Welcome to the Party

March Madness is here, and before locking in their brackets, Julie and Abby bring in one of the best minds in women’s basketball: legendary former Iowa coach Lisa Bluder. After 40 years on the sidelines and 18 NCAA tournament appearances, Bluder joins the party from vacation in Cancun to break down the women’s bracket, share her thoughts on the biggest matchups, talk Cinderella teams, and reveal who she thinks will win it all.

The conversation goes deeper than picks. Bluder reflects on coaching Caitlin Clark, how Iowa landed her, what made her different, and how culture, leadership, and trust helped shape one of the most iconic players in the game. She also opens up about retirement, the evolution of women’s basketball, and why this era of the sport feels bigger than ever.

Plus, Julie and Abby open the show by showing support for the Iranian women’s national team, highlight the inequities women’s sports have faced even in branding, and get fired up for their podcast bracket challenge.

Follow @welcometothepartyshow on:

YouTube — ⁠@welcometothepartyshow⁠

Instagram — ⁠@welcometothepartyshow⁠

TikTok — ⁠@welcometothepartyshow⁠

Email — [email protected]

Keep the Party Going:

Join our Welcome to the March Madness Party Bracket Competition:

Follow and Hype up our Welcome to the March Madness Party Bracket Competitors:

The RE-CAP show and social: https://www.instagram.com/re__inc/

The Women’s Game and social: https://www.instagram.com/womensgamemib/

Good Game with Sarah Spain

Time Wasting and social: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DVjV3A7j3Ll/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==

Coach Jackie: https://www.instagram.com/jcubedhax/ and TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jcubedhax

Coach Bluder recommended books: 

Wolfpack by Abby Wambach

Pressure is a Privilege by Billy Jean King

Iranian Women’s Soccer Team Update: https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/iranian-womens-soccer-team-arrive-back-iran-after-some-withdrew-asylum-claim-2026-03-18/

NYU Women’s Hoops: https://www.instagram.com/nyuwomenshoops/

Thank you to our sponsors:

-Ally’s got you covered. Ally Bank, Member FDIC

-Join us and CARE this International Women’s Day and Women’s History month to help level the playing field for women. Sign the pledge at ⁠https://www.care.org/pledge/

-Explore the new Peloton Cross Training Tread+ at onepeloton.com https://www.onepeloton.com/

-You can also request a Cologuard prescription today at http://cologuard.com/podcast

-This episode of Welcome To The Party is brought to you by McDonald’s Big Arch Burger!

-Visit https://www.wayfair.com/ to get your go to items for game day.

This week on Welcome to the Party, Julie Foudy and Abby Wambach are joined by two stars from one of the hottest teams in the country: UCLA’s Lauren Betts and Charlisse Leger-Walker. With March Madness here and the Bruins looking like a serious title threat, the conversation gets into confidence, chemistry, pressure, and why this UCLA team feels different. Lauren opens up about handling the spotlight, embracing her identity on and off the court, and why she believes this team is ready for the moment, while Charlisse shares how the squad’s viral dance routine came together, what makes this group so close, and how joy has become part of their secret sauce. Julie and Abby also bring the usual party starter energy with stories from Abby’s night at the Oscars, Angel City’s huge 4–0 win, Savvy King’s emotional return, and all the latest women’s sports headlines. It’s funny, heartfelt, competitive, and full of the kind of energy that makes this show such a good time.

Follow @welcometothepartyshow on:

YouTube — @welcometothepartyshow

Instagram — @welcometothepartyshow

TikTok — @welcometothepartyshow

Email — [email protected]

Keep the Party Going:

Join our Welcome to the March Madness Party Bracket Competition

Abby’s Documentary about the life and death of poet Andrea Gibson; Come See Me in the Good Light

Angel City Star Savy Kings’ charity:

https://savykingofhearts.org/

UCLA Hoops Documentary, You See LA:

https://youtu.be/Ga0OcgAn9jg?si=TajAR6l4nYwmeZ4p

Follow Oksana Masters:

https://www.instagram.com/oksanamasters/

Follow the Paralympic athletes:

https://www.instagram.com/paralympics/

NWSL Results:

https://www.nwslsoccer.com/

Bras for Girls:

https://www.brasforgirls.org/

Witness History, PWHL’s First Nationally Televised Game: https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/hockey/2026/03/12/pwhl-womens-hockey-national-tv-broadcast/89106087007/

Follow and Hype up our Welcome to the March Madness Party Bracket Competitors:

