What makes a team a “bad” WNBA team?

Zena and Ben talk about the wacky week that was in the W, with bright green instruments hitting the court and Sparky the LA mascot hitting the deck hard during halftime. Next, they discuss the first rematch of the Minnesota Lynx and the New York Liberty since their finals run last season. Then, with a few big upsets around the Association this week, they turn their attention to some bigger questions – like why do the outcomes of almost every game feel so consequential? Why does the W feel so inconsistent sometimes? What do we mean when we say a team is a “bad” team? In short, what does the concept of hierarchy look like in the WNBA? After that, Ben and Zena talk through some of the most intriguing players in the W, as the second half of the season gets underway. Plus, what we’re watching this weekend. 00:00 Show Intro 03:08 The Lynx and Liberty meet for the first team this season 05:39 Was there a scheduling miss with the Lynx and Liberty game? 7:53 Should the W create a more balanced schedule? 11:25 What does the concept of hierarchy look like in the W? 16:02 How much does the media feed into the hierarchy of teams?  19:40 What goes into labeling whether a team is good or bad?  22:17 How is team performance assessed in the W? 28:57 Veronica Burton is a bright spot for the Golden State Valkyries 31:28 Jordin Canada is stepping up in a big way for the Dream 34:12 Potential sixth player of the year in Naz Hillmon 36:59 Hasn’t been a favorable season for Arike Ogunbowale 41:41 Monique Akoa Makani is a unique surprise for Phoenix Thumbnail: Joe Boatman, Michael Gonzales via Getty Images Follow and listen to the audio podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/no-offseason-the-athletic-womens-basketball-show/id1699815468 Leave a comment wherever you’re listening, or email us at NoOffseason@TheAthletic.com. You can also find us on socials: -Instagram: @tanooffseason -TikTok: @no_offseason -Zena on BlueSky: @zenakeita -Ben on BlueSky: @benpickman -Sabreena on BlueSky: @sabreenajm -Chantel on BlueSky: @chanteljennings 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 #wnba #lynx #liberty