The NWSL has always prided itself on chaos. A league where anyone can beat anyone. But five weeks into the 2025 season, things are looking awfully similar to 2024. Four teams ( Kansas City Current, Orlando Pride, Washington Spirit, and NJ/NY Gotham FC ) are breaking away at the top of the standings, sweeping the other 10 teams in their path. This week, Full Time hosts Tamerra Griffin and Meg Linehan discuss whether the NWSL is losing its chaos. What has happened to the parity in the league? Shou...
Apr 23, 2025•40 min
The Orlando Pride looked unbeatable through four weeks of the NWSL . Then, a depleted Washington Spirit , missing 11 players including Trinity Rodman , came along. On this week's Full Time Review, host Jillian Sakovits discusses how the Spirit pulled off the biggest result of the 2025 season so far, as well as the other top stories from the NWSL weekend. PLUS: The Athletic's Laia Cervello also joins the podcast to report on the UEFA Women's Champions League semifinal first legs, where Barcelona ...
Apr 21, 2025•21 min
Angel City FC has hired a new head coach. On June 1, Alexander Straus will leave Bayern Munich for Los Angeles and the NWSL . But what was it about Straus that got him the job? What was ACFC's search and interview process like? How will the coach and the club match their visions? On this week's Full Time Focus, host Tamerra Griffin discusses the Straus hire fresh from a press conference with ACFC sporting director Mark Parsons and club president Julie Uhrman. Later on, Talia Barrington joins the...
Apr 18, 2025•36 min
The NWSL is coveting new eyeballs and growth. But, after an announcement that the league would be establishing a "league supporter's group" as a sponsorship collaboration with an energy drink named Unwell , many are wondering if the NWSL actually understands soccer fans. This week, Full Time hosts Tamerra Griffin and Meg Linehan discuss tension in the relationship between the league and its supporters. With the help of voices from four different NWSL supporter's groups from across the country, T...
Apr 16, 2025•35 min
After 385 days, Midge Purce is back. On Sunday, the USWNT forward made her NWSL return from an ACL injury. But what does Purce's return mean for Gotham FC? A club On this week's Full Time Review, staff writer at The Athletic Asli Pelit hosts a discussion of the weekend's NWSL action. Starting with the scene in New Jersey to witness Purce's comeback and Gotham's first win, then moving to the continued perfection of Orlando Pride and KC Current at the top of the standings and signs of life for the...
Apr 14, 2025•26 min
Women's sports may be booming, but establishing a bright future might rely on understanding the past. On this week's Full Time Focus, host Jilian Sakovits is joined by Meg Linehan, who last week sat down for a one-on-one interview with sports icon Billie Jean King in Los Angeles to talk all things women's sports. With clips from that conversation interspersed, Meg talks about how BJK emphasized the importance of knowing your history, investment, and the need for women's sports to progress even f...
Apr 11, 2025•24 min
The USWNT's April window is over. A California double-header against Brazil resulted in one win and one defeat. So, what have we learned from these two matches? As Emma Hayes continues her year of discovery, who is at the core of her roster? Who is she building the future USWNT around? This week, Full Time hosts Tamerra Griffin and Meg Linehan are joined by The Athletic's Jeff Rueter to analyze the USA's two performances against Brazil while also trying to answer some big questions about the pre...
Apr 09, 2025•46 min
On this week's Full Time Review, host Jillian Sakovits is joined by staff writer at The Athletic Tamerra Griffin to discuss the USWNT's 2-0 win over Brazil at SoFi Stadium. How did SoFi Stadium handle its first-ever women's sports event? How important was Trinity Rodman on her return? Did Los Angeles local Alyssa Thompson have her best international performance yet? Ahead of the second friendly with Brazil on Tuesday in San Jose, Tamerra also ponders what USWNT head coach Emma Hayes still needs ...
Apr 07, 2025•22 min
The USA is all but confirmed to co-host the 2031 Women's World Cup. The news is not official just yet but comes after FIFA president Gianni Infantino said in an address that the Americans were part of a lone bid for 2031, while the UK was the sole bidder for 2035. On this week's Full Time Focus, host Jilian Sakovits and the newest member of The Athletic's global women's soccer team, Asli Pelit Basker, react to the news, break down the procedure that remains to ratify the decision while also unpa...
Apr 04, 2025•24 min
Ajax and USWNT midfielder Lily Yohannes joins the Full Time podcast for a special interview this week. The teenager talks about her extraordinary rise, her focus on living in the moment, her relationship with Emma Hayes , her life in Amsterdam, and her experience developing in the European academy system. Hosts Tamerra Griffin and Meg Linehan also share their reflections on watching Yohannes emerge and how the upcoming Brazil friendlies are yet another spotlight for her to step into. Plus, Tamer...
