November 24, 2025 • 42 mins
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 Berman joins the show to talk Trinity Rodman’s future, the league's salary cap and expansion plans, and the business realities shaping the next era of women’s soccer.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Welcome to Good Game with Sarah Spain, where we're begging
Fireball to wake up and sponsor the entire Lavelle family.
It's Monday, November twenty fourth, and on today's show, we'll
take you onto the pitch at PayPal Park, where you'll
hear Rose Lavell, midg Per, Sue Bird and more on
Gotham's NWSL championship win, and producer Alex and I will
spill the tea on the weekends parties and events. Then
(00:22):
it's my conversation with NWSL Commissioner Jessica Berman. I sat
down with her ahead of the championship game to ask
about Trinity Rodman and the league salary cap, whether or
not the NWSL needs a gender policy, lessons learned from
this season, league expansion, and more. Plus the Cardiac Cats
strike again, the Luck of the Irish returns, and Wilma's Mom,
(00:42):
Channel's Old Blue Eyes. It's all coming up right after
this Welcome back Slices, Happy Monday.
Speaker 2 (00:52):
Here's what you need to know today.
Speaker 1 (00:55):
Let's start with the NWSL and Saturday Night at PayPal
Park in San Jose. When eight Seed got them, f
Seed took one more step toward dynasty status, winning their
second NWSL championship in three seasons, a one nil defeat
of the two seed Washington Spirit. A Rose Leavell left
footed strike in the eightieth minute was the difference, earning
(01:16):
Leavell Title Game MVP honors and giving her her first
ever NWSL title. Some gorgeous footwork from Brunina on the
left side kept defenders guessing before she slipped a pass
across the box to Lavell, who stepped into the feed
and finished. Now in both of their title runs, the
Batties of Gotham fought from the final playoff spot to
(01:36):
win it all, proving Jaden Shaw's rally and cry true
underdog mass first a quarter final upside of the top
seed Casey Current, then a semi final upset of last
year's champs, the Orlando Pride, and finally handing the Washington
Spirit their second straight defeat in the title game. Speaking
of the Spirit, questions await them this offseason as Trinity
(01:57):
rodmanfields offers from teams abroad and competing leagues at home.
Was this Rodman's final game in a Spirit jersey? She
told us Thursday at media Day she couldn't let herself
think about that ahead of the title game, but now
with a long off season stretching out before her, those
questions will soon need answers. Speaking of off seasons, you
remember last off season, Gotham saw nearly a dozen departures,
(02:22):
including lynd Biandolo, Crystal Dunn, and Yasmine Ryan, prompting a
letter from GM yiel Averbush West to the team's fans
assuring them that the Mission was still to be one
of the best clubs in the world. I guess Mission
accomplished plenty. More on Gotham's win and the weekend's activities
from Me and Alex later in the show. Gotham not
the only champions crowned this weekend. Let's head to NCAA
(02:45):
Field Hockey. In Friday semi final games, Princeton bested Harvard
two OHO to earn their spot in the title game,
and on the other side of the bracket, Friend of
the Show had coach Tracy Fuchs and her defending champion
Northwestern Wildcats came back from down three to one in
the third quarter to def feat Friend of the Show
Aaron Matson and UNC four to three in overtime, and
(03:05):
on Sunday, the Wildcats needed extra time again, but the
Cardiac Cats came through once more, defeating Princeton two to
one in double overtime to earn their second straight NCAA
championship and third title in five seasons.
Speaker 2 (03:19):
Princeton was the only team to.
Speaker 1 (03:21):
Defeat the Wildcats this regular season, but Northwestern one when
it counted most, and like Gotham, the Wildcats had something
to prove after they went twenty two to one winning
the Big Ten Conference, yet still being denied one of
the four to one seeds in the tournament.
Speaker 2 (03:36):
What's that again?
Speaker 1 (03:37):
Jayden underdog mass t Encublea hoops and a couple fantastic
contests over the weekend. On Thursday, number nineteen Iowa upset
number seven Baylor fifty seven to fifty two despite a
thirty two point effort from the Bears to lea Scott.
On Friday, a redemption game for Hannah Hidalgo and Notre Dame,
as the junior star hit the game winning jumper with
(03:57):
one point nine seconds left to lead her team past
eleventh ranked USC sixty one fifty nine. Hidalgo had twenty
two points, seven rebounds, and five steals to help the
twenty fourth ranked Irish bounce back from that ugly loss
to Michigan. Also Friday, a game that looked like a
runaway for top seeded Yukon got real interesting. Late. Sixth
(04:17):
ranked Michigan came back from down by as many as
seventeen points, but they couldn't upset the Huskies, who walked
away with a seventy two to sixty nine win in
the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame Women's Showcase. Easy Fudd
had thirty one points in the win, including thirteen in
the fourth quarter and three straight three pointers in a
personal nine to zero run as Michigan was threatening. Late
Michigan sophomore Silas Swords put up twenty nine points and
(04:40):
sunk three three pointers in the last minute of the game,
but her Wolverines came up just short. All right, selicis
plenty more news from college soccer, women's pro baseball, WNBACBA
negotiations and more all come in your way tomorrow. But
there is so much more to share from our big
weekend in San Jose. Let's go back to the pitch
(05:01):
at PayPal Park where Alex and I chatted moments after
GOTHAMFC hoisted the NWSL trophy. We're standing on the field
post Gotham wins, surrounded by confetti, families hugging, lots of
photo taking. I only saw one family doing fireball together.
That of course rose La Bell's family. What's the biggest
takeaway for you from this big weekend of NWSL festivities
(05:24):
and the championship game.
Speaker 3 (05:26):
Well, I just want to say that just because we
didn't see the families doing fireball together doesn't mean that
it wasn't happy to hear you.
Speaker 2 (05:32):
Know, big field.
Speaker 3 (05:35):
My biggest takeaway is that Gotham from the jump, that
just felt like Gotham was all over it from the beginning.
I think they need to continue to finish last in
the playoff bracket in order to continue their their dynasty
that they've started to establish.
Speaker 1 (05:50):
Yeah, I think next year, if they're successful throughout, we're
going to know it's not their year. Also, you said
something interesting earlier tonight that I hadn't thought about it
in a while, which was all the turmoil around this team.
As players were leaving, there was some conversation like.
Speaker 2 (06:04):
What's going on with Crystal done?
Speaker 1 (06:06):
Why are players electing, you know, not to stick around?
And what we saw was the folks that did stick
around created quite a tight knit group that was able
to look at their struggles mid season. They're inconsistency, they're
eight seed, and at no point really seemed to doubt
that they could get it done. And of course it
helps that they came out of the last spot in
(06:28):
the playoffs the last time they won. But still a
really impressive showing from a team full of veterans that
it never really got to them. It's very Las Vegas
aces coded. It never really got to them when people
were like, this team is way too talented to be
playing the way they are, and they were.
Speaker 2 (06:42):
Like, yeah, we are.
Speaker 1 (06:43):
We know, don't worry, We'll show up when it matters,
and they did.
Speaker 3 (06:46):
People have to remember, like got them issued a letter
to their fans to be like, hey, guys, like trust us,
Like we're figuring it out, like we have a specific
player mindset that we have in mind.
Speaker 4 (06:56):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (06:57):
I mean, all that really matters is who's the one
celebrating at the end, and only one.
Speaker 2 (07:02):
Team gets to and it's Gotham.
Speaker 1 (07:04):
And speaking of celebrating, we need to get out of
here and find out what Jaden Shaw's first legal drink is.
Speaker 2 (07:10):
Because Old Girl turned.
Speaker 1 (07:11):
Twenty one on Thursday, presumably got a good night's sleep
Friday night, Thursday night, and now Saturday night. She is
a champion and legally able to I don't know, fireball
with Rose and her family or whatever the hell she wants.
I'm interested to find out what it's gonna be. All right,
so we're gonna go find the parties, Alex. I know
you're taking the day Aftermorrow, presumably to recover from the parties. Yes,
(07:36):
or potentially because you have to take like eleven flights
to get back to wherever the heck you live in
New Hampshire. Either way, Yes, either way, don't worry. I'll
handle Monday show and we'll get you back on during
the week to talk about all the other things from
this amazing weekend. Now, before we went out in search
of Jadenshaw's drink of choice, we did chat with a
few folks celebrating with friends and family on the field. First,
(07:56):
the MVP herself, Rose Lavelle, who shared the she was
feeling in the moments after the win exciting.
Speaker 2 (08:04):
I'm really happy. I love this team.
Speaker 5 (08:06):
It's been a fun journey and this is again just
I see on the cake.
Speaker 2 (08:09):
How does it feel to win something you haven't won before.
It's so surreal.
Speaker 5 (08:13):
I think I keep saying, it's like anytime you get
the chance to compete for a trophy, it's really special.
But this is definitely one that I have been wanting
to cross off. And hopefully it's not the first.
Speaker 2 (08:23):
Do we have an actual list where we're crossing it off? Yeah? Okay,
and if not, we need to make one. Yeah, what
else is on that list?
Speaker 1 (08:34):
Read?
Speaker 5 (08:34):
Drink coffee, pet Wilma win an NBA championship.
Speaker 2 (08:38):
We love a balanced winner.
Speaker 1 (08:41):
Speaking of winners, Roses family the big winners because they
had yet another reason to celebrate.
Speaker 2 (08:46):
And winning is fun. It is, winning is fun. You
picked a good daughter.
Speaker 1 (08:51):
If you like winning, winning is so much fun. Next
up Lily Reel, who capped off one hell of a
rook key season.
Speaker 2 (09:00):
Okay, Rookie of the Year championship in your first season.
What do you have to look forward to? Is everything
downhill from now?
Speaker 4 (09:06):
No?
Speaker 6 (09:06):
I think I think you know, obviously they've set up
pretty good standard here at our team, so like, I know,
nothing else going into the playoffs, fortunately, but I think
it's something to strive for. It's gonna be difficult, but
I'm yeah, looking forward to the next couple of years.
Speaker 2 (09:21):
Here, Okay, tell us about the after party. What's the plan?
Don't know.
Speaker 6 (09:25):
Honestly, I don't think there is much of a plan yet,
but I can definitely trust my teammates to have some fun,
So I'm excited.
