Welcome to the Party

By Treat MediaSports

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Typical duration
63 min
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Based on Podcast App listening data

Welcome to the Party episodes

September 01The Woman Behind Picking Women's Team USA Roster
Five-time Olympic gold medalist, Basketball Hall of Famer, and Team USA’s first-ever Women’s National Team Managing Director Sue Bird joins the party!
Before Sue stops by, Abby and Julie go back to the loss that helped build one of the most dominant dynasties in sports history and how Team USA women’s basketball turned back-to-back bronze medals into a culture that hasn’t lost an Olympic game since 1992.
Then Sue takes us inside her newest role shaping the future of USA Basketball, from making the brutally difficult calls behind a stacked World Cup roster to carrying forward the standard set by legends like Dawn Staley, Lisa Leslie, and Sheryl Swoopes. She talks about why winning remains the North Star, handling the pressure that comes with Team USA, and what today’s players need to understand about putting the team above individual stats.
Plus, Sue opens up about life on the other side of retirement, becoming a broadcaster, navigating social media noise, and why the next phase of growth in women’s sports needs more than investment, it needs strategy.
And with the 2026 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup tipping off September 4, the Party People are officially ready to cheer Team USA all the way to Berlin. 🇺🇸🏀

Follow @welcometothepartyshow on:
YouTube — @welcometothepartyshow
Instagram — @welcometothepartyshow
TikTok — @welcometothepartyshow
Email — [email protected]
Substack - https://welcometothepartyshow.substack.com
Welcome to the Party Merch - https://welcometotheparty.voila.store — and for September, a portion of proceeds supports Zoe’s Goal and childhood cancer research.

Keep the Party Going:
Want more Sue Bird in your life? We do too. Follow Bird’s Eye View for Sue’s take on the WNBA, women’s basketball, the people shaping the game and everything happening around it: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/birds-eye-view-with-sue-bird/id1812530040

UConn people, this one is for you. Want to hear more about what Geno really thinks of Sue — and go deep on anything and everything UConn? The Dynasty: UConn Huskies goes inside 40 years of Geno, championships, pressure, personalities and the players who built the standard: https://tv.apple.com/us/show/the-dynasty-uconn-huskies/umc.cmc.1xd5z7o77x0f6g6laf1vfbdn0

Party People, clear the calendar. Team USA is headed to Berlin. The FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup runs September 4–13, with the U.S. opening against China on September 4: https://www.fiba.basketball/en/events/fiba-womens-basketball-world-cup-2026

And yes, you can watch it all unfold. Find where to watch the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup in the U.S.: https://www.fiba.basketball/en/events/fiba-womens-basketball-world-cup-2026/where-to-watch

Party People, it’s time to do More Than Four. Juggle anything more than four times, nominate four friends and donate more than $4 to help fund childhood cancer research through Zoe’s Goal. And this month, a portion of Welcome to the Party merch proceeds will support Zoe’s Goal too: https://www.pledge.to/mt4zoesgoal

Meet Zoe Suder and learn more about the mission behind Zoe’s Goal: Scoring Against Childhood Cancer. LEARN MORE + DONATE: https://zoesgoal.org/

Thank you to our sponsors:
-Ally’s got you covered. Ally Bank, Member FDIC
59 min
August 27Iva Jovic’s US Open Rise and Her Plan to Become World No. 1
At just 18 years old, Iva Jovic has surged from No. 389 in the world to entering her first US Open as a seeded player and she has no intention of stopping there. The American tennis phenom joins Abby Wambach, Julie Foudy and Billie Jean King to talk about her goal of becoming world No. 1, the “healthy delusion” it takes to believe you can beat anyone and why her secret to success is surprisingly simple: show up every day.

Iva opens up about how her parents’ immigration story shaped her drive, the sibling rivalry that made her fiercely competitive and the routines helping her stay grounded and avoid burnout. Plus, she reveals why soccer is still her favorite sport, while Billie Jean challenges Iva and the next generation to lead women’s tennis forward on and off the court.

