On Her Mark

The 2024 WNBA playoffs tipped off Sunday. The Connecticut Sun (No. 3) defeated the Indiana Fever (No.6) on their home court in Uncasville, CT. Regular season play-by-play announcer Brendan Glasheen joins host Hannah Donnelly to break down game 1 takeaways and game 2 keys.

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Follow along with Hannah on social: @_hannah.donnelly

To watch the episodes: NBC Sports Boston YouTube

Follow along with Hannah on social: @_hannah.donnelly

To watch the episodes: NBC Sports Boston YouTube

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Samantha Peszek wears many hats: she's an Olympic medalist (2008), entrepreneur, gymnastics analyst and broadcaster & founder of Beam Queen Bootcamp. After becoming the youngest member of the USA National Team at 12 she went on to win team silver in Beijing and then compete at UCLA on a full ride. It was there she developed her passion for broadcasting grew. Now, she combines both passions, gymnastics and storytelling, as an analyst and broadcaster for the sport. Today we dive in to:

• Paris Olympic experience -- first time broadcasting during NBC Prime Time
• Evolution in the sport & desire to stay connected to it in retirement
• Importance of mental training to find confidence and success
• Idea for Beam Queen Bootcamp & it's growth
• Sam's hobbies & favorite workouts

Follow along with Sam on social: @samanthapeszek

Learn more about Beam Queen Bootcamp: @beamqueenbootcamp

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Follow along with Hannah on social: @_hannah.donnelly

To watch the episodes: NBC Sports Boston YouTube

Follow along with Hannah on social: @_hannah.donnelly

To watch the episodes: NBC Sports Boston YouTube

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Professional golfer Alexa Pano is living her dream in her second season on LPGA Tour. The 20-year-old has been working on this since she was a kid, which many of us watched on Netflix's documentary "The Short List." Splitting her time between Florida and Massachusetts, she was happy to recently play at the FM Global Championship at TPC Boston. Today we dive in to:

• One-of-a-kind sponsorship with New England Patriots
• Growing up in the sport -- what drew her to it, where she practiced, etc
• Relationship with her dad (aka her caddie!)
• 1st LPGA win at the 2023 ISPS Handa World Invitational
• Favorite travel destinations & courses
• Dream golf foursome

Follow along with Alexa on social: @alexampano

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Follow along with Hannah on social: @_hannah.donnelly

To watch the episodes: NBC Sports Boston YouTube

Follow along with Hannah on social: @_hannah.donnelly

To watch the episodes: NBC Sports Boston YouTube

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Molly Carlson is one of the best cliff divers in the world! She's seen some of the most iconic spots from 20 meters above the water and wowed crowds with her diving skills on the Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series. She is also the proud founder of Brave Gang, a community of over 4 million people who support one another in a self-love journey. Today we dive in to:

• How she found cliff diving after a successful career in traditional diving
• The moment that changed her life for the better
• How a healthy mindset lead to purpose and success
• Brave Gang - how the community has supported Molly
• Hobbies outside of the sport

*CW: Discussion of mental health & disordered eating.

Follow along with Molly on social: @mollycarlson1

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Follow along with Hannah on social: @_hannah.donnelly

To watch the episodes: NBC Sports Boston YouTube

Follow along with Hannah on social: @_hannah.donnelly

To watch the episodes: NBC Sports Boston YouTube

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It was a summer of a lifetime for World Champion and Olympic Gold Medalist Madison Chock! First a wedding, then honeymoon, then a last-minute trip to Paris to receive her gold medal from the 2022 Beijing Games! Madison and some of Team USA were recently in Norwood, MA for their "Champs Camp" to prepare for the upcoming season. We dive in to:

• Hawaii wedding and honeymoon with partner (on and off the ice!) Evan Bates
• 2024 Paris Olympics -- receiving gold medal & experience at a Summer Games
• How she found skating as a kid
• Passion for design, fashion & art
• Travel bucket list

Follow along with Madison on: @chockolate02

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Follow along with Hannah on social: @_hannah.donnelly

To watch the episodes: NBC Sports Boston YouTube

Follow along with Hannah on social: @_hannah.donnelly

To watch the episodes: NBC Sports Boston YouTube

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2-time Olympian Kristi Kirshe is living her dream after winning a bronze medal with the US Women's Rugby Sevens team in Paris! The Franklin, Mass native has dreamt of being an Olympian since she was a kid, and while it may not look exactly as she thought (on the rugby pitch), it may be even better! Today we dive in to:

• The feeling of coming home to her Franklin High School field and community with as an Olympic Bronze Medalist
• Inner dialogue during the final seconds of the bronze medal match against Australia when Alex Sedrick (aka Spiff) scored to win the game
• Rugby culture -- camaraderie and competition
• Rise of the sport as a result of the team's performance and personalities
• The 1% of work and play the world sees vs. 99% we don't
• Love for movies & dream "meets"

Watch how Krisit first found rugby at 23 in Boston here.

