Good Game with Sarah Spain

Women’s Elite Rugby (aka WER) is the focus of today’s edition of “New Year, New Leagues.” WER President Dr. Jessica Hammond-Graf and Chicago player Betty Nguyen join Sarah to discuss the inspiration for the league, the difference between 7s and 15s, and how each team filled out its roster. Plus, the stars, stakes, stats, and stories you need to know.

• Follow the WER on Instagram here

• Follow WER player Emma Farnan on Instagram here

• Follow Dr. Jessica Hammond-Graf on X here

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

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

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

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

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Our “New Year, New Leagues” series continues! Pitching legend and GM of the AUSL Volts Cat Osterman joins Sarah to chat all things Athletes Unlimited Softball League. They talk how this league will differ from previous AU softball formats, its groundbreaking year-round insurance policy for athletes, and the stars, stakes, stats and stories to look out for.

• Follow the AUSL here

• Purchase season tickets here

• Follow Cat on Instagram here

• Follow AUSL player Bubba Nickles here

• Follow AUSL player Dejah Mulipola here

• Follow AUSL player Carley Hoover here

• Photographer/Videographer Jade Hewitt on Instagram here 

• AUSL senior reporter/broadcaster Savanna Collins on Instagram here

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

League One Volleyball (aka LOVB) takes center stage for installment #2 of our “New Year, New Leagues” series. LOVB President Rosie Spaulding and Salt Lake City player Jordyn Poulter join Sarah to discuss how the league is prioritizing athlete experience and why in-game commentary will sound a little different. Plus, the stars, stakes, stats, and stories you need to know. 

• Watch LOVB! The full season schedule (including tune-in info) can be found here

• Listen to the “Serving Pancakes” podcast here

• Follow Evollve for reliable and accessible volleyball stats and data

• Follow LOVB player Lauren Carlini here

• Follow LOVB player Jordan Thompson here

• Follow the league here, and follow the teams too!

  • LOVB Atlanta

  • LOVB Austin

  • LOVB Houston

  • LOVB Omaha

  • LOVB Madison

  • LOVB Salt Lake

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We’re starting 2025 with our “New Year, New Leagues” series of shows, bringing you everything you need to know about the new professional women's leagues kickin' off, tippin' off, first pitchin' and first servin’ their way into our hearts in 2025. First up, Unrivaled Basketball president Alex Bazzell joins Sarah to talk about the stars, stakes, stats and stories in the new 3-on-3 league.

• Follow Unrivaled Basketball here, and follow the basketball clubs too!

• Lunar Owls BC

• Rose BC

• Vinyl BC

• Mist BC

• Phantom BC

• Laces BC

• Watch the Unrivaled roster selection here

• Follow Alex @alexbazzell on IG

• Follow Unrivaled player and co-founder Napheesa Collier here

• Follow Unrivaled player and co-founder Breanna Stewart here

• Follow Unrivaled player Sabrina Ionescu here

• Follow Aliyah Funschelle on Instagram here

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We’ve spent the week revisiting our favorite interviews of 2024, and last but not least is Sarah’s conversation with Rose Eveleth, host of the Tested podcast. They joined her back in August to talk gender verification testing, the binary categorization of humans, and the “dangers” that inexact sciences seek to protect women athletes from.

• Subscribe and listen to Rose Eveleth’s podcast series, Tested here (scroll down to find it)! 

• Learn about the history of sex testing, the language Rose & Sarah use, and find additional reading here

• Read the Scientific American Story that Sarah mentions here!

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

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

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

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

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As part of our “Best of 2024” series, here is Sarah’s conversation with USWNT legends Sam Mewis and Becky Sauerbrunn from August, right before the U.S.-Brazil gold medal game at the Paris Olympics. Sam and Becky discussed everything from the start of the Emma Hayes era to their favorite post-game eats. 

• Listen to Sam Mewis's podcast, "The Women's Game" here

• Make sure to check out the "Good Vibes FC" episodes, where Sam is joined by Becky Sauerbrunn and Lynn Williams! Videos here

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

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

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

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We’re revisiting some of our favorite interviews of 2024! Today, we hit play on Sarah’s conversation with recently retired WNBA hooper Layshia Clarendon. Lay joined Sarah to talk grieving his career while honoring themself and their stillness, being the first out trans player in the W, and the Finals series between two of her former teams.

• Follow Layshia on IG here!

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

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

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

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

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We’re revisiting some of our favorite interviews of 2024! Back in August, former pro cyclist and forever activist Kathryn Bertine joined Sarah to discuss the history of the Tour de France Femmes, and why equality in cycling is still a long way away.

• Read Kathryn Bertine’s memoir, Stand and watch her film, Half the Road

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

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

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

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

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We’re revisiting some of our favorite interviews of 2024, starting with U.S. cross-country skiing star Jessie Diggins. Sarah originally caught up with Jessie in August during the Summer Olympics, but today we’re running back the interview as it’s the height of Jessie’s own competition season.

• Watch Jessie compete in the 2024-25 Tour de Ski! The full schedule is here! 

• Learn more about The Emily Program here!

• Check out Jessie Diggins’s book “Brave Enough” here!

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

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

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

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s time for the first annual Slice-ee Awards!! Sarah, Misha and Alex announce the nominees in each category and ask YOU to cast ballots. Plus, Jane McManus, editor of The Year’s Best Sports Writing 2024, joins Sarah to share her favorite pieces from this year, and chat about her upcoming book The Fast Track: Inside the Surging Business of Women's Sports. Then a *unique* In Memoriam, and some delights and comforts to offset your New Year’s dread. 

• Submit your ballot for the first ever Slice-ee Awards here!!

• Nominees for the Sam Kerr Tackling The Pitch Invader Video We Can’t Stop Watching Award can be viewed here:

• Jonquel Jones & Sandy Brondello’s collision

• Angel Reese & NaLyssa Smith’s free throw line moment

• Cat offering support on the balance beam

• Nominees for the Serena Williams Catsuit Fit of the Year Award 

• Kelsey Plum’s fit

• Courtney Williams’ fit

• A’ja Wilson's fit

• Pre-order Jane McManus’ book The Fast Track: Inside the Surging Business of Women's Sports here

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

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

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

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

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.