Did the Stud Budz Change the WNBA Forever?

Seerat is joined by Kevin Pelton of ESPN to discuss the massive games that came down to the wire this week as the WNBA playoffs are underway! They begin with Minnesota, who just came out on top against Golden State (01:25), and continue on to the Fever shutting down the Atlanta Dream (18:42). They also dive into the Storm-Aces series, as the Storm live to fight another day, and so much more to look forward to! Host: Seerat SohiGuest: Kevin PeltonSenior Producer: Steve Ahlman Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Seerat is joined by Quita of Quita Loves Sports to discuss all four Game 1s of the WNBA playoffs. They begin with Aces-Storm and how Vegas dominated a team playing with house money (01:28). Then, they talk Lynx-Valkyries and how this matchup is far from over for both of these teams (26:06). They also discuss how the Fever are feeling the heat (46:00) as well as the Liberty's overtime victory (67:43). Host: Seerat SohiGuest: Quita Loves SportsProducer: Steve Ahlman Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Seerat is joined by Chaunte'l Powell to discuss all of the major stories as the playoffs are about to get underway, beginning with a miracle performance from Seattle and Erica Wheeler (02:16). They also discuss the potential drama between Angel Reese and Jeff Pagliocca (13:40), along with a major potential business scandal and breach of antitrust laws that could be coming to the WNBA (41:48). Host: Seerat Sohi Guest: Chaunte'l Powell Producer: Steve Ahlman Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Seerat welcomes Meghan L. Hall of USA Today’s For the Win to the show. They kick it off by discussing the current race for the WNBA MVP award and front-runners for the WNBA championship (3:26). Then they discuss how the Aces put together an 11-game win streak, with A’ja Wilson putting her name in the MVP conversation (20:26). Afterward, they talk about the rise of the Atlanta Dream, who are vying for the 2-seed in the playoffs (37:04). Host: Seerat Sohi Guest: Meghan L. Hall Producer: Brian H. Waters Additional Production Support: Ben Cruz Video: Victoria Valencia Social: Keith Fujimoto Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week, Seerat checks in with ESPN’s Kevin Pelton to discuss the Seattle Storm acquiring Brittney Sykes from the Washington Mystics! The two also talk about whether the Storm will make more trades and how trading for Sykes improves the team this season (1:26). Next, the two talk about the Dallas Wings and how they have one of the brightest futures in the league, and the looming expansion draft. (35:40). Host: Seerat Sohi Guest: Kevin Pelton Producer: Kyle Williams Video: Victoria Valencia Social: Keith Fujimoto Additional Production Support: Ben Cruz Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Seerat kicks off the show by recapping some of the most recent news from around the league. She talks about the long-awaited return of Cameron Brink, another A’ja Wilson master class, a Lynx-Liberty preview (14:41), Kayla Thornton’s season-ending injury, and the rising number of injuries leaguewide this season (27:36). Then Seerat is joined by Maya Goldberg-Safir from Rough Notes (34:45). They talk about the first women’s professional basketball league and the Bay Area’s first women’s professional basketball team, the San Francisco Pioneers. They focus on the first Bay Area native to play for the team, Anna Johnson, and they discuss the similarities between the Pioneers and the Valkyries. Then, they talk about the variety of personalities and roles among queer players (54:47). Host: Seerat SohiGuest: Maya Goldberg-SafirProducers: Brian Waters and Isaiah BlakelyVideo: Victoria ValenciaSocial: Keith Fujimoto Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Seerat welcomes back Annie Costabile of Front Office Sports, and they discuss the CBA negotiations and the Stud Budz Twitch livestream throughout All-Star Weekend. They also discuss the healthy competition among the players and their unity off the court as the league continues to evolve. Host: Seerat SohiGuest: Annie CostabileProducer: Brian H. WatersVideo: Victoria ValenciaSocial: Keith Fujimoto Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Immediately after Napheesa Collier and Caitlin Clark drafted their teams for the All-Star Game, Seerat welcomes Hunter Cruse on to break down each team (0:40). Then, they share their picks for mid-season awards, including MVP, Defensive Player of the Year, Rookie of the Year, Sixth Player of the Year, and Most Improved Player (13:04). Host: Seerat SohiGuest: Hunter CruseProducer: Brian H. WatersAdditional Production Support: Ben CruzVideo: Victoria ValenciaSocial: Keith Fujimoto Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Immediately after the WNBA Commissioner's Cup finals wrapped up, Seerat and Sabreena fired up the mics to discuss the Fever’s win over the Lynx (0:57). Later, they discuss the Aces trading a first-round pick to acquire NaLyssa Smith (17:09). They close out the show by discussing the expansion of the WNBA: Cleveland, Detroit, and Philadelphia will each acquire a WNBA franchise by 2030 (40:38). Host: Seerat Sohi Guest: Sabreena Merchant Producer: Brian H. Waters Additional Production Support: Ben Cruz Video: Victoria Valencia Social: Keith Fujimoto Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

After Seerat recorded this week’s episode, DeWanna Bonner requested a trade, so she kicks off the show with her reaction to this breaking news (0:51)! Then she welcomes Ben Pickman of No Offseason: The Athletic Women’s Basketball Show, and they discuss Jonquel Jones's injury and how the Liberty will be affected for the next four to six weeks (16:30. Later, they discuss the current problem around the WNBA referees and how coaches and executives have had an issue with the inconsistency (47:45), and they close out the show with Ben critiquing Seerat’s picks for the WNBA All-Star Game (57:09). Host: Seerat Sohi Guest: Ben Pickman Producer: Brian H. Waters Additional Production Support: Ben Cruz Video: Victoria Valencia Social: Keith Fujimoto Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices