Welcome back, girly pops! This week’s episode is a full Thanksgiving-week plate of women’s sports, messy league politics, big basketball takes, and a sprinkle of reality-TV philosophy. Settle in y'all for your post-Thanksgiving chatter.

We're talking:

• Gotham FC’s improbable championship run, the Rodman contract saga, and the NWSL’s ongoing salary-cap problem.
• The new AP Top 25, UConn’s early test, Michigan’s growth, Duke’s unraveling, and which college programs are quietly becoming a problem.
• Draft Lottery reactions and who should go #1
• The latest CBA leak that had players and fans collectively side-eyeing the league.
• Team USA’s December training-camp roster, surprising invites, who opted out, and the real reason this camp doubles as off-season recruiting.
• The Phoenix Mercury’s rebrand
• NCAA soccer heartbreak + triumph
• F1 Academy!

Nik closes us out with a holiday hot take: reality TV might actually improve your relationship. And we chat Newsweek's Top 5 Thanksgiving side dishes.

Listen in for sports, vibes, laughter, and the perfect holiday break escape.

Welcome back to Sideline Yappin! J and Nik are back with college basketball updates, Project B drama, and an extended rant about airports that got VERY specific.

In This Episode:

• College Basketball Week 2: USC jumps 10 spots, Joyce Edwards dominates for South Carolina
• Audi Crooks GOES OFF: 43 points in 20 minutes, program record, Nik's watch list player is COOKING
• Unrivaled Schedule Drops: First games January 6th - Rose vs Lunar Owls, Mist vs Hive.
• Project B Update: Alyssa Thomas signs despite LGBTQ+ concerns about Saudi funding.
• Liberty Coaching Search: Down to 3 candidates including Kristi Tolliver, Will Weaver, Joseph Blair
• NWSL Playoffs: Kansas City Current LOSES to Gotham FC semifinals this weekend.

In Case You Missed It: Grace College sets ALL-TIME women's college basketball scoring record with 172 points (won 172-91), plus surfer Carissa Moore comes out of retirement

Pop Culture/Travel Discourse: Extended discussion about being a travel player (pros: freedom, cons: MONEY), followed by passionate airport rankings. Best: Minneapolis-St. Paul. Worst: O'Hare, Atlanta, LAX. TSA PreCheck propaganda included.

Welcome back to Sideline Yappin! After a lost episode (thanks, Riverside), J and Nik are finally back to break down opening week of college basketball and some GAME-CHANGING news in women's pro sports.

In This Episode:

• College Basketball Opening Week: UConn destroys Louisville, Sarah Strong looks like Player of the Year, LSU's new roster with Fulwiley is WORKING Nik reveals who she's tracking this season.
• Coaching Carousel Complete: Sandy Brondello signs 7-figure deal with Toronto Tempo, first all-women leadership duo in WNBA
• PROJECT B BOMBSHELL: New overseas league offering $2M salaries with NO exclusivity - Nneka Ogwumike is first to sign and she's the WNBPA president
• Unrivaled Rosters Drop: J and Nik pick their teams live and discuss the "crash out" potential
• College Athletes Getting PAID
• NWSL Updates: Playoffs start TODAY, Kansas City Current heavily favored, new star-studded advisory board includes Sue Bird and Magic Johnson
• Pop Culture DRAMA: Nik has DETAILED NOTES on why she doesn't like Kehlani's "Out The Window" (timestamp receipts included) while J played it on repeat 6 times. Plus: songs you're supposed to like but don't (RIP Happy by Pharrell)
• New Segment Alert: In Case You Missed It - shoutout to US Women's Handball team winning silver in Morocco!

Follow us @sidelineyappin on all platforms. Send hot takes to Nik. Rate us 5 stars unless you agree with Nik about the Kehlani song.

Welcome back to Sideline Yappin! J is celebrating an Aces championship sweep while Nik takes us on the wildest pop culture tangent in podcast history.