Follow @welcometothepartyshow on:
YouTube — @welcometothepartyshow
Instagram — @welcometothepartyshow
TikTok — @welcometothepartyshow
Email — [email protected]
Substack - https://welcometothepartyshow.substack.com
Welcome to the Party Merch - https://welcometotheparty.voila.store

Keep the Party Going:
Keep up with Iva Jovic. Follow the 18-year-old rising star on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iva_jovic07/?hl=en

Party People, follow Iva at the US Open! Check the official schedule and results as she takes on New York: https://www.usopen.org/en_US/scores/schedule/index.html

Iva gave it a rave review, so now it’s on our list too: WATCH Novak Djokovic: The Wolf in Winter on Prime Video: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0H7KQQLWW?lv=shuf&channelId=500&plpRedirect=mhFallback

Thank you to our sponsors:
-Ally’s got you covered. Ally Bank, Member FDIC
52 min
August 25Olivia Miles Is Making WNBA History—and She’s Just Getting Started
WNBA rookie sensation Olivia Miles is at the party! The history-making point guard joins Abby Wambach, Julie Foudy and Billie Jean King as her rare combination of old-school playmaking and modern scoring puts her squarely in the MVP conversation.

The crew also celebrates record-breaking crowds and ratings across women’s sports, previews the star power returning to the US Open and gets the story behind Kinger’s iconic blue suede Adidas shoes from the Battle of the Sexes. Plus, University of Arizona sophomore Zoe Suder shares how Zoe’s Goal and the More Than Four Challenge are turning her cancer journey into action for childhood cancer research.

Follow @welcometothepartyshow on:
YouTube — @welcometothepartyshow
Instagram — @welcometothepartyshow
TikTok — @welcometothepartyshow
Email — [email protected]
Substack - https://welcometothepartyshow.substack.com
Welcome to the Party Merch - https://welcometotheparty.voila.store

Keep the Party Going:
Kinger’s blue suede shoes are BACK. Check out the adidas re-release of the shoes Billie Jean King made history in during the 1973 Battle of the Sexes: https://news.adidas.com/racket-sports/adidas-honors-billie-jean-king-with-the-return-of-her-iconic-blue-suede-shoe/s/7594f56e-e7a8-4153-8e8d-93946e77df1a

Party People, it’s time to do More Than Four. Juggle anything more than four times, nominate four friends and donate more than $4 to help fund childhood cancer research through Zoe’s Goal. TAKE THE CHALLENGE: https://zoesgoal.org/

Kinger gave us homework: Title IX is only 37 words. Go read them: https://www.ed.gov/laws-and-policy/civil-rights-laws/title-ix-and-sex-discrimination

Keep up with Swaggy. Follow Olivia Miles on Instagram for more of the goggles, the swagger and her rookie ride with Minnesota: https://www.instagram.com/_oliviamiles_/?hl=en

Thank you to our sponsors:
-Ally’s got you covered. Ally Bank, Member FDIC
1 hr 4 min
August 20The Best Moments of Our Podcast!
Welcome to the Party is officially 100 episodes strong! 🎉 Abby Wambach, Julie Foudy and Billie Jean King celebrate the milestone by looking back at the conversations, guests and completely unhinged moments that made the first 100 parties unforgettable.
They revisit how the show began with a chance conversation at an Angel City FC game, share the episodes and moments they still can’t stop thinking about, from Malala Yousafzai and Cynt Marshall to an unforgettable ultramarathon story and reveal their dream future guests, including Michelle and Barack Obama, Amy Poehler and Taylor Swift. Plus, the crew relives some of the show’s funniest moments, celebrates the incredible team behind the scenes and reflects on why creating more space for women’s sports stories matters now more than ever.
One hundred episodes, 31 sports, seven decades of women’s sports history and a whole lot of laughter later, the party is only getting started. Thank you, Party People. 💯🥳

Follow @welcometothepartyshow on:
YouTube — @welcometothepartyshow
Instagram — @welcometothepartyshow
TikTok — @welcometothepartyshow
Email — [email protected]
Substack - https://welcometothepartyshow.substack.com
Welcome to the Party Merch - https://welcometotheparty.voila.store

