November 8, 2024 • 34 mins
Gotham FC and USWNT players Jenna Nighswonger and Yazmeen Ryan join Sarah to hand out team superlatives, discuss the team’s attempt to repeat as champs and share the importance of having a deep roster of versatile players. Plus, a preview of the NWSL quarterfinals and a WTFact about the fear mongering used to demonize trans athletes.
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The NWSL quarterfinal schedule is here
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Take a look at Racheal Kundananji’s viral ball stand here
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Check out the PWHL jerseys and pre-order them here
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Follow Layshia Clarendon here
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Follow Quinn here
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You can see the trophy that Nike gifted Sabrina Ionescu, featuring gold Sabrina 2’s, here
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Mark as PlayedTranscript
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 rewatching
the Rachel Kundananji standing on the ball and breaking ankles
highlight over and over to get ready for this weekend's
NWSL playoff matchups. It's Friday, November eighth, and the games
go on, so the show must go on. We'd like
to stay in a bubble, We'd like to hide from
the world and the news and the reality of life
(00:20):
right now, and personally, I am going to do that
in a lot of ways for a little longer. But
we also know that sports can be a healthy distruction,
and we know that the athletes are waking up and
getting back out on the field in the court despite
their own fears and their own sadness, and they deserve
our love and our support. So we're showing up for
you and for them and for ourselves. Today we'll be
(00:41):
talking with gotam FC and US women's national team players
Yasmine Ryan and Jenna Niswanger about entering the season's playoffs
without veteran Ali Krieger, teams, superlatives and earning caps with
the national team. Plus what's the fact about the fearmongering
used to demonize trans people at a preview of the
matchups in the NWSL quarterfinals. It's all coming up right
after this. Welcome back, Orange Slices. Here's what you need
(01:15):
to know today in soccer news. The NWSL playoffs begin tonight.
The first quarterfinal is the top seeded Orlando Pride hosting
the eighth seed at Chicago Red Stars at eight pm
on Prime Video. On Saturday, the fourth seed Kansas City
Current hosts the fifth seed North Carolina Courage on CBS
and Paramount Plus. And on Sunday, it's a doubleheader featuring
(01:37):
the number two Washington Spirit and number seven BAFC, followed
by defending champs number three Got Them FC against six
seed Portland Thorns. Both those matchups will be on ABC
and ESPN Plus. We'll give you a full NWSL playoff
preview later in the show. One other NWSL headline to
mention today. On Thursday, the San Diego Wave announced that
the club signed UT Austin's Trinity Buyers before the roster
(02:00):
freeze date last month. That makes Byers the first active
NCAA player to sign directly with the team following the
elimination of the college draft as part of the NWSL's
new CBA. In tennis news, the Women's Tennis Association Tour
Finals are well underway and semi final matches take place today.
First up, we'll be keenwe Jen and Barbora Krachikhova, followed
(02:22):
by Arena Sablenka versus Coco Goff. The final will be
played on Saturday. Igasfontek won it all last year, defeating
Jessica Pagula in straight sets. You can watch the WTA
finals matches on the Tennis Channel or on Fubo TV
starting at seven thirty am Eastern. In hockey news, the
six teams in the Professional Women's Hockey League have dropped
their jerseys for the twenty twenty four to twenty five season.
(02:43):
The jerseys were made by Bauer, and fans can pre
order them now or wait till they hit hockey retail
stores on November fourteenth. We'll link to the pre order
site in our show notes and mark it on your
calendars now, folks, the puck drops on the next PWHL
season November thirtieth. In college basketball news, South Carolina released
a short statement on Wednesday regarding junior forward Ashland Watkins
(03:04):
quote with the dismissal of the legal charges. South Carolina
junior forward Ashland Watkins has returned to team activities, beginning
with practice today end quote. The twenty one year old
was initially arrested on August thirty first for a first
degree assault in battery and kidnapping, and has since completed
pre trial Intervention, a program meant to provide a second
chance to first time offenders. It includes community service, making,
(03:26):
restitution to victims, and participation in individual and group counseling.
Watkins had not worked out with the team, didn't travel
to the White House in September to celebrate its national
championship last season, and was not present for the team's
season opener on Monday night. South Carolina lifted her suspension
after the charges against her were listed as dismissed not
indicted on November first. The top rank game Cocks next
(03:49):
game is at three Eastern on Sunday against number nine
NC State, and there's one other matchup between ranked opponents
to look forward to on Sunday, with number eleven Duke
taking on number eighteen Maryland at Eastern. In WNBA news
to celebrate the New York Liberties Championship win, Nike has
gifted Sabrina Yenescu a trophy made of a gold pair
of Sabrina twos. Sab posted the trophy tour ig story
(04:12):
and it looks pretty sweet. Some of her season stats
are also engraved into the wood that the shoes rest on.
We'll drop a link in our show notes so you
can check it out for yourself. All right, slices, it's
time for another What the Fact. Today's what the Fact
number is six eighty three. The number comes from my
(04:33):
friend Chris Moser, a Hall of Fame triathlete, All American
do athlete, an eight time member of Team USA, and
an incredible voice for trans athletes. He shared this almost
unbelievable number on his Instagram, six eighty three. From September
to October of this year, Fox News coverage of transgender
athletes jumped six hundred eighty three percent, mirroring the efforts
(04:57):
from the GOP, who put millions of dollars into to
anti trans ads in the lead up to election day.
