Conference play is here — and so are the highs, lows, injuries, rivalry games, and mental battles that come with it.

This week, Paige Thompson and Jaiden Rodriguez catch up after two very different weeks. Jaiden opens up about partially tearing her MCL, the frustration of being sidelined just as conference play begins, and the mental spiral of replaying an injury and wondering what she could have done differently. 

Meanwhile, Paige takes us inside Alabama's rivalry wins over Auburn and Arkansas, the intensity of SEC soccer, and what she's learning about managing her own mentality when games — and substitutions — don't go exactly as planned. 

The conversation gets real about frustration, confidence, rehab, bench energy, and one of the hardest lessons for any athlete: figuring out what you can control and letting go of what you can't. Then they lighten things up with college-life talk and a rapid-fire round of soccer Would You Rather.

Two players. Two very different weeks. And a reminder that sometimes the biggest part of the game is what happens inside your head.

Hosts: Paige Thompson & Jaiden Rodriguez

Conference play is here — and things are getting very real for Paige Thompson and Jaiden Rodriguez.

Paige and Jaiden recap a wild week that included a first loss, a 10-goal game, a red card, a lightning delay and USC's 2–2 battle with No. 1 Stanford. They talk about the shrinking margin for error as conference play begins, dealing with playing-time decisions and learning not to let a coach's choices change the way you see yourself as a player.

Then USC's Peyton Nakagawara joins the show with a comeback story that goes way beyond soccer.

Peyton arrived at USC after tearing her ACL during her senior year of high school. She worked her way back, played an entire spring season — and then tore her other ACL in the final minutes of the final spring game. Suddenly, another fall season was gone. Peyton opens up about the mental side of going through the same devastating injury twice, watching teammates play while she rehabbed and finding parts of herself outside of soccer along the way.

Now, more than two years later, Peyton is finally back on the field. In just her third game back, she started against Stanford — and scored.

She takes Paige and Jaiden inside that moment, what kept her going through two long rehabs and what she'd tell the young player who just tore her ACL and is wondering whether her soccer dream is over.

Her message? Take rehab one day at a time. Pour yourself into the work. Learn what the setback has to teach you. You can come back stronger.

Also in this episode: Paige finally finds the back of the net, Jaiden reflects on one of her best individual performances despite a tough team result, the girls set their goals for conference play, and they talk leadership, composure, confidence and what their teams need to improve next.

🎙️ The BIG LIFE is college soccer from the girls actually living it. Follow Paige + Jaiden as they take you inside the games, pressure, friendships, setbacks and everything else that comes with Division I soccer.

September is here, conference play is around the corner, and Paige Thompson and Jaiden Rodriguez are checking in on where they really are both individually and with their teams.

Paige and Jaiden talk rankings, results, the frustration of creating chances without scoring, what they wish they could replay from their latest games, and the specific parts of their own games they want to improve. Paige is focused on being more vocal and demanding the ball, while Jaiden has one very clear goal: find the back of the net.

Then Paige's Alabama assistant coach Alyssa Deloice joins the show. A former Mississippi State midfielder and captain, Alyssa shares her own path from Texas Tech into the transfer portal and ultimately Mississippi State — and why finding coaches who saw her as a person, not just a player, became so important to her.

They get into what young players don't always hear about the jump to Division I soccer: the speed of play, learning patience, balancing the physical demands, and understanding that freshmen don't have to constantly prove they belong. Alyssa also shares how playing through an ankle injury taught her the hard way that there's a difference between being sore and being hurt.

They also talk leadership, Alyssa's transition from player to coach, what coaches actually see when they review film, and how players can take more ownership of their development.

And for players going through recruiting, Alyssa has some particularly good advice: know your non-negotiables and talk to the players already inside the program. A coach is naturally going to tell you their culture is great. The players living it every day can tell you what it actually feels like.

In this episode:

🎙️ The BIG LIFE takes you inside Division I women's soccer with Alabama's Paige Thompson and USC's Jaiden Rodriguez — the games, travel, pressure, recruiting, friendships and everything that happens beyond the scoreboard.

Another week in the BIG LIFE means games, classes, sore legs and a whole lot happening at once.

Paige and Jaiden catch up on Alabama’s 4–0 start, USC’s battle with BYU, the return to class and what they’re both thinking about life after college soccer.

Then they welcome their first guest of Season 5, former Santa Clara and Cal player Alex Kloss, for an honest conversation about the transfer portal, playing time, confidence and knowing when it’s time to make a change.

Alex shares why she walked away from a school and teammates she loved, gave up a significant scholarship and took a chance on Cal after being told she likely wouldn’t have a major role the following season. It was a risk that ultimately led to more playing time, a full scholarship and a new path toward playing professionally.