Speaker 2 (09:33):
There's gotta be a plan for Jade and Shaw.
Speaker 6 (09:35):
Yeah, of course, twenty first birthday soleration.
Speaker 1 (09:37):
Yeah, and we found Lily's cutie patuity grandfather, who we
last saw watching proudly as his granddaughter one Rookie of
the Year at the NWSL Awards on Thursday.
Speaker 4 (09:46):
What a nice deal this quest, I know. Oh my god,
it was scary the last few minutes.
Speaker 1 (09:52):
Well, holy Mackwell I assume you heard that you were
the star of the internet after that.
Speaker 4 (09:56):
Yeah, yeah, I know.
Speaker 2 (09:58):
I very lucky and very special.
Speaker 4 (10:02):
Oh I am. Oh my goodness, gracious. I love my granddaughter.
She's so beautiful. We've had a good relationship all over
the years, in school and everything. She's been terrific.
Speaker 1 (10:17):
Next up Gotham investor Sue Byrd, who's still getting used
to winning a title as a contributor off the field
or court.
Speaker 7 (10:23):
What is the old adage, right like you're you did
shit in the group project, but you get the a. Listen,
I'm two for three. I'm two for three as an owner.
It might technically be two for four, but who's counting. No,
this is so fun. You can see how happy everybody is.
And honestly, Rose Lavell, y'all, she's been knocking on the
(10:44):
door of this for a long time. Hit a banger
to seal the deal, and I'm just so happy for her.
I'm had for the whole team, the whole franchise, but
really happy for Rose. It's a great a great story,
a great tale of very similar you know, I'm gonna
bring it back to basketball, very similar to Laces, right,
even though they finished second at the end, but you
get the point and.
Speaker 2 (11:04):
Through the season at some point they're probably easy.
Speaker 7 (11:06):
Yeah, never count out like champions and veterans. And I
think you saw that tonight.
Speaker 1 (11:11):
And finally, Mitch Purse, who played Good Gooder Goodest based
on her incredible year honor show, we knew good good
or goodest, something's good, something's good or something's goodest. Okay,
so we got Sports Illustrated Swimsuit being on Broadway winning
the twenty twenty five NWSL Championship okay good. Broadway Sports
(11:32):
illustrated Gooder Championship Goodest Good. After grabbing a little tinsel
from the field, Alex and I found some friends and
we did a little party hopping, including stops at Meghan Ensues,
a Touch More event, and got them's official victory celebration,
where the team entered to cheers from friends and family
(11:54):
and the DJ blasting Queen's we are the Champions.
Speaker 2 (11:58):
Speaking of the DJ, I.
Speaker 1 (11:59):
Hope this I got Hazard pay because backup keeper Shelby
Hogan nearly took him out dancing on the front edge
of the DJ booth to journeys don't stop believing. In fact,
I do have a video of her kicking him in
the face and almost breaking his computer. Hogan and her
fellow keeper Ryan Campbell were also spotted with Rose Level
on the pool table getting down to Sinaptras New York.
Speaker 2 (12:18):
New York coach Jan Carlos Amiros and his son.
Speaker 1 (12:21):
Luca hit the dance floor for Alicia Keys version of
New York, as did Midge Purse, who did not take
her goggles off all night, and while I can't confirm
the first drink, at one point, Jadenshaw was spotted cradling
a very fancy bottle of Reposada tequila like a baby.
So much fun to be at the winner's party. Of course,
no word on the vibes at Michelle Kang Spirit event,
(12:43):
but I can imagine that was a tough gig for
whoever DJ'ed that team's second straight second place party. Speaking
to parties, the Just Women's Sports Party on Friday featured
a surprise performance from Kesha, who did actually brush her
teeth with a bottle of jack on stage, and once
she was done, the stud button. This is the WNBA
players Courtney Williams and Natisha Heideman, who crashed the entire
(13:04):
NWSL weekend, of course, had to hop on stage into
arousing lip sync and dance performance to Vanessa Carlton's one
Thousand Miles, and then Commissioner Jessica Burman's husband.
Speaker 2 (13:13):
Doug took the stage to get down to Soldier Boy.
It was an evening.
Speaker 1 (13:17):
On Friday morning, I did a live show sponsored by
Novartis in Capitol One at the beautiful Hayes Mansion. We
had yoga brunch and interviews with the great Brandy Chastain
and BFC forward Penelope Hawking.
Speaker 2 (13:29):
Those are coming your way soon.
Speaker 1 (13:31):
There was also happy hours, networking events, sponsor activations and
more all weekend long, including an ally House which had
some really great live shows with all the usual big
names Sue and Megan Tobin, Heath, Kristin Press, Abby Wambach,
Julie Foudy and Moore. And speaking of Foudy, Alex and
I actually spent the second half of the title game
Saturday in her field level sweet, so thank you Foudy.
(13:51):
We got to meet US women's national team manager Emma
Hayes and see her meet Sophia Smith's baby Gigi for
the first time, which was so sweet. We also saw
Andy Sullivan and her baby Millie, and a bunch of
other footy stars Channon Box, Lauren Holliday, Listenaire. We just
had an absolute blast in San Jose and we actually
lived something that Emma Hayes said at a brunch Saturday morning,
(14:12):
when she was asked about the vibes at women's sporting events.
The US women's national team manager said, when people go
to men's sporting events, they feel cortisol. When they go
to women's sporting events, they feel dopamine, which like pause
for that, my mind is blown that is so so accurate,
and frankly, this whole weekend was a dopamine hit. So
(14:32):
very grateful that we got to be there, all right,
We got to take a quick break when we come back.
My conversation with Jessica Berman from Thursday's NWSL Media Day
joining us now the commissioner of the National Women's Soccer
League who just signed a multi year contract extension to
stay on as commission A Michigan undergrad and Fordham Law
(14:53):
School product, she spent time with the National Football League
and National Lacrosse League before joining the NWSL in twenty
twenty two. Winner of the Sports Business Ernals twenty twenty
four Exactly the Year Award and SI's twenty twenty four.
Speaker 2 (15:03):
Innovator of the Year.
Speaker 1 (15:03):
Mom of two still not Marley Mattlin unless it helps
her skip a line at the club.
Speaker 2 (15:08):
It's Jessica Berman.
Speaker 8 (15:09):
Hi, Jessica, Hi, You're so fun.
Speaker 1 (15:12):
What is exciting you most about this championship weekend and
what it has to say about the league's growth?
Speaker 9 (15:18):
Mostly excited about the up leveling of what this week
has become. I still remember back in twenty twenty two
when it felt small and we said every single year
We're going to expand the event and make it more
like a week long celebration, and it is now that
we kicked off all the festivities last night with the
(15:38):
NWSL Award Show, and it was incredible.
Speaker 8 (15:41):
It was incredible to see the athletes show up.
Speaker 9 (15:44):
Both teams who are competing in the championship, but also
athletes from all around the league came and it's just
like the closure you want from the season and being
able to celebrate all the things that are great about
the NWSL.
Speaker 1 (15:57):
Yeah, and this is the first sort of media day
Radio Row. What inspired you to add that to the
week's events.
Speaker 9 (16:03):
I think you were there, Sarah, when we got the inspiration.
Both Jen Levine, who's our head of comms, and I
were at the Super Bowl this past year in New
Orleans and we walked Radio Row and I sat down
with you there for a bit and we were walking
out of the room there and we said, what if
we started doing something similar? And of course we are
(16:26):
starting smaller than the NFL, but everyone has their setups
and it feels like a crawl walk run of that,
and so yeah, like why not just all the content
creators together.
Speaker 1 (16:40):
Like shirtless men hawking paper towels or like weird animals,
Like eventually you cross that sort of like jumping the
shark line where it's both good for content and also
just completely absurd.
Speaker 2 (16:51):
You know. We look forward to that.
Speaker 9 (16:52):
Our athletes should feel like the celebrities. They that's true,
and so they walk into this room and see this
setup and they're like, Yeah, people care about talking to me,
and that's how they should feel.
Speaker 1 (17:01):
I love that I mentioned that you just signed a
multi year contract extension. What's the biggest goal for you
as you approach this next phase of your role as commissioner.
Speaker 9 (17:09):
Yeah, I think we're focused on two things at the
same time. We're focused on future proofing the league and
making sure that we're making the decisions for the long
term that will ensure that the league is viable and
thriving for years and decades to come, but then also
laser focused on the short term and making sure that
we're leading in this incredible moment where the time is
(17:33):
upon us for both the sport of soccer and women's sports.
We feel like we're at the intersection of those two
things over the next few years, and we have to
get after it, and there's no time to waste, So
we're excited about all that.
Speaker 1 (17:47):
I have a lot of empathy for people at the
top right now because the exponential growth of women's sports
can often mean that a deal that looks really great,
like six months later, it feels a little like it's
past its expiration already. How are you betting big and
forcing others to meet you in that future place so
that you know that when you make those deals in partnerships,
it won't feel stale by the time it gets to
(18:09):
its end.
Speaker 8 (18:09):
Well, I think we have.
Speaker 9 (18:10):
To balance what I call in business the three rs, reach, revenue,
and relevance, and we think about all of our partnerships
through those three lenses. So it isn't just about the
core commercial terms or the economics of the deal, but
what other opportunities does it unlock for us? And are
(18:30):
we values aligned most importantly with the brand so that
in addition to whatever they're literally paying us for in
terms of our rights and our IP, are they going
to also invest in activating Are they going to invest
in marketing and promoting our league? And that's what we're
seeing with our four media partners, that's what we're seeing
with all of the brands who have signed up to
come on board on this journey with us, and I
(18:52):
think that's the way that we'll be able to hold
the ecosystem accountable for the goalposts that are continuing to
move each and every day. It feels like I do
often describe this role as feeling like I'm running on
a treadmill and every time I blink someone pushes the
plus button. As a runner, it's a very scary feeling,
(19:13):
but I'm up for it, and luckily I still run,
So I use that imagery to sort of motivate me
to be ready for the plot sign to be pushed.
Speaker 1 (19:24):
I want to talk about expansion because there's so much there,
but a couple quick check ins from this past season,
some big storylines. First, I was actually there for the
first of two very scary medical incidents. I was at
the Angel City game with sav King, the other with
Racing Louisville Savannah Demello. It was incredible to see the
medical team's honored as part of Wednesday's awards ceremony.
