Basketball
Is WNBA Physical Play Out of Control?
No Offseason: The Athletic Women's Basketball Show›
Yesterday1:02:45
Listen now
Listen in the appEpisode context
Listen
Keep going with No Offseason: The Athletic Women's Basketball Show.
Listen here or keep browsing the show and related sport coverage from here.
Episode Notes
Physicality has always been part of the WNBA—but where’s the line between tough competition and crossing it? Zena and Layshia unpack the league-wide conversation around physical play, breaking down recent technical fouls involving Caitlin Clark, Sophie Cunningham, and others. They dive into the impact of officiating, player conduct, and sportsmanship, while exploring how the game’s physical style has evolved over the years. From aggressive defenses to referee decisions, the duo examines how players adjust, compete, and thrive in one of the toughest leagues in sports.
REFERENCES:
The fascinating case of Caitlin Clark vs. The WNBA: Who controls the spirit of the sport? by Brian Hamilton
Caitlin Clark blasts officials for ‘ridiculous’ tech, inches closer to suspension by James Boyd
WNBA will not rescind Caitlin Clark’s technical foul from Fever-Mercury game by James Boyd
__
No Offseason is a part of The Athletic Podcast Network
Email us: NoOffseason@theathletic.com
Sign up for the No Offseason newsletter!
YT: @No-Offseason
IG: @tanooffseason
TikTok: @no_offseason
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Next listen
Azzi to Project B, Sparks-Liberty Re-do + Top 30 WNBA Stars From 30 Years
3 days ago1:09:25
Listen guide
How do I listen to this episode of No Offseason: The Athletic Women's Basketball Show?
"Is WNBA Physical Play Out of Control?" is an episode of No Offseason: The Athletic Women's Basketball Show. Runtime 1 hr 2 min. Published June 25, 2026. Hit play above to stream it here, or open the free Spot Sports app for background play and offline downloads.
Step by step
- Open Spot Sports. Get the free Spot Sports app for background play, lock-screen controls, and offline downloads.
- Or stream right here. Tap play on the episode card above. No app needed.
- Browse the full podcast. Jump to the No Offseason: The Athletic Women's Basketball Show page for the rest of the catalog.
- Or subscribe in any podcast app. No Offseason: The Athletic Women's Basketball Show ships on a standard RSS feed, so Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, and Pocket Casts all work too.
Quick FAQ
- When was this episode published?
- June 25, 2026.
- How long is this episode?
- 1 hr 2 min.
- What podcast is this from?
- No Offseason: The Athletic Women's Basketball Show. Browse the full back catalog on the show page.
- What does this episode cover?
- No Offseason: The Athletic Women's Basketball Show covers basketball. This episode runs on the show's regular cadence.
