Who Will be the Breakout Star of March Madness?

The WNBA players have unanimously approved the 2026 CBA agreement, and Zena, Chantel, and Sabreena kick off the episode by walking through the first steps of the CBA becoming official—and what happens next. They then break down the defining moments from the weekend in the women’s tournament. Next, they dive into who could emerge as the next star of March Madness, exploring how personality, leadership, and team success shape the tournament’s rising faces. They highlight the legacy of established players like Flau'jae Johnson, the rise of stars such as Madison Booker, and the importance of clutch performances. Finally, the crew dips into the mailbag to discuss the surprising lack of upsets in the women’s tournament. No Offseason is a part of The Athletic Podcast Network: https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/ 00:00 Intro 00:38 WNBA players vote to approve new CBA 01:12 What comes next following approval of the CBA? 02:33 Early rounds bring the heat in women’s tournament 08:52 Defining moments and standout performances of the weekend 11:39 Top seeds showing vulnerability 14:42 Can a blowout impact a team’s progress? 16:15 Teams we’re rethinking 20:52 March Madness Star 22:39 What it takes to be a star in March 26:28 What role does personality play in becoming a star? 33:56 Players to watch during the tournament 46:00 Which players can maintain their March momentum? 50:31 Mailbag Question Related links and articles: https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7141131/2026/03/23/wnba-players-vote-labor-deal-approved/ by Sabreena Merchant https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7137168/2026/03/21/iowa-fdu-womens-march-madness-results-takeaways/ by Scott Dochternan https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7137395/2026/03/21/fdu-coach-neutral-ncaa-sites-iowa/ by Scott Dochternan https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7135803/2026/03/21/tennessees-loss-ncaa-tournament-edge/ by Chantel Jennings https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7136847/2026/03/21/womens-ncaa-tournament-takeaways-clemson-usc/ by Chantel Jennings, Grace Raynor, Cameron Teague Robinson, Sabreena Merchant and Scott Dochterman https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7139035/2026/03/22/minnesota-ole-miss-amaya-battle-ncaa-tournament/  by Chantel Jennings https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7139016/2026/03/22/maryland-brenda-frese-oluchi-okananwa/ by Devon Henderson https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7138589/2026/03/22/womens-march-madness-second-round-takeaways-zoe-brooks-nc-state/ by Sabreena Merchant https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7130159/2026/03/20/womens-basketball-march-madness-stars/ by Eden Laase 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 Thumbnail: Ian Maule / Stringer / Getty Images Sport via Getty Images