Good Game with Sarah Spain

The Athletic’s Tamerra Griffin joins Sarah for the fourth installment of our series, “Built By Women: The Story of Soccer in the U.S.” Tamerra discusses what fans can expect in the lead-up to the 2027 Women’s World Cup, breaks down the qualification process and possibilities, provides her biggest locks and question marks on the current U.S. Women's National Team roster, and predicts which other nations are likely to be contenders. Finally, she assigns a little homework (Slicework, if you will) to help us all be better, more informed soccer fans.

“Built By Women: The Story of Soccer in the U.S.” was inspired by the FIFA Men’s World Cup — ‘cause you know Big Citrus was watching and thinking about the *women’s* national team (the one with FOUR stars on their jersey!). Unlike pretty much any other country in the world, the United States fell in love with footie primarily through women – through the success of the ‘96 Olympic gold medalists, the ‘99ers, and all of our truly global superstar women players. So with next summer’s FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil and the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics in two years, we thought it was a good time to trace the roots of the beautiful game here in the United States. 

• Subscribe to Full Time here and read Tamerra Griffin’s reporting here 

• Listen to the first episode of “Built By Women: The Story of Soccer in the U.S.” with Heidi Smith here…

• And the second episode of the series with Sarah Gregorius here… 

• And the third episode with Jessica Berman here 

• You can now WATCH Sarah’s interviews! Subscribe to @iHeartWomensSports on YouTube and check out the Good Game playlist 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 

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

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

2026 Women’s Decathlon World Championships winner Camryn Newton-Smith and decathlon pioneer and event founder Lauren Kuntz join Sarah to discuss Newton-Smith's winning weekend, the battle to get women’s decathlon into the Olympics, and why this year’s event almost didn’t happen (for the dumbest possible reason, because of the dumbest possible person, because we live in the dumbest possible timeline). Plus, the Onyx make it two, Chawinga-ing into the World Cup, and the fastest three goals in NWSL history. 

• Follow Lauren Kuntz here 
• Follow Camryn Newton-Smith here 
• Follow the Women’s Decathlon Instagram account here

• The Women’s Elite Rugby (WER) Instagram account is here 

• The Women’s Professional Baseball League (WPBL) Instagram account is here 

• Check out Breanna Stewart’s Ted Lasso experience here 

• You can now WATCH Sarah’s interviews! Subscribe to @iHeartWomensSports on YouTube and check out the Good Game playlist 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 

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

• The WNBA schedule is here

• The AUSL schedule is here

• The NCAA basketball schedule can be found here  

• The NWSL 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

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sarah sat down with WNBA legends Sheryl Swoopes and Ticha Penicheiro, and former WNBA president Donna Orender during WNBA All-Star Weekend. They discussed the highs and lows of the early days of the WNBA, how they’d tackle the job of commissioner, and why the league and players need to be united in taking charge of the narrative around the W. Plus, Chelsea Daggers, the Tour de France Femmes celebrates its first two-time winner, and taking an ‘L’ from the one who got away. 

• The full clip from “Unsupervised with Syd and TP” can be found here

• Watch Liam cheer for the Valkyries here

• You can now WATCH Sarah’s interviews! Subscribe to @iHeartWomensSports on YouTube and check out the Good Game playlist 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 

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

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Connecticut Sun assistant coach Roneeka Hodges joins Sarah to discuss how the team and staff are handling the franchise’s final season in Connecticut, what it was like getting her first win as acting head coach earlier this year, the lack of Black women head coaches in the W, and the legends on speed dial that she’s always learning from. Plus, the 12 athletes gunning for a fifth straight, these bats are on top, and one small leap to worlds. 

• The AUSL All-Star Cup schedule is here

• Check out slice Elana’s analysis of WNBA pride games here

• Read The Gist’s summary of the WER ban on trans athletes here

• Check out the “Let Them Play” project here 

• You can now WATCH Sarah’s interviews! Subscribe to @iHeartWomensSports on YouTube and check out the Good Game playlist 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 

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

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

North Carolina Courage and Canadian national team goalie Kailen Sheridan joins Sarah to discuss what really happened during her final few months at the San Diego Wave, how the Courage welcomed her to the squad and made her feel valued, what the team needs to do to stay in the playoff hunt, and how Team Canada is preparing for major upcoming international competitions in the wake of 2024's Dronegate. Plus, signing to retire, a debut for one hooper, and New York hopes to find new heights.

• Follow Kailen Sheridan on Instagram here and watch her “Buddy the Elf” impersonation here 
• You can now WATCH Sarah’s interviews! Subscribe to @iHeartWomensSports on YouTube and check out the Good Game playlist 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 
• Follow producer Bianca Hillier! Bluesky: @biancahillier.bsky.social

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Actor and writer Brendan Hunt – aka Coach Beard – joins Sarah to celebrate the Season 4 premiere of ‘Ted Lasso.’ They discuss the decision to focus on a women’s club this season, celebrity cameos and Easter eggs, how the hell Hunt found himself introducing the Biebs during the FIFA Men’s World Cup halftime show, and why the Beatles mean so much to him. Also: a speed round of lesser-known facts about Hunt’s Lasso castmates, and Malala Yousafzai’s got a theory about the show. Plus, showing off in a new home, Fouts gets outs, and decoupling-and-then-doubling-up-the-double-doubles.  