Apr 02, 2025•39 min
Another NWSL weekend, another win for the Orlando Pride and the Kansas City Current. But which team is leading the way? On this week's Full Time Review, host Jillian Sakovits debates which of the league's perfect two frontrunners looks more impressive heading into the international break. Jillian also has a look back on the weekend's action. From Tierna Davidson's cruel knee injury to Trinity Rodman's ongoing back issues and a whip-around Europe to check in on the U.S. women's national team play...
Mar 31, 2025•15 min
Recently elected as the new President of the NWSL Players Association , Kansas City Current forward Haley Hopkins joins Full Time Focus to talk about her vision for the role. Also on the podcast, host Jillian Sakovitz gets you ready for Week 3 in the NWSL by looking back on the historic rivalry between the Portland Thorns and the North Carolina Courage . Meg Linehan stops by to talk about Boston Legacy FC and the NWSL's investigation into alleged abusive comments made by a fan at Barbra Banda du...
Mar 28, 2025•23 min
On this week's Full Time, Tamerra Griffin and Meg Linehan analyze Emma Hayes' latest U.S. women's national team roster for the upcoming friendlies against Brazil. Who are the new faces and the notable absentees? With no major tournament on the horizon, how important is talent identification versus relationship building? And, what sort of reaction will Hayes be looking for after the defeat to Japan in February? _______________ Articles mentioned on the show: Trinity Rodman returns to the USWNT, E...
Mar 26, 2025•44 min
Welcome to the new Full Time Review hosted by Jillian Sakovits . Your Monday morning rundown, looking back at the weekend’s action on the pitch and the top stories from the NWSL and beyond. All in under 20 minutes. On the show this week, Jillian looks at the Orlando Pride and the KC Current's perfection at the top of the standings and some simply stunning first-career goals for some young NWSL stars. After the weekend recap, Emily Olsen joins the podcast to talk about what we know regarding Trin...
Mar 24, 2025•18 min
Welcome to another Full Time Focus, the new Friday podcast hosted by Jillian Sakovits that gets you ready for the weekend’s action while also catching you up on the key women’s soccer news that developed during the week. On the show this week: Jillian has the latest to get you ready for the NWSL weekend, where the league's top-four teams from 2024 are all set to clash in a fascinating double-header. Plus, all the latest from a busy off-field news week. After that, Charlotte Harpur and Jessy Park...
Mar 21, 2025•19 min
On this week's Full Time, the podcast is asking what is the state of the NWSL in 2025? Where is the league right now, and where does it want to be? To help discuss the state of the league, Meg Linehan is joined by staff writer at Just Women's Sports Claire Watkins , and women's basketball staff writer and co-host of the No Offseason podcast at The Athletic Ben Pickman. The conversation explores the NWSL's audience, politics and values, commercial ambitions and strategy, the players and the play ...
Mar 19, 2025•48 min
Welcome to the new Full Time Review hosted by Jillian Sakovits . Your Monday morning rundown, looking back at the weekend’s action on the pitch and the top stories from the NWSL and beyond. All in under 20 minutes. On the show this week, Jillian talks about the biggest storylines from the opening weekend of the new NWSL season. Barbra Banda and Temwa Chawinga kick off the 2025 MVP race in some style, while the Chicago Stars break records for the wrong reasons. PLUS: Sonia Bompastor wins her firs...
Mar 17, 2025•13 min
Welcome to the first edition of Full Time Focus, a new Friday podcast hosted by Jillian Sakovits that gets you ready for the weekend’s action while also catching you up on the key women’s soccer news that developed during the week. On the show this week: Jillian has the latest on Mal Swanson and some NWSL opening day history, then Jeff Rueter joins to talk about his data-driven analysis of 14 players to watch in the 2025 season. After that, attention shifts to England and a truly chaotic week ah...
Mar 14, 2025•25 min
This week's Full Time is the second episode in a two-part 2025 NWSL Season Preview. Co-hosts Meg Linehan and Tamerra Griffin are back together and joined by Evan Davis, of the Expected Own Goals podcast and Equalizer Soccer , to preview the seven teams in what the podcast is calling the 'NWSL West'. How are Angel City FC, Bay FC, Houston Dash, Portland Thorns, San Diego Wave, Seattle Reign, and Utah Royals all approaching the new regular season? Everything you need to know is in this roundtable....
Mar 13, 2025•51 min
Welcome to the new Full Time Review hosted by Jillian Sakovits . Your Monday morning rundown, looking back at the weekend’s action on the pitch and the top stories from the NWSL and beyond. All in under 20 minutes. On the show this week, Jillian unpacks Friday’s penalty shootout drama in the NWSL Challenge Cup between the Orlando Pride and the Washington Spirit, what happened over in Europe during the English and French domestic cups, before then finally checking in with Meg Linehan to get the l...
