Who Can Keep Up With UConn, South Carolina, and TCU?

Zena, Ben, and Sabreena are back and diving into all the latest around the association! They discuss Sarah Strong and UConn’s impressive depth, Marta Suárez’s huge impact in TCU’s win over NC State, and South Carolina already settling into its identity. They also spotlight other storylines—including Duke’s concerning offensive issues and the rise of mid-majors like Richmond. Then it’s on to the big question: What makes for a great women’s sports city? They dig into the factors that make certain cities hotspots for women’s sports and highlight emerging markets that could crack a top-10 list. And to close things out, they debut a brand-new segment: “A Penny for Your Thoughts.” 00:00 Intro 01:28 Notre Dame falls to Michigan 93-54 02:24 How significant was Notre Dame's loss to Michigan?  06:34 UConn defeats Ohio 68-100 07:34 The impact of Sarah Strong  09:21 What prospects lie ahead for UConn? 15:09 What can we expect from South Carolina 19:19 Could this serve as a learning experience for USC? 20:55 Richmond defeats Columbia 77-67 24:18 What stands out about TCU? 29:20 West Virginia surprises Duke with an upset win 57-49 29:46 A skirmish erupts during the WVU–Duke game 35:13 What makes for a top women's sports city? 45:28 How do women’s sports stack up in LA? 52:40 Does legacy carry more weight 56:06 Which other cities deserve a spot in the Top 10 women’s sports cities? #ncaawbb #wnba #uconnwbb No Offseason is a part of The Athletic Podcast Network: https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/ Related links and articles: https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6813418/2025/11/17/womens-college-basketball-power-rankings-tcu/ by Sabreena Merchant https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6809915/2025/11/15/west-virginia-duke-womens-basketball-upset-ejections/ by Denny Alfonso https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6812600/2025/11/16/uconn-undefeated-ohio-state-victory/ By Ben Pickman https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6811195/2025/11/15/south-carolina-usc-score-result/ by Sabreena Merchant The Athletic's: https://form.fillout.com/t/hcFngXUzWRus 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: Thumbnail: Erica Denhoff/Icon Sportswire 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