Why Player-Coach Connections Fuel March Madness Success

Zena and Layshia begin by discussing the uncertain future of WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert before turning to the upcoming expansion draft, where they analyze potential player selections and the strategic decisions facing new teams. They then explore the vital role of coaching, particularly under high-pressure circumstances, emphasizing the importance of trust and communication between coaches and players. Drawing on memorable game moments, they highlight the impact of player-coach interactions and the balance between intensity and care, showing how trust is crucial in challenging situations. We close things out with Layshia’s Lens, featuring a buzzer-beater moment. No Offseason is a part of The Athletic Podcast Network: https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/ 00:00 Intro 00:51 Adam Silver remained non-committal regarding Cathy Engelbert’s future 01:27 What is Adam Silver actually saying about Cathy Engelbert's future? 05:32 Expansion draft set for April 3 06:02 Inside the expansion draft 07:39 Potential picks in the expansion draft 10:56 Could Arike Ogunbowale be a part of the expansion draft? 13:59 WNBA dates to know 15:33 Coaching Impact 17:48 Reading Brenda Frese and Oluchi Okananwa’s sideline reactions 23:02 A look at coaching styles in women’s basketball 30:13 Which coaching styles excel in March? 35:32 Is trust a key factor in player-coach connections? 41:09 What goes into game-planning clutch moments? 45:23 Layshia’s Lens 48:07 Join us LIVE on YouTube following the Sweet 16! Related links and articles: https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7147522/2026/03/25/adam-silver-wnba-cathy-engelbert-future/?source=emp_shared_article by Mike  Vorkunov https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7147626/2026/03/25/wnba-sets-expansion-draft-toronto-portland/ by Curt Anderson https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7147141/2026/03/26/wnba-expansion-draft-players-toronto-portland/ by Sabreena Merchant https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7142264/2026/03/24/brenda-frese-oluchi-okananwa/  by Elise Devlin 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: G Fiume / Contributor / Getty Images Sport via Getty Images Luke Hales / Staff / Getty Images Sport via Getty Images