Mar 10, 2025•17 min
This week's Full Time is the first in a two-part 2025 NWSL Season Preview. Meg Linehan is joined by former NWSL player-turned-broadcaster Jill Loydon and staff writer at USA Today's Pro Soccer Wire Jason Anderson to analyze the seven teams in what the podcast is calling the 'NWSL East'. How are Orlando Pride, Washington Spirit, NJ/NY Gotham FC, KC Current, NC Courage, Chicago Stars, and Racing Louisville all shaping up before the start of the regular season? Everything you need to know is in thi...
Mar 06, 2025•50 min
In August 2023, on the pitch in Sydney, Australia, Spanish forward Jenni Hermoso's life changed. But not in the way it should have.In a moment that became more widely known as "The Kiss" former Spanish Football Federation President Luis Rubiales, grabbed Hermoso's face and planted a kiss on her lips. It became front page news around the world.In February 2025, Rubiales went on trial for one count of sexual assault and one of coercion. If he was found guilty of both counts, the prosecution was as...
Mar 02, 2025•51 min
This week on Full Time, Meg Linehan and Jeff Rueter break down the USWNT's SheBelieves Cup performance, including the 2-1 defeat to Japan . Is it time to push the panic button? Or do we need to lean into Emma Hayes' call for patience and development? In addition to picking the bones on the first defeat for the USA under Hayes, Meg and Jeff give their takes on USA newcomers, give lots of flowers to Japan, and debate the state of the USA midfield. After all that, Angel City FC sporting director Ma...
Feb 27, 2025•57 min
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Feb 26, 2025•44 min
Special guest Becky Sauerbrunn joins host Meg Linehan to talk all things USWNT, the SheBelieves Cup, and her post-career transition to broadcasting with TNT Sports , as well as her podcasting with Sam Mewis . The conversation also dips into being on the other side of the media divide, USWNT leadership, and what Sauerbrunn's latest books and TV recommendations are. Later on in the show, The Athletic's Melanie Anzidei joins Meg to report on the ground from Houston, Texas, where the SheBelieves Cup...
Feb 20, 2025•39 min
Emma Hayes has a new strategic vision for the U.S. women's national team, called 'The WNT Way'. Host Meg Linehan is joined by The Athletic's Jeff Rueter to discuss how the new blueprint is attempting to revolutionize the existing approach to women's soccer in terms of anatomy, psychology, coaching and tactics. The duo also break down the latest USWNT roster for the upcoming 2025 SheBelieves Cup , the importance of a returning Cat Macario , and who are the new faces to watch. PLUS: Meg and Jeff o...
Feb 13, 2025•45 min
This week Full Time unpacks the outcome of a joint investigation by the attorneys general of the District of Columbia, Illinois, and New York into systemic abuse within the N ational Women's Soccer League from 2013 until 2021. As a result, the NWSL must create a $5 million player compensation fund as part of a settlement regarding its role in widespread allegations of abuse. We examine how we got here and what made the 2021 NWSL reckoning so impactful. What does this restitution fund mean for th...
Feb 06, 2025•44 min
Denver has officially been announced as the NWSL's 16th expansion team . But how did this ownership group win the bid? This week on Full Time , Meg Linehan and Theo Lloyd-Hughes focus on understanding what made Denver special. To help do that, NWSL commissioner Jess Berman joins the show to give the inside scoop on how the league evaluated the bids. Then, Athletic staff writer Melanie Anzidei discusses her report on the bidding process, the latest news on a stadium, and anecdotes from talking to...
Jan 30, 2025•48 min
It's an emergency episode of Full Time. On Sunday, Chelsea officially announced the transfer of U.S. women's national team defender Naomi Girma from the San Diego Wave for a record fee of $1.1 million. Hosts Tamerra Griffin and Meg Linehan break down the deal, from the timeline of Girma's transfer request to the chain reaction around the globe. Jessy Parker Humphreys joins from Stamford Bridge where Girma was unveiled ahead of Chelsea's WSL match against Arsenal. Then, Matt Slater unpacks the bu...
Jan 27, 2025•45 min
This week on Full Time, Tamerra Griffin and Meg Linehan take a deep dive into the new world of NCAA rookie free agency. Since the NWSLPA inked a new CBA with the league in 2024, which abolished the draft, what has it been like to navigate turning pro in this historic offseason? To help with the discussion, Tamerra and Meg spoke to rookies out of UCLA, Quincy McMahon (now San Diego Wave) and Lilly Reale (now Gotham FC), soccer agent Gabriel Chapman from Inspired XI, and Gotham FC GM Yael Averbuch...
Jan 23, 2025•52 min