The RE-CAP show: https://re-website.com/pages/recapshow?srsltid=AfmBOoor3S1KP5mHb26PRTMpzLWKaEnY1X2Gsbs_ZobDqQgVOdnp63Vc and social: https://www.instagram.com/re__inc/

The Women’s Game: https://www.youtube.com/@WomensGameMiB and social: https://www.instagram.com/womensgamemib/

Good Game with Sarah Spain: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/1119-good-game-with-sarah-spai-185664375/ 

Time Wasting: https://justwomenssports.com/time-wasting/ and social: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DVjV3A7j3Ll/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==

Coach Jackie: https://www.instagram.com/jcubedhax/ and TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jcubedhax

COMPETE against all these great pods ⬆️ and our WttP squad; Abby, Julie, and Billie Jean King. Here’s the link to our Welcome to the March Madness Party bracket challenge:

https://fantasy.espn.com/tc/sharer?challengeId=278&from=espn&context=GROUP_INVITE&edition=espn-en&groupId=73442c55-bf71-4500-bbe6-b86262b197cb

Thank you to our sponsors:

-Ally’s got you covered. Ally Bank, Member FDIC

-Join us and CARE this International Women’s Day and Women’s History month to help level the playing field for women. Sign the pledge at ⁠https://www.care.org/pledge/

Two-time World Cup champion and Olympic gold medalist Alyssa Naeher joins the party and she’s bringing one of the best stories we’ve heard all season. At a moment when she was seriously considering retirement, a chance encounter with tennis legend Billie Jean King delivered a message that changed everything: “You’re not done yet.” Naeher opens up to Julie Foudy and Abby Wambach about that surreal moment, what kept her in the game, and how she’s navigating her 14th season in the NWSL as one of the league’s last original players.

They also talk about the mindset of elite goalkeepers, the importance of leadership inside a locker room, and why the smallest gestures from teammates can shape an entire career. Plus, Julie and Abby break down the upcoming 2026 NWSL season, expansion teams, and the return of the league’s most electric stars. If you’ve ever wondered what it takes to stay at the top of the game for more than a decade this episode is it.

Follow @welcometothepartyshow on:

YouTube — @welcometothepartyshow

Instagram — @welcometothepartyshow

TikTok — @welcometothepartyshow

Email — [email protected]

Thank you to our sponsors:

-Ally’s got you covered. Ally Bank, Member FDIC

-Join us and CARE this International Women’s Day and Women’s History month to help level the playing field for women. Sign the pledge at ⁠care.org/pledge

-Explore the new Peloton Cross Training Tread+ at onepeloton.com https://www.onepeloton.com/

-If you're ready to break the wash-grease-repeat cycle, head to https://hairstory.com/welcometotheparty and use code PARTY15 at checkout for 15% off your first order.

- You can also request a Cologuard prescription today at Cologuard.com

Olympians Hilary Knight and Brittany Bowe join the party fresh off one of the most surreal weeks of their lives: winning Olympic gold, breaking records, appearing on late night TV…and getting engaged.

Hilary, captain of Team USA hockey, reflects on winning gold while playing through a torn MCL and becoming the all-time leading scorer in U.S. Olympic women’s hockey history. Brittany, a world-record speed skater and four-time Olympian, shares what it was like watching the gold medal game from the stands, and the emotional moment Hilary tied the game with less than two minutes left.

The two also tell the incredible behind-the-scenes story of their Olympic Village proposal, Brittany’s legendary act of sportsmanship that helped teammate Erin Jackson win historic gold in Beijing, and what it’s like watching the person you love compete on the world’s biggest stage.

Plus: a chaotic round of Party Poppers (Couples Edition) where we learn who’s more competitive, who’s the bigger trash talker, and which Olympian might come out of retirement for the 2030 Games.

Follow @welcometothepartyshow on:

YouTube — @welcometothepartyshow

Instagram — @welcometothepartyshow

TikTok — @welcometothepartyshow

Email — [email protected]

Keep the Party Going:

Pre-order Jordan Robinson’s Court Queens Book: https://www.amazon.com/Court-Queens-Celebrate-Players-Basketball/dp/B0FGX73CKW

Follow Jordan Robinson: Instagram @JordanLigons or TikTok @HeyJordanRobinson 

Paralympics Schedule and Results: https://www.olympics.com/en/milano-cortina-2026/paralympic-games/schedule

Thank you to our sponsors:

-Ally’s got you covered. Ally Bank, Member FDIC

-Find a host or co-host at https://www.airbnb.com/host/homes

Women’s sports has officially entered its billion-dollar era. The Women's National Basketball Association and the National Women's Soccer League have both crossed the billion-dollar valuation mark shifting the conversation from “Is this sustainable?” to “Who’s next?”