The fear mongering that's being used to demonize trans people,
particularly athletes, to invent a danger that doesn't exist and
pretend to care about quote unquote protecting women's sports is
especially disgusting when most of those same folks are simultaneously
(05:18):
seeking to weaken Title nine, reduce accountability for sexual predators,
invest not at all in resources, facilities, coaches, and opportunities
for female athletes, or otherwise do any of the things
that people have been asking for for decades to actually
improve outcomes and safety for women. You're going to hear
a lot of support for trans athletes and inclusion on
(05:38):
this show, and we will always be leading with care
and compassion. But we do also know that there are
meaningful conversations to be had about policies at different levels
of sport to make sure we ensure inclusivity and also fairness.
There are opportunities to educate, inform and use science and
facts to dictate strategy and action. So please let facts
(05:58):
and compassion lead the way. Do not let misinformation, fear mongering,
and an invented crisis blind you to the humanity of
the people, especially the kids who just want to play
and be on a team and feel good in their
bodies and feel like they belong. Now, if you don't
actually have any trans friends, please follow Chris Moser, follow
Lesiah Clarendon, follow Quinn of the NWSL. Make it a
(06:20):
point to include trans people in your every day, to
see them live their lives, compete in their sports, and
be as deserving of opportunity as everyone else. That six
hundred and eighty three percent is intentional. They're trying to
scare you into forgetting your humanity. They're trying to scare
you into thinking there's a crisis. Do not let them.
To offset all the misinformation and fear. We're going to
(06:42):
keep bringing you real facts about transgender participation policies and
the positive outcomes of inclusion. This what the fact was
brought to you by ELF Beauty. And here's another fact.
Elf Beauty donates at least two percent of their profits
to drive positive change, have granted over one hundred eight
eighty million in equity to their employees, and so much more.
(07:03):
Elf proves that doing good is good for business. Visit
elfbauty dot com slash impact to view their latest impact report.
We're going to take a quick break when we come back,
a trip to Gotham City with Yasmine Ryan and Jenna Niswanger.
(07:23):
She's a midfielder for New York New Jersey GOTHAMFC of
the NWSL and won an NWSL championship with them after
joining the team last year. She also won a title
with the Portland Thorns, who drafted her sixth overall in
the twenty twenty one NWSL draft. She's the TCU Horned Frog,
spent three seasons in the WPSL, and just last month
she got her first call up to the national team
and earned her first cap on October twenty fourth, twenty
(07:45):
twenty four, in a victory over Iceland. It's Yasmine Ryan,
what's up? Yeahs Hey has.
Speaker 2 (07:51):
Some wonderful introductions joining her.
Speaker 1 (07:55):
It's a left back for GOTHAMFC and the US women's
national team. She was drafted in twenty twenty three, was
named the NWSL Rookie of the Year, and won the
championship with got Them in her first season. She debuted
for the United States senior national team at twenty twenty
three and won a gold medal with the US at
the Paris Olympics. She's a Florida State seminole, winning the
NCAA championship with them in twenty one. She loves a
good cup of coffee and she wishes she could teleport
(08:16):
to practice instead of driving. That is a true New York,
New Jersey. Take if I've ever heard one, it's Jenna Nicewanger.
What's up, Jenna.
Speaker 3 (08:24):
Yeah, if I could go back in time, I said
I would teleport to the beach. I don't know why
teleporting to practice was my first thing that came to mind,
but I guess I'm lazy.
Speaker 2 (08:32):
So yeah.
Speaker 1 (08:33):
But also, like the big dream doesn't always help us
as much as the practical one, which is like teleporting
to the beach, You're not going to use that as
often as teleporting to practice.
Speaker 2 (08:42):
That's true.
Speaker 1 (08:42):
I've been in New York traffic, so I get it.
I actually want to start with fun stuff today. So
we're gonna do a Gotham Superlatives speed round. Okay, so
Jenna funniest person on the team sonic arose Okay, yeah,
the loudest person on the team.
Speaker 2 (09:03):
Oh this is supposed to be fast.
Speaker 4 (09:05):
Huh Yeah, Oh my god, this is horrible.
Speaker 2 (09:10):
I actually don't know the loudest key.
Speaker 1 (09:14):
Kelly counts. Yeah, Kelly O'Hara counts, even though technically she's
sort of retired. Jenna, quietest person on the team, shyest,
and yeah.
Speaker 2 (09:24):
I should have done that right away. Yes, who's the
best answer Mandy Freeman.
Speaker 1 (09:30):
Okay, uh Jenna. Who's the most likely to play DJ
in the locker room?
Speaker 4 (09:35):
Me?
Speaker 2 (09:35):
Unfortunately?
Speaker 1 (09:37):
Amazing. What's your go to genre during training?
Speaker 2 (09:40):
Like usually pop and then before the game rap? What
would you say?
Speaker 1 (09:46):
Yeah, yeah, yeah, that's good, that's good. Final question, who
is most likely to piss off your coach? And you
both can answer it?
