Lesley and Emily report from somewhere at the bottom of the Chicago Stars FC pit of despair. The Stars are in last place, and according to a piece at The Equalizer (written by Lesley. God woman, brag once) GM Richard Feuz is content to continue building the squad by spending as little money as possible. In a league where investment yields championships, things feel a little bit hopeless right now. But hey! We're getting a game on the lake! Plus! -Unwell FC debuts, but who's really benefitting ri...
May 19, 2025•1 hr 27 min
Welcome back to an all-new episode of the Gal Pal Sports show! We talk chaos and coaching changes in the NWSL, and do a whole lot of screaming about the decision to fire Lorne Donaldson from the Chicago Stars. Plus! WNBA preseason is underway, and ACLs need to take a long walk off a short pier, a discussion on the FA's baffling decision to ban trans women from professional soccer, and a moment of queer joy in our Sportsmanship of the week.
May 02, 2025•47 min•Season 5Ep. 5
Lesley and Emily celebrate the Chicago Stars first win, and break down the performances from Ludmila and Jameese Joseph. They take a too-early look at the table, and check in on the bottom dwellers: Is it a surprise bottom-5, or is it too early to tell? They also discuss the WNBA draft, and wonder if Holly Rowe has a bingo card for making athletes cry. Lesley shares her theory about USA vs Canada hockey, and shares an unfortunate report from the SF Chronicle on the NWSL's anonymous reporting mec...
Apr 18, 2025•59 min
We're back! We're taking deep, soothing breaths as we talk through the start of Chicago FC's season. We'll be okay. Maybe. We also discuss the USWNT matches against Brazil, and wonder why the upper bowls of SoFi stadium were closed, and catch up on the deeply misguided Unwell FC plan unveiled over the weekend. Plus! The Wide World of Women's Sports looks to the Hockey World Championships, and Paige Buecker's new necklace. Transphobic nonsense gets sent straight to the trash, and we award sportsm...
Apr 10, 2025•1 hr 14 min•Season 5Ep. 1
Lesley and Emily try to make sense of *that* Chicago Stars match, and Emily names her to 3 grievances with the Stars. They take a look around the league and find a silver lining for the Portland Thorns! Zooming out in the Wide World of Women's Sports: It's daytime basketball season! Emily picks her final four, and Lesley stumbles through the bracket for her picks. Plus! They award the sportsmanship of the week, and take a moment to rant about children playing pro sports. Follow Gal Pal Sports ac...
Mar 20, 2025•1 hr 3 min
We're back! New name, same pals. We muse over the Chicago Stars FC offseason, and make our optimistic predictions, catch up on the latest news out of Bay FC, and share our notes for Amazon's NWSL Docuseries For the Win. Plus! The Challenge Cup, a rant about the Big 10 basketball final, and our sportsmanship of the week. Keep up with all the latest by following @galpalsports across social media, and read more of our Stars FC coverage on GalPalSports.com!
Mar 12, 2025•1 hr 6 min•Season 5Ep. 1
We're back! It's been a wild time in the wide world of women's sports, but we're here to talk about the disastrous unveiling for NWSL Boston, Wave FC getting sued, and the somewhat set playoff picture. Plus! Offseason FC is here, and as a couple of TV nerds, we're gonna have feelings about it! AND! A very special anniversary wins sportsmanship of the week! Follow us @galpalsports across social media for more from the wide world of women's sports!
Oct 18, 2024•1 hr 1 min•Season 4Ep. 17
The Red Stars playoff hopes are ALIIIIIVE after their win against the Portland Thorns! We take a look where they sit now in the larger playoff picture and ponder the possibility of the first undefeated season in NWSL history. Plus! Some questions about the Houston Dash, and for Diana Taurasi. If this is it, our hearts are already broken. Follow us across social media @galpalsports, and join the conversation!
Sep 20, 2024•57 min•Season 4Ep. 16
The air is crisp, the leaves are changing... its time for the NWSL Chaos season! We look at the league table and convince ourselves the Chicago Red Stars have a chance to make the playoffs. We've got a new CBA, an anonymous GM survey, and a whole group of people who need to learn how to adapt to the needs of women's sports. Plus! We take AI articles straight to the trash, and award sportsmanship of the week to a legend of the game. Follow along on our adventures @GalPalSports across social media...
Sep 12, 2024•1 hr 3 min•Season 4Ep. 15
Two-time Paralympic gold medalist and 2016 Team USA head coach Stephanie Wheeler shares her thoughts on the USA Wheelchair Basketball team's performance ahead of tomorrow's gold medal match. We talk about the team's growth under Coach Christina Ripp-Schwab and the coaching staff's ability to rebuild trust with the team in the last three years. Plus: breakout performances at the games, and the push for more wheelchair basketball coverage on the road to LA28.