In this episode, Julie Foudy and Abby Wambach debate which women’s league will be the next to break through. Abby makes the case for pro volleyball, pointing to the rapid rise of League One Volleyball and surging NCAA viewership. Julie argues for flag football, fueled by backing from the National Football League and its inclusion in the 2028 Summer Olympics. To strengthen their cases, they’re joined by Olympic medalist Kelsey Robinson Cook and world champion quarterback Diana Flores.

It’s a spirited debate but it’s also a bigger conversation about growth, investment, and what it takes to build lasting power in women’s sports. Because when one league wins, the entire ecosystem moves forward.

Follow @welcometothepartyshow on:

YouTube — @welcometothepartyshow

Instagram — @welcometothepartyshow

TikTok — @welcometothepartyshow

Email — [email protected]

Keep the Party Going:

International Women’s Day Gift Directory

Paralympics schedule

Follow Diana Flores

Diana’s Flag Football For Dummies

Follow Kelsey Robinson Cook

Thank you to our sponsors:

-Ally’s got you covered. Ally Bank, Member FDIC

-Join us and CARE this International Women’s Day and Women’s History month to help level the playing field for women. Sign the pledge at care.org/pledge

Four years after the loss of their daughter, Stanford soccer captain Katie Meyer, Steve and Gina Meyer join us to talk about grief, justice, and what comes next. With the lawsuit now settled, they share how they’re working alongside Stanford, expanding the impact of Katie Meyer’s Law, and turning unimaginable pain into protection for students everywhere. This is about legacy, accountability, and making sure no family walks this road alone.

Follow @welcometothepartyshow on:

YouTube — @welcometothepartyshow

Instagram — @welcometothepartyshow

TikTok — @welcometothepartyshow

Email — [email protected]

Keep the Party Going:

Katie's Save

How to contact your local representative to help pass Katie Meyer’s Law ​​https://katiessave.org/hr5545/

Watch: Save: The Katie Meyer Story

Suicide prevention hotline: 📞988

National Women’s History Museum

National Women’s History Museum videos: 

-She Is Not a Footnote

-Women’s contributions being overlooked

-Women are represented in less than 15% of all history taught

-Lyda Hill Philanthropies - Science is the answer

Unrivaled Championship

Learn more about Athlete’s Unlimited and Odyssey Sims Championship: https://auprosports.com/basketball/

Hilary Knight and Megan Keller on Saturday Night Live

Thank you to our sponsors:

-Ally’s got you covered. Ally Bank, Member FDIC

What can a country of 5 million teach the U.S. about winning? After Norway’s 18-gold domination at the Winter Games, Julie, Abby, and Billie Jean King sit down with legendary performance psychologist Dr. Colleen Hacker to unpack the real secret sauce: joy, autonomy, multiple sports and a radically different approach to youth athletics. From “Five Ring Fever” to Olympic pressure, this is a masterclass in mindset, mental health, and why the path to greatness might start with simply loving the game. 

Follow @welcometothepartyshow on:

YouTube — @welcometothepartyshow

Instagram — @welcometothepartyshow

TikTok — @welcometothepartyshow

Email — [email protected]

Keep the Party Going:

From Norway to the American Way:

https://www.aspeninstitute.org/blog-posts/from-norway-to-the-american-way/

About Dr.Colleen Hacker:

https://sites.google.com/a/plu.edu/colleen-hacker/

Olympic Pressure: https://www.theatlantic.com/culture/2026/02/pressure-olympics-malinin-shiffrin/686097/

Thank you to our sponsors:

-Ally’s got you covered. Ally Bank, Member FDIC

-Explore the new Peloton Cross Training Tread+ at onepeloton.com  https://www.onepeloton.com/

-Get your business data all in one place using Intuit Quickbooks. Visit https://quickbooks.intuit.com/ to learn more.

-Go to hairstory.com/welcometotheparty and use code PARTY15 at checkout for 15% off your order.  

After a historic Olympic gold, the U.S. Men’s Hockey Team had a choice. They laughed at a joke targeting the women’s team. They didn’t apologize. They doubled down. And then they compounded it.

This isn’t about one laugh. It’s about a pattern.

