Good Game with Sarah Spain

Ahead of the start of the college hoops season, the Hartford Courant’s Emily Adams joins Sarah to discuss UConn’s championship offseason, the Huskies’ chances of repeating, and the teams most likely to challenge them. Plus, a skier creating new peaks, a race reaching new heights, and a coach making WNBA history. 

• Follow Emily Adams here 

• Read the full AIU release regarding Ruth Chepng'etich here 

• Read the New York Times story on the history of Kenyan runners and doping here 

• Check out Misty Copeland on the first digital moving cover of Harper’s Bazaar 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.

President of the Portland Fire Clare Hamill joins Sarah to discuss how she’s preparing for her team’s looming tipoff amidst an uncertain WNBA offseason, why this is the perfect “retirement job” for her, and how the new Portland Fire plan to engage with the legacy of the OG Portland Fire. Plus, shouting across a void, a gymnastics streak continues, and Brondello is back.

SHOW NOTES: 

• Read ESPN’s recent survey of anonymous WNBA coaches, execs, and players here 

• The full broadcast schedule for the Hanwha Lifeplus International Crown can be found here 

• Check out Forbes’ list of the Most Powerful Women in Sports here

• The full broadcast schedule for the World Gymnastics Championships 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 Alex Azzi! Bluesky: @byalexazzi.bsky.social Instagram: @AzziArtwork 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

U.S. women’s national team legends Julie Foudy and Abby Wambach sit down with Sarah for a live interview as part of the Women’s Sports Foundation's Athlete Leadership Connection. They discuss how Abby and Julie handled the transition from pro athlete to post-soccer life, why women's sports are inherently political, learning how to enjoy the ordinary and not just the extraordinary, and how Julie and Abby’s new podcast with Billie Jean King, “Welcome to the Party,” adds another layer of radical joy to the women’s sports world.

• Listen to “Welcome to the Party” here

• Listen to “We Can Do Hard Things” here 

• You can find the "We Can Do Hard Things" book 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.

Northern Super League co-founder and chief growth officer Diana Matheson and filmmaker and director of “The Pitch” Michèle Hozer join Sarah to discuss the inaugural NSL season, how Michèle’s film documents Diana’s fight to launch the league, and the moments along the way when the duo thought the first-ever women’s pro soccer league in Canada might not happen at all. Plus, new threads just dropped, sharing a bid with friends, and staying neutral all the way.

• Upcoming screenings of “The Pitch” can be found here 

• The 2025 World Gymnastics Championships broadcast schedule can be found here 

• Read Jasmine Mander’s story about dronegate here 

• Watch producer Alex ask NWSL player Kate Del Fava to fact check her first goal here

• Read the story in Block Club Chicago about the work being done to help residents amid ICE raids 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.

Softball player Erin Coffel joins Sarah to discuss being a part of the inaugural Athletes Unlimited Softball League season, earning the AUSL’s first-ever MVP honors, her transition to the pros, and why she still gets starstruck meeting legends of the game. Plus, killing in the best way, hometown heroes get their due, and there’s no Midwest Nice once you step on the ice.

• Follow Erin Coffel on Instagram here

• Follow the AUSL on Instagram here 

• Watch the hockey brawl between Ohio State and Minnesota 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.

Play-by-play announcer Kate Scott joins Sarah to discuss how she got her start, the nuances and challenges of calling different sports, trying not to screw things up for an entire gender, and what she’s doing to prepare for her new job as the lead voice of the USA Network's WNBA coverage. Plus, making the leak official, birthing berths, and the wrath of the injury gods is fierce. 

• Follow Kate on Instagram here 

• Check out Becky Hammon’s dance moves here

• Read The Athletic’s story about the CLA coaching method here

• Alex Sarama’s website 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 Alex Azzi! Bluesky: @byalexazzi.bsky.social Instagram: @AzziArwork

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Women’s soccer analyst and former pro player Lori Lindsey joins Sarah to discuss the state of the NWSL, predict which teams will thrive in the playoffs, and play a “Patience or Panic” speed round about several issues currently facing the league. Plus, playoff math, a hooper returns to the green, and praising a rival to close out a career. 

SHOW NOTES: 

• Follow Lori on Instagram here 

• Check out Jen Cooper’s website “Keeper Notes” here 

• Check out Alison Gale’s NWSL playoff simulator here 

• Livestream the Aces victory parade here 

• Watch Ariarne Titmus’s full retirement video 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: @AzziArwork

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Erin Drake of the WNBA Players Association, and Meghann Burke and Tori Huster of the NWSL Players Association, join Sarah to discuss what collective bargaining negotiations look like behind the scenes, what the two PAs have learned from each other, and how systems need to change in order for investment in women's sports to make it to the players that built the leagues. Plus leaking on yourself, and another retirement hot off the Press.

• The latest USWNT roster is here

• Read the Guardian article about the NWSLPA and WNBPA collab here 

• Follow the WNBPA here

• Follow the NWSLPA here 

• Follow Christen Press on Instagram here

• Listen to the RE–CAP Show here 

• Read Meg Linehan’s story on Press' career here

• Read Press' thank you letter 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: @AzziArwork 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Author and professor of economics David Berri joins Sarah to discuss pro sports leagues using financial reports to tell a story, the complex ownership structure of the WNBA, the reason revenue share is so important to W players during the ongoing collective bargaining negotiations, and why it’s not worth trying to talk to the trolls. Plus, another NWSL OG hangs ‘em up, swimming fast in short pools, and veebs is forever.

• Learn more about The Goal Cup here 

• Check out David’s website here 

• Follow David on Instagram here

• Read more about the LPGA catfishing scam here 

• And watch Minjee Lee’s albatross 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

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Veteran WNBA player Alysha Clark joined Sarah for a live show at iHeart HQ last week as part of a larger WNBA Finals celebration. Hear them discuss Clark’s midseason trade request to leave the Seattle Storm, how she’s re-setting expectations for her final years in the league, mentoring the youth of the Washington Mystics, and the ongoing WNBA CBA negotiations. Plus, a lesson in sports discourse from a WNBA broadcaster, an NYU professor, and a bouncy castle. 

• Follow Alysha on Instagram here

• Listen to the full episode of “Bird’s Eye View” feat. Ryan Ruocco 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

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.