Speaker 2 (09:53):
Anyone who shoots over the bar? Okay, does not shoot low?
Speaker 1 (10:00):
Okay. Let's talk about this team. Yeahs, obviously you're the
secret weapon. Two straight titles for you Portland twenty two,
got them, twenty three. You have a personal three peat
that could be achieved this year. What are the biggest
similarities that you see between the two title winning teams
that you've been on at the pro level.
Speaker 4 (10:19):
I think the depth of the squad is what's been
really key in times like this when you're at the
end of the season, there could be injuries, and you know,
you just never know what could happen, and I think
it's important that every person on the team is able
to step into a role or play a role that yeah.
Speaker 2 (10:38):
And just come in kind of seamlessly.
Speaker 4 (10:40):
And we've seen that throughout this season with this team
and everybody that has played and come on, even if
it's been a different role than maybe what they even trained,
you would never know because we just our squad is
that good and we have a lot of a lot
of different pieces to play and so we can really
do it all.
Speaker 2 (10:58):
And I think that's really key.
Speaker 1 (11:00):
I'm kind of fascinated from players who have been in
multiple places what differences they also notice. Whether that's in
Obviously there are big things like facilities and investment and
things like that, but in terms of team culture, are
there any big differences between Portland and Gotham.
Speaker 4 (11:16):
Something that I really recognized with this team was how
well and how often we celebrated everybody's accomplishments and it
really felt like a team accomplishment at the same time.
And not that Portland didn't have that, but I think
Gotham really emphasized that and on a whole new level.
And I think that really brings the team closer together
(11:37):
and it keeps everybody on the same track and on
the same page. And that's like what you want in
a team is for everybody to be on the same page,
because then the chances of you winning are so much higher.
And so I think having that foundation of like really
celebrating everybody's individual goals that really feel like team team
(11:58):
successes as well.
Speaker 2 (11:59):
Is what's really like separated.
Speaker 1 (12:01):
Gotham Jenna, you won the NWSL title last fall, a
gold medal this summer. Pretty decent run in your first
two years as a pro. Can you take us inside
the locker room with the US women's national team and
Emma Hayes in Paris? At what point did you really
start to think the team could or would win it all.
Speaker 3 (12:22):
I feel like from the time we went into the
sendoff games, we all kind of had that feeling. I
think you just really have to like believe it the
whole time to for it to happen. Like I remember,
I was always like, Okay, we're going to be in
France until August tenth, and like you kind of like
didn't really have any other mindset.
Speaker 1 (12:44):
Yeah. What makes Emma so special as a coach.
Speaker 2 (12:47):
Tactically, Like she's so smart.
Speaker 3 (12:49):
I think sitting in film sessions with her, you just
learned so much and she has such a great team
along with her, and she expects.
Speaker 2 (12:59):
She has such high.
Speaker 3 (12:59):
Stands for everyone, which I think drives everyone to work
harder and push themselves, and I think that also just
creates like a good culture. She's really big on like
culture and everyone being close and caring about each other,
which I think is really important to Did you.
Speaker 1 (13:14):
End up getting those manicures she promised? We saw that video,
but I never saw the results the manicures. Yeah, yeah,
we got a few because there was a There was
a video of her promising that she was bringing someone
in to give everybody manicures, but I never saw if
there were some good results from that.
Speaker 2 (13:30):
Yeah, I definitely utilized that.
Speaker 1 (13:32):
Okay, good, Yeah, as you got your first cap just
a few weeks ago, take us through the emotions there.
Speaker 2 (13:39):
It was a dream come true.
Speaker 4 (13:41):
I had been waiting for a moment, that moment specifically
for a really long time, and had been looking forward
to it my entire career, and so to finally be
in that situation and be a part of this team
was really like almost for me, like a breath of
fresh air to know that I have the abilities to
(14:04):
be at this level and not in a way like
I made it. But I mean, obviously there's still this
is the beginning of a whole new journey, which is
really cool. But that I got to start this journey,
and so I really was just almost relieved that I
finally broke through and was able to play a game
and be.
Speaker 2 (14:23):
A part of this team and be in camp.
Speaker 4 (14:25):
So I really couldn't have been more grateful to have
experienced that.
Speaker 1 (14:30):
Yeah, the first one is so exciting, but also a
lot of it is just like get it over with,
get it over with, and then just like, oh, now
I'm on the team, right, I'm not trying to get
to that spot. Is there like an og member of
the national team that you looked for for advice on
camp on proving yourself and getting those first minutes?
Speaker 4 (14:48):
I think you want to kind of prove yourself to
everybody there that that you want that you can be
there consistently. A player that I was looking forward to
with playing again was Lindsay Horan. I only got to
play with her for a short amount of time at Portland,
but with my time at Portland, I mean, I think
she's great and she always was talking with me about
(15:08):
soccer and giving me a lot of advice, and at
the time when I was more consistently playing midfield, she
was a player that I that I looked to to
learn from and so I was really excited to get
to play with her again and get to speak with
her again.
Speaker 2 (15:22):
So that was really cool.
Speaker 1 (15:24):
Jenna. When you first started getting into camps and trying
to make your way onto the team, was there an
OG that you asked for advice on, like just understanding selection,
knowing what coaches are going to look for, how to
stand out all that stuff.
