External (EL) and internal (IL) load are commonly used methods used to quantify training load in team sports. Playing time and playing position may influence the training loads for specific athletes throughout a season. The purpose of the current study was to evaluate the effect of athlete playing status and individual in-season practices on EL and IL across a collegiate women’s basketball season. Female basketball athletes were classified as high-minute (HMA; ≥15 min/game) or low-minute (LMA; <15 min/game) and wore microsensors during 53 practices for a total of 583 data points. EL was obtained via an inertial measurement unit (IMU) device that contained a triaxial accelerometer to obtain three-dimensional positioning data. IL and strength training (ST) load were determined via session rating of perceived exertion (sRPE) to create a daily summated value. Descriptive statistics indicate that athletes experienced individual differences in EL, ST, and IL throughout the season. A growth model showed that HMAs experienced higher EL than LMAs at the start of the season for practices (90.21 AU). Across all athletes, IL increased across the season (40.11 AU) and for each 1 unit of change in EL, IL increased by 1.04 AU. Repeated measures correlations identified a large relationship between IL and EL (r = 0.51, p < 0.001). A location-scale model indicated that the within-person variability of IL across all athletes was 3.29 AU but was not due to athlete playing status. It is recommended to base in-season training on individual loads and game demands to promote athlete readiness and improved sport performance.

Brown, FSA, Fields, JB, Jagim, AR, Miller, A, Baker, RE, and Jones, MT. Relationship between individual workload, training impulse, and game performance in women collegiate basketball athletes. J Strength Cond Res XX(X): 000–000, 2026—The purpose was to quantify game external load (EL) demands and explore relationships between EL, internal load (IL), and measures of basketball performance across a competitive season in women basketball athletes ( n = 7). Data were collected by an inertial measurement unit microsensor and heart rate monitor for games ( n = 28) and practices ( n = 61). Playerload™ (PL), training impulse (TRIMP), and player efficiency (PE) were used to quantify EL, IL, and basketball performance, respectively. Descriptive statistics were used to quantify individual athlete PE, IL, and EL game measures, and game statistics for each game and stratified by position type. Repeated-measures correlations assessed relationships between PL, TRIMP, and PE. Two separate location scale models (PL, TRIMP) assessed the effect of session, position, PE, and previous day workload (PL lag, TRIMP lag). Results showed small to very large relationships ( r = 0.21–0.85) between PL, TRIMP, and PE. Previous day workloads (PL, TRIMP) positively affected next-day load. Playerload increased as PE increased. Guards experienced higher within person variability of PL than forward or center positions. Athletes experienced high within person variability of PL (25.50 AU) and TRIMP (20.90 AU) across the season. The average TRIMP remained consistent across the season (230.2 AU) but varied between athletes ( B = 0.90 [95% CI: 0.30–6.50]). Results suggest preceding day workload is associated with next-day workload and player performance, with higher EL being associated with higher PE. Furthermore, higher variability among athletes indicates other factors may affect workload across the season beyond sport training.