Speaker 2 (19:42):
Unfortunate that it was.
Speaker 1 (19:43):
Necessary, but the news that Savvi King is launching this
league wide initiative to help teach CPR to all sixteen
teams and expand heart screenings, make sure people are equipped
to act in those moments. Because my producer Alix and
I were just talking about, imagine five or ten years ago,
when there weren't as many medical people around every single event,
what could have happened. So such a blessing that both
(20:05):
of them are. Okay, what do you think was the
most important thing that the league and you learned in
the wake of those two incidents.
Speaker 9 (20:12):
Well, first of all, I just I can't have you
talk about that without mentioning how incredible both Savvy and
Savannah are and Sav's initiative she emailed me once she
had gone through her procedures and was really thinking about
this as an opportunity to turn lemons into lemonade. Yeah,
(20:33):
and for those people in the world, including me, who
have been through hard things, that's a blessing when you
have someone who can look at a set of circumstances
and say, Okay, this was horrifying, but what am I
gonna do about it? Am I gonna learn from this
and help make other people's lives better? Or am I
going to lament in my own circumstances? And she did
(20:55):
the former, which is incredible for a twenty year old,
and I just I think about her all the time
in both what she went through but how she's so
quickly been able to turn this around. And I am
going to be learning CPR as well through her initiatives.
So I'm just very excited to support her vision in
(21:16):
spreading the word about how important it is that everyone
know these incredibly important life saving measures. I think in
terms of what we learned well well first and foremost,
you know, you never imagine that those types of things
are going to happen, and we had it happened not once,
but twice in the same season, and so I was
proud from a league perspective that between the first and
(21:38):
the second incident that we had, that we were able
to surface the decision that needed to be made quickly
and make the decision to not continue the game, to
abandon the game. I've already said that in the Savvy Game,
I wish we had not continued to play, and.
Speaker 8 (21:58):
That was a learning for us.
Speaker 9 (22:00):
And so, you know, all we can do as humans
who are in these positions is be honest and accountable
for the decisions we make and assure people that we
have the systems in place to review them and do
better next time. And I know we did do better
next time, and we will continue to do better.
Speaker 1 (22:20):
The other story from this season that sort of I
think helped pressure test the league to figure out how
they want to act in the future was the game
in August between the Current and the Pride set to
air and CBS had to be delayed three and a
half hours due to extreme heat, and the Athletic later
reported that you threatened to find Kansas City over a
disagreement about the delay and the heat checks, and specifically
the fact that the team asked for another heat check
(22:41):
after the league.
Speaker 2 (22:42):
Decided to go forward with the game.
Speaker 1 (22:43):
Do you have any comment in that reporting in that
situation and what did you learn from that, Because I
think there's a lot of empathy for the idea of
like wanting to grow the league and have it get
those amazing time slots, and also understanding that centering and
protecting the players and fans is still got to be
a priority, even in those moments of potential revenue lost.
Speaker 8 (22:59):
Yeah. Yeah, I call it the both and and.
Speaker 9 (23:04):
Both have to be prioritized. What I have said, sort
of similarly to the Savvy King situation, was that I
know we can do better, and we will do better,
and the experience of the players and the technical staff
and the fans who were in that building that day
is below our standards, and we will do everything we
(23:27):
can to make sure that we do not have that
situation again. We got to the right result ultimately where
the game did not ultimately get played when it was scheduled,
and so I think as we go forward, we in
this off season in particular, we're reviewing all of our
protocols and our policies, particularly around game operations and communication flow,
(23:52):
to make sure that we are best positioned to be
able to surface the decisions in the right way and
ensure that we have the appropriate inputs to make those
decisions in real time.
Speaker 1 (24:02):
Is it in the CBA or any sort of policy
the right to find teams in that instance, and is
that why there was a thread of that, and is
that something that you've renegotiated or reworded.
Speaker 9 (24:12):
Well, our league and every professional sports league has brought
authority to find teams for anything that's deemed to be
not in the best interests of the league. I think
the situation we definitely learned from, and I think most
importantly to make sure that we're getting the right information
(24:32):
passed to the league so that we can make the
right decision and communicate the right direction at the right times.
Speaker 1 (24:39):
We all learned a lot about the I can't remember
the name of it, the like heat drop, wet bulb,
wet bulb, thank you well, learned a lot about the.
Speaker 8 (24:47):
Wet wge, wet bowlb.
Speaker 1 (24:50):
Yes, again, I have a lot of empathy for dealing
with these situations in the moment and learning from them
is the most important thing. But of course, as this
league continues to grow and further professionalize, some of these
potential things are hopefully the kind of thing that are
discussed in advance so when the moment happens and in
the moment, those decisions can be made immediately.
Speaker 2 (25:12):
You know, we talk a lot the last.
Speaker 1 (25:14):
Couple days, especially about NWSL players going abroad in light
of Trinity Rodman and conversations around the salary cap. You know,
Naomi German, Alyssa Thompson and many others leaving, lots coming
as well, and a lot of people are not talking
enough about the many international players choosing to come play
in the NWSL. But the salary cap is of course
part of the decision making going forward, and the league
(25:35):
and the PA reached a new agreement last year to
give players more benefits and autonomy, but with the salary cap,
they just can't compete with some of the multimillion dollar
offers coming from the European clubs. I loved what you
said in the presser about how the NWSL offers more competition,
a better level of competition across every single team than
the other leagues. Do you think that's enough to compete
(25:58):
with the massive salaries that are being offered by other places.
Speaker 9 (26:03):
Well, first, as long as we named the players who left,
I'll have named some of the players who came, because
a lot of those players are Ballandor finalists and they
are some of the best players in the world.
Speaker 8 (26:15):
We look at Jackie.
Speaker 9 (26:16):
Ovalle from Mexico, who could have gone anywhere and she
chose to come to Orlando. We look at Sophia Cantorri,
who is the first player to come from Italy and
also was a Ballandor nominee, and she chose to play
for the Washington Spirit.
Speaker 8 (26:29):
Me official has come home. There's a lot of great stories.
Speaker 9 (26:34):
Aster Gonzalez, Yes, Barbara Tamwa, so many players have chosen
to come here and stay here, and we've seen reports
literally every day in the last week or two of
players signing long term extensions. Olivia Moultriz just signed a
long term extension. I believe Jalen Howell will just sound
(26:55):
signed a long term extension.
Speaker 8 (26:56):
Jaden Shaw.
Speaker 9 (26:57):
We we have lots to sell celebrate in this league,
and it's very easy to focus on the ones we're
losing and not also focus on the ones who are coming.
So I just have to say that because we are
very proud of sort of how we've netted out in
the transfer market, and we do believe that the league
is a place where top players have chosen to play
(27:19):
and will continue to choose to play. Yeah, as I
said in the press conference, but just to reiterate, we
really do believe that players are sophisticated, and of course
they will look at compensation as a factor, and it
is not the only factor that they care about. And
I know this because I spend countless days sitting in
person with the players in our league, going market to
(27:39):
market and understanding why they are here, what they expect
from us, and where we can be better, and the
things that I hear from them in particular from players
who have played all around the world or who come
from national teams from around the world. I think of
players like Sme Morgan or Jess Carter and Katrin Berger,
and what they tell, what I hear from players from
(28:02):
all around the world consistently and agents, is that what
the NWSL has to offer end to end, top to bottom,
there is no place in the world that is like
it or can compete with it. They know that no
matter what team they're playing at in the NWSL, they
will get a professional training environment, they will get appropriate
level staffing, that we have minimum standards in place for
(28:22):
our CBA, that consistently our teams play in full buildings,
and that that those are the component parts that make
them the athletes that can go and compete at the
highest level, whether it's for club or country.
Speaker 8 (28:37):
And that's worth a lot.
Speaker 1 (28:39):
Yeah, And it does feel like the league will continue
and has continued to raise a salary cap and continuing
to recognize revenue coming in versus money that can be spent.
Speaker 2 (28:49):
And I imagine if the problem gets worse.
Speaker 1 (28:51):
You will have to take action and that's all you
can do.
Speaker 2 (28:56):
Can you clarify what you were talking about?
Speaker 1 (28:57):
In the pressure when you said you're the only league
that pays players for perform ormance. I think a lot
of people don't know that in the NWSL, the league
pays players, not the teams. It's a unique structure. But
is that just bonuses or something.
Speaker 9 (29:07):
So if you look last night at all of our
awards in the NWSL, which you know, again multiple people
said to me last night felt like the ballandor which
is obviously a private awards ceremony that is not specific
to a particular league. This is the NWSL awards, and
we reward players for top performance at the league level.
(29:29):
That is separate from the fact that technically, yes, you
are correct that all of the players in the NWSL
are employees of the league and they are assigned or
actually play for their clubs. But what I meant by
that is that when we have performance bonuses at the
league level, that's in addition to what our teams pay,
(29:52):
and we look at that as part of the compensation
package because it is non traditional and I always say
that when you look at any of our teams in
the NWSL or the nwslso collective as compared to any
other teams that might be competing for top talent. It's
like apples and cucumbers, Like these are not the same things,
because our structure is different, because the way that we
(30:13):
think about the collective is different, because the way our
teams come together from a business side is different.
Speaker 8 (30:21):
There's just so many.
Speaker 9 (30:22):
Unique elements about the way we operate, our relationship with
the union, and the way we think about minimum standards
is different. And so for all of those reasons, we
really think that our unique value proposition should and does
put us in a position to compete for top talent.
Speaker 1 (30:39):
A couple more questions. I know you're busy, lady. A
few weeks ago, a player on Angel City wrote an
op ed calling for a league wide gender policy with
specific demands on how to determine eligibility. You said then
and repeated today, Our policy is our practice. I just
wonder if you worry about how not having an actual
policy leaves you open both top eds like that, but
also potential complications if you're essentially working on a case
by case basis.
Speaker 9 (31:00):
I think working on a case by case basis gives
us the flexibility to be able to understand and know
not just the specific circumstances of any particular situation, but
also what's going on in real time, and when you
have a practice, it is a reference point, just like
a policy, but it gives us the opportunity to make
(31:21):
sure that we have the ability to consult with subject
matter experts and understand the very complex nuances that exist
in any given situation, and given how quickly this landscape
is changing, that is what we think is in the
best interests of the NWSL and any changes we want
to make to our current practice we have and will
(31:43):
work with our players in the union on that.