Keep the Party Going:
Check out our giant list of 100+ women’s sports podcasts and shows worth adding to your rotation: https://welcometothepartyshow.substack.com/p/party-people-its-our-100th-episode

GO BACK TO: Rachel Entrekin’s incredible Cocodona 250 conversation and the question we still can’t stop thinking about: Do you like the person you become when things get hard? It's Hard Not To Like The Person You Become

Malala Yousafzai joined the party to talk about women’s sports, changing what the next generation sees and so much more: Malala Took a Bullet. Now She’s Building Women’s Sports

GO BACK TO: Our conversation with Swin Cash and Danette Leighton about the future of Title IX and college sports:Why 90% of New College Sports Revenue is Planned for Male Athletes

GO BACK TO: Cynt Marshall joins the party: https://youtu.be/R9YMKtF2bCQ?si=QIq-LTSeY4my02VX

Thank you to our sponsors:
-Ally’s got you covered. Ally Bank, Member FDIC
1 hr 10 min
August 18How Sarah Spain Used Traditional Sports Media to Build the Future
Emmy and Peabody Award-winning journalist and Good Game host Sarah Spain finally joins the party! Sarah gets into why she’s betting big on women’s sports, literally, what she learned from becoming a team investor, and why leaving the daily grind of men’s sports coverage has brought more joy and purpose to her work. She also opens up about navigating sexism throughout her career, the growing tension between journalism and rage-bait, and why trustworthy, thoughtful coverage will be essential as women’s sports continue to explode.

Then, Sarah introduces Abby and Julie to the idea of “collective effervescence”, the shared energy we feel when we experience something together and perfectly explains why women’s sports can feel like so much more than sports.

Plus: Kelsie Whitmore’s post-WTTP home run tear, a legendary weekend for women’s basketball, an unforgettable WAFCON run, the Maryland Charm make history, Sarah flexes her improv skills, and the Party tries the impossible: stumping Sarah Spain.

Follow @welcometothepartyshow on:
YouTube — @welcometothepartyshow
Instagram — @welcometothepartyshow
TikTok — @welcometothepartyshow
Email — [email protected]
Substack - https://welcometothepartyshow.substack.com
Welcome to the Party Merch - https://welcometotheparty.voila.store

Keep the Party Going:
Get your daily women’s sports fix; listen to The Good Game with Sarah Spain: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/good-game-with-sarah-spain/id1752100672

More Spainer in your feed? Yes please. Follow: https://www.instagram.com/spain2323/

Want to go deeper on “collective effervescence”? Read Jia Tolentino’s: https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2019/05/27/losing-religion-and-finding-ecstasy-in-houston

Gio Canali’s possible goal of the year: https://www.instagram.com/reel/Db9poIHtl_O/

The Welcome to the Party effect is real! Here’s where it all started with Kelsie Whitmore: youtube.com/watch?si=EO3coHz3Wc-MxVAt&v=0rcw12-cvwc&feature=youtu.be

Thank you to our sponsors:
-Ally’s got you covered. Ally Bank, Member FDIC
1 hr 30 min
August 13 How Kelsie Whitmore Became the #1 Overall Pick in Women’s Pro Baseball History
Welcome to the Party is launching its first-ever Book Club with Billie Jean King’s new book, See It to Be It, co-written with Liz Robbins and featuring 11 athletes who are changing what the next generation can imagine. Then, one of those athletes joins the party: history-making baseball player Kelsie Whitmore. The Savannah Bananas star and first overall pick in the new Women’s Pro Baseball League opens up about growing up as the only girl on the field, the isolation and pressure that came with competing in male-dominated spaces, and the emotional moment she finally stepped onto a field surrounded by women who understood that experience. Kelsie also shares what it meant to receive the torch from baseball pioneer Maybelle Blair, why she never gave up on the game she loved, and her message to the next generation: dream big, believe in yourself, and never let anyone else define the version of you that belongs.