Speaker 2 (15:38):
I kind of just like.
Speaker 3 (15:41):
Waited for the email to show up, Like I just
wanted to keep playing my game and keep doing me,
and like I didn't really want to let a national
team selection change how I played. I also think too,
like I just want to say about yeas coming into camp.
I think like a lot of people when they first
get called and they kind of struggle with like confidence
and oh my god, Like how am I going to
(16:01):
do when I first come in? I know I was
like nervous, But I think something cool about yeah is
that no one gets to see is that her first training,
like she was scaring bangers and like you think that
it was like her at least fifth camp, And I
think that's something like really hard to do. Like when
she came into the game, she's so easily like fit
into our playing style, which is not an easy thing.
Speaker 4 (16:24):
When that was so nice, I know, but to hear
it again, you know, that's cool, especially because like you're
in it and like you.
Speaker 1 (16:33):
Know, you know, where does that confidence come from to
be able to show up and just be like, yeah,
I belong here and here's a couple bangers.
Speaker 4 (16:41):
Well, honestly, I think that's something that I've tried to
have my entire career playing is like and like knowing
and I and I do think that at some level
you do have to have that confidence to play at
the highest level and to even play pro And I
know that I want to play and I want to
(17:03):
like it's not just oh, like I can say I'm
a part of the team, but like now, like how
do I get minutes? And like how do I actually
make an impact on the field? And so for me,
I know that like confidence has to come with that
or else it's never going to happen. And then another
part of that is that I think coming into the
league and getting on a team like Portland where immediately
(17:23):
I'm playing with Christine Sinclair, Lindsay Iran, Sophia Smith, Rocky Rodriguez,
so many people that are so experienced at the international
level and have, yeah, just all that experience and so
and then coming here where you get to play with
Roosevelt and Tierna Davidson and all the new players that
(17:44):
they brought in as well, and the players that were
here too, Christy Muis Ali Krieger was a huge one.
So like, I think having experience playing with those players
before entering into that environment and was like, really, I
think really a lot like knowing that like I have
chained with these players before, I have played with them before,
(18:04):
so all I know is that I need to keep
doing me and just learning and growing like within myself.
Speaker 2 (18:12):
So I did that. That really played a part.
Speaker 3 (18:14):
I just want to add on, like I think that
kind of like to her point, you get called it,
like she got called in because she's like yeahs me
and Ryan, Like players get called in because it's like
who they are. So if you go and like you
try to change for a system or change who you're
playing Gets because you're playing Gets with these new players,
then you're doing yourself and like you're doing Emma and
the team of Disservice because they brought you in to
(18:36):
like be who you are.
Speaker 2 (18:37):
I think it's easier said than done, but everyone.
Speaker 3 (18:40):
Kind of like needs to have that mentality going into
like new environments.
Speaker 1 (18:44):
That's so true. Absolutely. It sounds like you have a
very independent and solitary approach. Jenna to saying like, listen,
I'm just gonna play my best soccer and if the
email comes and I get the invite, then great, that
was the goal and I've earned it. But that's my focus.
Once you get to camp, there is this sort of
like dual thing. And I've listened a lot to like
(19:05):
Sammy Muis and Becky Sower Brennan folks like that talking
about this, like you get to camp and these are
your teammates, these are your friends and technically also your
competitors for the spots that are going to get to
go to the Paris Olympics and get to go to
these international tournaments. How do you get yourself in a
mindset to compete alongside and support your teammates while also
technically fighting against them for those spots.
Speaker 3 (19:27):
I think it's kind of like do two separate scenarios.
So when you're going into the camps trying to make it,
you are really focusing on I guess like you're more
so focusing on yourself doing well, but I think once
you get into the Olympics, you really just want to
do We talked a lot about like doing anything that
it takes, like for the team. For example, like I
(19:48):
didn't start, but like I knew that that was my role,
so then it was like going into something more. Okay,
I'm not trying to beat out the left back in
a match D minus one training, Like Crystal is very
clearly starting, So what can I do to help her
feel prepared or help the other teammates feel confident in
what they're doing.
Speaker 1 (20:07):
Yeah, yeah, that's great. Jenna Alie obviously a big loss
to the team this year, both personality and play. Where
else do you see the differences between last year's Gotham
team and this year's As you're entering the postseason.
Speaker 4 (20:22):
This year feels more business like get the job done,
like very like business.
Speaker 2 (20:28):
Last year I think with Ali Kreeger.
Speaker 4 (20:31):
Retiring and us finishing sixth in the league, like so
barely making the playoffs, we I believe we were confident
as a team, but it was a little more like, okay,
like we made it in so everything was like for Ali,
we can say yeah, in a way it was, Yeah,
(20:54):
it was less like, yeah, definitely no pressure on, like
nobody expected us to win obviously, Like it was a
little more like light to go into.
Speaker 1 (21:04):
Being the underdog sometimes easier, yeah, being the favorite or
trying to repeat, which is what you're trying to do. Now,
Can you replicate that looseness or do you think the
business like approach this year will serve you in a
different way?
Speaker 3 (21:16):
No?
Speaker 4 (21:16):
Yeah, I think I think the business approach in the
way that we kind of are with it now is
is it.
