Play Like a They

This week, Monica and Sara are joined by investor, consultant, and women's sports advocate Missy Capone for a conversation that goes far beyond the scoreboard. From growing up with "athlete" as their strongest identity to navigating queerness, corporate life, and finding community through sport, Missy shares a journey that's equal parts hilarious, heartfelt, and deeply relatable.

Along the way, they talk about what it means to keep reinventing yourself, why sports have a way of bringing the right people into your life, and how following the things that scare (and excite) you can lead to opportunities you never imagined. 

They also get into:

🏊 Missy's journey from swimmer and runner to lifelong athlete

🌈 Discovering their queerness and finding community through sports

👟 Building a 17-year career at Nike and transitioning into entrepreneurship

🍻 Investing in The Sports Bra and helping launch the International Women's Sports Film Festival

💬 Why representation, mentorship, and authentic community matter in sports

✨ Embracing new opportunities—even when they're a little scary

View the transcript here.

This week, the Monday Night Squad is back for their first WNBA season check-in. Monica and Sara are joined by T and Kaycie to break down the biggest surprises of the season so far, from breakout rookies and expansion team success stories to the teams already looking like serious contenders. 

The conversation also explores how much the league continues to evolve. With more teams, more opportunities for players to shine, and a growing level of competition across the board, this season is already showing why the WNBA keeps getting more exciting to follow.

They also get into:

🏀 The Minnesota Lynx's hot start and Olivia Miles' impressive rookie season
🔥 Early impressions of the Portland Fire and Toronto Tempo
⭐ Paige Bueckers, rookie expectations, and player development
👀 The teams and players surprising them most so far
💪 Why expansion is creating new opportunities across the league
🏆 Early predictions for where the season might be headed

View the transcript here.

This week, Monica and Sara are giving softball the spotlight it deserves. From a thrilling Women's College World Series to record viewership numbers and a growing professional league, they break down why this is such an exciting moment for the sport and the athletes driving it forward.

As women's sports continue to gain momentum, softball is building something special of its own. More fans are tuning in, more athletes are able to continue their careers after college, and the sport is reaching new audiences without losing the community and connection that make it so fun to follow.

This episode they’re covering:

🥎 Texas vs. Texas Tech in the Women’s College World Series

⭐ Standout players including NiJaree Canady, Megan Grant, and Tegan Kavan

📈 Record viewership and the growing popularity of softball

💰 NIL, player compensation, and how the college game is changing

🔥 The expansion of the AUSL and new pro softball teams

🌲 The debut of Portland’s new AUSL team, the Cascade

You can find all the information on where and how to watch the AUSL here.

View the transcript here.

This week’s episode is a special one! Monica and Sara sit down with Skelly Payne, Manager of Partnerships at Unrivaled to talk all things sports, community, and the rapid growth of women’s athletics. From working in a startup league to navigating identity in sports spaces, this conversation goes way beyond the game itself.

They dive into what makes women’s sports feel different right now — the connection, the energy, and the responsibility that comes with building something new. It’s a mix of personal stories, industry insight, and a bigger-picture look at where sports are headed.

They also get into:

 🏀 What it’s like working behind the scenes at Unrivaled
 🤝 How sports create connection, community, and lifelong relationships
 🌈 Identity in sports, including Skelly’s experience as a trans athlete and professional
 🔥 Why women’s sports fandom feels different (and stronger) right now
 📈 The growth of leagues like the WNBA, NWSL, and emerging formats
 🏈 Why flag football might be the next big women’s sport
 💬 The importance of access, inclusion, and keeping sports fun

View the transcript and fact check notes here.

This week’s episode is a full WNBA chaos check-in, and there’s a lot to unpack. Monica and Sara are joined by the Monday Night squad crew, T and Kaycie, to break down everything from the Final Four to the draft, expansion teams, and what’s shaping up to be a wild 2026 season.

They talk through how much has changed in such a short window — from record-setting contracts to major roster moves — and what it all means heading into the new season.

They also get into:

 🏀 Final Four takeaways and UCLA’s championship run
 📈 The new CBA and rising player salaries
 🔥 Expansion teams and major roster shakeups
 ⭐ Draft highlights and rookie storylines
 🧠 Coaching, chemistry, and what actually wins

Don't miss this one. WNBA basketball is almost here 😈

Transcript.

The 2026 NWSL season is officially underway, and opening weekend delivered plenty to talk about. Monica and Sara break down the biggest moments from week one — from star players returning to the pitch to record-setting crowds showing up for women’s soccer.

They also dive into the momentum building across the league, including new expansion teams, major contract headlines, and why the atmosphere around women’s sports just keeps getting better.

They’re talking about: 

⚽ Trinity Rodman’s return and record-setting contract

👶 Sophia Wilson back on the pitch six months postpartum

🔥 Portland Thorns vs. Seattle Reign rivalry matchup

📈 Record-breaking opening weekend attendance

🏟️ Boston Legacy’s debut and massive home opener crowd

View the transcript here.