Follow @welcometothepartyshow on:
YouTube — @welcometothepartyshow
Instagram — @welcometothepartyshow
TikTok — @welcometothepartyshow
Email — [email protected]
Substack - https://welcometothepartyshow.substack.com
Welcome to the Party Merch - https://welcometotheparty.voila.store

Keep the Party Going:
Billie Jean King’s new book, See It to Be It: https://a.co/d/0axjnoVJ
Books By Billie Jean King: https://www.goodreads.com/author/list/74527.Billie_Jean_King
WPBL Baseball Schedule: https://www.womensprobaseballleague.com/schedule/
Follow Kelsie Whitmore:https://www.instagram.com/kelsie_whitmore/?hl=en
Maybelle Blair throwing out the first pitch:https://www.instagram.com/p/Dbl60zFGVeI/
At 95, Maybelle Blair came out to the world, her incredible Story:https://www.mlb.com/news/maybelle-blair-on-coming-out-at-95-and-a-new-league-of-their-own

Thank you to our sponsors:
-Ally’s got you covered. Ally Bank, Member FDIC

52 min
August 11It's Hard Not To Like The Person You Become
What deserves our attention in women’s sports and what are we choosing to amplify? Julie Foudy, Abby Wambach and Billie Jean King dig into the noise surrounding the WNBA, from Caitlin Clark and the league’s growing pains to the stories of joy, excellence and record-breaking performances they’d rather see dominating the conversation. Plus, they break down new research from the Women’s Sports Foundation on movement and body appreciation, react to the Cleveland Sirens’ vision for building a WNBA franchise around women’s sports fans, and somehow find their way to “Boob Gate” at the Tour de France Femmes.

Then, record-breaking ocean rower Kelsey Pfendler joins the party fresh off spending 43 days, 17 hours and 55 minutes alone at sea, rowing more than 2,400 miles from California to Hawaii. Kelsey takes us inside the storms, extreme sleep deprivation, meticulous preparation and very real fear that came with becoming the fastest person, man or woman, to complete the solo crossing. She shares why bravery can’t exist without fear, how endurance is as much emotional as it is physical, and why getting older might actually make us better at doing really hard things.

Follow @welcometothepartyshow on:
YouTube — @welcometothepartyshow
Instagram — @welcometothepartyshow
TikTok — @welcometothepartyshow
Email — [email protected]
Substack - https://welcometothepartyshow.substack.com
Welcome to the Party Merch - https://welcometotheparty.voila.store

Keep the Party Going:
Women’s Sports Foundation Built to Move Study: https://www.womenssportsfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Built-to-Move.pdf

Our episode with the Authors of Fair Game where we take a deep dive into Transgender athletes: What Everyone Gets Wrong About Trans Athletes

Follow Kelsey Pfendler:https://www.instagram.com/kelseypfendler/?hl=en

Part of our proceeds from our merch this month will go to the Whale Foundation, the organization that helped Kelsey through some of her toughest times:https://www.whalefoundation.org/

Thank you to our sponsors:
-Ally’s got you covered. Ally Bank, Member FDIC
1 hr 20 min
August 06How A World Cup Legend Became President of US Soccer
U.S. Soccer President Cindy Parlow Cone joins Welcome to the Party for a candid conversation about leading American soccer through one of the most transformative eras in its history. From negotiating equal pay and rebuilding trust within U.S. Soccer to opening the new Arthur M. Blank National Training Center and preparing for the 2027 Women’s World Cup and a historic 2031 tournament on home soil, Cindy shares what it really takes to lead through uncertainty.

Abby, Julie, Billie Jean and Cindy also break down FIFA’s abandoned private investment proposal, why the men’s World Cup changed the conversation around soccer in America, Mauricio Pochettino’s contract extension, Emma Hayes’ lasting impact, and the work still ahead to make youth soccer more affordable, accessible and fun. It’s an inspiring conversation about leadership, teamwork, and why the future of American soccer has never looked brighter.

