Ben Pickman

New York

Podcast Host at No Offseason: The Athletic Women's Basketball Show

Staff writer @TheAthletic covering WBB | Prev: Sports Illustrated, @cnnsport, @Cardinal_Sports, @UWJournEthics. Email me: [email protected] | he/him

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Articles

Fever star Caitlin Clark leads All-Star Game fan voting, followed by Lynx’s Napheesa Collier

1 week ago | nytimes.com | Ben Pickman

Indiana Fever star guard Caitlin Clark is the leading vote-getter in the first fan vote return for July’s WNBA All-Star Game. The league announced the early returns Friday ahead of the July 19 All-Star Game in Indianapolis. Clark, who made the All-Star Game as a rookie last season, leads all players with 515,993 votes. Minnesota Lynx forward Napheesa Collier is second with 484,758 votes.
WNBA won’t issue suspensions for Fever-Sun skirmish, Mabrey’s foul upgraded to flagrant 2: Source

1 week ago | nytimes.com | Ben Pickman

The WNBA will not issue any suspensions following the skirmish that broke out at the conclusion of Tuesday’s game between the Indiana Fever and Connecticut Sun, a league source confirmed to The Athletic. With 46 seconds remaining in the game, Indiana wing Sophie Cunningham was assessed a flagrant 2 after attempting to stop Connecticut guard Jacy Sheldon on a layup attempt — a foul that knocked Sheldon to the floor. The sequence sparked an altercation between players on both teams.
Don’t count out Atlanta Dream, even after Commissioner’s Cup loss to Liberty

1 week ago | nytimes.com | Ben Pickman

NEW YORK — Unlike the WNBA’s other 12 head coaches, Atlanta Dream coach Karl Smesko doesn’t put together practice plans. He uses another phrase in referring to the Dream’s workouts. He crafts what he calls “progress plans.”The difference might be a matter of semantics to some, but it reflects the intentionality in Smesko’s approach. Atlanta’s first-year coach views workouts as an opportunity for Dream players to get better. So why not be specific in their purpose and name them accordingly?
It’s Sabrina Ionescu’s world, and she’s leaving her mark

1 week ago | nytimes.com | Ben Pickman

NEW YORK — Between midday class periods in middle school, Sabrina Ionescu scooped food onto trays of her fellow students in California’s Bay Area. Working in the cafeteria entitled her to free lunch and guaranteed her a meal. When her twin brother, Eddy, passed through the lunch line, she often dished him an extra helping. She knew he enjoyed the added serving, but she also reasoned that when she finished her responsibilities, she could mooch off his plate and benefit as well.
Angel Reese records first triple-double of career as Chicago tops Connecticut

1 week ago | nytimes.com | Ben Pickman

Chicago Sky forward Angel Reese recorded the first triple-double of her career in Chicago's 78-66 victory over the Connecticut Sun on Sunday. Reese finished the victory with 11 points, 13 rebounds and a career-high 11 assists, as the Sky overcame an early 8-0 deficit to pick up just their third win of the season. When Reese recorded her 10th assist with 2:46 remaining in the fourth quarter, she put both of her hands up as she ran back down the floor to celebrate the feat.
A classic Caitlin Clark performance showed the Fever's ceiling

1 week ago | nytimes.com | Ben Pickman

INDIANAPOLIS - So, be honest, how did you think Caitlin Clark would play heading into her first game back after a three-week absence? Indiana Fever coach Stephanie White knew Clark's adrenaline would be high to open the game. It was, as Clark fired the first of her 14 3-point attempts on Indiana's first offensive possession. But did White anticipate a 25-point first half from her superstar guard? "No," she said.
Caitlin Clark shines in return as Indiana Fever hand New York Liberty first loss of season

1 week ago | nytimes.com | Sabreena Merchant |Ben Pickman

Caitlin Clark sized up Breanna Stewart on the wing in the second quarter, crossed over and stepped back for a 3-pointer from 31 feet. After the preposterous triple splashed through the net, Clark ribbed the two-time MVP back down the court, and all Stewart could do was laugh. After five games away from the court, Clark was rearing to go, eager to get the Fever back on track after an uneven start to the season.
Impact on center's playing time

1 week ago | nytimes.com | Ben Pickman

The Dallas Wings acquired center Li Yueru in a trade with the Seattle Storm in exchange for two future draft picks, the teams announced Saturday. Seattle will receive Dallas' 2026 second-round pick, which includes the right to swap with the Connecticut Sun, and Dallas' 2027 third-round pick, with the right to swap with the Indiana Fever, in return for Yueru.
WNBA, Scripps reach multi-year media rights deal for Friday night games on ION

2 weeks ago | nytimes.com | Ben Pickman |Dan Shanoff

The WNBA and Scripps have reached a new multi-year agreement to continue airing WNBA regular season games on Friday nights on ION, the parties announced Friday. ION has aired WNBA games since 2023, with its initial agreement with the WNBA representing a first step into national sports rights for Scripps. Terms of the new deal were not disclosed. The initial three-year agreement between ION and the WNBA had been worth $13 million annually.
Caitlin Clark will miss 5th game with quad strain, out Tuesday vs. Dream

2 weeks ago | nytimes.com | Ben Pickman

Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark will miss her fifth consecutive game Tuesday when Indiana plays the Atlanta Dream, coach Stephanie White said Monday. Clark, who suffered a left quadriceps strain in Indiana's 90-88 loss to the New York Liberty on May 24, will remain out for the Fever's third Commissioner's Cup game. "We're ready to start ramping back up," White said. "(Clark's) been allowed to do some practicing, not everything.