Big East Commissioner and former WNBA President Val Ackerman joins Sarah to discuss how her job has changed as a result of NIL, the transfer portal and House vs. NCAA, how her previous career stops influenced her work as commissioner of a conference, and how the disparity between the football haves and have-nots is growing every day. 

• RSVP to the 2026 Congressional College Athletics Summit here 

• Check out Vogue’s compliment battle between Connor Storrie and Hudson Williams here

• And watch their very NSFW appearance with Buzzfeed here 

• Check out @AcceptingUncleMurphy’s video praising Unrivaled here

• Leave us a voicemail at 872-204-5070 or send us a note at [email protected] 

• Follow Sarah on social! Bluesky: @sarahspain.com TikTok: @Spain.Sarah Instagram: @Spain2323

• Follow producer Alex Azzi! Bluesky: @byalexazzi.bsky.social Instagram: @AzziArtwork 

• Follow producer Bianca Hillier! Bluesky:@biancahillier.bsky.social

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Former WNBA player Sonia Chase and former NBA Players Association Executive Director Tamika Tremaglio join Sarah to discuss the behind the scenes of the WNBA CBA negotiations, the revenue sharing specifics keeping the two sides apart, and whether a work stoppage is the only thing that will get a new deal done. Plus, a Denver homecoming, college hoops delivers streaks and slides, and a reminder that you’re never too young to start manifesting your dreams. 

• Follow Tamika on Instagram here 

• Follow Sonia on Instagram here

• Watch baby Isabeau’s Olympic goal-setting session here 

• The AP college basketball rankings are here 

• Watch Khristina Williams' interview with Erin Drake here 

• Get tickets to the Women’s Beanpot here

• Leave us a voicemail at 872-204-5070 or send us a note at [email protected] 

• Follow Sarah on social! Bluesky: @sarahspain.com TikTok: @Spain.Sarah Instagram: @Spain2323

• Follow producer Alex Azzi! Bluesky: @byalexazzi.bsky.social Instagram: @AzziArtwork 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Defector tennis writer Giri Nathan joins Sarah to discuss the Australian Open and the start of the 2026 tennis season, which players might push the trio that’s been at the top of the game for the last few years, and the pros and cons of a WTA/ATP merger. Plus, showing up with pride, a footy rumor we’re trying to ignore, and it’s deja vu all over again in Storrs, Connecticut.

• Follow Giri Nathan on Bluesky here

• Check out Chelsea Gray’s back-to-back three-pointers here

• Read The Athletic’s Chris Johnston’s reports on the Olympic hockey test event here, here, and here

• Check out the head-to-head comparison between Sarah Strong and Maya Moore here

• Watch Abbey Murphy’s incredible move and assist here

• Leave us a voicemail at 872-204-5070 or send us a note at [email protected] 

• Follow Sarah on social! Bluesky: @sarahspain.com TikTok: @Spain.Sarah Instagram: @Spain2323

• Follow producer Alex Azzi! Bluesky: @byalexazzi.bsky.social Instagram: @AzziArtwork 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

WNBA superstar and Unrivaled co-founder Breanna Stewart joins Sarah to discuss what she learned from Unrivaled’s inaugural season, her goals for season two, how the 3-on-3 league has played a role in setting a new standard for player experience and pay, and her best prediction for when the WNBA CBA negotiations will finally get done. Plus, a trip to the world’s most famous arena, a roster drop of the young and unattached, and a new segment in the lead-up to the Milan-Cortina Games: the Friday Fatto Figo!

SHOW NOTES: 

• Read David Berri’s story for Winsidr here

• The latest USWNT roster is here and tickets for the team’s friendlies against Paraguay and Chile are here 

• Get your tickets for the New York Sirens’ Madison Square Garden game here

• The Unrivaled schedule can be found here 

• The NCAA basketball schedule can be found here  

• The NCAA hockey schedule can be found here 

• The PWHL schedule can be found here 

• The LOVB schedule can be found here

• The full U.S. Figure Skating Championships schedule is here

• Leave us a voicemail at 872-204-5070 or send us a note at [email protected] 

• Follow Sarah on social! Bluesky: @sarahspain.com TikTok: @Spain.Sarah Instagram: @Spain2323

• Follow producer Alex Azzi! Bluesky: @byalexazzi.bsky.social Instagram: @AzziArtwork

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

WNBA-hooper-turned-team-owner, analyst, activist and all-around badass Renee Montgomery joins Sarah to discuss yet another new title she’s adding to her resume, and to give her thoughts on the start of Unrivaled Season 2 and the ongoing WNBA CBA negotiations. Plus, serving up acronym soup, a design worthy of a star, and shooting for a record. 