Speaker 1 (31:45):
And it allows a little more fluidity, flexibility, and agility
if it isn't a policy as much as it is
a practice, because then as things change, or science changes,
or things get updated, you're able to react in kind.
I wonder if there's a concern at all at putting
it in writing, because it opens you up to attention
or criticism that in this current time could mean financial hits,
bad publicity at literally the highest level of government administration,
(32:09):
and other things that might drastically impact the league. Because
I think even the most progressive people recognize that in
the current time there are people looking for policy and
black and white proof of something that they want to
fight against. Do you think having it in black and
white opens you up to things that you're worried about,
so you'd prefer to have it be a little more amorphous.
Speaker 9 (32:30):
Our decision is really based on the fact that we've
continued to analyze it, and we think that we're in
a very strong position to be able to continue to
operate in real time based on the players who are
already playing in our league and the players who we
know are trying to play in our league, and that
(32:50):
that puts us, our players, and the league overall from
a business perspective, in the best situation to be successful.
I think, most importantly in the thing that I want
to emphasize every time we're talking about this, it's the
reason that I always start with this is that the
players who play in our league are eligible to play
in our league, right, and that the players who play
in our.
Speaker 1 (33:10):
Life, but there's no policy for them to meet to
be eligible.
Speaker 8 (33:14):
Well, your practice, it's our practice.
Speaker 2 (33:16):
I mean, it's sort of like.
Speaker 1 (33:17):
Circular logic semantics, which is why I'm wondering, if you
are going back to that eligibility, why wouldn't you put
it into writing. But that's again why I asked if
you worry about writing either cementing a position that you
feel might change in the future, or you're worried about
people's ability to look at that policy in writing and
attack what has been a fairly inclusive policy so far.
Speaker 9 (33:39):
We're going to continue to operate with our values at
the center of every decision we make, and we're really
proud of the way that we've operationalized our practice, and
we don't really feel like there is more that we
need to do at this time.
Speaker 1 (33:53):
I'll say editorially, it feels like a fairly inclusive league
that thus far has been very open to intersex players
and other players. And so if that continues to be
the values you're trying to espouse without having to name
them because of all those complications that I mentioned, go
forth really quickly expansion. How do you make sure it's
not moving faster than talent interest, investment bandwidth, and how
(34:15):
do you make sure the partners that you're partnering with
are connected enough to women women's sports and the culture
of the NWSL as opposed to just the money opportunity
that you don't roll yourselves into a return to some
of the problems that the league faced.
Speaker 2 (34:28):
In the past.
Speaker 9 (34:29):
It's a great question well as it relates to ensuring
that we are prepared for the expansion. That is when
you asked me the earlier question about what we're focused on,
and I talked about.
Speaker 8 (34:42):
Future proofing the league.
Speaker 9 (34:43):
It really is about making sure that we have strategies
for being able to prioritize the path to pro and
investing in domestic talent. We know that this country is
sitting on a hotbed of women and girls who play
this incredible sport, and that if if we could play
more of a role in developing and cultivating that talent,
(35:04):
that there is an endless supply of top talent in
this country, and that is something that we're going to
work on collaboratively and in partnership with US Soccer, And
so that is happening in real time and will continue
to be a priority. When we think about expansion and
the owners around our league, there is no question that
(35:29):
that is a top priority for us and our board.
When we're meeting with potential owners, we talk to them
about why they're there, what they care about, how they
see this in the long term, and what their values are.
Why are they interested in owning a professional women's soccer team,
and it is absolutely part of the equation and the
(35:49):
consideration for determining when and how we award a team.
Speaker 1 (35:53):
You mentioned the advisory board was a brainchild of yours.
What are they advising on and did every team get
an opportunity to have or upperative because not all the
teams are represented.
Speaker 9 (36:02):
Yeah, every team has an opportunity to be represented up
to two per team, and for the teams that are
not represented, we will work with them to determine whether
there are opportunities to either bring in new investors who
we think add value to the advisory board or who
are already on their cap table. This is sort of
who we were able to get in the sort of
(36:24):
preliminary launch of this advisory board and what they're going
to advise on is, at least from my perspective, the
growth of the league. We want to bring them under
the hood and give them an opportunity to literally review
our strategic business plan. We want to take them through
the things that we're doing to grow the league from
a media, marketing and promotional perspective. Many of them are
(36:46):
subject matter experts in content, in social media, in entertainment,
and we think that they're going to have great ideas
to help us be better, and we want to give
them a seat at the table, which we know has
never been done before in professional sports. So we think
that relationship is going to be really important in the
short term and directly we're going to get feedback. But
I think indirectly and more long term, I know and
(37:09):
believe that when you bring people along on the journey,
you create evangelists. These are people who are now going
to feel like they are part of what we are building.
They're going to see their fingerprints on the league because
guess what, when they come to the table with an
idea and we work together on implementing it, they're going
to become loud supporters of the NWS.
Speaker 8 (37:29):
Especially if you use their idea yeah, and give them
credit for it.
Speaker 1 (37:33):
It's true though, I mean, I think for a long
time we are fighting this battle of just not poisoning
the well of women's sports as it not being cool,
and now that it is shifted over to like an
endless number of celebrities want to be involved. You can
roll your eyes in it, or you can say, hey,
let's take advantage of the millions of followers they have
the influence they have, the spaces that they're in, and
the way that they can bring the ideas that they're
(37:53):
talking about and their support for the league into those
spaces and continue to make it more international, more global,
all day other stuff which I love. Okay, last question
for you. Next year we got Boston and Denver joining
the league. Where does Jessica Berman go first or what
does she eat first? In each of those places? If
you're going there for a game, what's the first place
you're stopping?
Speaker 9 (38:13):
Ooh, well, I have to say that I love New England.
My husband is from the Cape, so when we go
to the game, we'll probably do a swing around Falmouth
where he was born and raised, which we often do
when we visit Boston. And I'm so excited for them
to open their season at Gillette. I know and believe
(38:34):
between that and Empower Field for Denver, one or both
of them are going to break the record that we
set here, So it's going to be amazing. When I
go to Denver, I have to say, my first stop
is this amazing boutique that has secondhand clothes that I
visit every single time I go to Denver.
Speaker 8 (38:54):
It's called Vintage Label.
Speaker 9 (38:56):
And I'm obsessed with her clothes, and she hand picks
and curates all of these sort of like antique pieces.
Speaker 8 (39:03):
Yeah, and every time I go there, it is my
first stop.
Speaker 9 (39:05):
And I love her and she has been on the
journey of the NWSL coming to Denver because I found
her store when we did our first sight visit. And
every time I go it is a cross the street
from Union Station. I stop by and I make sure
that I go home with some new item from her collection.
Speaker 1 (39:23):
We love a commissioner who doesn't keep those fines.
Speaker 8 (39:26):
We appreciate it.
Speaker 2 (39:27):
Jess Thanks so much for the time.
Speaker 8 (39:29):
Thank you so much.
Speaker 1 (39:32):
Thanks again to Jessica for sitting down with me. I
just want to add that before we spoke, Jessica held
a press conference addressing the league's biggest issues, and there
are a couple of takeaways worth mentioning that I didn't
ask her about because she had already covered it. Regarding
potentially upping the salary cap to compete for top talent,
Berman said, quote, we do not believe that the NWSL
is a charity. We believe it is a business, and
in order to treat it like a business, it means
(39:53):
that the amount our teams are investing, has to have
a rational relationship to revenue end quote. She also reminded
folks that the cap has quadrupled in the last four years.
Verman also said that the MLS deciding to move their
calendar to align with Europe's top leagues has the soccer
ecosystem quote on notice, but that the NWSL has no
current plans to change from their January to November season.
(40:15):
She said a whole bunch more so we'll link to
her full presser in the show notes if you want
to watch it all right, got to take another break
when we come back. They did it their way.
Speaker 2 (40:28):
Welcome back, slices.
Speaker 1 (40:29):
We love that you're listening, but we want you to
get in the game every day too, So here's our
good game play of the day. If you want to
see some of the fun behind the scenes from this
weekend and put some visuals to all the stories I
just told, check out my instagram Spain two three two
three and my TikTok Spain dot Sarah for fun picks
and videos from the party's end the game. We always
love to hear from you, so hit us up on email.
(40:50):
Good game at Wondermedianetwork dot com or leave us a
voicemail at eight seven two two oh four fifty seventy
and don't forget to subscribe.
Speaker 2 (40:57):
Rate and Review slices.
Speaker 1 (40:59):
It's really watch seeing Rose Levell and her dad singing
My Way at the Gotham after party.
Speaker 2 (41:06):
Rating one of one.
Speaker 1 (41:07):
Wholesome family moment review, no doubt about it. Rose Levell
and her family have their party PhDs, from the shotsky
Mom and popol Lavell did before the game, to the
pocket fireball pulled out during the game to Rose dancing
on a pool table at the victory party. They know
how to celebrate, so it was no surprise when Rose
and her dad ended up in the DJ booth crooning
(41:30):
Sinatra's My Way to adoring teammates, Gotham staff and friends
on the dance floor below. Okay, so maybe not exactly crooning.
(41:55):
Now it's your turn, y'all, Rate and Review, thanks for listening,
See you tomorrow. Good game, GOTMFC.
Speaker 2 (42:00):
Good game.
Speaker 1 (42:01):
All you slices that came up and said hi over
the weekend, it really made my day. You the sad
basis of the Spirit players after a second year settling
for runner up.
Speaker 2 (42:10):
I know that's just sports, but I Don't.
Speaker 4 (42:12):
Have to Like It.
Speaker 1 (42:18):
Good Game with Sarah Spain is an iHeart women's sports
production in partnership with Deep Blue Sports and Entertainment. You
can find us on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or.
Speaker 2 (42:26):
Wherever you get your podcasts.
Speaker 1 (42:28):
Production by Wonder Media Network, our producers are alex Azzie
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are Christina Everett, Jesse Katz, Jenny Kaplan and Emily Rudder.
Our editors are Emily Rudder, Britney Martinez and Gianna Palmer.
