she let her play do the talking

Evans scored 21 points in 26 mins as Vegas' bench was key in a Game 1 win
www.nytimes.com/athletic/668...

WNBA Finals: Las Vegas Aces take Game 1 with comeback victory against Phoenix Mercury

The Aces' reserves made the difference in the series opener.

www.nytimes.com

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Ben Pickman @benpickman.bsky.social · 6d

LAS VEGAS —

Our newser on Cathy Engelbert's press conference. She denied saying Caitlin Clark "should be grateful" for the W, vowed to repair trust w/ players, said she was not a "quitter," and announced a task force to look at officiating.
www.nytimes.com/athletic/668...

WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert addresses player criticism, CBA, officiating, job security

www.nytimes.com

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Reposted by Ben Pickman

The Athletic @theathletic.com · 6d

The 2025 WNBA Finals feature a desert duel that few would have predicted at the start of the season.

◻️ How do the Aces and Mercury match up?
◻️ Las Vegas’ X-factor? Veteran leadership.
◻️ Phoenix’s X-factor? Deep bench.

Let’s preview the series:

WNBA Finals: Phoenix Mercury or Las Vegas Aces? Matchups and predictions

Our experts, Sabreena Merchant and Ben Pickman, break down the series and make predictions.

dlvr.it

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Ben Pickman @benpickman.bsky.social · 6d

LAS VEGAS — New No Offseason Ep!

@sabreenajm.bsky.social and I podcasting from a Las Vegas hotel room, talking Phee's comments and fallout w/ @zenakeita.bsky.social, CBA negotiation, work stoppage and, of course, a WNBA FINALS PREVIEW
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ha_g...

The Aftermath of Napheesa Collier’s Explosive Statement + Aces-Mercury Finals Preview

YouTube video by No Offseason: The Athletic Women's Basketball Show

www.youtube.com

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Ben Pickman @benpickman.bsky.social · 7d

Can confirm FOS' report that Caitlin Clark will not be joining Unrivaled this season.

More on Clark's offseason, and Unrivaled's first tour stop in Philly coming at the end of January.
www.nytimes.com/athletic/668...

Caitlin Clark will not play in Unrivaled this winter: Source

The league has announced all but two of the 48 players for the upcoming season.

www.nytimes.com

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Reposted by Ben Pickman

The Athletic @theathletic.com · 7d

Could a potential work stoppage halt momentum and stunt what has been the most prosperous time in WNBA history?

http://dlvr.it/TNQlF5

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Reposted by Ben Pickman

Ben Pickman @benpickman.bsky.social · 7d

My latest feature @theathletic.com

I went long about the possibility of a WNBA work stoppage, and its would-be impact

On what lessons the W and WNBPA can learn from other sports’ past CBA talks (cc: NHL, MLB esp.), and potential scenarios in these W talks:

www.nytimes.com/athletic/668...

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Ben Pickman @benpickman.bsky.social · 7d

My latest feature @theathletic.com

I went long about the possibility of a WNBA work stoppage, and its would-be impact

On what lessons the W and WNBPA can learn from other sports’ past CBA talks (cc: NHL, MLB esp.), and potential scenarios in these W talks:

www.nytimes.com/athletic/668...

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Reposted by Ben Pickman

The Athletic @theathletic.com · 8d

EXCLUSIVE: Kelsey Plum is finally Unrivaled.

The 2x Olympic gold medalist and 2x WNBA champion will join the 3×3 league’s second season, she tells The Athletic.

More details from @sabreenajm.bsky.social: www.nytimes.com/athletic/art...

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Ben Pickman @benpickman.bsky.social · 8d

Went on the Dan Patrick Show this morning talking Napheesa Collier's comments, CBA negotiations, WNBA officiating and what's next in this critical WNBA moment

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

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