Why the Moment Is Now for UCLA

Zena, Chantel, and Sabreena kick off their discussion with the unveiling of Unviraled’s 1-on-1 tournament bracket. They highlight what fans can look forward to and share their predictions on who might come out on top. Next, the crew dives deep into UCLA’s surge in the Big Ten, breaking down roster changes, the impact of transfers, and why this season feels so urgent. They also explore how NIL has shaped the team, how the players have stayed together, and how UCLA is viewed nationally, ending with a look at their potential WNBA draft prospects. The conversation wraps up with a fun game of Start, Bench, Cut No Offseason is a part of The Athletic Podcast Network: https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/ 00:00 Intro 00:45 Laces clinched the first playoff spot in Unrivaled 01:17 Unrivaled unveils its 1-on-1 tournament bracket 07:09 Sabreena’s Scale 07:53 Duke escapes with a 59–58 win over Louisville 08:54 What to make of Duke’s rise 11:57 Can Duke be trusted late? 17:00 Texas defeats LSU 77–64  17:29 What to make of Texas’ future? 22:43 The making of this UCLA team 24:29 Can UCLA avoid a letdown? 28:23 Is UCLA a better matchup for UConn this season? 31:53 How UCLA can continue its success 38:36 UCLA survives tight battle with Michigan, 69–66 39:48 What to make about UCLA’s recent win over Michigan 44:01 Does UCLA have enough depth? 46:40 What will be UCLA’s difference maker in the tournament? 53:22 Might UCLA’s seniors go in the first round of the draft? Related links and articles: https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7026098/2026/02/05/dukes-season-turnaround-is-official-after-taking-down-no-6-louisville/ by Sabreena Merchant https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7032177/2026/02/09/womens-college-basketball-power-rankings-tennessee-texas/ by Sabreena Merchant 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 -Sabreena on BlueSky: @sabreenajm -Chantel on BlueSky: @chanteljennings -Produced by Taneka Burrell -Executive Produced by Andrea B. Scott 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