Speaker 2 (21:21):
Also a good thing?
Speaker 4 (21:23):
Just the opposite, Like it's because we are so confident
as a group and we have a specific style. We
have a way of playing that we've never changed, we
do not change for any team, and like I said,
with how deep this squad is as well, like we
we know whoever is on the field is going to
do their role and is going to execute.
Speaker 2 (21:43):
So it's definitely the confidence in a good way.
Speaker 4 (21:46):
Like we're like like we know we should be here
like now, like we're going to do it because we
know that we can do it again. We can have
a repeat and got them's no longer this underdog. We
are at the top and we want to stay at
the top.
Speaker 1 (21:58):
Are you excited to take on your former team, because
I feel like Portland's now going to have the like
win one for sink the same way that y'all had
for Ali last year. Do you want to end the
hopes and dreams of a Canadian legend?
Speaker 2 (22:13):
Well, I love.
Speaker 4 (22:15):
But yeah, I mean I think if we get them
out early and like, then then they have no chance
to win it. Versus if they were on the other
side of the bracket, they could have had a better
chance to get to the final. And then I think
that game, I mean probably would have been harder just
because I mean it's a final, but.
Speaker 5 (22:34):
Rip off the band aid early. Yeah, I think it
in the first round. Yeah, let's just let them down
easy while it's yeah, they made it here.
Speaker 2 (22:44):
But yeah, I feel.
Speaker 3 (22:47):
Like you want to play like the hardest teams, Like
last year we played North Carolina than Portland and then
Rain and like just you don't, I don't know, you
don't necessarily want like an easy quarterfinal because then you
can take your foot off the gas. So when you're
playing a team like Portland, like you have to bring
a hundred.
Speaker 1 (23:04):
Yeah, how are your bodies feeling? There was a lot
of soccer this summer. There was NWSL, there was League
Ex Feminial, there was the Paris Olympics. There's friendlies for
the US national team. There's I think there's like some
other Gold Cup stuff I'm forgetting right, I mean, there was.
Speaker 2 (23:21):
Like Champions League.
Speaker 1 (23:22):
Yeah, conga, CAF Champion. There's like so many things we
want to watch more soccer. Y'all want to get paid
and recognized as people that everyone wants to go watch
and see, and yet soccer's really hard on your bodies. So, yeah,
what did you think about this year's schedule. I know
it's not going to always be like that because it's
an Olympic year, but did you have to take extra
(23:44):
care to be ready and capable to bring it during
this postseason? Yeah?
Speaker 2 (23:48):
I definitely did.
Speaker 4 (23:49):
I mean, with this many games, it's if you don't
properly take care of your body, you will be out immediately,
and there's it will take everybody down. So I mean, yeah,
I gave this This stretch of at like towards the
end of the season definitely made me.
Speaker 2 (24:07):
Pay extra attention to.
Speaker 4 (24:09):
The details and the type of recovery that I'm doing
and finding things that actually work for me and even
things that work for.
Speaker 2 (24:16):
Me a little quicker than what I would be used to.
Speaker 4 (24:20):
It's not just we've had a lot of months where
it's not a full week of recovery, it's two days
and then you got to be one hundred percent again
in two days. And so yeah, I definitely have like
had to pay attention extra to to the recovery and
the type of fuel and extra hydration as well, which
(24:41):
is which ends up being such a benefit to in.
Speaker 2 (24:44):
The long run.
Speaker 4 (24:45):
And knowing that we made it through this and that
we did it and came out with very few injuries,
nothing season ending, season ending knock on wood, which was great.
Speaker 2 (25:00):
That's kudos to the team for taking care of themselves
as well.
Speaker 4 (25:03):
But yeah, but at the same time, I think it's
really it's really cool to get to experience all these
different games in different scenarios, with the different tournaments and
international teams and.
Speaker 2 (25:14):
Playing for different titles. It really it amped up everything,
that's for.
Speaker 1 (25:20):
Sure, Jenna. This is an opportunity to bring New York
slash New Jersey another title. Right after the New York
Liberty won the w NBA title. Were you watching from
across the way watching Ellie the Elephant and the rest
of the team get their ticker tape parade and watching
the city rally around them and thinking like, oh, yeah,
(25:40):
we want to do that again.
Speaker 3 (25:42):
Yeah, I think obviously we're at like Kelly's O'Hara's retirement
party when they won, and I think it was like
cool because everyone's eyes are glued to the TV and
it's just so exciting to see the recognition that the
w NBA is getting and they deserve and kind of
I think when there's a one a win in one
woman's sport, it's like a win for all women's sports.
(26:03):
So it was really exciting and to see the crowd
that they brought in is really inspiring.
Speaker 1 (26:09):
Yeah, we got to get you out one of those
parades that looked like a lot of fun. And I'm
a Chicagoan, so I was like mildly jealous of New
York success, but also like excited for them that it happened. Okay,
last question. Yeah, we got Jenna on the DJ tables
turntables in the locker room. I know you don't actually
have turntables, but you know, go along with me here.
What is the song you're requesting pregame before the game
(26:31):
against Portland?
Speaker 4 (26:33):
Well, yeah, the song that I have been listening to
before games has been Invincible by pop Smoke.
