How Golf Helps Caitlin Clark on the Court

Zena and Ben kick things off by diving into college women’s hoops — breaking down the standout performances from Week One, the nail-biting finishes, and just how deep some of these teams really are. From there, they shift gears to golf, exploring how WNBA players like Caitlin Clark are getting into the sport. The Athletic’s golf writer, Gabby Herzig, joins the conversation to discuss the growing appeal of golf among athletes and the shared mental challenges between the two sports. Plus, Set Your Screens is back — we’ve got your guide to the must-watch games of the week. No Offseason is a part of The Athletic Podcast Network: https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/ 01:05 USC edges NC State in a down-to-the-wire finish 04:32 Can Maryland maintain their level of competitiveness? 08:55 Texas demonstrates remarkable depth to start the season 11:08 Taking a look at the freshmen making waves  16:19 Gabby Herzig joins the show 19:39 Does Caitlin Clark’s participation in the Annik Pro-Am have an impact? 21:52 What’s driving competitive athletes to take up golf? 24:11 Is there a link between shooting skills in golf and basketball? 28:48 The LPGA has yet to find its breakout star 31:28 Could online golf play a role in promoting women’s golf? 36:36 How have the working conditions in the LPGA evolved over the years? 40:57 Set your screens #wnba #lpga #caitlinclark Related links and articles: https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6786313/2025/11/07/womens-college-basketball-opening-week/ by Sabreena Merchant and Ben Pickman https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6793523/2025/11/10/womens-college-basketball-power-rankings-usc-notre-dame/ by Sabreena Merchant and Ben Pickman https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6721102/2025/10/16/caitlin-clark-lpga-pro-am-the-annika/ by The Athletic Staff https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6721102/2025/10/16/caitlin-clark-lpga-pro-am-the-annika/ We’re putting together a couple of mailbag episodes! Got thoughts or questions about the CBA? Curious about college hoops? Send them our way — we want to hear from you! Email us at NoOffseason@theathletic.com We want to hear from you! Take a minute to fill out our quick listener survey and tell us what you think about the show. Your feedback helps us grow! Check out our show survey here: https://forms.gle/bNmxU13S84cnsfjBA __ Follow and listen to the audio podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/no-offseason-the-athletic-womens-basketball-show/id1699815468 Get in touch! Leave a comment wherever you’re listening, or email us at NoOffseason@TheAthletic.com Show Links: -YouTube: @No-Offseason -Instagram: @tanooffseason [https://www.instagram.com/tanooffseason] -TikTok: @no_offseason [https://www.tiktok.com/@no_offseason] Credits: -Zena on BlueSky: @zenakeita -Ben on BlueSky: @benpickman -Sabreena on BlueSky: @sabreenajm -Chantel on BlueSky: @chanteljennings -Produced by Taneka Burrell -Executive Produced by Andrea B. Scott and Cassius Flemming Thumbnail: Mike Ehrmann via Getty Images Visit the Yahoo Women's Sports Hub: https://sports.yahoo.com/womens-sports/?guccounter=1 Full Episodes Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL5UWQzuMYdm7txmok7cpMB3YlgkwrT2E0 Shorts Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL5UWQzuMYdm72uhBjsd24rsh5teZtgUpS