Follow @welcometothepartyshow on:
YouTube — @welcometothepartyshow
Instagram — @welcometothepartyshow
TikTok — @welcometothepartyshow
Email — [email protected]
Substack - https://welcometothepartyshow.substack.com
Welcome to the Party Merch - https://welcometotheparty.voila.store

Keep the Party Going:
Learn more about the Whale Foundation: https://www.whalefoundation.org/

U.S. Soccer Forward Foundation: https://www.ussoccer.com/stories/2024/06/us-soccer-launches-soccer-forward-foundation

Thank you to our sponsors:
-Ally’s got you covered. Ally Bank, Member FDIC
1 hr 19 min
August 04We Interviewed The Cast of Ted Lasso!
Believe it, Party People: Ted Lasso is back and this time, women’s soccer is taking center stage.

Abby Wambach, Julie Foudy and Billie Jean King sit down with Emmy-winning stars Jason Sudeikis and Hannah Waddingham for a joyful, thoughtful and very funny conversation about the long-awaited fourth season. Jason reveals how his daughter, the Lionesses, the New York Liberty and years of watching women’s sports inspired AFC Richmond’s new women’s team, and how real players and leaders helped shape the stories behind the season.

Then, Hannah opens up about Rebecca Welton’s evolution, the subtle sexism women face in leadership and entertainment, mentoring other women and why true feminism sometimes means confronting your own blind spots. Plus, Jason reflects on how playing Ted has changed him, Hannah learns a legendary USWNT cheer and the Party puts both guests through a little musical chaos.

It’s an episode about representation, leadership, belonging and the power of women’s sports, with plenty of laughs, heart and, naturally, a whole lot of belief.

Follow @welcometothepartyshow on:
YouTube — @welcometothepartyshow
Instagram — @welcometothepartyshow
TikTok — @welcometothepartyshow
Email — [email protected]
Substack - https://welcometothepartyshow.substack.com
Welcome to the Party Merch - https://welcometotheparty.voila.store
*for the month of August part of the proceeds will go to the Whale Foundation.

Keep the Party Going:
Watch Season 4 of Ted Lasso this Wednesday:https://tv.apple.com/us/show/ted-lasso/umc.cmc.vtoh0mn0xn7t3c643xqonfzy

WPBL - Women’s Professional Baseball Season Schedule:https://www.womensprobaseballleague.com/schedule/

Learn more about the Whale Foundation: https://www.whalefoundation.org/

Thank you to our sponsors:
-Ally’s got you covered. Ally Bank, Member FDIC
1 hr 13 min
July 30 The Volleyball Star Who Changed The Game
Nebraska volleyball star Harper Murray joins Abby Wambach and Julie Foudy live from Fanatics Fest to talk about her rise as one of college volleyball’s biggest names. Harper reflects on playing in front of a record-breaking 92,003 fans, navigating NIL and social media, prioritizing her mental health and stepping into a leadership role ahead of her senior season. She also shares what she has learned from Nebraska’s toughest NCAA Tournament losses, what makes Cornhusker volleyball culture so special and how she is preparing for another national championship run, before facing Abby and Julie in a chaotic live volleyball challenge.

Follow @welcometothepartyshow on:
YouTube — @welcometothepartyshow
Instagram — @welcometothepartyshow
TikTok — @welcometothepartyshow
Email — [email protected]
Substack - https://welcometothepartyshow.substack.com
Welcome to the Party Merch - https://welcometotheparty.voila.store

Keep the Party Going:
Follow Harper on Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/harpermurrayy/
Nebraska’s Schedule:https://huskers.com/sports/volleyball/schedule
Nebraska to play a 1 Million Dollar Game at AT&T Stadium: https://www.espn.com/espn/story/_/id/49471859/marquee-matchups-set-1m-women-volleyball-exhibition

Thank you to our sponsors:
-Ally’s got you covered. Ally Bank, Member FDIC

35 min

About Welcome to the Party

From the publisher's feed

What’s up, Party People! Abby Wambach, Julie Foudy, and Billie Jean King welcome you to the women’s sports party. Whether you’ve been here all along or are looking to get in the game, you're invited. Twice a week, soccer legends and forever teammates Abby and Julie will be hanging with the change-makers and shot-takers in women’s sports while giving their perspectives on big issues and hot topics. Plus, there will be regular appearances by the LEGEND of legends Billie Jean King.