Speaker 1 (26:42):
Okay, oh yeah, that one.
Speaker 2 (26:45):
I'm definitely requesting noted, that's the request.
Speaker 1 (26:47):
Okay, Jenna, what's your go to? What's what's your song
that's going to get the team hype?
Speaker 3 (26:54):
Jenna, I don't know. Honestly, I'm pressing Shuffle from the spot.
If I played this I put together for the team
and I I'm gonna go get ready.
Speaker 2 (27:04):
It's too much pressure.
Speaker 1 (27:05):
I hate it all right. DJ Shuffle is taking no
accountability for what comes out of that. I love it.
Speaker 2 (27:13):
It's like you guys made the playlist, so if you
don't like it, like that's on you.
Speaker 1 (27:16):
Perfect, perfect, Well, thank you guys so much for taking
the time. I know it's a busy week ahead at
the quarter final. Good luck in your game and congrats
and all the success with the national team too, and
thanks for joining us.
Speaker 2 (27:26):
Thanks, thank you so much.
Speaker 1 (27:30):
We got to pay some bills when we come back.
We dig deeper into the NWSL quarterfinal matchups. Stick with us,
Welcome back, slices. Let's preview the NWSL quarterfinals, shall we? First?
Tonight Orlando Pride Number one versus the Number eight Chicago
(27:52):
Red Stars in Orlando. That's eight pm Eastern on Prime Video.
This is the first ever home playoff game for an
Orlando team that looked like it might not lose a
game all season until after they claimed the shield and
took their foot off the gas, and they lost two
games while resting players late in the regular season. But
the Pride have something to prove after long being an
afterthought in this league, and while the shield is certainly
(28:14):
an accomplishment, the title is the goal for this team,
especially since they'd love to give legendary striker Marta, who's
a six time FIFA World Player of the Year, her
very first NWSL championship in what could be her final
season with Orlando. Meantime, Chicago Red Stars entered the postseason
on a three game losing streak and just one win
in their last five games. But when you've got Male
(28:36):
Swanson attacking and a Listenare in goal, you've always got
a shot. The Pride's rallying cry for this game, win
one for Marta. The Red Stars tagline the Stars are
here to spoil a near perfect season all right. Saturday
November ninth, we got the Kansas City Current the number
four seed versus the number five North Carolina Courage. That's
twelve pm Eastern on CBS and also streaming on Paramount Plus.
(29:00):
This is the second playoff appearance for the Current and
the first home playoff game for them. They're hoping to
benefit from the support of a raucous home crowd that
helped them become the first NWSL team to sell out
every home regular season game. The Current set the new
league mark for goals in a season by a team
with fifty seven and by a player tem Wichewinga with twenty,
in addition to the most different goal scorers eighteen, and
(29:24):
they already claimed two trophies this year in the Summer
Cup and the Women's Cup. They got to get through
a Courage team that's one of only three teams to
beat them this season, but the Courage will have to
figure out how to win on the road. To do it,
they're just three and ten away from home this season.
The Current's rallying cry, We've got Temwa and seventeen other
goal scorers. The Courage tagline, we're tops in the league
(29:47):
in possession and possess the ability to surprise you with
a win Sunday. We've got a doubleheader. Washington Spirit the
number two seed versus number seven BAFC. That's twelve thirty
pm Eastern on ABC. The Spirit set new club records
in points with fifty six, goals scored with fifty one,
and wins with eighteen, which also ties the league's single
(30:08):
season record, but injuries are killing them, including to star
Andy Sullivan, and they're a different team than the one
we saw for much of the season. Trinity Rodman always
dangerous though. Meantime, BFC is peaking at the right time
and has benefited from the arrival of Abby Dhalkemper and
the veteran leadership she brings, and Rachel Kundanaji has shown
the tricks up her sleeve are all but impossible to defend.
(30:30):
The Spirit's rallying cry will be we've flown under the radar,
but when it matters, most will come out on top,
and the Bays tagline when it comes to winning, we're
ten toes down on top of a soccer ball. Finally,
New York, New Jersey GOTHMAFC the number three versus number
six Portland Thorns, three pm Eastern on ABC. This is
a rematch of last year's semifinal when Gotham upset Portland
(30:52):
at Providence Park en route to an unlikely title coming
out of the sixth seed. But they are not sneaking
up on anyone this year as they look to defend
their twenty twenty three championship. Portland meanwhile boasting triple Espresso
star soph Smith and the greatest international scorer of all time,
Christine Sinclair. We'll certainly be trying to play spoiler on
Gotham's attempt to repeat Gotham's rallying cry back to back
(31:15):
batties Baby and the Thorns tagline one last trophy for Sync.
We're super pumped for these games. We've got our schedules
cleared out, and we are hoping for a little NWSL
chaos despite the parody that we've seen lacking this season.
So Alex, give me one big, bold NWSL chaos prediction
(31:35):
for this week's quarterfinals.
Speaker 3 (31:37):
I think we're gonna see at least one upset, and
I think that is going to be Portland beating Gotham.
Speaker 4 (31:46):
Whoa very interesting spicy Do you feel bad saying that
given that we had Jenna and Yasmine on today's show?
Speaker 3 (31:53):
Yeah?
