Good Game with Sarah Spain

Women’s volleyball reporter and host of the Side Out Society podcast Tiffany Oshinsky joins Sarah to preview this weekend’s NCAA volleyball Final Four in Kansas City, discuss the biggest upsets and surprises from the tournament, and take a pop quiz on city nicknames. Plus, tripling up the triple doubles, winning by a Mississippi, and we’ll take one year for one million, Alex. 

Ahead of the Milan-Cortina Paralympics, multi-sport phenom Oksana Masters sat down with producer Alex to discuss how she’s persevered through dozens of injuries and surgeries to become the most decorated Winter Paralympian in U.S. history, her caffeine-fueled goals for life after competition, and the advice she'd give up-and-coming competitors (but never follow herself). Plus, labor divisions expand, a trophy-worthy flick and...

Legendary soccer player Michelle Akers joins Sarah to talk about Origin Story: The 85ers, a new podcast documenting the first U.S. Women's National Team, the topless surf outing that resulted in a lasting nickname, and the joy, injuries and heartbreak that came with setting into motion 40 years of U.S. women’s soccer dominance. Plus, the field beats the favorite, a caucus teams up with a union, and a quicker-than-quick q...

Justine Siegel and Assia Grazioli-Venier of the soon-to-launch Women’s Pro Baseball League (WPBL) joined Sarah to discuss the behind-the-scenes process of getting the league up and running, the decision to start with four teams in coastal cities but play the inaugural season in the Midwest, and the emotions they expect to feel when they witness the first pitch of the first women’s pro baseball league in 70 years. Plus, ...

Former WNBA player, coach and sometime reality star Ty Young joins Sarah to discuss all the offseason options now available to players, the reality of being on reality TV, working under Teresa Weatherspoon, and her shock at the WNBA legend getting just one year at the helm in Chicago. Plus, is it possible that winning too much is a bad thing? 

SHOW NOTES: 

• Read Jeff Kassouf&rs...

Beth Mowins, longtime play-by-play announcer and OG women’s hoops broadcaster, joins Sarah to discuss the most memorable moments from her legendary career, the changes she’s seen in the women’s college basketball landscape over the years, the biggest winners, losers, surprises and disappointments of this NCAA hoops season so far, and her advice to those looking to follow in her footsteps. Plus, a timely celebratio...

The Winter Olympics are coming at us fast — almost as fast as a tight turn on an icy track. Ahead of the Milan-Cortina Games, producer Alex sat down with two-time skeleton world championship medalist Mystique Ro to discuss how she made the transition from track & field to sliding on ice, why “warming up” looks a little different in her sport, and what it will take to disrupt the monopoly one man has on the ske...

Sport-inspired artists Shannon Favia and Mallory Tolcher join Sarah to discuss their paths to becoming professional artists, combining their passions for sport and art, collaborating with teams and athletes, and the unique way they’ve each used basketball nets in their work. Plus, the return of the best rivalry, climbing for days, and when in drought, distract, distract, distract.

• Follow Mallo...

Haley Carter, the Washington Spirit’s new President of Soccer Operations, joins Sarah to discuss her decision to leave the Orlando Pride for D.C., the league rejecting the long-term deal the Spirit agreed to with Trinity Rodman, what comes next in the team’s efforts to keep Rodman, and her take on the NWSL’s gender policy. Plus, raise it to the rafters, a Wave of fun, and the College Cup finale is here.  ...

Comedians and podcast hosts E.R. Fightmaster and Erin Foley join Sarah for our second annual Unrivaled Draft! All 8 Unrivaled teams are put through a rigorous, highly scientific grading process, using only the most important categories – name, logo, ability to shoulder-carry, amount of tea in their DMs — to determine the squad we’ll each root for this season. Grab a pen and a piece of paper and join in! Plus, Rodm...

Founder of Watch Party PHL and host of the Everyone Listens to This Jawn podcast, Jen Leary joins Sarah to discuss Watch Party PHL’s latest events, outfitting actress Aubrey Plaza in women’s sports gear, the city’s deep-rooted women’s sports lore, and Philly jargon. Plus, mom on mom goals, smoke with no fire, and a dictionary that ducking rocks.  

• The NCAA...

2026 is right around the corner and we’re getting pumped for the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics! Producer Alex caught up with speed skater Brittany Bowe at the Team USA summit to chat gold medal goals, taking inspo from her girlfriend Hilary Knight, and how the couple plans to navigate Olympic scheduling challenges! Plus, a cameo from Knight and… Gay sheep! Gay wool! Gay fashion from gay wool from gay sheep! 

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Angel City FC breakout star and NWSL Rookie of the Year finalist Riley Tiernan joined Sarah during NWSL Championship Weekend to talk about going from non-roster invitee to starting every match, the vets who helped her feel like she belonged, her fast friendship with teammate Macey Hodge, and what it will take to make ACFC a winning squad. Plus, extending an extension, the handshake that wasn’t (or was it?), and the Sky S...

Andrea Brimmer, Chief Marketing and Public Relations Officer for Ally Financial, joins Sarah to talk about the company’s groundbreaking 50/50 Pledge to reach equal spend in media across men's and women's sports, (and why folks need to see ROI differently in the two spaces), her favorite “I told you so” moments and why Ally leaned into its sponsorship of the NWSL in its darkest moment, instead of abandoning it. Plu...

We're revisiting one of our favorite interviews of 2025! Sarah originally caught up with Canadian hockey royalty Marie-Philip and Laura back in June, but today we’re running back their interview in light of the 2025-2026 PWHL season kicking off last week. Marie-Philip and Laura discuss bringing the Walter Cup to Montreal, their decision to be more public with their relationship, and the joy of being dog owners. Plus...

Celebrate Thanksgiving the Good Game way, with Sarah and producer Alex running through a Holiday Hot Take Speed Round and sharing their chaotic Turkey Day traditions. Plus, NWSL stars including Trinity Rodman and Jaedyn Shaw roasting turkey (and sometimes the entire holiday), friends of the show like Rebecca Lobo and Jessica Mendoza weighing in on sides and controversial condiments, and Slices sharing traditions from gravy-dri...

Bay FC forward Penelope Hocking joined Sarah as part of the iHeart Women’s Sports Strong Start event at the NWSL Championship in San Jose. She discusses scoring in the same legendary stadium as her baseball-playing dad, getting drafted into the NWSL on the same day as her twin sister, and an awkward trade ask that was well worth it, now that she’s playing pro soccer in her home state. Plus, adding a few more names to th...

Women’s soccer legend and Bay FC co-founder Brandi Chastain joined Sarah as part of the iHeart Women’s Sports Strong Start event at the NWSL Championship. Brandi discusses the history of women’s soccer in the Bay Area, the challenges of launching a new NWSL team, her interest in coaching at the national team level, and the time she signed a car. Plus, draftees react in every which way, the lottery gods give hoops ...

It was a dopamine-producing weekend in San Jose! From Gotham FC’s "underdog"-to-top-dog NWSL title run and Rose Lavelle’s 80th minute banger, to postgame reactions from Sue Bird, Midge Purce, Lilly Reale and more, Sarah and producer Alex share the on-the-pitch action and spill the off-the-pitch tea — parties, pool-table dancing, surprise Kesha sets, Sinatra sing-alongs and all. Plus, NWSL Commissioner Jessica Berm...