Unlock insights into the WNBA's CBA battles and Team USA's rising stars. Hear insider perspectives on player investment and crucial training camp developments.
A new women’s basketball podcast hosted by journalist Grant Afseth and former professional player CC Andrews launched this week, opening with an in-depth look at the WNBA’s ongoing collective bargaining negotiations and the upcoming USA Basketball women’s national team training camp. The show aims to provide consistent, detailed coverage of the WNBA, college basketball, and the broader women’s game at a time when interest in the sport continues to grow.
Afseth, who covers the WNBA and is based in Dallas, and Andrews, a former Athletes Unlimited guard who also played overseas, introduced the podcast with a discussion about their backgrounds and the purpose of the new platform. The hosts said they hope to offer both reporting and player-driven insight, especially at a moment when the league is navigating one of the most consequential labor negotiations in its history.
The debut episode focuses heavily on the state of CBA talks, with Andrews noting that the process has become strained and that the sides appear far apart on several core issues. She pointed to long-standing concerns about player treatment, including commercial travel, limited access to training resources and the financial burden players often assume to supplement team support.
Afseth said the league cannot expect year-round availability and peak performance without investing at a level that reflects those demands. He also questioned proposals tied to a mandatory rookie combine and a possible shift to a mid-March report date, calling those ideas difficult to reconcile with the existing college and international calendars.
Both hosts raised concerns about the league’s stance on guaranteed contracts, roster limits, and the slow adoption of minimum facility standards. Andrews said the league needs stronger expectations for ownership groups and more consistent resources across teams.
Afseth added that roster expansion remains one of the most significant issues for competitive balance and player development, noting that the current 12-player limit restricts continuity and strains teams during heavy stretches of the schedule. However, there has not been traction toward expanding rosters despite these issues.
The conversation later shifts to Team USA, which will hold a national team camp Dec. 12–14 at Duke University. The hosts highlighted a roster that mixes veterans and newcomers and outlined the early questions facing the program as it prepares for Olympic and World Cup cycles. They pointed to emerging stars—including Paige Bueckers, Caitlin Clark, Cameron Brink, Aaliyah Boston, Angel Reese, Kiki Iriafen, and JuJu Watkins—as part of a deep talent pool competing for long-term roles.