Kickin' Back by Kickin' Back

12.19.2021

2022 NWSL (College) Draft Reaction

Jeff Kassouf recaps and analyzes all 50 picks (and many trades) in the agonizingly long 2022 NWSL Draft, which saw San Diego Wave FC select Naomi Girma No. 1 overall. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

12.17.2021

NWSL Expansion Draft Reaction

Jeff Kassouf recaps and analyzes the NWSL Expansion Draft for Angel City FC and San Diego Wave FC, as well as the trades which surrounded the event. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

11.22.2021

Kickin' Back with Abby Dahlkemper

Abby Dahlkemper is the first player in San Diego Wave FC history. She joins Kickin' Back exclusively to talk about the move, and where she feels she is in her career and life. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

11.17.2021

Kickin' Back with Haley Carter

Executive board member of the Girls Academy and former Houston Dash goalkeeper Haley Carter discusses the sea change in the NWSL this year, the coaching pipeline, and more Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

11.11.2021

Kickin' Back with Carli Lloyd

Carli Lloyd discusses the finality of her retirement, how she views her career in retrospect, and what the USWNT needs to do to stay at the top. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

10.29.2021

Kickin' Back with Shireen Ahmed

Shireen Ahmed discusses her reporting on Canada women's national team players demanding accountability from their federation, as well as her wider reporting on abuse in sports. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

09.29.2021

Kickin' Back with Bethany Balcer

Bethany Balcer is the leading scorer is the NWSL right now. She was undrafted in 2019 out of the NAIA, but went on to win Rookie of the Year. She tells the story of her journey. Learn more about your ad...

09.22.2021

Kickin' Back with Kristen Edmonds

Kristen Edmonds was cut from pro rosters out of college. She was told she wasn't good enough to play in the NWSL. Now, she's wrapping up her eighth season in the league. Edmonds details her journey, which now takes her...

09.15.2021

Kickin' Back with Sophie Lawson

Women's soccer writer Sophie Lawson joins the pod to discuss the new the current landscape in Europe, plus getting involved in covering the sport. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

09.08.2021

Kickin' Back with Karina LeBlanc

Concacaf head of women's football Karina LeBlanc discusses the region's new competitions and long-term plans. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

09.03.2021

Kickin' Back: NWSL fan questions

Major NWSL news has been dropping daily. Jeff Kassouf takes fan questions to provide insight on his reporting. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

08.06.2021

Kickin' Back: Canada wins first gold medal

Canada won its first Olympic gold medal, forcing Sweden to settle for silver again. Jeff Kassouf provides perspective on each team's journey. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

08.05.2021

Kickin' Back: Rapinoe, Lloyd lift USWNT to bronze

The USWNT won the bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympics. Jeff Kassouf puts the third-place finish in perspective. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

08.02.2021

Kickin' Back: Canada tops USWNT in semifinals

Jeff Kassouf analyzes the USWNT's loss to Canada in the Olympic semifinals, and the U.S.' underwhelming tournament.a Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

07.30.2021

Kickin' Back: USWNT escapes Netherlands

The USWNT advanced to the Tokyo Olympics semifinals by ousting the Netherlands in a penalty shootout. The drama included some surprising lineup twists and Alyssa Naeher denying three spot kicks. Jeff Kassouf breaks it all down. Learn more about your ad choices....

07.27.2021

Kickin' Back: About that USWNT-Australia game

Jeff Kassouf analyzes the USWNT's scoreless draw with Australia and why it played out that way, and previews the Olympic quarterfinals. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

07.24.2021

Kickin' Back Special: The Olympic goalfest

Jeff Kassouf recaps a wild matchday 2 at the Olympics, including the USWNT getting back on track and goals galore across the board. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

07.21.2021

Kickin' Back Special: USWNT's Sweden debacle

Jeff Kassouf analyzes Matchday 1 results at the Olympics, including Sweden's 3-0 thrashing of the USWNT. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

07.15.2021

Kickin' Back with Sarah Spain

ESPN personality and Chicago Red Stars investor Sarah Spain discusses why she got involved in the NWSL, how she balances her different roles, and how the league is covered in the wider media ecosystem. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit...