The bracket is set, the tournament is about to begin, and Monica and Sara are diving into this year’s Women’s March Madness.

In this episode, they talk about why the women’s tournament keeps getting bigger every year, what makes March Madness such a unique playoff environment, and why this stage can completely change the trajectory of teams and players. With powerhouse programs returning to the top of the bracket and plenty of potential for upsets, it’s shaping up to be another exciting tournament.

They also get into:

 🏀 The top seeds
 🔥 Key players to watch
 📈 Why women’s March Madness continues to grow in viewership, attendance, and cultural impact
 🎭 The magic of the tournament: underdogs, upsets, and playoff energy
 🏆 Monica and Sara’s early tournament picks

View the transcript here.

We’re coming to you live (and slightly sleep-deprived) from Miami.

This bonus episode is our full Unrivaled vlog — two nights, all eight teams, and the kind of energy you can’t really capture unless you’re in the building. From the Sephora Arena activations to sold-out crowds, halftime chaos, and last-second free throws, we’re taking you behind the scenes of what felt like a landmark moment for women’s basketball.

We walk you through the Unrivaled Village, the fan activations, the merch (yes, jerseys were flying), and what it’s like to watch elite players compete in this 3-on-3 format up close.

We get into:

• 🏀 The 3-on-3 format and how different it feels live
• 🔥 The standout performances (KP going off, Stewie closing, Lexie being a menace)
• 👯‍♀️ Seeing the Stud Buds matchup in person
• 🎟️ Why Unrivaled feels like a turning point for the WNBA offseason

More than anything, this weekend felt like proof. When women’s sports are invested in, fans travel. They show up. They buy jerseys. They stay for every game.

This is what building something new looks like.

🎥 Hit play for the full Miami recap.

View the transcript.

This week’s episode dives into Heated Rivalry — the hockey romance that’s been everywhere lately — and uses it as a jumping-off point for a bigger conversation about queer representation, sports storytelling, and why certain narratives break through the way they do.

Monica and Sara talk through what worked, what felt intentional, and why the emotional tone of the story resonated with so many people. From there, they zoom out to look at the cultural response, the gaps in who gets visibility, and why it’s possible to enjoy something while still having complicated feelings about it.

They also get into:

• 🏒 Why Heated Rivalry landed so hard with mainstream audiences
  
  
• 💔 The Kip and Scott storyline and what it says about visibility and risk in sports
  
  
• 📺 How tenderness and emotional care shaped the show’s appeal
  
  
• ⚖️ The uneven support for queer sports stories — especially those led by women
  
  
• 🎥 Other queer sports projects they’re watching closely
  
  

It’s a thoughtful, honest conversation about fandom, representation, and the stories we rally behind. Plus a reminder that loving a show doesn’t mean we stop asking questions about the bigger picture.

View the transcript here.

In the final episode of Play Like A They for 2025, Monica and Sara look back on a massive year in women’s sports — the moments that made them laugh, scream, book flights, and believe even harder in where these leagues are headed.

They reflect on the year's throughline: new leagues launching, expansion teams finding their footing, record-breaking crowds, and players shaping culture both on and off the field. Across sports, the message was the same: when women’s sports are invested in, fans show up.

They also get into:
🏀 A’ja Wilson’s historic WNBA season and continued dominance
🏒 The PWHL’s expansion into Seattle and Vancouver and record-breaking attendance
⚽ Gotham FC’s underdog NWSL championship run
🥎 Expansion and viewership growth across AUSL and women’s pro softball
⚾ The launch of the Women’s Professional Baseball League draft
🎿 Lindsey Vonn’s comeback and Olympic qualification

It’s a celebratory, wide-angle look at a year that proved women’s sports aren’t “up and coming” anymore. They’re here, they’re thriving, and 2026 is already shaping up to be even bigger.

Fact Check Notes

Unrivaled One-on-One Tournament Prize
Unrivaled hosted a one-on-one tournament during its inaugural season with a reported top prize of $500,000, making it one of the largest single payouts in a women’s basketball competition.

Golden State Valkyries Inaugural Season
The Golden State Valkyries became the first WNBA expansion team to make the playoffs in its inaugural season and sold out all regular-season home games.

Bay FC at Oracle Park Attendance
Bay FC hosted a regular-season match at Oracle Park that drew over 40,000 fans, one of the largest single-game crowds in NWSL history.

Sophia Smith Wilson Contract
Sophia Smith Wilson signed a contract with a reported $1 million player option, the highest publicly known contract value in NWSL history at the time.

PWHL Seattle Home Opener Attendance
Seattle’s PWHL home opener drew over 16,000 fans, setting a U.S. attendance record for the league.

USA vs. Canada Rivalry Series Sweep
The U.S. women’s national hockey team recorded its first-ever sweep of Canada in the current rivalry series format.

Transcript: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1aLWzMHhK0Wanlr328dmGmYWQVgucnD_DKmioIJk0gfQ/edit?usp=sharing