They talk about trusting your gut, choosing the right college fit, rebuilding confidence, going pro and why there’s no single “right” path through soccer.

The BIG LIFE is college soccer from the players actually living it. Follow the podcast and come along for the season.

The soccer season is underway. Now add classes, homework, roommates, travel, playing time, exhaustion and an actual social life to the mix.

In Episode 3 of The BIG LIFE, Paige Thompson (Alabama) and Jaiden Rodriguez (USC) get honest about what happens when preseason ends and being a student-athlete suddenly means being a STUDENT again.

Paige recaps Alabama’s huge road wins over Saint Louis and Memphis — including snapping Memphis’ 41-game home winning streak with a goal in the final seconds — while Jaiden reflects on USC’s early-season games and the lessons that come from getting a serious wake-up call against a top team.

Then the conversation gets real.

Paige and Jaiden talk about balancing classes with training, the sacrifices that come with being a college athlete, dorm and roommate life, playing time, confidence, managing emotions after a tough game and why two teammates living under the same roof can be having completely different college soccer experiences.

They also check in on the college soccer rankings, make predictions for some of the biggest upcoming games and answer a few questions about what nobody tells you before you become a college athlete.

In this episode:

The BIG LIFE takes you inside college soccer through the players actually living it.

New episodes every week with Paige + Jaiden.

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The college soccer season is officially here — and Paige Thompson (Alabama) and Jaiden Rodriguez (USC) are taking us inside all of it.

In Episode 2 of The BIG LIFE, Paige and Jaiden recap their preseason matches, including Paige's battle wound against LSU, and look ahead to some huge early-season matchups.

Then they dive into the changing world of college soccer: preseason rankings, new NCAA eligibility rules, NIL, agents, and what it's actually like to build a personal brand while competing as a Division I athlete.

They also get candid about their own college recruiting journeys — why Paige ultimately chose Alabama, why Jaiden chose USC, what mattered most when making their decisions, and their advice for young players navigating an increasingly fast-moving recruiting process.

In this episode:

The BIG LIFE follows college soccer from the players' perspective — the games, pressure, friendships, recruiting, NIL and everything that happens beyond the pitch.

Follow Girls Soccer Network and join Paige and Jaiden every week as they take us inside The BIG LIFE.

#TheBIGLIFE #CollegeSoccer #NCAASoccer #NIL #CollegeRecruiting #GirlsSoccer

The BIG LIFE is back with new hosts Paige Thompson (Alabama) and Jaiden Rodriguez (USC) and they're kicking off the season by pulling back the curtain on what life is really like as Division I soccer players.

From grueling preseason fitness tests and exhibition matches to the mental challenges of earning playing time, Paige and Jaiden have an honest conversation about the highs, lows, and lessons they learned during their freshman seasons. They also share the goals they're setting for the year ahead—on and off the field.

In this episode:

This episode is proudly sponsored by SogilityGO—the smart rebounder helping players get more quality touches, improve their first touch, and train with purpose outside of team practice. Use the promo code GSN10 for 10% off your purchase. 

Whether you're preparing for college soccer, currently playing, or dreaming of competing at the next level, this episode offers an honest look at what it takes to keep growing.

Subscribe for new episodes every week featuring the voices of college players living The BIG LIFE.

But this episode isn’t just about the X’s and O’s — it’s also a family affair. Leah and Kate bring on their parents (yes, the parents) for a behind-the-scenes look at what it’s like raising a D1 athlete. From carpool chaos to college commitments, they open up about the highs, the heartbreaks, and the hustle behind the dream.

Expect stories, laughter, maybe a few tears, and a whole lot of gratitude. It’s a celebration of the people behind the players — and a reminder that no one gets here alone.

Leah and Kate recap a dramatic ACC tournament week — beating Duke, an overtime final with Stanford decided on penalties, and the build-up to the NCAA tournament. They discuss other conference shootouts, recovery, and tournament strategy.

They then welcome Iowa Hawkeye Kenzie Roling to talk about her journey, overcoming injuries, leadership as a grad student, balancing academics and soccer, and her goals for the postseason. The episode emphasizes resilience, identity beyond sport, and team culture.

This week on The BIG LIFE, Leah and Kate open up about their first loss of the season — a tough one against Pitt — and how they’re turning that sting into fuel for the ACC tournament. With so much on the line, they reflect on what it means to bounce back, refocus, and play with purpose.

They look ahead to a huge semifinal matchup vs. Duke and share what it’s like prepping for big-time games on neutral turf. From mindset shifts to tournament pressure, Leah and Kate keep it real about staying present and trusting the work.

They also revisit favorite moments from the season so far — big wins, locker room laughs, and everything in between. It’s a reminder that team culture runs deeper than any scoreboard.