06.30.2021

Kickin' Back with Lori Lindsey

Lori Lindsey discusses the USWNT's Olympic roster and tournament outlook, plus her broadcasting career. She also shares some NWSL predictions. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

06.23.2021

Kickin' Back with Meghann Burke

NWSL Players Association executive director Meghann Burke sheds light on collective bargaining negotiations with the NWSL, sharing players' positions on everything from free agency, to minimum salaries, scheduling issues and collaborating with the USWNTPA. And yes, she discusses the Olivia...

06.16.2021

Kickin' Back with Sandra Herrera

CBS Sports writer Sandra Herrera joins Kickin' Back to talk about her coverage of the NWSL, the latest happenings in the league, and why there needs to be more respect for Liga MX Femenil and the quality of players from...

06.09.2021

Kickin' Back with Alana Cook

Alana Cook helped PSG win its first French league title and end Lyon's 14-year run. Two days later, her permanent transfer to OL Reign was announced. Alana joins Kickin' Back from USWNT camp, where she is fighting for a spot...

06.02.2021

Kickin' Back with Matt Peek

The NWSL has its first full, official set of trading cards in 2021 thanks to Parkside Collectibles. Matt Peek is COO and co-founder of Parkside. He walks us through the process of creating the cards and working with the league,...

05.26.2021

Kickin' Back with Danielle Slaton

Danielle Slaton joins Kickin' Back to discuss her role as one of NBC's Tokyo Olympics soccer analysts, how here TV presence is shaped by her playing days, the USWNT roster, and her love for Santa Clara. Learn more about your ad...

05.19.2021

Kickin' Back with Suzy Wrack

Suzy Wrack, The Guardian's ace women's soccer writer, joins the pod to discuss being at the UEFA Women's Champions League final, her approach to covering the sport, and the state of the game in England. Learn more about your ad choices....

05.12.2021

Kickin' Back with Shannon Boxx

Three-time Olympic Gold Medalist and World Cup Champion Shannon Boxx has become a fierce advocate for Lupus awareness, having won multiple medals with the U.S. women's national team while navigating her diagnosis. She discusses her journey with Lupus, her passion...

05.05.2021

Kickin' Back with Steph Cox

Steph Cox initially retired with an Olympic gold medal and a decorated career. After a few years of coaching, she decided to get back on the field with the Reign and she remains an integral part of that team at...

04.28.2021

Kickin' Back with Midge Purce

You are going to want to listen to every second of what Midge Purce has to say, but in case you want a specific topic, here are some time stamps: 6:00 — Gotham FC as the NWSL villain 10:15 — Speaking at...

01.22.2021

Kickin' Back on Podcast Row at the 2021 United Soccer Coaches Convention

Dr. Colleen Hacker, David Copeland-Smith and Ashlee Fontes-Comber join Jeff Kassouf on Podcast Row at the 2021 United Soccer Coaches Convention. Dr. Hacker discusses her decades of experience as a mental skills coach and performance psychologist at the highest levels...

12.17.2020

Kickin' Back with Lisa Baird

With the chaos of 2020 behind her, NWSL commissioner Lisa Baird joins Kickin' Back to recap a successful but challenging year, and teases what’s ahead for the league, including expansion strategies, the relationship with U.S. Soccer, and a league rebrand...

12.11.2020

Kickin' Back with Esmeralda Negron

You can thank Esmeralda Negron for the ability to watch live European women's soccer on TV each weekend in the United States. She co-founded Atalanta Media with Hannah Brown, together founding a company which is redefining the value of women's...

12.04.2020

Kickin' Back with Meg Linehan

What's it like to be a full-time women's soccer reporter? Very few people can actually answer that. Meg Linehan is The Athletic's women's soccer reporter who breaks news and tells in-depth stories across the sport. She joins this episode of...

11.27.2020

Kickin' Back with Lauren Barnes

Lauren Barnes — better known by most as "Lu" — played professionally in three different countries in 2020 despite the global pandemic. She is a Reign franchise original since the inception of the NWSL in 2013, and one of the...

