Hot Takes: Are the Connecticut Sun Tanking?

Expansion teams making the playoffs? Tanking in the WNBA? Coaches on the hot seat? Zena, Annie, and Sabreena are diving into their hottest early-season WNBA takes. The crew is dishing out half-baked predictions and bold declarations. Will these takes come true? Only time will tell. Until then, we're embracing the uncertainty and delivering our most unapologetic WNBA hot takes. No Offseason is a part of The Athletic Podcast Network: https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/ Sign up for the No Offseason Newsletter: https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/newsletters/no-offseason/ 00:00 Intro 01:47 Minnesota Lynx trending up early in the season 06:06 Why the Dallas Wings are on the rise 10:38 Defensive lapses hurting the Indiana Fever 15:02 Sabreena’s hot take: expansion teams in playoffs 16:30 Fire off to a promising start 19:04 Tempo guard group shows promise 21:12 Where could expansion teams land in the playoffs? 23:29 Zena’s hot take: expansion teams are a draw 23:29 Zena’s hot take: expansion team to produce first-time All-Star 28:15 Annie’s hot take: Caitlin can't be bigger than the Fever to win a chip 45:26 Hot take: coaches could be on the hot seat 56:12 Mailbag question 58:29 Are the Sun just focused on the future? Related links and articles: https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7323074/2026/06/01/wnba-power-rankings-minnesota-lynx-injuries/ by Sabreena Merchant https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7325437/2026/06/01/caitlin-clark-stephanie-white-fever/ by James Boyd 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 -Layshia on IG: @layshiac -Annie on X: @anniecostabile -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: Ali Gradischer / Stringer / Getty Images Sport via Getty Images Chris Coduto / Stringer / Getty Images Sport via Getty Images