Olympic hockey legend Angela Ruggiero joins Sarah to discuss what hockey has given her on and off the ice, how she thinks the PWHL will impact U.S./Canada dynamics in Milan, and how she’s seen media coverage change since she helped Team USA win the first-ever Olympic hockey gold in 1998. Plus, Trin is IN, a college hoops win streak record could be switching hands, the Americans are going head to head down under, and this week’s Friday Fatto Figo delivers a karate chop to jingoism!

SHOW NOTES: 

• Check out Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone’s baby announcement here
• Check out the video of Marie-Philip Poulin’s most recent OT game-winner here
• The Athletic’s survey of PWHL players is here
• The NCAA basketball schedule can be found here
• The Unrivaled schedule can be found here
• The full U.S. Ski & Snowboard Olympic roster is here
• Read more about figure skater Deanna Stellato-Dudek 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.

Bobsled legend Elana Meyers Taylor joins Sarah to discuss battling through her toughest season yet to qualify for her fifth Olympics and how she's approaching what might be her last chance at winning gold. They discuss why heptathletes make the best push athletes, how she’s recovering from the scariest crash of her career, and her concerns around the long-term sustainability of the sport of bobsled. Plus, cashing in on the charity stripe, an early contender for fit of the year, and a few players we’re thankful to see touch grass again. 

• Watch Paige Bueckers react to winning $50k here

• Check out the Australian Open schedule here

• Follow Elana Meyers Taylor on Instagram! @elanameyerstaylor 

• The Toronto Tempo’s lego collab is here
• Check out the Portland Fire’s Portlandia schedule collab here
• The Chicago Sky’s collab with Art But Make It Sports 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 

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

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Boise State beach volleyball player Nora Hayd and Australian semi-pro hooper Caitlin Cunningham (a.k.a. Caitlin Dark) have gone viral around the world for being gothletes (goth athletes) and rocking a look not often seen on the court or the sand. Hayd and Cunningham join Sarah to discuss the attention they’ve received for their unique looks, dream makeup collabs, expanding the idea of what an athlete can look like, and why it’s always a good idea to express your true self.

• Follow Caitlin on social! Instagram: @caitlepillar
• Follow Nora on social! Instagram: @nora.rose14 
• Support ultra runner Sarah Porter 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.

Multi-sport athlete and advocate for transgender rights Chris Mosier joins Sarah a few days after protesting outside the Supreme Court in D.C. He shares his thoughts on the Court hearing oral arguments regarding trans athletes participating in sports, how he approaches having conversations with people who are ignorant or uninformed, what he thinks of some of the proposed “solutions” for trans inclusion in sports, and how he uses joy as a form of resistance. Plus, a different kind of Sunday Scaries, turning beets into borscht, and a cross-border rivalry over crowd size.

• Buy tickets to the Women’s Beanpot Championship here

• Meet all the Athletes Unlimited basketball players here

• And check out the Athletes Unlimited schedule here

• Read the Front Office Sports article on the WNBA considering buying back equity here

• Watch Jordan Chiles earn a career first perfect 10 on the vault here

• Find the Australian Open results here, and the schedule here

• Pre-order Fair Game: Trans Athletes and the Future of Sports 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.

While folks everywhere are eating up the fictional TV series “Heated Rivalry,” we've got the real thing! Rivals-turned-wives Caroline Ouellette, four-time Olympic medalist with Team Canada hockey, and Julie Chu, four-time Olympic medalist with Team USA hockey, join Sarah to talk about navigating their relationship while captaining their respective national teams. Plus, handling the tension that comes with dating your opponent, how to balance your happiness with your partner’s sadness, and why they kept their relationship on the DL until they were done competing. Finally, with Caroline serving as an assistant coach for Team Canada at the upcoming Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics, who is Julie rooting for, her former team or her wife?! 

• Read the 2022 Sports Illustrated story on the American-Canadian hockey couples here

• Follow Julie on Instagram here

• Follow Caroline 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 

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

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Let’s do that hockey! Specifically: the Women’s Beanpot and hockey at the Winter Olympics. Sarah spoke to Northeastern and team Switzerland player Alessia Baechler, as well as BU and Team Germany twin sisters Lilli and Luisa Welcke, about transitioning from their home countries to playing and living in the States, the moment they found out they made their team’s roster for next month’s Milan-Cortina Olympics, and the record that organizers are trying to break at next week’s Beanpot championship game in Boston. Plus, grief with a grievance, there’s drama Down Under, and the second installment of the Friday Fatto Figo!

SHOW NOTES: 

• Check out the 2026 NWSL schedule here 

• Read Annie Costabile and Ryan Glasspiegel’s reporting on Unrivaled’s viewership for Front Office Sports here

• The 2026 Australian Open women’s singles draw is here and the schedule is here 

• The NCAA basketball schedule can be found here  

• The PWHL schedule can be found here 

• The Unrivaled schedule can be found here 

• The NCAA hockey schedule can be found here 

• The LOVB schedule 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 

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

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

NWSL Players Association Executive Director Meghann Burke joins Sarah to discuss the PA’s decision to file a grievance challenging the league’s new High Impact Player rule, whether the NWSL’s handling of recent issues might be eroding trust in leadership, and the ongoing uncertainty over Trinity Rodman’s status in the league. Plus, the cooler is in for the long haul, making it official with some city names, and wondering if there’s some tea we can dump in the harbor.

• Read Katie Barnes’ reporting on the oral arguments heard by the Supreme Court  here and here

• Watch Coach Jackie and content creator Allie O'Brien interview anti-trans protestors outside the Supreme Court here

• Learn more about all six AUSL cities – and their stadiums – here

• Read Doug Feinberg’s reporting on the WNBA and PA’s moratorium agreement 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.

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.