Good Game with Sarah Spain

VP of Sporting for the NWSL Sarah Gregorius makes a return visit to the show for the second installment of our new series, “Built By Women: The Story of Soccer in the U.S.” Sarah talks about the winding path of professional women’s soccer leagues in the U.S., how leagues outside the States are competing with the NWSL for top talent, and how the USWNT and the NWSL are dragging the rest of the world (sometimes kicking and screaming) into the future.

“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!

SHOW NOTES: 

• Listen to the first episode of “Built By Women: The Story of Soccer in the U.S.” here, or watch the interview on YouTube 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.

Big Citrus gets together to recap WNBA All-Star weekend, from our Team Coop vs. Team Spoon game takeaways to which party had the best cookies, from our live show highlights to Cathy’s Engelbert’s State of the League press conference. Such a fun weekend with lots of stories to share! Plus, the AUSL’s Utah Talons make it two straight, soccer giveth and soccer taketh away, and a record worthy of an on-field shower. 

• Watch Nikki Hiltz win the national title in the 1500m race here

• Watch New York Liberty players describe their love lives in basketball terms here

• And watch WNBA players reveal their secret expertise here

• Read The Athletic’s preview of the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations 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.

Longtime Notre Dame women’s hoops coach Muffet McGraw joined Sarah for Good Game’s live show at Level Sporting Club during WNBA All-Star weekend in Chicago. They talked about the Fighting Irish players on this year’s All-Star Game rosters, where Muffet sees the WNBA in five years, and what it was like to coach now-commissioner Cathy Engelbert in college. (Muffet dropped some truly epic lore regarding Cathy’s first day of tryouts that you’ll have to hear to believe!) Then, Big Citrus stepped on stage to share a little first, best and next. Plus, the district gets it done, a crown fit for a princess, and beach, please. 

• 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.

Good Game is celebrating our 500th episode! To mark the milestone, Sarah is joined by the winningest coach in WNBA history, Minnesota Lynx head coach Cheryl Reeve. They talk about the WNBA’s officiating woes, how the league can take more action against online hate, Olivia Miles’ stellar rookie season, and what Cheryl is most looking forward to in her sixth go-round as a WNBA All-Star coach this weekend. Plus, shooting stars in a city of ‘em, prepping for Coop vs. Spoon, and sharpening the talons. 

• Will you be in Chicago for WNBA All-Star Weekend? Come out to our live show TODAY! Location: Level Sporting Club: 3343 N Clark St, Chicago, IL 60657. Stop by from 12:30-3pm, with our live taping getting underway around 2pm

• 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.

Veteran sports reporter Holly Rowe joins Sarah to discuss her nearly 30 years covering the WNBA, why she thinks commissioner Cathy Engelbert deserves more credit, getting W conversations out of the comments and into real life, and how the parties and sponsor activations at All-Star Weekend show just how much the league has grown. Plus, the queen is back, it’s a win or go home game in the AUSL, and track and field stars hit the Big Apple.

• Will you be in Chicago for WNBA All-Star Weekend? Come out to our live show THIS FRIDAY! Location: Level Sporting Club: 3343 N Clark St, Chicago, IL 60657. Stop by from 12:30-3pm, with our live taping getting underway around 2pm.
• The AUSL playoff schedule is here
• Check out Jordy Skin here
• Read Hallie Grossman’s feature on Sophie Cunningham here
• The USATF National Championship broadcast schedule is 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.

Heidi Smith, author of the book “Play On: From Adversity to Advantage Through 140 Years of Women’s Soccer” joins Sarah for the first installment of a brand new Good Game series called “Built By Women: The Story of Soccer in the U.S.” Heidi and Sarah discuss the history of women’s soccer, the decades-long bans that kept women around the world out of the game, and how the growth and success of women’s soccer in the U.S. created global change. 

“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!

• Buy Heidi’s book 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.

Olympians and fiancées Hilary Knight and Brittany Bowe join Sarah in Las Vegas to talk about why their summer has been more glam than gardening, how they’re putting a positive spin on Hilary’s second PWHL team change in as many years, and whether Brittany’s first gig post-retirement might be teaching us all “the hockey.” Plus, New York’s next-door neighbor shines in the latest edition of “Yes, And.”

• Will you be in Chicago for WNBA All-Star Weekend? Come out to our live show THIS FRIDAY! Location: Levels Sporting Club: 3343 N Clark St, Chicago, IL 60657. Stop by from 12:30-3pm, with our live taping getting underway around 2pm.
• Read Ben Rothenberg’s reporting on the WTA’s new genetic sex testing policy 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.

Welcome to Season 3 of Good Game with Sarah Spain! Big Citrus convenes to celebrate the start of a new era and Sarah shares her favorite moments from Flavor Flav's SHE Weekend in Las Vegas, including hanging with the Backstreet Boys, Holly Rowe doing the Roger Rabbit, cruising down the strip atop a double decker bus, and so much more. Plus, it’s a good week to be a battie, the WNBA news cycle keeps churning, and an "untouchable" record goes down.

• See the sweet photo of AUSL sisters Sydney and Sierra Romero here

• Learn more about how we make Good Game here

• The WNBA schedule is here

• The AUSL schedule is here

• The NWSL schedule can be found 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.

Ahead of Flavor Flav’s SHEWeekend celebrating the women of Team USA, we’re revisiting our conversation with two-time Olympic hockey gold medalist Kelly Pannek. Sarah sat down with Kelly back in February at the Team USA Winter House in Milan to discuss the rollercoaster of emotions she felt throughout the USA-Canada gold medal game, from the pre-game vibes to the locker room speeches to the post-game celebration (including which team snuck them some post-game brews!). They also discuss how she felt representing Team USA during a fraught time in our country, the highs and lows of three weeks living in the athlete village, and where that "In Keller We Trust" flag came from. Plus, hear what’s on Sarah’s itinerary as she heads to Vegas to party with Flavor Flav and the country’s top athletes.

• 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.

At the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity 2026, Women's Sports had its own main stage. And Courtside was holding court, talking to mega star athletes and entrepreneurs like Allyson Felix and Sue Bird; massive brands like Catalyst, Athlos, and Sequel; and teams like Man City and the New York Liberty. Everyone came together to offer proof points of the Courtside thesis: that women's sports is a massive opportunity for any brand, the fandom is the bomb, and no one needs to be convinced that we matter anymore.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.