Courtside Club with Rachel DeMita

WNBA Insider Reveals TRUTH Behind CBA Negotiations..

In this episode of Courtside Club, Rachel is joined by WNBA reporter and writer Annie Costabile from Front Office Sports for an in-depth conversation about the CBA, her career, and the evolution of women’s basketball coverage. Annie shares her path into sports journalism, from freelancing and local coverage to becoming one of the most plugged-in voices covering the WNBA. She talks about navigating early career challenges, staying objective in a rapidly growing media landscape, and what it means to cover the league during one of the most important growth periods in its history. The discussion focuses on the changing visibility of the WNBA, the responsibilities of reporters covering the league, and how increased attention has reshaped conversations around players, teams, and league accountability. Annie also reflects on why accurate, consistent coverage matters more than ever as women’s basketball continues to expand. Subscribe to #CourtsideClub now 👏: Spotify 🔗: https://spoti.fi/3QyFchCApple 🔗: https://apple.co/3QyFqoY INSTAGRAM 📸: http://instagram.com/rademita/TIKTOK 📹: https://www.tiktok.com/@rademitaTWITTER 💬: https://twitter.com/RADeMita Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

WNBA Just LEAKED Important CBA Documents + Reggie Miller’s INSANE Caitlin Clark Comparison...

The WNBA CBA situation just took another concerning turn.. the league still has not formally responded to the players’ most recent proposal, even as the season timeline continues to shrink.In this episode of Courtside Club, Rachel DeMita breaks down the latest reporting surrounding the in-person meeting between the WNBA and the WNBPA, why the lack of a response from the league is becoming a major red flag, and how internal disagreement among player leadership could impact the path forward. With expansion drafts, free agency, training camp, and preseason already looming, the margin for error is disappearing fast.We also discuss what this silence means for the 2026 WNBA season, how public messaging is shaping fan sentiment, and why this moment may determine whether the league’s recent momentum is sustainable or at serious risk.Rachel DeMita breaks down the biggest basketball stories of the day, starting with Caitlin Clark’s debut as an NBA analyst on NBC and the record-setting Lakers vs. Knicks ratings that followed.She looks at what Clark’s presence meant for the broadcast, why NBC plans to bring her back, and the growing speculation around her potentially working with Steph Curry’s shooting coach. Then we dive into the WNBA CBA, including leaked proposal details, projected salary increases, and the ongoing disconnect between the league and players over revenue sharing and benefits.Rachel also reacts to Breanna Stewart’s recent podcast comments about the CBA, Unrivaled, and the tension players are navigating as negotiations continue.Subscribe to #CourtsideClub now 👏:Spotify 🔗: https://spoti.fi/3QyFchCApple 🔗: https://apple.co/3QyFqoYINSTAGRAM 📸: http://instagram.com/rademita/TIKTOK 📹: https://www.tiktok.com/@rademitaTWITTER 💬: https://twitter.com/RADeMita Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

There's A New WNBA Rivalry In Town + The 2026 WNBA Season Is Cooked...

The WNBA has officially released its 2026 season schedule, marking the league’s 30th season, but questions around the ongoing CBA negotiations remain unresolved. In this episode of Courtside Club, we break down what the schedule release actually means, why Caitlin Clark and Paige Bueckers are front and center, and how the league appears to be shifting its marquee rivalries. We discuss the Fever–Wings opener, the Clark vs. Bueckers matchup, and why free agency could completely reshape the league before a single game is played. With max salaries potentially jumping to over $1 million, this offseason could be the most unpredictable in WNBA history.. especially with negotiations still stalled. We also cover player reactions to the schedule release, the WNBPA’s continued social media push, and why the league may be signaling “business as usual” despite the lack of a finalized deal. Plus, we break down why the season will remain at 44 games, how the FIBA World Cup interruption factors in, and what Kayla McBride’s injury highlights about offseason play and player protection. We also touch on Breanna Stewart’s recent comments offering cautious optimism around the CBA, and why that quote may not change the reality of where negotiations currently stand. The WNBA may be running out of time. With new reports suggesting the league could be weeks away from delaying the 2026 season, the ongoing CBA negotiations are starting to raise real concerns about momentum, scheduling, free agency, and expansion plans. In this episode of The Courtside Club, Rachel breaks down the latest reporting from Front Office Sports, what it means for the season timeline, and why the stakes are higher than many people realize. The conversation dives into why free agency is already behind schedule, how the Toronto Tempo and Portland Fire expansion drafts are creating uncertainty, and why teams still don’t have clarity on roster protections or pre-expansion moves. Rachel also looks at newly announced preseason games, the league’s growing emphasis on Caitlin Clark vs. Paige Bueckers, and how training camps, arena availability, and logistics are all starting to collide. Beyond the calendar issues, this episode examines the bigger picture: whether the WNBA’s recent success was a temporary Caitlin Clark–driven bubble or something sustainable long-term. From viewership drops during Clark’s injury, to fewer Fever games being moved into larger arenas, to shifting media coverage from major networks, Rachel explains why this upcoming season may be the league’s most important inflection point yet. The WNBA CBA saga continues, and honestly… I’m losing it. In today’s update, ESPN details four ways a deal could get done, but the biggest headline is this: the WNBPA sent a proposal before Christmas and the league still hasn’t officially responded. The clock is ticking toward the season, and it feels like both sides are daring the other to blink first. We’re talking revenue sharing, why the league reportedly wants a “more realistic” proposal, how public opinion is shifting, and why the players’ messaging might be hurting them with fans. We also get into the bigger picture: the league’s ownership structure, why this offseason has zero room for error, and why the W can’t afford to fumble momentum with so much competition coming this summer. Plus, Caitlin Clark is officially joining NBC’s basketball broadcast! Subscribe to #CourtsideClub now 👏: Spotify 🔗: https://spoti.fi/3QyFchCApple 🔗: https://apple.co/3QyFqoY INSTAGRAM 📸: http://instagram.com/rademita/TIKTOK 📹: https://www.tiktok.com/@rademitaTWITTER 💬: https://twitter.com/RADeMita Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

