Good Game with Sarah Spain

Caroline Fitzgerald, CEO and founder of GOALS Sports and host of "The Business Case For Women's Sports" podcast, joins Sarah to discuss the “aha!” moment that pushed her to start her own marketing and consulting business, the immense economic opportunity in women’s sports, and what she’s learned from connecting brands and leagues. Plus, the PWHL is in the game, and Alyssa Naeher’s versatility gets her into the Good Game Hall of Fame.

• See the list of players selected in the Golden State Valkyries expansion draft here

• Watch LSU’s Flau’jae Johnson gift a fan a pair of her Puma PE’s here

• Check out the PWHL in the NHL25 video game here

• And purchase the game here

• Subscribe to the Business Case for Women’s Sports podcast here

• And follow GOALS 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.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.

UCLA women’s basketball head coach Cori Close and guard Kiki Rice join Sarah to talk about their #1 ranking, beating the defending champion South Carolina Gamecocks, and handling mini mogul status at age 20. Plus, Toronto Tempo president Teresa Resch hops on to discuss the expansion draft and the accidental leak of her franchise’s team name.

• Check out the full NCAA Volleyball Tournament bracket here

• See the women athletes in the Forbes 30 Under 30 Sports class here

• Follow the Toronto Tempo on Instagram here and on X/Twitter 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.

ESPN basketball reporter Alexa Philipou joins Sarah to talk all things college basketball, including JuJu Watkins' ceiling (is there one?!), the end of South Carolina’s win streak, why UCLA has been her No. 1 all season and whether women's sports media is ready to hold problematic players accountable. Plus, a WNBA website oopsie and the benefits of being part shark.

• Read Alexa's story about JuJu Watkins here

• Submit your NCAA volleyball tournament bracket to the Good Game group here *before* 3:30pm ET

• Send us your thoughts about the possibly leaked name "Toronto Tempo" at [email protected] or leave us a voicemail at 872-204-5070

• Check out Evollve – the new volleyball stats site from the folks behind HerHoopsStats – 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.

Angel City FC defender Sarah Gorden joins Sarah to talk self-discovery in LA, being the epitome of a soccer mom, using food stamps to help support herself and her son early in her career, and the future of ACFC. Plus, a slice gets something off their chest and a little “Good Game, Good Game, Fact You” to celebrate our 100th episode.

• Join our NCAA Volleyball Championship Challenge group here

• What are you celebrating? Have a milestone you wanna brag about? We want to know! 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.

Forward for the Minnesota Frost and two-time Olympic medalist with Team USA, Kelly Pannek, joins Sarah to talk about her goals for season two of the Professional Women's Hockey League, being PWHL teammates with rivals from Team Canada, her new beer "Been There, Won That," and balancing winter hibernation and summer fun. Plus, WNBA schedule release vids, PWHL TV deals and a hoops legend gets double-bruhhhhhh’d.

EPISODE NOTES:

• Check out the 2025 WNBA Regular Season Schedule here
• Check out the bracket for the 2024 NCAA women's volleyball tournament here 
• Fill out a bracket in the ESPN Volleyball Championship Challenge here

• Follow Kelly Pannek on Instagram: @kpannek

• 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.

Minnesota Frost and Team USA captain Kendall Coyne Schofield joins Sarah to talk winning the first ever Professional Women’s Hockey League championship, negotiating the league’s collective bargaining agreement, the start of PWHL season two and her plans for the 2026 Olympics. Plus college hoops upsets and BOS Nation has regrets.

EPISODE NOTES:

• Check out the PWHL schedule here

• Mikaela Shiffrin's IG Post - 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.

USWNT legend and Angel City FC co-owner Lauren Holiday joins Sarah to talk about wanting to be a changemaker in the sports ownership space, the latest on her group's bid to take control of the North Carolina Courage, her meet-cute with MNBA player husband Jrue Holiday, and how a brain tumor helped her learn how to choose joy. Plus, the PWHL season starts this weekend, listeners share their quirky vacation collectibles, and a reminder to respect and acknowledge native land. 

• Check out the Orlando Pride’s full championship celebration at City Hall here

• And more sights and sounds from the Pride’s parade here and here

• See the NCAA soccer College Cup schedule here

• Read Katie Barnes’ story about the SJSU volleyball team here

• Find out what native land you live on 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.

Kansas City Current defender Alana Cook joins Sarah to talk joining the Current via midseason trade, getting her teammates to eat vegan food, trying to keep up with Temwa Chawinga in practice, and microdosing failure. Plus, our show mascot obsession grows and there's a new No. 1 in college hoops!

• See the full college hoops AP poll for Week 4 here

• Pro Volleyball Federation draft results here

• Check out the list of AU Softball League GMs, players, and coaches 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.

Kansas City Current co-founder Chris Long joins Sarah to talk about getting Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce to a match at CPKC Stadium, hosting the 2024 NWSL Championship, and signing league MVP Temwa Chawinga. Plus, Sarah and Mish debrief on a whirlwind weekend of parties, beer pong, and watching the Orlando Pride win their first title.

• Follow iHeart Women’s Sports on Instagram here

• Check out all things Shea Butter FC here

• Check out all things Gal Pal 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.

Ahead of tomorrow’s NWSL championship, Sarah previews the clash between the Orlando Pride and the Washington Spirit, and revisits our conversation with Pride defenders Kylie Strom and Emily Sams (the newly-named NWSL Defender of the Year!). Plus, the debut of a new segment that takes us back to an epic NWSL championship of the past, and we need your holiday TV and movie recs for Thanksgiving week.

• Check out the Unrivaled roster selection video here

• And subscribe to the league’s newsletter here

• See UConn WBB players honoring Chris Dailey in their own special way here and here

• Discover Melanie Page’s “Can’t Retire From This” project 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.