Women on the Mic

In this episode, Kaavya sits down with Ari Manrique, assistant coach and former Cal women’s soccer player, to explore her journey on and off the field. Ari reflects on her early love for the game, the decision to play at Berkeley, and the resilience it took to transition from player to leader after a senior season injury. She shares lessons on identity, setbacks, and community service—including being honored with the Walter A. Haas Community Service Award—and how coaching has become her way of giving back. Ari also talks about building respect as a young coach, her pursuit of sports psychology, and her vision for the future of women’s soccer in the NIL era.

In this episode, Kaavya sits down with Nicki Boyd, founder and managing partner of Sphera Partners, who shares her unique journey from a lifelong athlete to a seasoned investor now dedicated to the women's sports ecosystem. Nicki explains why investing in women's sports has transitioned from a DEI initiative to a compelling commercial opportunity, fully justified on an ROI basis, driven by a "flywheel" effect increasing fandom, production quality, and all three key revenue streams. They delve into Sphera Partners' "double bottom line" philosophy, their first investment in Upshot, a developmental women's basketball league in the US, and Nicki's long-term vision for both commercial success and societal impact in women's sports, focusing on community access, athlete well-being, and career transition.

In this episode, Kaavya sits down with Morgan Hentz, 3x National Champion Libero for Stanford Volleyball, 3x AVCA First Team All-American, and pro volleyball player for Athletes Unlimited, the Atlanta Vibe of the Pro Volley Federation, and Team USA. We chat about her leadership growth at Stanford, fun memories made in the locker room, how to maintain a winning culture amidst change, and the important of mental preparation before games. We also dive into the new set up of professional volleyball in the US with PVF, League One Volleyball, and Athletes Unlimited and what needs to be put in place to make sure these leagues are sustainable. Finally we talk about the importance and ongoing recognition of the libero position, the state of collegiate volleyball in the US today, and the importance of investment and viewership.

To watch PVF games this season see here: https://provolleyball.com/

Follow Morgan on IG: https://www.instagram.com/morganhentz

@womenonthemic

In this episode, Kaavya talks with the amazing Sam Thomas, who just finished her 5th year playing basketball for Coach Adia Barnes at the University of Arizona. They chat about growing up in a basketball playing family, choosing Arizona, and Tiktoking with her team. They also dive into Arizona's amazing story as a program that grew under Coach Barnes and made it to their first Final Four and Championship appearance in 2021. Sam recollects some of the pivotal moments from last season (including beating UConn) as well as playing her sister in the first round of this tournament. She talks about why Coach Adia Barnes is so special as well as the leader she is for her team--especially these last couple of seasons. They also talk about what is next for Sam--WNBA? Coaching? School? She's also going to a concert very soon--listen to find out which one!! 

In this episode, Kaavya talks with Reshanda Gray--a professional basketball player overseas in Italy and the WNBA. They dive into her unconventional and impactful upbringing in South Central LA, as well as her involvement in LA After School All-Stars. She reminisces on the time she met Kobe in middle school and the impact of his advice on the trajectory of her career. Moreover, she talks about the uncertain nature of playing in the WNBA and how she bounced back from being cut and making it back to the league. She details the importance of giving back to the community through her own foundation--No Gray Areas. Through mentorship, she hopes to motivate undecided young girls in LA to find their passions and become empowered academically, socially, and athletically. 

Check out No Gray Areas! https://www.nograyareas.org

In this episode, Kaavya talks with Jasmyne Spencer, a professional soccer player for Angel City FC of the NWSL. Angel City is the new NWSL expansion team founded in 2020 (starting play in 2022) with a star-studded lineup of founders and investors such as Natalie Portman, Alexis Ohanian, Abby Wambach, Mia Hamm, Candace Parker, and more! Jasmyne talks about her collegiate journey at UMD, being apart of the inaugural NWSL season, and being selected in the expansion draft to Angel City FC. They also dive into the growth of the NWSL and the necessary tools needed to grow the league further. Jasmyne is also passionate about the environment, and has channeled this passion into a fashion business called "Jas It Up" (https://www.jasitupofficial.com). Jasmyne also provides her advice on injuries, change, and self-confidence. Check out her website and don't forget to tune into the 2022 NWSL season!

In this episode, Kaavya talks with Derrian Gobourne--a gymnast at Auburn University. Derrian was the first ever gymnastics national champion at Auburn in 2019 (as a freshman!!). She details winning the national championship in vault, competing against Olympians, and how she gets ready to shine in big moments. Many people admire Derrian’s bright and confident nature, so she gives her advice on what it takes to love yourself. Of course, they chat about her teammate at Auburn--Suni Lee--and what it was like to watch her win Gold in Tokyo. With respect to Tokyo, Derrian explains how important mental health and the mind are in gymnastics and praises Simone Biles for setting a precedent for everyone to put their mental health first. Kaavya and Derrian also go into NIL as it relates to the NCAA and Derrian’s new partnership with Salute Leos as well as her own clothing line. Finally, they discuss the importance of diversity in gymnastics, the work Derrian is doing with Brown Girls Do Gymnastics, and implementing gymnastics programs at HBCUs.