Follow along with Kristi on social: @klkirshe

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Follow along with Hannah on social: @_hannah.donnelly

To watch the episodes: NBC Sports Boston YouTube

Follow along with Hannah on social: @_hannah.donnelly

To watch the episodes: NBC Sports Boston YouTube

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

It's a WNBA first: SOLD OUT game at Boston's TD Garden! The Connecticut Sun are hosting the LA Sparks for the pioneering moment. To celebrate the occasion we had to have CT Sun star Veronica Burton back on the podcast (you can listen to her first episode here!) Veronica grew up in the Boston area, had an incredible career on Northwestern University, was drafted to the Dallas Wings in 2022 where she played for a few years. Just before the 2024 season tip-off she was waved from the team. She stayed locked in and was ready when Connecticut called in June; she made an immediate impact and continues to do so. Today we dive in to:

• What it was like to get the call from the CT Sun to continue her WNBA dream closer to home
• Team chemistry and commitment to chasing the championship
• Physical and mental work that went in to staying ready between Dallas and CT
• Significance of FIRST-EVER women's professional basketball game at TD Garden (SOLD OUT, btw!)
• Role family has played in her life and career, especially sister Kayla

Follow along with Veronica on social: @veronicaab22

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Follow along with Hannah on social: @_hannah.donnelly

To watch the episodes: NBC Sports Boston YouTube

Follow along with Hannah on social: @_hannah.donnelly

To watch the episodes: NBC Sports Boston YouTube

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

It's the swing between fun and frustration on the tennis court that has Dana Mathewson hooked. Right now she is the country's top-ranked female in wheelchair tennis and is preparing for her third Paralympic appearance in Paris. She's been a pioneer in the sport for several years, cementing that legacy when she became the first American woman to earn a Grand Slam wheelchair title in 2022 at Wimbledon. Today we dive into:

• Significance of 3rd opportunity to represent Team USA at the Paralympic Games and her approach
• Value of routines and calmness in tennis
• How she found wheelchair tennis & hopes to shed adaptive sports of any stigma
• How her competitive nature and stubbornness have helped her pave a path she is proud to live
• Why growing the game is so important for disabled athletes of all ages
• Dana's non-negotiable on match day

Follow along with Dana on social: @dana.mathewson

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Follow along with Hannah on social: @_hannah.donnelly

To watch the episodes: NBC Sports Boston YouTube

Follow along with Hannah on social: @_hannah.donnelly

To watch the episodes: NBC Sports Boston YouTube

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Paralympian Femita Ayanbeku set the American record for the 100m just months after getting her first running blade (and still holds the record!) Now, eight years later, Femita is again defying the odds and competing at the Paralympic Trials 6 months after giving birth to her daughter. Today we dive into to:

• Her running story
• Training as a new mom with an infant
• The no-nonsense mindset that helps her show up on tough days
• Hopes for Trials and beyond
• Family's influence and importance in her life on and off the track

Follow along with Femita on social: @femitaayanbeku

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Follow along with Hannah on social: @_hannah.donnelly

To watch the episodes: NBC Sports Boston YouTube

Follow along with Hannah on social: @_hannah.donnelly

To watch the episodes: NBC Sports Boston YouTube

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Olympian Laurie Hernandez has traded her leotard and the mat for a NBC mic on the Olympic stage. She has two Olympic medals to her name after competing in the 2016 Rio Games. Since then, Laurie has dipped her toes into the media and entertainment world and hasn't looked back! She's a NBC Sports Analyst covering the sport she loves so much. Today we dive in to:

• Stepping into a broadcast analyst role after getting injured in 2020 and for Paris 2024
• Experience of "instant celebrity" after global victory & support of sisterhood/teammates
• Positive improvements to the gymnastics culture
• Passion for performing and acting & her NYU experience
• Dream acting gig(s!)

Follow along with Laurie on social: @lauriehernandez

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Follow along with Hannah on social: @_hannah.donnelly

To watch the episodes: NBC Sports Boston YouTube

Follow along with Hannah on social: @_hannah.donnelly

To watch the episodes: NBC Sports Boston YouTube

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.