Production assistants from Avery Loftus and I'm Your Host Sarah
Spain
Welcome to Good Game with Sarah Spain, where we're begging
Fireball to wake up and sponsor the entire Lavelle family.
It's Monday, November twenty fourth, and on today's show, we'll
take you onto the pitch at PayPal Park, where you'll
hear Rose Lavell, midg Per, Sue Bird and more on
Gotham's NWSL championship win, and producer Alex and I will
spill the tea on the weekends parties and events. Then
(00:22):
it's my conversation with NWSL Commissioner Jessica Berman. I sat
down with her ahead of the championship game to ask
about Trinity Rodman and the league salary cap, whether or
not the NWSL needs a gender policy, lessons learned from
this season, league expansion, and more. Plus the Cardiac Cats
strike again, the Luck of the Irish returns, and Wilma's Mom,
(00:42):
Channel's Old Blue Eyes. It's all coming up right after
this Welcome back Slices, Happy Monday.
Speaker 2 (00:52):
Here's what you need to know today.
Speaker 1 (00:55):
Let's start with the NWSL and Saturday Night at PayPal
Park in San Jose. When eight Seed got them, f
Seed took one more step toward dynasty status, winning their
second NWSL championship in three seasons, a one nil defeat
of the two seed Washington Spirit. A Rose Leavell left
footed strike in the eightieth minute was the difference, earning
(01:16):
Leavell Title Game MVP honors and giving her her first
ever NWSL title. Some gorgeous footwork from Brunina on the
left side kept defenders guessing before she slipped a pass
across the box to Lavell, who stepped into the feed
and finished. Now in both of their title runs, the
Batties of Gotham fought from the final playoff spot to
(01:36):
win it all, proving Jaden Shaw's rally and cry true
underdog mass first a quarter final upside of the top
seed Casey Current, then a semi final upset of last
year's champs, the Orlando Pride, and finally handing the Washington
Spirit their second straight defeat in the title game. Speaking
of the Spirit, questions await them this offseason as Trinity
(01:57):
rodmanfields offers from teams abroad and competing leagues at home.
Was this Rodman's final game in a Spirit jersey? She
told us Thursday at media Day she couldn't let herself
think about that ahead of the title game, but now
with a long off season stretching out before her, those
questions will soon need answers. Speaking of off seasons, you
remember last off season, Gotham saw nearly a dozen departures,
(02:22):
including lynd Biandolo, Crystal Dunn, and Yasmine Ryan, prompting a
letter from GM yiel Averbush West to the team's fans
assuring them that the Mission was still to be one
of the best clubs in the world. I guess Mission
accomplished plenty. More on Gotham's win and the weekend's activities
from Me and Alex later in the show. Gotham not
the only champions crowned this weekend. Let's head to NCAA
(02:45):
Field Hockey. In Friday semi final games, Princeton bested Harvard
two OHO to earn their spot in the title game,
and on the other side of the bracket, Friend of
the Show had coach Tracy Fuchs and her defending champion
Northwestern Wildcats came back from down three to one in
the third quarter to def feat Friend of the Show
Aaron Matson and UNC four to three in overtime, and
(03:05):
on Sunday, the Wildcats needed extra time again, but the
Cardiac Cats came through once more, defeating Princeton two to
one in double overtime to earn their second straight NCAA
championship and third title in five seasons.
Speaker 2 (03:19):
Princeton was the only team to.
Speaker 1 (03:21):
Defeat the Wildcats this regular season, but Northwestern one when
it counted most, and like Gotham, the Wildcats had something
to prove after they went twenty two to one winning
the Big Ten Conference, yet still being denied one of
the four to one seeds in the tournament.
Speaker 2 (03:36):
What's that again?
Speaker 1 (03:37):
Jayden underdog mass t Encublea hoops and a couple fantastic
contests over the weekend. On Thursday, number nineteen Iowa upset
number seven Baylor fifty seven to fifty two despite a
thirty two point effort from the Bears to lea Scott.
On Friday, a redemption game for Hannah Hidalgo and Notre Dame,
as the junior star hit the game winning jumper with
(03:57):
one point nine seconds left to lead her team past
eleventh ranked USC sixty one fifty nine. Hidalgo had twenty
two points, seven rebounds, and five steals to help the
twenty fourth ranked Irish bounce back from that ugly loss
to Michigan. Also Friday, a game that looked like a
runaway for top seeded Yukon got real interesting. Late. Sixth
(04:17):
ranked Michigan came back from down by as many as
seventeen points, but they couldn't upset the Huskies, who walked
away with a seventy two to sixty nine win in
the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame Women's Showcase. Easy Fudd
had thirty one points in the win, including thirteen in
the fourth quarter and three straight three pointers in a
personal nine to zero run as Michigan was threatening. Late
Michigan sophomore Silas Swords put up twenty nine points and
(04:40):
sunk three three pointers in the last minute of the game,
but her Wolverines came up just short. All right, selicis
plenty more news from college soccer, women's pro baseball, WNBACBA
negotiations and more all come in your way tomorrow. But
there is so much more to share from our big
weekend in San Jose. Let's go back to the pitch
(05:01):
at PayPal Park where Alex and I chatted moments after
GOTHAMFC hoisted the NWSL trophy. We're standing on the field
post Gotham wins, surrounded by confetti, families hugging, lots of
photo taking. I only saw one family doing fireball together.
That of course rose La Bell's family. What's the biggest
takeaway for you from this big weekend of NWSL festivities
(05:24):
and the championship game.
Speaker 3 (05:26):
Well, I just want to say that just because we
didn't see the families doing fireball together doesn't mean that
it wasn't happy to hear you.
Speaker 2 (05:32):
Know, big field.
Speaker 3 (05:35):
My biggest takeaway is that Gotham from the jump, that
just felt like Gotham was all over it from the beginning.
I think they need to continue to finish last in
the playoff bracket in order to continue their their dynasty
that they've started to establish.
Speaker 1 (05:50):
Yeah, I think next year, if they're successful throughout, we're
going to know it's not their year. Also, you said
something interesting earlier tonight that I hadn't thought about it
in a while, which was all the turmoil around this team.
As players were leaving, there was some conversation like.
Speaker 2 (06:04):
What's going on with Crystal done?
Speaker 1 (06:06):
Why are players electing, you know, not to stick around?
And what we saw was the folks that did stick
around created quite a tight knit group that was able
to look at their struggles mid season. They're inconsistency, they're
eight seed, and at no point really seemed to doubt
that they could get it done. And of course it
helps that they came out of the last spot in
(06:28):
the playoffs the last time they won. But still a
really impressive showing from a team full of veterans that
it never really got to them. It's very Las Vegas
aces coded. It never really got to them when people
were like, this team is way too talented to be
playing the way they are, and they were.
Speaker 2 (06:42):
Like, yeah, we are.
Speaker 1 (06:43):
We know, don't worry, We'll show up when it matters,
and they did.
Speaker 3 (06:46):
People have to remember, like got them issued a letter
to their fans to be like, hey, guys, like trust us,
Like we're figuring it out, like we have a specific
player mindset that we have in mind.
Speaker 4 (06:56):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (06:57):
I mean, all that really matters is who's the one
celebrating at the end, and only one.
Speaker 2 (07:02):
Team gets to and it's Gotham.
Speaker 1 (07:04):
And speaking of celebrating, we need to get out of
here and find out what Jaden Shaw's first legal drink is.
Speaker 2 (07:10):
Because Old Girl turned.
Speaker 1 (07:11):
Twenty one on Thursday, presumably got a good night's sleep
Friday night, Thursday night, and now Saturday night. She is
a champion and legally able to I don't know, fireball
with Rose and her family or whatever the hell she wants.
I'm interested to find out what it's gonna be. All right,
so we're gonna go find the parties, Alex. I know
you're taking the day Aftermorrow, presumably to recover from the parties. Yes,
(07:36):
or potentially because you have to take like eleven flights
to get back to wherever the heck you live in
New Hampshire. Either way, Yes, either way, don't worry. I'll
handle Monday show and we'll get you back on during
the week to talk about all the other things from
this amazing weekend. Now, before we went out in search
of Jadenshaw's drink of choice, we did chat with a
few folks celebrating with friends and family on the field. First,
(07:56):
the MVP herself, Rose Lavelle, who shared the she was
feeling in the moments after the win exciting.
Speaker 2 (08:04):
I'm really happy. I love this team.
Speaker 5 (08:06):
It's been a fun journey and this is again just
I see on the cake.
Speaker 2 (08:09):
How does it feel to win something you haven't won before.
It's so surreal.
Speaker 5 (08:13):
I think I keep saying, it's like anytime you get
the chance to compete for a trophy, it's really special.
But this is definitely one that I have been wanting
to cross off. And hopefully it's not the first.
Speaker 2 (08:23):
Do we have an actual list where we're crossing it off? Yeah? Okay,
and if not, we need to make one. Yeah, what
else is on that list?
Speaker 1 (08:34):
Read?
Speaker 5 (08:34):
Drink coffee, pet Wilma win an NBA championship.
Speaker 2 (08:38):
We love a balanced winner.
Speaker 1 (08:41):
Speaking of winners, Roses family the big winners because they
had yet another reason to celebrate.
Speaker 2 (08:46):
And winning is fun. It is, winning is fun. You
picked a good daughter.
Speaker 1 (08:51):
If you like winning, winning is so much fun. Next
up Lily Reel, who capped off one hell of a
rook key season.
Speaker 2 (09:00):
Okay, Rookie of the Year championship in your first season.
What do you have to look forward to? Is everything
downhill from now?
Speaker 4 (09:06):
No?
Speaker 6 (09:06):
I think I think you know, obviously they've set up
pretty good standard here at our team, so like, I know,
nothing else going into the playoffs, fortunately, but I think
it's something to strive for. It's gonna be difficult, but
I'm yeah, looking forward to the next couple of years.
Speaker 2 (09:21):
Here, Okay, tell us about the after party. What's the plan?
Don't know.
Speaker 6 (09:25):
Honestly, I don't think there is much of a plan yet,
but I can definitely trust my teammates to have some fun,
So I'm excited.
Speaker 2 (09:33):
There's gotta be a plan for Jade and Shaw.
Speaker 6 (09:35):
Yeah, of course, twenty first birthday soleration.