Sep 07, 2024•23 min
We're back with another episode of Football is Wife! We begin with the EXCITING gold medal matchup between the US and Brazil, and navigating our love for the USWNT versus Marta's last ride. We'll be happy with either outcome but WOW will it also hurt. The summer cup is also happening... in the fall. We try to figure out what's not hitting with this tournament and wonder if we really need one in the middle of the season. Plus! Spain learning how hard it is to be the top dog, and trying to underst...
Aug 09, 2024•50 min•Season 4Ep. 14
We're back from hiatus to get psyched about the Olympics! We catch up on the highlights and hijinks of the group stage, brace ourselves for a quarterfinal against an upstart Japan, and take transphobes straight to the trash. Plus! USA Rugby wins the Bronze medal and America's heart, and we award the Sportsmanship of the week to a couple reunited in the trade window. Follow us across social media @galpalsports for the latest in women's sports!
Aug 01, 2024•1 hr 9 min•Season 4Ep. 13
We're back with another episode of Football is Wife! So much has happened since our last episode, and most of it isn't great. We talk about the coaching changes in Utah and San Diego, and the disturbing allegations from former San Diego employees detailing a harmful environment under President Jill Ellis. With the number of people coming forward, it's imperative the NWSL takes action.
Jul 05, 2024•58 min•Season 4Ep. 11
Join us for a conversation with Penelope Hocking and Ally Schlegel of the Chicago Red Stars. We talk about the journey from playing together in college to getting drafted to the same pro team, and growing together as professionals. Plus: Guiding the rookies, playing for Coach Lorne Donaldson and Trivia Night domination! Like what you hear? Follow along @galpalsports across social media.
Jun 21, 2024•21 min
Welcome back to another episode of Football is Wife! We break down the latest news in the Bridgeview Riot Fest double-booking, recap the events of the Red Stars at Wrigley, and dig into some stats that might explain where the Red Stars have gone wrong. Plus! We take a trip around the wide world of women's sports, and feel hope(?!) for the Emma Hayes era. We award the Sportsmanship of the week to a new arrival, and take PWHL Minnesota straight to the trash. Keep in touch with us @galpalsports acr...
Jun 13, 2024•55 min•Season 4Ep. 10
We're just days away from the historic Red Stars Wrigley Match! We got a chance to speak to a few players to talk about their feelings ahead of the big day. Shea Groom and Sam Staab discuss the importance of the match, Leilanni reveals a surprise visit from her family, Ally Schlegel and Jameese Joseph talk about the big build up, and Penelope Hocking comes full circle. Don't forget your tickets! Let's see a new NWSL record.
Jun 06, 2024•9 min
The USWNT is in the Twin Cities for their final match before Emma Hayes names the Olympic Roster. Hear remarks from Emma's press conference, along with mixed zone questions with Crystal Dunn, Naomi Girma and Rose Lavelle. Tune in to the match against the Korean Republic tonight at 8PM ET on TNT
Jun 04, 2024•30 min
Can you believe we're 10 games into the season? We check in with the Chicago Red Stars, and gather around the NWSL table for some predictions. We celebrate the coming of Emma Hayes. and her first USWNT camp roster. We also welcome sports media maven Erica Ayala to talk about the WNBA, and everyone's weird new obsession with treating Caitlin Clark like a widdle baby. Plus! We go around the wide world of women's sports, take a new Supporter's group straight to the trash, and award the Sportsmanshi...
May 23, 2024•1 hr 55 min•Season 4Ep. 9
We're back with an all-new episode of Football is Wife! It's match week 10 in the NWSL, and the vibes in Chicago are actually pretty good! We talk about the undefeated campaigns from Kansas City and Orlando, and a historic week in the WNBA. Plus! We take a moment for rivalries (and railroads?) in women's sports, take Arsenal straight to the trash for letting Viv Miedema walk away on a free transfer, and discuss the most sporting of sportsmanship of the week: The gayest moment in women's sports h...
May 16, 2024•1 hr 12 min•Season 4Ep. 8
Welcome back to an all-new episode of Football is Wife! Emily is back from her business trip, and NWSL has found a way to out-wacky itself with a 9th minute red card, and a 4-hour storm delay. Plus a moment for EDS Awareness month-- a cause that is near dear(?) to our hearts, some big charter news from the WNBA and a plea to leave admins alone. AND! Sportsmanship of the week celebrates the inimitable Formiga's wedding!