Speaker 1 (31:54):
Yeah, they just come on. They give us their time
and then immediately you're like, yeah, you're gonna lose. That's
exactly bold prediction, Mish. How about you. I think Tim
Wichewinga's goal tally is going up from twenty to twenty three.
She's got to get a hat trick in this quarterfinal. Yeah,
I think it's happening. A hat trick in the quarterfinal.
That is a big bold prediction. I like that. I
(32:18):
like that. I don't know if I believe it, Mesh,
but I like the idea of that. That would be spicy, Alex.
The one I've seen most people call in terms of
believing there could be an upset is actually Bay over
the Spirit because of the Spirit's injuries, especially to Andy Sullivan.
So I haven't heard the Portland call, but certainly there
is something to be said for that team rallying around
that player in their final year. We saw it with
Gotham last year and Ali, so will it be Portland
(32:40):
pulling it off for Sink this year? That's a good one.
My big bold prediction is a fun one. I just
want a river goal in Casey. That's all I want.
We've been looking for them all year. We've been cheering
for them all year, so give me a river goal.
All right. We're gonna list all the matchups and how
you can watch in our show notes slices. As you know,
we love that you're listening, but we do want you
to get in the game every day too, So here's
(33:02):
our good gameplay of the day. It's simple. Watch the
NWSL playoffs, grab your snacks, settle in on the couch,
and let some NWSL chaos drown out the rest of
life's chaos for just a couple hours at least. Or
even better, grab some friends and go watch at your
favorite local sports bar women's sports bar if you've got one.
Sometimes it does feel like you want to be alone,
(33:23):
but the research is all true. We feel better when
we're together. So take the time for some footy and
some friends this weekend if you can. We'd love to
hear from you. Hit us up on email good game
at wondermedianetwork dot com or leave us a voicemail at
eight seven two two o four fifty seventy and you
know what I'm going to say, Slices, don't forget to subscribe,
rate and review, Tell your friends, tell your enemies. It's
(33:44):
easy watch a long walk in the sun, rating five
out of five. Must do, even if you don't want twos.
Review walking releases and doorphins, which are linked to lower
levels of stress, anxiety, and depression, and sunshine increases serotonin
and improves mental health. So even if you feel like
you want to curl in a ball and hide, make
yourself get outside and walk in the sun. And if
(34:06):
it's cloudy near you, one out of two is better
than none. Now it's your turn, rate and review. Thanks
for listening, Have a good weekend, Take care of yourselves.
Good Game, Yasmine, Good Game, jennak You, Fox News. 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 wherever
(34:28):
you get your podcasts. Production by Wonder Media Network, our
producers are Alex Azzie and Misha Jones. Our executive producers
are Christina Everett, Jesse Katz, Jenny Kaplan and Emily Rudder.
Our editors are Emily Rudder, Britney Martinez, Grace Lynch, and
Lindsay Crawdawell. Production assistants from Lucy Jones and I'm your host,
Sarah Spain
Welcome to Good Game with Sarah Spain, where we're rewatching
the Rachel Kundananji standing on the ball and breaking ankles
highlight over and over to get ready for this weekend's
NWSL playoff matchups. It's Friday, November eighth, and the games
go on, so the show must go on. We'd like
to stay in a bubble, We'd like to hide from
the world and the news and the reality of life
(00:20):
right now, and personally, I am going to do that
in a lot of ways for a little longer. But
we also know that sports can be a healthy distruction,
and we know that the athletes are waking up and
getting back out on the field in the court despite
their own fears and their own sadness, and they deserve
our love and our support. So we're showing up for
you and for them and for ourselves. Today we'll be
(00:41):
talking with gotam FC and US women's national team players
Yasmine Ryan and Jenna Niswanger about entering the season's playoffs
without veteran Ali Krieger, teams, superlatives and earning caps with
the national team. Plus what's the fact about the fearmongering
used to demonize trans people at a preview of the
matchups in the NWSL quarterfinals. It's all coming up right
after this. Welcome back, Orange Slices. Here's what you need
(01:15):
to know today in soccer news. The NWSL playoffs begin tonight.
The first quarterfinal is the top seeded Orlando Pride hosting
the eighth seed at Chicago Red Stars at eight pm
on Prime Video. On Saturday, the fourth seed Kansas City
Current hosts the fifth seed North Carolina Courage on CBS
and Paramount Plus. And on Sunday, it's a doubleheader featuring
(01:37):
the number two Washington Spirit and number seven BAFC, followed
by defending champs number three Got Them FC against six
seed Portland Thorns. Both those matchups will be on ABC
and ESPN Plus. We'll give you a full NWSL playoff
preview later in the show. One other NWSL headline to
mention today. On Thursday, the San Diego Wave announced that
the club signed UT Austin's Trinity Buyers before the roster
(02:00):
freeze date last month. That makes Byers the first active
NCAA player to sign directly with the team following the
elimination of the college draft as part of the NWSL's
new CBA. In tennis news, the Women's Tennis Association Tour
Finals are well underway and semi final matches take place today.