In This Episode:

• WNBA Finals Recap: Las Vegas Aces sweep Phoenix Mercury 4-0 for their third title in four years - A'ja Wilson is THAT girl
• Satou's Injury Concerns: J rants about improper medical protocol during a scary head/neck injury
• CBA Negotiations Update: Latest offer includes $850K super max (not the $1M players want) and drama brewing with October 31st deadline
• Cathy Engelbert's Future: Will she survive the negotiations? J and Nik debate potential replacements
• Portland Fire Coaching News: LinkedIn accidentally announces new coach then deletes it

Tennis & Soccer:Coco Gauff wins Wuhan Open, Kristen Press announces retirement after legendary career

Pop Culture Deep Dive:Nik becomes obsessed with Mount Everest after 1,000 climbers get stuck, explains the Death Zone, Green Boots, frozen bodies used as landmarks, and why spending $250K to maybe die is "Mount Optional Everest"

Key Takeaway: If 2-5% of participants die doing an activity, maybe just... don't? Stay at sea level where oxygen exists.

Follow us @sidelineyappin on Instagram, TikTok, and Threads. Rate us 5 stars if you survived Nik's mountain tangent. Send hot takes to our main account!

Welcome back to Sideline Yappin! Nik and J are stressed, the playoffs are chaos, and someone suggested we might already be in hell.

In This Episode:

• WNBA Playoff Stress: Aces vs Fever Game 5 has J's heart rate through the roof (she'll be tracking it on her Whoop for science)
• Phee's Exit Interview BOMB: Napheesa Collier calls out Cathy Engelbert with receipts about league leadership, player pay, and "being on their knees in gratitude"
• Mercury Upset the Lynx: Kahleah Copper whispers sweet trash talk while Minnesota's championship hopes end
• Cheryl Reeve's Court Charge: Was it justified? J breaks down why the reaction wasn't about the foul call
• JuJu Watkins Out: Sitting the entire 2025-26 season after ACL tear - devastating but expected

WNFC Corner:First-ever combine happened in Miami and Nik has thoughts about who got highlighted versus who needed exposure

Pop Culture Highlights:Cardi B's album is THAT good (no skips), Tiffany "New York" Pollard comes out as queer (?) and Nik's hot take about "Find My Enemies" app sparks debate

Follow us on Instagram and TikTok @sidelineyappin (no G!). Send your hot takes to Nik. Rate us 5 stars if you survived this chaotic episode!

Emergency podcast alert! J and Nik had to jump on the mics immediately after the WNBA's coaching carousel went completely off the rails.

What happened: Sandy Brondello - winningest coach in Liberty history AND Noelle Quinn - playoff Seattle Storm coach - gets FIRED. Meanwhile, "Temu Jesus" in Dallas (10-34 record) and Tyler Marsh in Chicago (also 10-34) keep their jobs. The W is losing qualified women coaches while mediocre men get to stay. It's not adding up and we're not here for it.

Quick vent session - sometimes you just gotta yell into the void

Welcome back to Sideline Yappin! Nik and J are processing playoff stress, award season drama, and some truly questionable relationship advice.

In This Episode:

• WNBA Playoffs Update: Vegas survives a heart attack-inducing Game 3 against Seattle, plus J's mixed feelings about Indiana beating Atlanta
• Co-Defensive Player Drama: First-ever tie between A'ja Wilson and Napheesa Collier has fans pressed - J breaks down why it's not the disaster everyone thinks
• Award Season Predictions: MVP announcement coming Sunday and J is tracking Cathy Engelbert's jet to find out who wins
• Track & Field Excellence: Melissa Jefferson-Wooden dominates the World Championships while Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone continues being superhuman

Pop Culture Chaos:Saweetie introduces the concept of "pretty punishment" and why that's not landing with anyone, plus Nik brings the wildest relationship hot take about breaking up before marriage (spoiler: J is NOT here for it)

Bonus Content: Biggie's breakfast preferences decoded, NWSL combines replacing drafts, and why you should never test your relationship by breaking up "just to see"

Follow us on Instagram, TikTok, and Threads @sidelineyappin. Send your wildest hot takes to Nik so J can drag them appropriately. Rate us 5 stars if you survived this emotional rollercoaster!