• Follow Brendan Hunt on Instagram here

• You can now WATCH Sarah’s interviews! Subscribe to @iHeartWomensSports on YouTube and check out the Good Game playlist 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 

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

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

NWSL commissioner Jessica Berman joins Sarah for the third installment of our new series, “Built By Women: The Story of Soccer in the U.S.” They discuss the present and future of the league at this pivotal moment, the implementation of the controversial HIP rule, and why Jessica believes the rule is benefitting the league. Plus, the role the NWSL plays in preparing players for their national teams, and why Jessica prioritizes building trust with the players in her league. 

“Built By Women: The Story of Soccer in the U.S.” was inspired by the FIFA Men’s World Cup — ‘cause you know Big Citrus was watching and thinking about the *women’s* national team (the one with FOUR stars on their jersey!). Unlike pretty much any other country in the world, the United States fell in love with footie primarily through women – through the success of the ‘96 Olympic gold medalists, the ‘99ers, and all of our truly global superstar women players. So with next summer’s FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil and the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics in two years, we thought it was a good time to trace the roots of the beautiful game here in the United States. Stay tuned for more episodes in the series over the coming weeks!

• Listen to the first episode of our series “Built By Women: The Story of Soccer in the U.S.” with Heidi Smith here…
• And the second episode of the series with Sarah Gregorius here
• Read more about Sophie Grant’s Via Alpina accomplishment here and here
• You can now WATCH Sarah’s interviews! Subscribe to @iHeartWomensSports on YouTube and check out the Good Game playlist 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 
• Follow producer Bianca Hillier! Bluesky: @biancahillier.bsky.social

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sarah sits down for a live podcast recording with four players from the Women’s Professional Baseball League before the first-ever WPBL game in Springfield, Illinois. Kelsie Whitmore of the San Francisco Firebells, Mo’ne Davis of the Los Angeles Queens, Denae Benites of the New York Heights, and Alli Schroder of the Boston Hunters talk about being first, living a dream, trying to ensure young girls will never hear the word impossible, and finding fun in the middle of nowhere – sorry, the middle of everything. Plus, a plum assignment, that’s why she’s a GOAT, and hoopers on campus, unite!

• Watch Minnesota Lynx head coach Cheryl Reeve’s full comments on trans athletes in sports here
• The NWSL results can be found here
• The WPBL broadcast schedule is here
• Follow Mo'ne Davis on Instagram here
• Follow Denae Benites on Instagram here
• Follow Alli Schroder on Instagram here
• Follow Kelsie Whitmore on Instagram here
• Keep an eye on the WNBA’s Cleveland team here
• Read more about the life of legendary professional baseball player Maybelle Blair here, here, and here
• You can now WATCH Sarah’s interviews! Subscribe to @iHeartWomensSports on YouTube and check out the Good Game playlist 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 
• Follow producer Bianca Hillier! Bluesky: @biancahillier.bsky.social

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Former professional cyclist and self-proclaimed Women’s Bike Racing Fan Club President Ayesha McGowan joins Sarah ahead of the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift. They talk about why they would’ve been friends back in high school, how McGowan turned a crash early in her career into an educational moment, which dark horse competitor in this year’s Tour de France is not such a dark horse after all, and why it’s so crucial to explain the sometimes confusing dynamics of cycling. Plus, hide your favorite players, self-inflicted pain, and allez allez allez!

• Read more about the potential WNBA trades here and here

• The WNBA schedule is here

• The 2026 International Cup schedule is here

• Learn more about the Tour de France Femmes here and here…

• And find the full race broadcast schedule here

• Watch Alison Jackson celebrate winning a rock here

• Follow Ayesha McGowan on Instagram here

• Check out the NYT’s Paris-Brest recipe here

• You can now WATCH Sarah’s interviews! Subscribe to @iHeartWomensSports on YouTube and check out the Good Game playlist 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 

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

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Utah Talons catcher Sharlize Palacios joins Sarah fresh off her team’s second-straight AUSL Championship win. They talk about the rivalry between the Talons and the Chicago Bandits, why Sharlize thinks catchers have to be a little bit crazy, how Sharlize found her confidence on the field, and the one thing she’d change about the league for next season. Plus, homeward bound, so much for a break, and come on Barbie, let’s go party!

• Check out Tina Charles’ new beer company 78 Brewing Co. here
• Read more about players’ WAFCON concerns here and here
• You can now WATCH Sarah’s interviews! Subscribe to @iHeartWomensSports on YouTube and check out the Good Game playlist 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 
• Follow producer Bianca Hillier! Bluesky: @biancahillier.bsky.social

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.