May 09, 2024•1 hr 5 min•Season 4Ep. 7
It's the first NWSL Wild Wednesday! André Carlisle joins us while Emily is out of town. He shares why Barbra Banda is an entire problem, and what went wrong for the Red Stars against an upstart Washington Spirit. Plus! News and notes from around the league, including Kelley O'Hara's retirement announcement (sob) and the imminent decision for the 2027 World Cup host. We take FIFA to the trash and hope they decide to punish the Zambian officials accused of wrongdoing, instead of the players, and w...
May 02, 2024•59 min•Season 4Ep. 4
We're back with another episode of Football is Wife! This week, Emily finally tells us about her new job. We take a look at the table after the first five matches to see who's up, who's down, and who's our favorite (it's Chicago). Plus! Happy news for women's sports, and four games with 20 goals on 4/20.
Apr 25, 2024•42 min•Season 4Ep. 5
Welcome back to an all-new episode of Football is Wife! EVERYONE watched the Women's Basketball Championship, and no one practiced their penalty kicks. The pals take a look at the state of the USWNT, and wonder where all the midfielders went. Plus! Good news from San Diego on cutting down the number of fireworks and light show activations, a quick rant about Korbin Albert and Penalty kicks, and awarding the Sportsmanship of the week to one hell of an ally to the Trans community. Follow @GalPalSp...
Apr 12, 2024•1 hr 6 min•Season 4Ep. 4
Welcome back to an all-new episode of Football is Wife! This week, the Pals check in on the big storylines of this first batch of NWSL games. VAR and injuries have too much main character energy, and the youth movement is on! But is the NWSL ready for it? Also! The Chicago Red Stars are way higher on the table than expected, and Mal Swanson is BACK! Has Chicago found happiness at last? Plus! A bracket for anxious pals everywhere: it's the Coaches You Don't Want to Disappoint challenge! Will #1 S...
Apr 04, 2024•1 hr 33 min•Season 4Ep. 3
The new NWSL season is here! The pals debate the finer points of who wins a season, discuss the opening week of action, and wonder if 11,500 seats are really enough. They also discuss the Chicago Red Stars season opener, and try not to cry over Sam Mewis’ Ring of Honor ceremony. They take America First Bank straight to the trash, and celebrate the start of March Madness. Learn more about the pals at Galpalsports.com, and follow @galpalsports across platforms.
Mar 22, 2024•42 min•Season 4Ep. 2
We kick off our new season of Football is Wife with special guest, André Carlisle! We chat Free Agency surprises, and the emotional roller coaster of the NWSL draft for Washington Spirit fans. We talk about hard resets in Chicago and DC, and give thanks to Lorne Donaldson for giving Red Stars fans real hope ahead of the season. All this and more on Football is Wife! Rate, review and subscribe! We love to hear from you. PS, Ruffy's doing great
Jan 22, 2024•49 min•Season 4Ep. 1
Football is Wife is back with a delightful update on the NHL Pride Tape Ban! We discuss the first round of the NWSL Playoffs, make our predictions for the next round, and ponder which woso game is our Roman Empire. Plus! The PWHL's new logo, and a WNBA Championship celebration. Rate, review, subscribe, and follow us across social media @GalPalSport
Oct 26, 2023•48 min•Season 3Ep. 26
It's another episode of Football is Wife! The Pals relive the magic and the memories of NWSL Decision day, including Syd Leroux's BICYCLE KICK. They look ahead to the NWSL Playoffs, and hope the USWNT window doesn't get in the way of a good time. Be sure to follow @GalPalSports across platforms for all your sporting silly needs.
Oct 18, 2023•50 min•Season 3Ep. 25
We're back for another episode of Football is Wife! As the Chicago Red Stars' season winds down, the NWSL playoff race heats up. We relive the heartbreak of the Red Stars elimination, and marvel at the seemingly infinite playoff scenarios kicking off at the same time. Plus! We throw the NHL's Pride Tape fiasco right in the bin, and wonder if the upcoming Carli Lloyd interview actually tells us anything new.
Oct 11, 2023•40 min•Season 3Ep. 24
The race for the NWSL Playoffs is ON! Do the Red Stars have enough gas in the tank to finish in the top six, or will the middle-of-the-pack teams finally reverse their downward trend? Plus! Casey Krueger takes the crown for NWSL Save of the Week with her heroic goal line clearance, and FIFA goes straight to the trash for announcing the host(sssss) in 2030 before we get a morsel of 2027 WWC news.
Oct 05, 2023•50 min•Season 3Ep. 23