Welcome back to Sideline Yappin! Nik and J are back with upgraded audio and HOT takes on everything from playoff races to courtroom comedy.

In This Episode:

• WNBA MVP Race Showdown: J breaks down why A'ja Wilson deserves MVP over Napheesa Collier (and why it's not even close)
• WNFC League Realignment: New divisions that make zero geographical sense - who approved Kansas City as "Northwest"?
• Playoff Picture Madness: 9 teams fighting for 8 spots with one week left - chaos is coming
• NWSL Moves: Chicago Stars getting a gorgeous lakeside stadium while Alyssa Thompson heads overseas for big money
• US OPEN!!:Taylor Townsend serves up justice against racist comments from Jelena Ostapenko, plus Naomi Osaka's redemption run at the US Open has us emotional
• Pop Culture Corner:Cardi B's courtroom comedy gold ("Did you call her fat?" "No, I called her a bitch"), plus Nik breaks down Azzi Fudd's entire Minnesota State Fair food tour (Big Fat Bacon supremacy confirmed)

Follow us on Instagram, TikTok, and Threads @sidelineyappin for more takes that'll have you pressed. Rate us 5 stars if you survived J's MVP rant!

J and Nik are back with upgraded audio equipment and hot takes on everything happening in women's sports right now.

In This Episode:

• WNBA Playoff Race Heats Up: Only 8 teams make it - who's in and who's going home? Plus J's passionate defense of A'ja Wilson for MVP
• Connecticut Sun Sale Saga: Multiple bidders, potential relocations, and why the WNBA buying their own team is sketchy AF
• Paige Bueckers Goes OFF: 44 points in LA and still loses - welcome to the big leagues, rook
• Rants about sports lies: "We beat ourselves" and other excuses that need to die immediately
• Flag Football Reality Check: USA loses to Mexico in heartbreaking fashion - J and Nik break down what went wrong
• Mascot Money Drama: Violet the Raven debuts making more per hour than some WNBA stars (we have thoughts)

Pop Culture Corner:Serena Williams makes a surprising announcement about her weight loss journey, plus the girls debate East Coast vs West Coast mascot rivalries.

Listener Question: J reveals her top 3 most underrated WNBA players, and Nik continues her quest for perfect sheets and Minnesota State Fair apples.

Follow us on Instagram, TikTok, and Threads @sidelineyappin for more takes that'll have you thinking. Rate us 5 stars if you survived J's rants!

Welcome back to Sideline Yappin! This week, J and Nik are serving up pure chaos as they dive into WNBA trade deadline drama and discover the wildest reality TV show to ever grace British television.

In This Episode:

• WNBA Trade Deadline Tea: The Minnesota Lynx are officially robbing everyone blind with the Dijonai Carrington trade, plus Brittany Sykes heads to Seattle
• Dildo Drama: Yes, we're talking about THAT court incident again (please stop throwing things at players!)
• Stud Buds Controversy: The Dave Portnoy interview that never happened and why fans are pressed
• Trinity Rodman's Triumphant Return: Tears of joy as she scores the game-winner for Washington Spirit
• Naomi Osaka's Comeback: Tennis feels and qualifying for the US Open

Pop Culture Breakdown:Nik discovers "Open House: The Great Sex Experiment" on UK television and... well, let's just say European TV hits different. Fair warning: this segment gets VERY detailed about reality TV shenanigans involving triangles (and we don't mean the basketball kind).

Plus: J threatens to sign Nik up for a Chicago co-ed basketball league whether she likes it or not!

Follow us on Instagram, TikTok, and Threads @sidelineyappin for more sports takes and questionable life choices. Rate us 5 stars if you made it through Nik's TV recap without blushing!