Julie Foudy and Abby Wambach respond, not as pundits, but as women who have lived this script their entire careers. The minimization. The “boys will be boys.” The expectation that women should just be grateful to wear the jersey.

There were multiple opportunities to repair the moment. Don’t laugh. Apologize. Take accountability. Don’t become a prop. Stand with your women’s team.

This isn’t red vs. blue. It’s about respect. It’s about character. And it’s about ending the cycle of casual disrespect women in sports have endured for decades.

We’re not moving on until behavior changes. No more silent solidarity. Not on our watch.

Follow @welcometothepartyshow on:

YouTube — @welcometothepartyshow

Instagram — @welcometothepartyshow

TikTok — @welcometothepartyshow

Email — [email protected]

Olympic joy, heartbreak, and chaos all in one episode. Billie Jean King joins Julie and Abby fresh off Milan to break down Team USA’s record gold medal haul, Norway’s dominance, and why American women delivered two-thirds of the medals. From Hillary Knight’s gold-medal magic to Chloe Kim’s sportsmanship, Elana Meyers Taylor’s pure joy, and the wild ski-jumping “Penisgate” controversy, nothing’s off limits. Plus: post-Olympic blues, big-moment letdowns, and Julie’s fourth attempt to finally beat Abby in Minute to Win It. Will she ever win?

Join the Party:

Follow @welcometothepartyshow on:

YouTube — ⁠@welcometothepartyshow⁠

Instagram — ⁠@welcometothepartyshow⁠

TikTok — ⁠@welcometothepartyshow⁠

Email — [email protected]

Keep the Party Going:

Penis Gate: https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2026/feb/06/penisgate-winter-olympics-ski-jumpers-acid-penis-health-risks-explainer

The Winn Brothers: https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/olympics/2026/02/19/haley-winn-three-brothers-olympics-matching-looks/88714742007/

USA Women’s Hockey wins gold: https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7058003/2026/02/19/usa-canada-olympics-womens-hockey-gold-medal/

Chloe Kim hugging Choi Ga after Ga wins gold: https://sports.yahoo.com/video/chloe-kim-hugging-choi-ga-142928062.html

Women’s Sports Foundation Travel and Training Fund: https://www.womenssportsfoundation.org/wsf_programs/travel-training/

Elana Meyers Taylor Interview: The REAL Cost Of Chasing GOLD

Thank you to our sponsors:

-Ally’s got you covered. Ally Bank, Member FDIC

- Get an annual membership to http://shipt.com/ and order groceries delivered to your door with zero fees for orders over $35+. Download the app today. 

- Shop SKIMS Fits Everybody collection at https://skims.com/. After your place your order, be sure to let them know we sent you! Select "podcast" in the survey and Welcome to the Party! 

Check out the limited-edition Team USA collection at FIGS and get 15% off your first order at WearFigs.com with code FIXRX.

“Do superstitions even work?”
“Yes.”
Slap. Slap. Slap.

This week on Welcome to the Party, Julie Foudy kicks things off solo (with cardboard cutouts of Abby Wambach and Billie Jean King in Milan, obviously) before diving into a women’s sports roundup from Mikaela Shiffrin making history to the U.S. women’s hockey team chasing gold, plus a fresh-look USWNT roster under Emma Hayes.

Then Abby joins and it devolves beautifully: 100-step pregame routines, water bottle flips, same game underwear for four years, and the infamous three self-slaps before kickoff. Are superstitions secret weapons or mental traps? Either way…we’re letting it ride.

Follow @welcometothepartyshow on:

YouTube — ⁠@welcometothepartyshow⁠

Instagram — ⁠@welcometothepartyshow⁠

TikTok — ⁠@welcometothepartyshow⁠

Email — [email protected]

Keep the Party Going:

USWNT SheBelieves Cup Roster:

https://www.ussoccer.com/stories/2025/10/hayes-names-26-player-uswnt-training-camp-roster-october-matches-against-portugal-new-zealand

Savy King’s incredible story:

https://youtu.be/5XWP6HTvdug?si=8QoNLawOCO27Ga7v

Savy King’s nonprofit, Savy King of Hearts: https://savykingofhearts.org/about/

Thank you to our sponsors:

-Ally’s got you covered. Ally Bank, Member FDIC

-Explore the new Peloton Cross Training Tread+ at onepeloton.com https://www.onepeloton.com/

-Visit https://www.wayfair.com/ to get your go to items for game day.