WNBA Players Are Now Asking For NBA Salaries...?

The WNBA CBA negotiations have reached a critical moment,  and it didn’t happen overnight. In today’s episode of Courtside Club, we break down ESPN’s deep dive on how the league and players’ union got here, tracing the biggest moments from the 2020 “groundbreaking” CBA to today’s dilemma. We talk about how prioritization rules, overseas play, charter flights, facilities upgrades, and ownership structure have shaped the current standoff, and why the financial landscape looks completely different than it did just six years ago. Plus, we dive into the Caitlin Clark effect and how her arrival accelerated attendance, viewership, and leverage for players, changing the power dynamics of women’s basketball in real time. From the bubble era to billion-dollar TV contracts, this episode looks at how the WNBA got here and what it means for the future of the league, the players, and the next CBA. The WNBA CBA negotiations are heating up, and now the public reaction is becoming part of the story. In today’s episode of Courtside Club, Rachel DeMita breaks down the growing backlash surrounding the players’ messaging, the latest WNBPA social media posts, and why some fans feel the conversation has started to shift. We react to Rebecca Lobo’s comments about public support, take a closer look at the WNBPA’s graphics and petition push, and explain why certain talking points.. including revenue splits and the “gender wage gap” framing… are sparking controversy online. We also discuss why Caitlin Clark’s absence from some of the league-wide messaging stands out, what’s actually going on with the WNBA’s ownership structure and the 16% investor stake, and the report that the league has explored buying back equity. Finally, we cover Natasha Cloud’s comments about Unrivaled and what alternative leagues could mean if talks stall, plus whether that creates real leverage for players or introduces conflicts of interest. With negotiations still stuck, this episode looks at how messaging, public perception, and leverage could shape the next era of the WNBA. Subscribe to #CourtsideClub now 👏: Spotify 🔗: https://spoti.fi/3QyFchCApple 🔗: https://apple.co/3QyFqoY INSTAGRAM 📸: http://instagram.com/rademita/TIKTOK 📹: https://www.tiktok.com/@rademitaTWITTER 💬: https://twitter.com/RADeMita Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The WNBA Has Finally Realized The Caitlin Clark Effect.

The WNBA CBA negotiations have reached a critical moment, and it didn’t happen overnight. In today’s episode of Courtside Club, we break down ESPN’s deep dive on how the league and players’ union got here, tracing the biggest moments from the 2020 “groundbreaking” CBA to today’s dilemma. We talk about how prioritization rules, overseas play, charter flights, facilities upgrades, and ownership structure have shaped the current standoff, and why the financial landscape looks completely different than it did just six years ago. Plus, we dive into the Caitlin Clark effect and how her arrival accelerated attendance, viewership, and leverage for players, changing the power dynamics of women’s basketball in real time. From the bubble era to billion-dollar TV contracts, this episode looks at how the WNBA got here and what it means for the future of the league, the players, and the next CBA. #CaitlinClark #WNBA Subscribe to #CourtsideClub now 👏: Spotify 🔗: https://spoti.fi/3QyFchC Apple 🔗: https://apple.co/3QyFqoY INSTAGRAM 📸: http://instagram.com/rademita/ TIKTOK 📹: https://www.tiktok.com/@rademita TWITTER 💬: https://twitter.com/RADeMita Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.