Speaker 1 (09:37):
Yeah, and we found Lily's cutie patuity grandfather, who we
last saw watching proudly as his granddaughter one Rookie of
the Year at the NWSL Awards on Thursday.
Speaker 4 (09:46):
What a nice deal this quest, I know. Oh my god,
it was scary the last few minutes.
Speaker 1 (09:52):
Well, holy Mackwell I assume you heard that you were
the star of the internet after that.
Speaker 4 (09:56):
Yeah, yeah, I know.
Speaker 2 (09:58):
I very lucky and very special.
Speaker 4 (10:02):
Oh I am. Oh my goodness, gracious. I love my granddaughter.
She's so beautiful. We've had a good relationship all over
the years, in school and everything. She's been terrific.
Speaker 1 (10:17):
Next up Gotham investor Sue Byrd, who's still getting used
to winning a title as a contributor off the field
or court.
Speaker 7 (10:23):
What is the old adage, right like you're you did
shit in the group project, but you get the a. Listen,
I'm two for three. I'm two for three as an owner.
It might technically be two for four, but who's counting. No,
this is so fun. You can see how happy everybody is.
And honestly, Rose Lavell, y'all, she's been knocking on the
(10:44):
door of this for a long time. Hit a banger
to seal the deal, and I'm just so happy for her.
I'm had for the whole team, the whole franchise, but
really happy for Rose. It's a great a great story,
a great tale of very similar you know, I'm gonna
bring it back to basketball, very similar to Laces, right,
even though they finished second at the end, but you
get the point and.
Speaker 2 (11:04):
Through the season at some point they're probably easy.
Speaker 7 (11:06):
Yeah, never count out like champions and veterans. And I
think you saw that tonight.
Speaker 1 (11:11):
And finally, Mitch Purse, who played Good Gooder Goodest based
on her incredible year honor show, we knew good good
or goodest, something's good, something's good or something's goodest. Okay,
so we got Sports Illustrated Swimsuit being on Broadway winning
the twenty twenty five NWSL Championship okay good. Broadway Sports
(11:32):
illustrated Gooder Championship Goodest Good. After grabbing a little tinsel
from the field, Alex and I found some friends and
we did a little party hopping, including stops at Meghan Ensues,
a Touch More event, and got them's official victory celebration,
where the team entered to cheers from friends and family
(11:54):
and the DJ blasting Queen's we are the Champions.
Speaker 2 (11:58):
Speaking of the DJ, I.
Speaker 1 (11:59):
Hope this I got Hazard pay because backup keeper Shelby
Hogan nearly took him out dancing on the front edge
of the DJ booth to journeys don't stop believing. In fact,
I do have a video of her kicking him in
the face and almost breaking his computer. Hogan and her
fellow keeper Ryan Campbell were also spotted with Rose Level
on the pool table getting down to Sinaptras New York.
Speaker 2 (12:18):
New York coach Jan Carlos Amiros and his son.
Speaker 1 (12:21):
Luca hit the dance floor for Alicia Keys version of
New York, as did Midge Purse, who did not take
her goggles off all night, and while I can't confirm
the first drink, at one point, Jadenshaw was spotted cradling
a very fancy bottle of Reposada tequila like a baby.
So much fun to be at the winner's party. Of course,
no word on the vibes at Michelle Kang Spirit event,
(12:43):
but I can imagine that was a tough gig for
whoever DJ'ed that team's second straight second place party. Speaking
to parties, the Just Women's Sports Party on Friday featured
a surprise performance from Kesha, who did actually brush her
teeth with a bottle of jack on stage, and once
she was done, the stud button. This is the WNBA
players Courtney Williams and Natisha Heideman, who crashed the entire
(13:04):
NWSL weekend, of course, had to hop on stage into
arousing lip sync and dance performance to Vanessa Carlton's one
Thousand Miles, and then Commissioner Jessica Burman's husband.
Speaker 2 (13:13):
Doug took the stage to get down to Soldier Boy.
It was an evening.
Speaker 1 (13:17):
On Friday morning, I did a live show sponsored by
Novartis in Capitol One at the beautiful Hayes Mansion. We
had yoga brunch and interviews with the great Brandy Chastain
and BFC forward Penelope Hawking.
Speaker 2 (13:29):
Those are coming your way soon.
Speaker 1 (13:31):
There was also happy hours, networking events, sponsor activations and
more all weekend long, including an ally House which had
some really great live shows with all the usual big
names Sue and Megan Tobin, Heath, Kristin Press, Abby Wambach,
Julie Foudy and Moore. And speaking of Foudy, Alex and
I actually spent the second half of the title game
Saturday in her field level sweet, so thank you Foudy.
(13:51):
We got to meet US women's national team manager Emma
Hayes and see her meet Sophia Smith's baby Gigi for
the first time, which was so sweet. We also saw
Andy Sullivan and her baby Millie, and a bunch of
other footy stars Channon Box, Lauren Holliday, Listenaire. We just
had an absolute blast in San Jose and we actually
lived something that Emma Hayes said at a brunch Saturday morning,
(14:12):
when she was asked about the vibes at women's sporting events.
The US women's national team manager said, when people go
to men's sporting events, they feel cortisol. When they go
to women's sporting events, they feel dopamine, which like pause
for that, my mind is blown that is so so accurate,
and frankly, this whole weekend was a dopamine hit. So
(14:32):
very grateful that we got to be there, all right,
We got to take a quick break when we come back.
My conversation with Jessica Berman from Thursday's NWSL Media Day
joining us now the commissioner of the National Women's Soccer
League who just signed a multi year contract extension to
stay on as commission A Michigan undergrad and Fordham Law
(14:53):
School product, she spent time with the National Football League
and National Lacrosse League before joining the NWSL in twenty
twenty two. Winner of the Sports Business Ernals twenty twenty
four Exactly the Year Award and SI's twenty twenty four.
Speaker 2 (15:03):
Innovator of the Year.
Speaker 1 (15:03):
Mom of two still not Marley Mattlin unless it helps
her skip a line at the club.
Speaker 2 (15:08):
It's Jessica Berman.
Speaker 8 (15:09):
Hi, Jessica, Hi, You're so fun.
Speaker 1 (15:12):
What is exciting you most about this championship weekend and
what it has to say about the league's growth?
Speaker 9 (15:18):
Mostly excited about the up leveling of what this week
has become. I still remember back in twenty twenty two
when it felt small and we said every single year
We're going to expand the event and make it more
like a week long celebration, and it is now that
we kicked off all the festivities last night with the
(15:38):
NWSL Award Show, and it was incredible.
Speaker 8 (15:41):
It was incredible to see the athletes show up.
Speaker 9 (15:44):
Both teams who are competing in the championship, but also
athletes from all around the league came and it's just
like the closure you want from the season and being
able to celebrate all the things that are great about
the NWSL.
Speaker 1 (15:57):
Yeah, and this is the first sort of media day
Radio Row. What inspired you to add that to the
week's events.
Speaker 9 (16:03):
I think you were there, Sarah, when we got the inspiration.
Both Jen Levine, who's our head of comms, and I
were at the Super Bowl this past year in New
Orleans and we walked Radio Row and I sat down
with you there for a bit and we were walking
out of the room there and we said, what if
we started doing something similar? And of course we are
(16:26):
starting smaller than the NFL, but everyone has their setups
and it feels like a crawl walk run of that,
and so yeah, like why not just all the content
creators together.
Speaker 1 (16:40):
Like shirtless men hawking paper towels or like weird animals,
Like eventually you cross that sort of like jumping the
shark line where it's both good for content and also
just completely absurd.
Speaker 2 (16:51):
You know. We look forward to that.
Speaker 9 (16:52):
Our athletes should feel like the celebrities. They that's true,
and so they walk into this room and see this
setup and they're like, Yeah, people care about talking to me,
and that's how they should feel.
Speaker 1 (17:01):
I love that I mentioned that you just signed a
multi year contract extension. What's the biggest goal for you
as you approach this next phase of your role as commissioner.
Speaker 9 (17:09):
Yeah, I think we're focused on two things at the
same time. We're focused on future proofing the league and
making sure that we're making the decisions for the long
term that will ensure that the league is viable and
thriving for years and decades to come, but then also
laser focused on the short term and making sure that
we're leading in this incredible moment where the time is
(17:33):
upon us for both the sport of soccer and women's sports.
We feel like we're at the intersection of those two
things over the next few years, and we have to
get after it, and there's no time to waste, So
we're excited about all that.
Speaker 1 (17:47):
I have a lot of empathy for people at the
top right now because the exponential growth of women's sports
can often mean that a deal that looks really great,
like six months later, it feels a little like it's
past its expiration already. How are you betting big and
forcing others to meet you in that future place so
that you know that when you make those deals in partnerships,
it won't feel stale by the time it gets to
(18:09):
its end.
Speaker 8 (18:09):
Well, I think we have.
Speaker 9 (18:10):
To balance what I call in business the three rs, reach, revenue,
and relevance, and we think about all of our partnerships
through those three lenses. So it isn't just about the
core commercial terms or the economics of the deal, but
what other opportunities does it unlock for us? And are
(18:30):
we values aligned most importantly with the brand so that
in addition to whatever they're literally paying us for in
terms of our rights and our IP, are they going
to also invest in activating Are they going to invest
in marketing and promoting our league? And that's what we're
seeing with our four media partners, that's what we're seeing
with all of the brands who have signed up to
come on board on this journey with us, and I
(18:52):
think that's the way that we'll be able to hold
the ecosystem accountable for the goalposts that are continuing to
move each and every day. It feels like I do
often describe this role as feeling like I'm running on
a treadmill and every time I blink someone pushes the
plus button. As a runner, it's a very scary feeling,
(19:13):
but I'm up for it, and luckily I still run,
So I use that imagery to sort of motivate me
to be ready for the plot sign to be pushed.
Speaker 1 (19:24):
I want to talk about expansion because there's so much there,
but a couple quick check ins from this past season,
some big storylines. First, I was actually there for the
first of two very scary medical incidents. I was at
the Angel City game with sav King, the other with
Racing Louisville Savannah Demello. It was incredible to see the
medical team's honored as part of Wednesday's awards ceremony.
Speaker 2 (19:42):
Unfortunate that it was.
