WNBA Players Getting Paid, NBA Expanding & The Weight Of The 1-Seed episode artwork

EPISODE · Mar 21, 2026 · 32 MIN

WNBA Players Getting Paid, NBA Expanding & The Weight Of The 1-Seed

from The Athletic Show

The WNBA and Players Association have agreed on a new collective bargaining agreement so it's full steam ahead for 2026 season. What will the new agreement mean for players and the league moving forward? The NBA is inching closer to 32 teams. We’re joined by The Athletic’s Mike Vorkunov to discuss the inevitable return of the Seattle SuperSonics, the Vegas gold rush, and the "talent dilution" debate. Plus, which Western Conference team is getting shipped East?  And we do a deep dive into the parallel pressures facing Duke’s men and UConn’s women. College sports writer Scott Dochterman joins Zena to explain why anything short of a Final Four is a failure for these powerhouses and decide which pro teams would be the perfect match for the biggest stars from each program.Hosts & GuestsZena Keita @itszenakeitaRobert Mays @robertmaysScott Dochterman @ScottDochtermanMike Vorkunov @MikeVorkunovMix: Matt ShiltsExecutive Producer: Maggie BurbankProducer: Jen BradleyA Production of The Athletic, Ode Studios, and Banner Studios Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The WNBA and Players Association have agreed on a new collective bargaining agreement so it's full steam ahead for 2026 season. What will the new agreement mean for players and the league moving forward? The NBA is inching closer to 32 teams. We’re joined by The Athletic’s Mike Vorkunov to discuss the inevitable return of the Seattle SuperSonics, the Vegas gold rush, and the "talent dilution" debate. Plus, which Western Conference team is getting shipped East?  And we do a deep dive into the parallel pressures facing Duke’s men and UConn’s women. College sports writer Scott Dochterman joins Zena to explain why anything short of a Final Four is a failure for these powerhouses and decide which pro teams would be the perfect match for the biggest stars from each program.Hosts & GuestsZena Keita @itszenakeitaRobert Mays @robertmaysScott Dochterman @ScottDochtermanMike Vorkunov @MikeVorkunovMix: Matt ShiltsExecutive Producer: Maggie BurbankProducer: Jen BradleyA Production of The Athletic, Ode Studios, and Banner Studios Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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WNBA Players Getting Paid, NBA Expanding & The Weight Of The 1-Seed

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This episode was published on March 21, 2026.

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The WNBA and Players Association have agreed on a new collective bargaining agreement so it's full steam ahead for 2026 season. What will the new agreement mean for players and the league moving forward? The NBA is inching closer to 32 teams. We’re...

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