11.20.2020

Kickin' Back with Heather O'Reilly

You know Heather O'Reilly as the fierce competitor who won Olympic gold medals and a World Cup title with the United States women's national team. Now, Heather is a mom, a coach at UNC, a TV broadcaster and an entrepreneur....

11.13.2020

Kickin' Back with Vero Boquete

Vero Boquete is a pioneer in Spanish women's football. She outlines why she has no regrets over sacrificing her own international career to stand up for the next generation of players, and shares stories of being the only girl in...

10.30.2020

Kickin' Back with Kelly Simmons

Kelly Simmons is the director of the women's professional game for the FA. She joins Kickin' Back to discuss the professionalization of women's club soccer in England, the rapid growth and internationalization which followed, and the ongoing balancing act which...

10.20.2020

Kickin' Back with Vlatko Andonovski

Vlatko Andonovski went from an unknown to the head coach of the two-time defending World Cup champion United States women's national team in a matter of seven years. He joins Kickin' Back to share his coaching journey, including learning the...

10.15.2020

Kickin' Back with Kristie Mewis

Kristie Mewis is in the form of her life for the Houston Dash, which earned her a return to United States national team camp. Kristie shares her journey of falling out of favor with the U.S. -- her last cap...

10.12.2020

Kickin' Back with Jenn Hildreth

If you watch women's soccer on TV in the United States, you've heard Jenn Hildreth call a game. The longtime play-by-play voice of the National Women's Soccer League — among many other competitions — joins Kickin' Back to discuss how...

10.07.2020

Kickin' Back with Lesle Gallimore

Lesle Gallimore is the commissioner of the newly formed Girls Academy, and elite youth league which was formed after U.S. Soccer dissolved the Development Academy. Gallimore is a longtime coach and has a vision for a unified approach to youth...

08.21.2020

Kickin' Back with Jess Fishlock

This week, Jess Fishlock joins Kickin' Back to discuss her experience at the NWSL Challenge Cup, the uncertainty of the future, and the circumstances that led to her current loan with the WSL club Reading. Learn more about your ad choices....

07.31.2020

Kickin' Back with Aly Wagner

Aly Wagner joins the Kickin' Back podcast to discuss her career broadcasting soccer, the big stories and tactical trends we saw at the 2020 NWSL Challenge Cup, and the future evolution of women's soccer. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit...

07.22.2020

Kickin' Back with Julie Foudy and Mia Hamm

United States women's national team legends Julie Foudy and Mia Hamm join the Kickin' Back podcast to discuss why they are investing in the new National Women's Soccer League team in Los Angeles, which will begin play in 2022. Foudy...

07.14.2020

Kickin' Back with Shea Groom

Shea Groom joins the Kickin' Back podcast to discuss her arrival at the Houston Dash at a time when she needed a fresh start. Shea discusses why she plays with a chip on her shoulder and how that influences her...

07.07.2020

Kickin' Back with Sam Mewis and Lynn Williams

Unexpected house guests, a Peloton bike, and exceptional cooking: these are the quarantine stories of roommates Sam Mewis and Lynn Williams, who are teammates on the North Carolina Courage and U.S. women's national team. Williams and Mewis are also player...

07.03.2020

Kickin' Back with Saskia Webber

Former United States international goalkeeper and World Cup champion Saskia Webber joins Kickin' Back to talk about what the sport was like in the '90s, including her experiences as game-changer in 1999 and the mixed-emotions she had as an alternate...

06.25.2020

Kickin' Back with Nicole Hercules

Nicole Hercules is the chair of the United Soccer Coaches Black Coaches Advocacy Group, the first woman to hold the role. Nicole and I discuss the need for more Black coaches across all levels of soccer, the need for those...

06.13.2020

Kickin' Back with Jamia Fields

Houston Dash forward Jamia Fields joins the Kickin' Back pod to discuss racism and being a Black player in the National Women's Soccer League. Jamia and Dash teammates recently participated in a protest in downtown Houston, the hometown of George Floyd,...

06.12.2020

Kickin' Back with Yael Averbuch West

NWSL Players Association co-executive director Yael Averbuch West joins the podcast to discuss racial inequality in the world, and how NWSL players are using their platforms to speak out against racism. Yael and Jeff have a self-reflective conversation about their...

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