Ben Pickman

🚨 SOME PERSONAL NEWS 🚨 This is my last week at The Athletic... More to come soon!

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...

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.

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...

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.

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...

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

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...

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...

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...

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...

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

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...

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...

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...

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...

BREAKING Sources told @theathletic.com, the league’s salary structure proposal would result in players receiving less than 15% of total league revenue Plus NEWS on nearly 10 more proposal items including a draft combine nytimes.com/athletic/6857443/2025/12/03/wnba-cba-proposal-draft-combine-salary/

Since everyone is talking about WNBA CBA proposals... I'd like to propose that all future CBA deadlines expire at *11:59 A.M ET* — and not just before midnight. I think that's a proposal that would get unanimous approval (at least among WNBA media) 😂

The WNBPA and WNBA have agreed to extend the CBA through Jan. 9... Like last time, each party has a 48-hour termination clause. "The WNBA and WNBPA are continuing to work toward a new agreement," the league said.

In a statement to @theathletic.com, the WNBPA said that it has proposed a 6-week extension in the ongoing CBA negotiation. "We expect substantive movement from the league within this window." Unclear, at this time, how the league is/will respond to the offer. CBA expires tonight.

Sunday is the deadline for the WNBA CBA to expire... The league and WNBPA met Saturday and are expected to meet again today. Here's where things stand on deadline day, and what might be next: www.nytimes.com/athletic/684...

mong the BTS stories we told on the podcast today, was of Michigan AD Warde Manuel meeting a few @michigandaily.bsky.social reporters after Friday night's thriller between Michigan and UConn, and then Geno Auriemma asking to take a photo of them! www.youtube.com/watch?v=sodo...

Packed New No Offseason Ep! @zenakeita.bsky.social, @sabreenajm.bsky.social and I discuss: -Liberty HC hire -Lack of Black women W HCs -Michigan v UConn -TA's W Mock Draft -Who goes #1? -Who could slide to 6/7? (Clearly, Sabreena wasn't a fan of that 😂) www.youtube.com/watch?v=sodo...

Talked to Mercury president Vince Kozar about the design process behind the new Mercury rebrand. There were few creative limitations — except one: “No spaceships was my big thing,” Kozar said. Full BTS design story: www.nytimes.com/athletic/683...

NEWS: The Phoenix Mercury have announced a complete rebrand that includes an updated logo 👀 A new uniform is expected to be released on Tuesday.

For anyone who is a WNBA Draft Lottery nerds... The Wings' winning four number combination was 2-6-12-5. And in the lottery drawing for the second pick, the Lynx had the 11-3-4-13 combination www.youtube.com/watch?v=VLjh...

Two years in a row, the Wings sent Maddy Siegrist to the lottery drawing. Two years in a row, Curt Miller had plane problems on lottery weekend Two years in a row, the Dallas Wings came away with the No. 1 pick Full story on lottery results/implications www.nytimes.com/athletic/683...

The No. 1 pick in the 2026 WNBA Draft is headed to the Dallas Wings‼️ Who should they select?

Last week, Geno Auriemma and Kim Barnes Arico traded texts about how they weren't looking forward to playing each other on Friday They expected a challenge And they got one. From Uncasville — On UConn surviving a scare, Syla Swords, Azzi Fudd, and more www.nytimes.com/athletic/682...

“We turned that corner, and when I saw the people, I said, ‘Holy sh–. Boy, have we come a long way.'" For The Athletic's Best Women's Sports Cities rankings, I talked to Cheryl Reeve about what it's been like watching fandom grow, cross-sport synergy and more www.nytimes.com/athletic/681...

As the two sides continue to meet this week, can confirm via sources with knowledge of the CBA discussions that the league’s most recent proposal to the WNBPA included a max salary of more than $1.1 million. AP first on it.

New No Offseason Ep! @sabreenajm.bsky.social, @zenakeita.bsky.social and I discuss what we saw/heard at UConn-OSU + USC-South Carolina (among other games) We dive into The Athletic's Best Women's Sports Cities rankings. And I vent about a pickup basketball pet peeve youtu.be/fOABPbhCOLw?...

Just in time for the NWSL championship this week, the Bay asserts itself as the best place — according to our @theathletic.com staff vote — for women’s sports in the U.S. Some surprises in here, even for me! I’m on deck today with the results ⤵️ www.nytimes.com/athletic/680...

From Hartford — The play of Sarah Strong, Blanca Quiñonez, Azzi Fudd and the rest of the Huskies begs the question: Is this year’s UConn team even better than last year’s title-winner? www.nytimes.com/athletic/681...

From Hartford — The play of Sarah Strong, Blanca Quiñonez, Azzi Fudd and the rest of the Huskies begs the question: Is this year’s UConn team even better than last year’s title-winner? www.nytimes.com/athletic/681...

No Offseason Ep @zenakeita.bsky.social and I discuss the first week(end) of WCBB Then, @gabbyherzig.bsky.social joins us for a golf x WNBA crossover. On Caitlin Clark's pro-am appearance this week, basketball players' golf obsession, the state of the LPGA and more: www.youtube.com/watch?v=9hrB...