Speaker 1 (19:43):
Necessary, but the news that Savvi King is launching this
league wide initiative to help teach CPR to all sixteen
teams and expand heart screenings, make sure people are equipped
to act in those moments. Because my producer Alix and
I were just talking about, imagine five or ten years ago,
when there weren't as many medical people around every single event,
what could have happened. So such a blessing that both
(20:05):
of them are. Okay, what do you think was the
most important thing that the league and you learned in
the wake of those two incidents.
Speaker 9 (20:12):
Well, first of all, I just I can't have you
talk about that without mentioning how incredible both Savvy and
Savannah are and Sav's initiative she emailed me once she
had gone through her procedures and was really thinking about
this as an opportunity to turn lemons into lemonade. Yeah,
(20:33):
and for those people in the world, including me, who
have been through hard things, that's a blessing when you
have someone who can look at a set of circumstances
and say, Okay, this was horrifying, but what am I
gonna do about it? Am I gonna learn from this
and help make other people's lives better? Or am I
going to lament in my own circumstances? And she did
(20:55):
the former, which is incredible for a twenty year old,
and I just I think about her all the time
in both what she went through but how she's so
quickly been able to turn this around. And I am
going to be learning CPR as well through her initiatives.
So I'm just very excited to support her vision in
(21:16):
spreading the word about how important it is that everyone
know these incredibly important life saving measures. I think in
terms of what we learned well well first and foremost,
you know, you never imagine that those types of things
are going to happen, and we had it happened not once,
but twice in the same season, and so I was
proud from a league perspective that between the first and
(21:38):
the second incident that we had, that we were able
to surface the decision that needed to be made quickly
and make the decision to not continue the game, to
abandon the game. I've already said that in the Savvy Game,
I wish we had not continued to play, and.
Speaker 8 (21:58):
That was a learning for us.
Speaker 9 (22:00):
And so, you know, all we can do as humans
who are in these positions is be honest and accountable
for the decisions we make and assure people that we
have the systems in place to review them and do
better next time. And I know we did do better
next time, and we will continue to do better.
Speaker 1 (22:20):
The other story from this season that sort of I
think helped pressure test the league to figure out how
they want to act in the future was the game
in August between the Current and the Pride set to
air and CBS had to be delayed three and a
half hours due to extreme heat, and the Athletic later
reported that you threatened to find Kansas City over a
disagreement about the delay and the heat checks, and specifically
the fact that the team asked for another heat check
(22:41):
after the league.
Speaker 2 (22:42):
Decided to go forward with the game.
Speaker 1 (22:43):
Do you have any comment in that reporting in that
situation and what did you learn from that, Because I
think there's a lot of empathy for the idea of
like wanting to grow the league and have it get
those amazing time slots, and also understanding that centering and
protecting the players and fans is still got to be
a priority, even in those moments of potential revenue lost.
Speaker 8 (22:59):
Yeah. Yeah, I call it the both and and.
Speaker 9 (23:04):
Both have to be prioritized. What I have said, sort
of similarly to the Savvy King situation, was that I
know we can do better, and we will do better,
and the experience of the players and the technical staff
and the fans who were in that building that day
is below our standards, and we will do everything we
(23:27):
can to make sure that we do not have that
situation again. We got to the right result ultimately where
the game did not ultimately get played when it was scheduled,
and so I think as we go forward, we in
this off season in particular, we're reviewing all of our
protocols and our policies, particularly around game operations and communication flow,
(23:52):
to make sure that we are best positioned to be
able to surface the decisions in the right way and
ensure that we have the appropriate inputs to make those
decisions in real time.
Speaker 1 (24:02):
Is it in the CBA or any sort of policy
the right to find teams in that instance, and is
that why there was a thread of that, and is
that something that you've renegotiated or reworded.
Speaker 9 (24:12):
Well, our league and every professional sports league has brought
authority to find teams for anything that's deemed to be
not in the best interests of the league. I think
the situation we definitely learned from, and I think most
importantly to make sure that we're getting the right information
(24:32):
passed to the league so that we can make the
right decision and communicate the right direction at the right times.
Speaker 1 (24:39):
We all learned a lot about the I can't remember
the name of it, the like heat drop, wet bulb,
wet bulb, thank you well, learned a lot about the.
Speaker 8 (24:47):
Wet wge, wet bowlb.
Speaker 1 (24:50):
Yes, again, I have a lot of empathy for dealing
with these situations in the moment and learning from them
is the most important thing. But of course, as this
league continues to grow and further professionalize, some of these
potential things are hopefully the kind of thing that are
discussed in advance so when the moment happens and in
the moment, those decisions can be made immediately.
Speaker 2 (25:12):
You know, we talk a lot the last.
Speaker 1 (25:14):
Couple days, especially about NWSL players going abroad in light
of Trinity Rodman and conversations around the salary cap. You know,
Naomi German, Alyssa Thompson and many others leaving, lots coming
as well, and a lot of people are not talking
enough about the many international players choosing to come play
in the NWSL. But the salary cap is of course
part of the decision making going forward, and the league
(25:35):
and the PA reached a new agreement last year to
give players more benefits and autonomy, but with the salary cap,
they just can't compete with some of the multimillion dollar
offers coming from the European clubs. I loved what you
said in the presser about how the NWSL offers more competition,
a better level of competition across every single team than
the other leagues. Do you think that's enough to compete
(25:58):
with the massive salaries that are being offered by other places.
Speaker 9 (26:03):
Well, first, as long as we named the players who left,
I'll have named some of the players who came, because
a lot of those players are Ballandor finalists and they
are some of the best players in the world.
Speaker 8 (26:15):
We look at Jackie.
Speaker 9 (26:16):
Ovalle from Mexico, who could have gone anywhere and she
chose to come to Orlando. We look at Sophia Cantorri,
who is the first player to come from Italy and
also was a Ballandor nominee, and she chose to play
for the Washington Spirit.
Speaker 8 (26:29):
Me official has come home. There's a lot of great stories.
Speaker 9 (26:34):
Aster Gonzalez, Yes, Barbara Tamwa, so many players have chosen
to come here and stay here, and we've seen reports
literally every day in the last week or two of
players signing long term extensions. Olivia Moultriz just signed a
long term extension. I believe Jalen Howell will just sound
(26:55):
signed a long term extension.
Speaker 8 (26:56):
Jaden Shaw.
Speaker 9 (26:57):
We we have lots to sell celebrate in this league,
and it's very easy to focus on the ones we're
losing and not also focus on the ones who are coming.
So I just have to say that because we are
very proud of sort of how we've netted out in
the transfer market, and we do believe that the league
is a place where top players have chosen to play
(27:19):
and will continue to choose to play. Yeah, as I
said in the press conference, but just to reiterate, we
really do believe that players are sophisticated, and of course
they will look at compensation as a factor, and it
is not the only factor that they care about. And
I know this because I spend countless days sitting in
person with the players in our league, going market to
(27:39):
market and understanding why they are here, what they expect
from us, and where we can be better, and the
things that I hear from them in particular from players
who have played all around the world or who come
from national teams from around the world. I think of
players like Sme Morgan or Jess Carter and Katrin Berger,
and what they tell, what I hear from players from
(28:02):
all around the world consistently and agents, is that what
the NWSL has to offer end to end, top to bottom,
there is no place in the world that is like
it or can compete with it. They know that no
matter what team they're playing at in the NWSL, they
will get a professional training environment, they will get appropriate
level staffing, that we have minimum standards in place for
(28:22):
our CBA, that consistently our teams play in full buildings,
and that that those are the component parts that make
them the athletes that can go and compete at the
highest level, whether it's for club or country.
Speaker 8 (28:37):
And that's worth a lot.
Speaker 1 (28:39):
Yeah, And it does feel like the league will continue
and has continued to raise a salary cap and continuing
to recognize revenue coming in versus money that can be spent.
Speaker 2 (28:49):
And I imagine if the problem gets worse.
Speaker 1 (28:51):
You will have to take action and that's all you
can do.
Speaker 2 (28:56):
Can you clarify what you were talking about?
Speaker 1 (28:57):
In the pressure when you said you're the only league
that pays players for perform ormance. I think a lot
of people don't know that in the NWSL, the league
pays players, not the teams. It's a unique structure. But
is that just bonuses or something.
Speaker 9 (29:07):
So if you look last night at all of our
awards in the NWSL, which you know, again multiple people
said to me last night felt like the ballandor which
is obviously a private awards ceremony that is not specific
to a particular league. This is the NWSL awards, and
we reward players for top performance at the league level.
(29:29):
That is separate from the fact that technically, yes, you
are correct that all of the players in the NWSL
are employees of the league and they are assigned or
actually play for their clubs. But what I meant by
that is that when we have performance bonuses at the
league level, that's in addition to what our teams pay,
(29:52):
and we look at that as part of the compensation
package because it is non traditional and I always say
that when you look at any of our teams in
the NWSL or the nwslso collective as compared to any
other teams that might be competing for top talent. It's
like apples and cucumbers, Like these are not the same things,
because our structure is different, because the way that we
(30:13):
think about the collective is different, because the way our
teams come together from a business side is different.
Speaker 8 (30:21):
There's just so many.
Speaker 9 (30:22):
Unique elements about the way we operate, our relationship with
the union, and the way we think about minimum standards
is different. And so for all of those reasons, we
really think that our unique value proposition should and does
put us in a position to compete for top talent.
Speaker 1 (30:39):
A couple more questions. I know you're busy, lady. A
few weeks ago, a player on Angel City wrote an
op ed calling for a league wide gender policy with
specific demands on how to determine eligibility. You said then
and repeated today, Our policy is our practice. I just
wonder if you worry about how not having an actual
policy leaves you open both top eds like that, but
also potential complications if you're essentially working on a case
by case basis.
Speaker 9 (31:00):
I think working on a case by case basis gives
us the flexibility to be able to understand and know
not just the specific circumstances of any particular situation, but
also what's going on in real time, and when you
have a practice, it is a reference point, just like
a policy, but it gives us the opportunity to make
(31:21):
sure that we have the ability to consult with subject
matter experts and understand the very complex nuances that exist
in any given situation, and given how quickly this landscape
is changing, that is what we think is in the
best interests of the NWSL and any changes we want
to make to our current practice we have and will
(31:43):
work with our players in the union on that.
