Ben Pickman

Cap/Basketball Strategy @ Portland Fire | Prev: WBB @ The Athletic, Sports Illustrated, @cnnsport, @Cardinal_Sports. Email me: [email protected] | he/him

[Ben Pickman @benpickman]

No coach in CBB has had a last 2 weeks like Joye Lee-McNelis.

Her dad died.

She underwent chemo.

Her @SouthernMissWBB team had a historic win.

My profile of @CoachMcNelis. On an obituary she wrote, the resilience she shows, and the gratitude she feels
https://t.co/OqFKc5zktV

[Portland Fire @theportlandfire]

"we just keep proving people wrong"

Head Coach Alex Sarama praises the team's resilience in their 3rd clutch win this year as they win the season series over the Liberty.

[Portland Fire @theportlandfire]

our 2026 debut season roster ❤️‍🔥

join us this Saturday for our home opener at @ModaCenter against the Chicago Sky.

[Portland Fire @theportlandfire]

Sug’s vision is TOUGH 🎯

[Ben Pickman @benpickman]

Let’s go!!!

The expansion picks are in 🔥🔥🔥

[Portland Fire @theportlandfire]

A new chapter in Portland 🔥

[Ben Pickman @benpickman]

🚨 SOME PERSONAL NEWS 🚨

This is my last week at The Athletic...

More to come soon!

[Eden Laase-Derouin @eden_laase]

Excited to announce that I’ll be doing some bracketology for The Athletic this season!

Here’s the first edition. Let me know what you think (unless you don’t like it, keep that to yourself 😉)

https://t.co/QsNZLmukBp

[Ben Pickman @benpickman]

New No Offseason Ep!

@itszenakeita, Sabreena Merchant and I share the latest re: the WNBA CBA talks. Then, we dive into the four power conferences in WCBB with a big question on each as we try and sort out recent chaos:

https://t.co/N9IHB3jAxM

[Ben Pickman @benpickman]

NEWS: Despite the Jan. 9 deadline approaching, neither the WNBA nor the WNBPA have offered an extension of the CBA to the other party as of Thursday morning, sources tell @TheAthletic.

The latest on where things stand with another deadline looming:
https://t.co/mX1GuGZnx1

[Ben Pickman @benpickman]

Just want to issue a point of correction on the above... that the entire day of 4 games — night AND afternoon — combined to average 107K viewers...not just the afternoon slate.

[Ben Pickman @benpickman]

NEWS: Some Unrivaled viewership #s, per sources:

Unrivaled Opening Day on Monday averaged 175K viewers during its primetime window of games

Afternoon window averaged 107K viewers

All that is down from 208K average viewership during regular season games in Unrivaled Y1.

[Ben Pickman @benpickman]

Unrivaled's 2025 Opening Night averaged 313K viewers.

Last year, the top performing game was the 1 on 1 tournament, which averaged 377K viewers.

[Ben Pickman @benpickman]

NEWS: Despite the Jan. 9 deadline approaching, neither the WNBA nor the WNBPA have offered an extension of the CBA to the other party as of Thursday morning, sources tell @TheAthletic.

The latest on where things stand with another deadline looming:
https://t.co/mX1GuGZnx1

[Ben Pickman @benpickman]

New No Offseason Ep!

@itszenakeita, Sabreena Merchant and I discuss the late December CBB chaos. Then, a deep-dive on Unrivaled S2.

We discuss both the league's basketball — and business — and how it fits into the WBB landscape:
https://t.co/i7M4mmpqzg

[The Athletic @TheAthletic]

Today is the day!

Unrivaled is back, and @benpickman has the latest on what you need to know, such as:

◽️ Year 2 growth and changes
◽️ How were rosters created?
◽️ Who isn’t participating? Who’s new?
◽️ How does Unrivaled’s play compare to the WNBA?

And much more.

[Ben Pickman @benpickman]

@primetimeMitch Congrats!!!!

[Ben Pickman @benpickman]

NEWS: Napheesa Collier will miss the upcoming Unrivaled season as she is set to undergo surgery on both of her ankles next week

Her recovery might also impact her start of the WNBA season
https://t.co/plslWEnPNN

[Ben Pickman @benpickman]

Our final No Offseason Ep of the Year!!

Our Year in WBB, awards wrap-up. Sabreena Merchant, @itszenakeita and I name our top games, performances, quotes, reporting stories and more...

Wherever you listen/watch your pods
https://t.co/SwBCiOTmIq

[Jesse Dougherty @dougherty_jesse]

OXFORD, Mississippi — A man in a Santa outfit smoked a cigar. Next to him, a "Geux to Hell, Heaux" sign hung on the side of his tent.

It was a day of subtext, Lane Kiffin-themed.

And the home team won big in the end.

https://t.co/AvOmXhWPnT

[Ben Pickman @benpickman]

New No Offseason Ep!

Sabreena Merchant and I react to the WNBPA's latest CBA move, what else we've learned, and what's next

Then, @DallasWings coach Jose Fernandez joins us. We discuss his 8 (!) rescue dogs, the state of CBB, coaching Paige and more
https://t.co/hyTCmqQ0s7

[Eden Laase-Derouin @eden_laase]

When she found out she was 5 1/2 months pregnant, @UNLVLadyRebels guard Sydni Summers thought she would never play again.

Instead, she found her village, gave birth to her daughter and is returning to the court three months after giving birth.

https://t.co/tLYTxijITl