Maryland basketball head coach Brenda Frese joins Sarah to discuss why a preseason trip to Croatia helped this year’s team bond, how recruiting high school kids is different than taking a shopping trip in the transfer portal, and what she remembers most from her 2006 championship-winning team. Plus, a call for your favorite starches and an ode to a different kind of slice.

• Send us your favorite starch recipes for “Starch Madness!” Send ‘em to [email protected] 

• Follow Maryland women’s basketball on Instagram here 

• Watch Alexa Gasparotto’s triple axel here 

• Watch Montana State’s buzzer-beating game-winner to clinch a spot in the NCAA tournament here 

• Read Sportico’s July 2024 story on the private equity rules in the NWSL 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

• Find the PVF schedule here

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

• Follow producer Misha Jones! Bluesky: @mishthejrnalist.bsky.social Instagram: @mishthejrnalist

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

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Alyssa Naeher, recent USWNT retiree and still the goalkeeper for the NWSL’s Chicago Stars, joins Sarah to talk about the origin of her nickname “Uncle Naeher,” succeeding Briana Scurry and Hope Solo on the national team, and how she knew it was time to retire from international competition. Plus, an NWSL season preview, a little recap of Sarah’s trip to South By Southwest, and a new celebrity BFF.

• Find venue info, ticket packages, and the schedule for the AU Softball League’s inaugural season here

• Grab discounted tickets for the Chicago Stars NWSL home opener vs. the Houston Dash here

• The 2025 NWSL season 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 Instagram: @Spain2323

• Follow producer Misha Jones! Bluesky: @mishthejrnalist.bsky.social Instagram: @mishthejrnalist

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

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Moolah Kicks founder and CEO Natalie White joins Sarah to discuss why (and how!) she created and launched a footwear brand in her 20s, why cold emailing Mark Cuban paid off for her (and might pay off for you, too!), and what she learned from surveying women and girls about what they wanted out of a basketball shoe.

• Check out the Moolah apparel Natalie mentioned 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 Misha Jones! Bluesky: @mishthejrnalist.bsky.social Instagram: @mishthejrnalist

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

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Lexie Brown, Seattle Storm guard and co-host of iHeart’s Full Circle podcast, joins Sarah to chat about finding out she was getting traded from the Los Angeles Sparks, how storytelling and brand sponsorship are assisting the growth of women’s sports, and her new gig here on the iHeart Women’s Sports Network. Plus, the NWSL’s Washington Spirit and the UCLA women’s basketball team exact some revenge, skier Mikaela Shiffrin adds to her legacy, and a slice gives us some more context on the Rice Krispie mystery.

• Listen to our episode with Bernadette McGlade here

• See the NCAA hockey tournament bracket here

• Subscribe to Lexie Brown’s Full Circle podcast here

• Check out the Sickos Committee’s video on the Minnesota Aurora’s rivals 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 Misha Jones! Bluesky: @mishthejrnalist.bsky.social Instagram: @mishthejrnalist

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

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Alysia Montaño, an Olympic bronze medalist and founder of For All Mothers, joins Sarah to discuss the inspiration behind her nonprofit, how pregnancy has historically impacted endorsements and brand deals, and what it was like to break a non-disclosure agreement with Nike to shed light on how the company treated pregnant athletes. Plus, Alysia gives flowers to the organizations that have made the biggest strides in ensuring athletes in women’s sports have protections and support around pregnancy and childbirth.

• Read/watch Alysia’s op-ed in the New York Times here

• Read more about Alysia’s nonprofit 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 Misha Jones! Bluesky: @mishthejrnalist.bsky.social Instagram: @mishthejrnalist

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

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bernadette McGlade, longtime commissioner of the Atlantic-10 conference, joins Sarah to discuss fighting for the distribution of financial “units” in women’s basketball, the potential outcomes of the House vs. NCAA settlement and why it’s important to learn from failure. Plus, the Rice Krispie mystery gets sticky, a women’s tennis moment courtesy of the worst person in the room, and the NWSL is back.

• The A-10 basketball tournament schedule can be found here 

• The full college basketball schedule can be found here

• The Unrivaled schedule can be found here 

• The PWHL schedule can be found here 

• The LOVB schedule can be found here

• Find the PVF schedule 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 Misha Jones! Bluesky: @mishthejrnalist.bsky.social Instagram: @mishthejrnalist

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

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

ESPN women’s basketball reporter Alexa Philippou joins Sarah to discuss which college hoops stars have the edge in the player of the year race, chat about the huge leap the Indiana Fever took in WNBA free agency, and share a tale about Diana Taurasi that didn’t make it into the ESPN story about her retirement. Plus, our government’s checks and balances do some checking and balancing, a Japanese soccer legend announces her retirement, and a couple friends of the show are in competition mode.

• Read the ESPN story Alexa contributed to about Diana Taurasi’s retirement here

• Read Kevin Blackistone's column about Haskell Indian Nations University here

• Listen to our episode with Katherine Legge here

• Find the schedule and race results for the World Bobsled and Skeleton Championships here

• See Sophia Wilson’s pregnancy announcement post on Instagram here

• And watch Sophia’s husband Michael gush about his wife 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 Misha Jones! Bluesky: @mishthejrnalist.bsky.social Instagram: @mishthejrnalist  

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

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Andscape & ESPN commentator Ari Chambers joins Sarah to discuss what’s sure to be a chaotic March Madness, the difference between a great team and a Final Four team, her thoughts on the inaugural Unrivaled season, and why we should all remain vigilant with Title IX at risk. Plus, a Wildcat joins a Duck and a Hawkeye in an exclusive club.

• Follow Ari on Bluesky and Instagram!

• 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 Misha Jones! Bluesky: @mishthejrnalist.bsky.social Instagram: @mishthejrnalist

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

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Truth bomb: Even our FAVORITE sports figures aren’t perfect. Sarah, Alex and Misha have a meaningful conversation about how to react when athletes we admire for their on-field heroics do harmful things outside of their sport. Plus, the Athletes Unlimited pro hoops season comes to a close, plenty of college hoops chaos, and Diana Taurasi shows off her comedic timing.

• The NCAA basketball 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 Instagram: @Spain2323

• Follow producer Misha Jones! Bluesky: @mishthejrnalist.bsky.social Instagram: @mishthejrnalist

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

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Domè Guasch, the first-ever general manager for NWSL expansion team BOS Nation Football Club, joins Sarah to talk skipping school to pursue coaching, why his focus is on the women’s game, recruiting players in the NWSL’s post-draft era and what he knows about the team's potential rebrand. Plus, the details behind his first hire as GM, and Sarah gives him a Boston pop quiz, including a potentially controversial coffee take.

• 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 Misha Jones! Bluesky: @mishthejrnalist.bsky.social Instagram: @mishthejrnalist

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

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.