Speaker 1 (31:45):
And it allows a little more fluidity, flexibility, and agility
if it isn't a policy as much as it is
a practice, because then as things change, or science changes,
or things get updated, you're able to react in kind.
I wonder if there's a concern at all at putting
it in writing, because it opens you up to attention
or criticism that in this current time could mean financial hits,
bad publicity at literally the highest level of government administration,
(32:09):
and other things that might drastically impact the league. Because
I think even the most progressive people recognize that in
the current time there are people looking for policy and
black and white proof of something that they want to
fight against. Do you think having it in black and
white opens you up to things that you're worried about,
so you'd prefer to have it be a little more amorphous.
Speaker 9 (32:30):
Our decision is really based on the fact that we've
continued to analyze it, and we think that we're in
a very strong position to be able to continue to
operate in real time based on the players who are
already playing in our league and the players who we
know are trying to play in our league, and that
(32:50):
that puts us, our players, and the league overall from
a business perspective, in the best situation to be successful.
I think, most importantly in the thing that I want
to emphasize every time we're talking about this, it's the
reason that I always start with this is that the
players who play in our league are eligible to play
in our league, right, and that the players who play
in our.
Speaker 1 (33:10):
Life, but there's no policy for them to meet to
be eligible.
Speaker 8 (33:14):
Well, your practice, it's our practice.
Speaker 2 (33:16):
I mean, it's sort of like.
Speaker 1 (33:17):
Circular logic semantics, which is why I'm wondering, if you
are going back to that eligibility, why wouldn't you put
it into writing. But that's again why I asked if
you worry about writing either cementing a position that you
feel might change in the future, or you're worried about
people's ability to look at that policy in writing and
attack what has been a fairly inclusive policy so far.
Speaker 9 (33:39):
We're going to continue to operate with our values at
the center of every decision we make, and we're really
proud of the way that we've operationalized our practice, and
we don't really feel like there is more that we
need to do at this time.
Speaker 1 (33:53):
I'll say editorially, it feels like a fairly inclusive league
that thus far has been very open to intersex players
and other players. And so if that continues to be
the values you're trying to espouse without having to name
them because of all those complications that I mentioned, go
forth really quickly expansion. How do you make sure it's
not moving faster than talent interest, investment bandwidth, and how
(34:15):
do you make sure the partners that you're partnering with
are connected enough to women women's sports and the culture
of the NWSL as opposed to just the money opportunity
that you don't roll yourselves into a return to some
of the problems that the league faced.
Speaker 2 (34:28):
In the past.
Speaker 9 (34:29):
It's a great question well as it relates to ensuring
that we are prepared for the expansion. That is when
you asked me the earlier question about what we're focused on,
and I talked about.
Speaker 8 (34:42):
Future proofing the league.
Speaker 9 (34:43):
It really is about making sure that we have strategies
for being able to prioritize the path to pro and
investing in domestic talent. We know that this country is
sitting on a hotbed of women and girls who play
this incredible sport, and that if if we could play
more of a role in developing and cultivating that talent,
(35:04):
that there is an endless supply of top talent in
this country, and that is something that we're going to
work on collaboratively and in partnership with US Soccer, And
so that is happening in real time and will continue
to be a priority. When we think about expansion and
the owners around our league, there is no question that
(35:29):
that is a top priority for us and our board.
When we're meeting with potential owners, we talk to them
about why they're there, what they care about, how they
see this in the long term, and what their values are.
Why are they interested in owning a professional women's soccer team,
and it is absolutely part of the equation and the
(35:49):
consideration for determining when and how we award a team.
Speaker 1 (35:53):
You mentioned the advisory board was a brainchild of yours.
What are they advising on and did every team get
an opportunity to have or upperative because not all the
teams are represented.
Speaker 9 (36:02):
Yeah, every team has an opportunity to be represented up
to two per team, and for the teams that are
not represented, we will work with them to determine whether
there are opportunities to either bring in new investors who
we think add value to the advisory board or who
are already on their cap table. This is sort of
who we were able to get in the sort of
(36:24):
preliminary launch of this advisory board and what they're going
to advise on is, at least from my perspective, the
growth of the league. We want to bring them under
the hood and give them an opportunity to literally review
our strategic business plan. We want to take them through
the things that we're doing to grow the league from
a media, marketing and promotional perspective. Many of them are
(36:46):
subject matter experts in content, in social media, in entertainment,
and we think that they're going to have great ideas
to help us be better, and we want to give
them a seat at the table, which we know has
never been done before in professional sports. So we think
that relationship is going to be really important in the
short term and directly we're going to get feedback. But
I think indirectly and more long term, I know and
(37:09):
believe that when you bring people along on the journey,
you create evangelists. These are people who are now going
to feel like they are part of what we are building.
They're going to see their fingerprints on the league because
guess what, when they come to the table with an
idea and we work together on implementing it, they're going
to become loud supporters of the NWS.
Speaker 8 (37:29):
Especially if you use their idea yeah, and give them
credit for it.
Speaker 1 (37:33):
It's true though, I mean, I think for a long
time we are fighting this battle of just not poisoning
the well of women's sports as it not being cool,
and now that it is shifted over to like an
endless number of celebrities want to be involved. You can
roll your eyes in it, or you can say, hey,
let's take advantage of the millions of followers they have
the influence they have, the spaces that they're in, and
the way that they can bring the ideas that they're
(37:53):
talking about and their support for the league into those
spaces and continue to make it more international, more global,
all day other stuff which I love. Okay, last question
for you. Next year we got Boston and Denver joining
the league. Where does Jessica Berman go first or what
does she eat first? In each of those places? If
you're going there for a game, what's the first place
you're stopping?
Speaker 9 (38:13):
Ooh, well, I have to say that I love New England.
My husband is from the Cape, so when we go
to the game, we'll probably do a swing around Falmouth
where he was born and raised, which we often do
when we visit Boston. And I'm so excited for them
to open their season at Gillette. I know and believe
(38:34):
between that and Empower Field for Denver, one or both
of them are going to break the record that we
set here, So it's going to be amazing. When I
go to Denver, I have to say, my first stop
is this amazing boutique that has secondhand clothes that I
visit every single time I go to Denver.
Speaker 8 (38:54):
It's called Vintage Label.
Speaker 9 (38:56):
And I'm obsessed with her clothes, and she hand picks
and curates all of these sort of like antique pieces.
Speaker 8 (39:03):
Yeah, and every time I go there, it is my
first stop.
Speaker 9 (39:05):
And I love her and she has been on the
journey of the NWSL coming to Denver because I found
her store when we did our first sight visit. And
every time I go it is a cross the street
from Union Station. I stop by and I make sure
that I go home with some new item from her collection.
Speaker 1 (39:23):
We love a commissioner who doesn't keep those fines.
Speaker 8 (39:26):
We appreciate it.
Speaker 2 (39:27):
Jess Thanks so much for the time.
Speaker 8 (39:29):
Thank you so much.
Speaker 1 (39:32):
Thanks again to Jessica for sitting down with me. I
just want to add that before we spoke, Jessica held
a press conference addressing the league's biggest issues, and there
are a couple of takeaways worth mentioning that I didn't
ask her about because she had already covered it. Regarding
potentially upping the salary cap to compete for top talent,
Berman said, quote, we do not believe that the NWSL
is a charity. We believe it is a business, and
in order to treat it like a business, it means
(39:53):
that the amount our teams are investing, has to have
a rational relationship to revenue end quote. She also reminded
folks that the cap has quadrupled in the last four years.
Verman also said that the MLS deciding to move their
calendar to align with Europe's top leagues has the soccer
ecosystem quote on notice, but that the NWSL has no
current plans to change from their January to November season.
(40:15):
She said a whole bunch more so we'll link to
her full presser in the show notes if you want
to watch it all right, got to take another break
when we come back. They did it their way.
Speaker 2 (40:28):
Welcome back, slices.
Speaker 1 (40:29):
We love that you're listening, but we want you to
get in the game every day too, So here's our
good game play of the day. If you want to
see some of the fun behind the scenes from this
weekend and put some visuals to all the stories I
just told, check out my instagram Spain two three two
three and my TikTok Spain dot Sarah for fun picks
and videos from the party's end the game. We always
love to hear from you, so hit us up on email.
(40:50):
Good game at Wondermedianetwork dot com or leave us a
voicemail at eight seven two two oh four fifty seventy
and don't forget to subscribe.
Speaker 2 (40:57):
Rate and Review slices.
Speaker 1 (40:59):
It's really watch seeing Rose Levell and her dad singing
My Way at the Gotham after party.
Speaker 2 (41:06):
Rating one of one.
Speaker 1 (41:07):
Wholesome family moment review, no doubt about it. Rose Levell
and her family have their party PhDs, from the shotsky
Mom and popol Lavell did before the game, to the
pocket fireball pulled out during the game to Rose dancing
on a pool table at the victory party. They know
how to celebrate, so it was no surprise when Rose
and her dad ended up in the DJ booth crooning
(41:30):
Sinatra's My Way to adoring teammates, Gotham staff and friends
on the dance floor below. Okay, so maybe not exactly crooning.
(41:55):
Now it's your turn, y'all, Rate and Review, thanks for listening,
See you tomorrow. Good game, GOTMFC.
Speaker 2 (42:00):
Good game.
Speaker 1 (42:01):
All you slices that came up and said hi over
the weekend, it really made my day. You the sad
basis of the Spirit players after a second year settling
for runner up.
Speaker 2 (42:10):
I know that's just sports, but I Don't.
Speaker 4 (42:12):
Have to Like It.
Speaker 1 (42:18):
Good Game with Sarah Spain is an iHeart women's sports
production in partnership with Deep Blue Sports and Entertainment. You
can find us on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or.
Speaker 2 (42:26):
Wherever you get your podcasts.
Speaker 1 (42:28):
Production by Wonder Media Network, our producers are alex Azzie
Grace Lynch, Taylor Williamson, and Lucy Jones. Our executive producers
are Christina Everett, Jesse Katz, Jenny Kaplan and Emily Rudder.
Our editors are Emily Rudder, Britney Martinez and Gianna Palmer.
Production assistants from Avery Loftus and I'm Your Host Sarah
Spain
Host
Sarah Spain
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