• Get your tickets to the 2026 Women’s Beanpot here

• Get your tickets for the 2026 SheBelieves Cup here

• The U.S. Figure Skating Championships schedule is here 

• Leave us a voicemail at 872-204-5070 or send us a note at [email protected] 

• Follow Sarah on social! Bluesky: @sarahspain.com TikTok: @Spain.Sarah Instagram: @Spain2323

• Follow producer Alex Azzi! Bluesky: @byalexazzi.bsky.social Instagram: @AzziArtwork

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ahead of season two of LOVB – aka League One Volleyball – league President Rosie Spaulding and LOVB Salt Lake player Jordyn Poulter join Sarah to discuss their roses and thorns from year one, the biggest changes the league has made for season two, the evolution of team ownership, and how LOVB views its main competitor Major League Volleyball (MLV).

• Watch the video of the prank on Orly, the Caitlin Clark doppelgänger here 

• The LOVB schedule and ticket info can be found here

• Leave us a voicemail at 872-204-5070 or send us a note at [email protected] 

• Follow Sarah on social! Bluesky: @sarahspain.com TikTok: @Spain.Sarah Instagram: @Spain2323

• Follow producer Alex Azzi! Bluesky: @byalexazzi.bsky.social Instagram: @AzziArtwork 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s time to announce the winners of the 2025 Slice-ees, the second annual Good Game with Sarah Spain awards for excellence, eminence, and embarrassment in women’s sports! Then, friends of the show return to put a button on our new year’s ponderings and talk about changing our minds in 2026. Plus, shuffling up and down the leaderboard and an Italian athlete we’re finding it im-pasta-ble not to love.

• Check out the behind-the-scenes video of Alessandra Fumagalli and her spaghetti here 

• The latest women’s basketball rankings can be found here 

• Follow sliding sports expert Ken Childs here and check out his website here

• Leave us a voicemail at 872-204-5070 or send us a note at [email protected] 

• Follow Sarah on social! Bluesky: @sarahspain.com TikTok: @Spain.Sarah Instagram: @Spain2323

• Follow producer Alex Azzi! Bluesky: @byalexazzi.bsky.social Instagram: @AzziArtwork 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A new year demands a look back and a look ahead, so we asked some friends of the show to share a memory from 2025 that’s sure to stick and to tell us their intentions - not resolutions, intentions! - for 2026. Plus, circling back on the biggest news from the holiday break, a Winter Olympic charcuterie board, and Unrivaled tips off without a co-founder. 

• The Unrivaled schedule can be found here 

• Check out Marta’s dancing skills here

• Follow Lyndsay Rush on Instagram here

• Leave us a voicemail at 872-204-5070 or send us a note at [email protected] 

• Follow Sarah on social! Bluesky: @sarahspain.com TikTok: @Spain.Sarah Instagram: @Spain2323

• Follow producer Alex Azzi! Bluesky: @byalexazzi.bsky.social Instagram: @AzziArtwork 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

To close out our "Best of 2025" series, we're revisiting Sarah's conversation with legendary coach and player Dawn Staley. Back in September, she joined Sarah for a candid conversation about leading in life, beyond just wins and losses. Staley, whose Hall of Fame career has shaped generations of athletes, discusses the pressure of coaching in the new NIL and House v. NCAA era, her advocacy for equity in women’s athletics, and the emotional strength required to support friends and family through health challenges — including breast cancer. 

• Follow Dawn on Instagram here
• Leave us a voicemail at 872-204-5070 or send us a note at [email protected] 
• Follow Sarah on social! Bluesky: @sarahspain.com Instagram: @Spain2323
• Follow producer Alex Azzi! Bluesky: @byalexazzi.bsky.social Instagram: @AzziArtwork

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Happy 2026, slices! We're continuing our week of Best Ofs with Paige Jones, a member of the U.S. National Ski Jumping Team, who joined Sarah in August to share a concerning experience she had during inspections before the season began. Jones explained why a scandal involving altered ski jumping suits has resulted in more intense examinations, detailed just what the heck a crotch machine is, and asked her sport’s governing body to better prioritize athlete comfort and safety.

• Follow Paige on social media here
• Leave us a voicemail at 872-204-5070 or send us a note at [email protected] 
• Follow Sarah on social! Bluesky: @sarahspain.com Instagram: @Spain2323
• Follow producer Alex Azzi! Bluesky: @byalexazzi.bsky.social Instagram: @AzziArtwork

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.