First up, we'll be keenwe Jen and Barbora Krachikhova, followed
(02:22):
by Arena Sablenka versus Coco Goff. The final will be
played on Saturday. Igasfontek won it all last year, defeating
Jessica Pagula in straight sets. You can watch the WTA
finals matches on the Tennis Channel or on Fubo TV
starting at seven thirty am Eastern. In hockey news, the
six teams in the Professional Women's Hockey League have dropped
their jerseys for the twenty twenty four to twenty five season.
(02:43):
The jerseys were made by Bauer, and fans can pre
order them now or wait till they hit hockey retail
stores on November fourteenth. We'll link to the pre order
site in our show notes and mark it on your
calendars now, folks, the puck drops on the next PWHL
season November thirtieth. In college basketball news, South Carolina released
a short statement on Wednesday regarding junior forward Ashland Watkins
(03:04):
quote with the dismissal of the legal charges. South Carolina
junior forward Ashland Watkins has returned to team activities, beginning
with practice today end quote. The twenty one year old
was initially arrested on August thirty first for a first
degree assault in battery and kidnapping, and has since completed
pre trial Intervention, a program meant to provide a second
chance to first time offenders. It includes community service, making,
(03:26):
restitution to victims, and participation in individual and group counseling.
Watkins had not worked out with the team, didn't travel
to the White House in September to celebrate its national
championship last season, and was not present for the team's
season opener on Monday night. South Carolina lifted her suspension
after the charges against her were listed as dismissed not
indicted on November first. The top rank game Cocks next
(03:49):
game is at three Eastern on Sunday against number nine
NC State, and there's one other matchup between ranked opponents
to look forward to on Sunday, with number eleven Duke
taking on number eighteen Maryland at Eastern. In WNBA news
to celebrate the New York Liberties Championship win, Nike has
gifted Sabrina Yenescu a trophy made of a gold pair
of Sabrina twos. Sab posted the trophy tour ig story
(04:12):
and it looks pretty sweet. Some of her season stats
are also engraved into the wood that the shoes rest on.
We'll drop a link in our show notes so you
can check it out for yourself. All right, slices, it's
time for another What the Fact. Today's what the Fact
number is six eighty three. The number comes from my
(04:33):
friend Chris Moser, a Hall of Fame triathlete, All American
do athlete, an eight time member of Team USA, and
an incredible voice for trans athletes. He shared this almost
unbelievable number on his Instagram, six eighty three. From September
to October of this year, Fox News coverage of transgender
athletes jumped six hundred eighty three percent, mirroring the efforts
(04:57):
from the GOP, who put millions of dollars into to
anti trans ads in the lead up to election day.
The fear mongering that's being used to demonize trans people,
particularly athletes, to invent a danger that doesn't exist and
pretend to care about quote unquote protecting women's sports is
especially disgusting when most of those same folks are simultaneously
(05:18):
seeking to weaken Title nine, reduce accountability for sexual predators,
invest not at all in resources, facilities, coaches, and opportunities
for female athletes, or otherwise do any of the things
that people have been asking for for decades to actually
improve outcomes and safety for women. You're going to hear
a lot of support for trans athletes and inclusion on
(05:38):
this show, and we will always be leading with care
and compassion. But we do also know that there are
meaningful conversations to be had about policies at different levels
of sport to make sure we ensure inclusivity and also fairness.
There are opportunities to educate, inform and use science and
facts to dictate strategy and action. So please let facts
(05:58):
and compassion lead the way. Do not let misinformation, fear mongering,
and an invented crisis blind you to the humanity of
the people, especially the kids who just want to play
and be on a team and feel good in their
bodies and feel like they belong. Now, if you don't
actually have any trans friends, please follow Chris Moser, follow
Lesiah Clarendon, follow Quinn of the NWSL. Make it a
(06:20):
point to include trans people in your every day, to
see them live their lives, compete in their sports, and
be as deserving of opportunity as everyone else. That six
hundred and eighty three percent is intentional. They're trying to
scare you into forgetting your humanity. They're trying to scare
you into thinking there's a crisis. Do not let them.
To offset all the misinformation and fear. We're going to
(06:42):
keep bringing you real facts about transgender participation policies and
the positive outcomes of inclusion. This what the fact was
brought to you by ELF Beauty. And here's another fact.
Elf Beauty donates at least two percent of their profits
to drive positive change, have granted over one hundred eight
eighty million in equity to their employees, and so much more.
(07:03):
Elf proves that doing good is good for business. Visit
elfbauty dot com slash impact to view their latest impact report.
We're going to take a quick break when we come back,
a trip to Gotham City with Yasmine Ryan and Jenna Niswanger.
(07:23):
She's a midfielder for New York New Jersey GOTHAMFC of
the NWSL and won an NWSL championship with them after
joining the team last year. She also won a title
with the Portland Thorns, who drafted her sixth overall in
the twenty twenty one NWSL draft. She's the TCU Horned Frog,
spent three seasons in the WPSL, and just last month
she got her first call up to the national team
and earned her first cap on October twenty fourth, twenty
(07:45):
twenty four, in a victory over Iceland. It's Yasmine Ryan,
what's up? Yeahs Hey has.
Speaker 2 (07:51):
Some wonderful introductions joining her.
Speaker 1 (07:55):
It's a left back for GOTHAMFC and the US women's
national team. She was drafted in twenty twenty three, was
named the NWSL Rookie of the Year, and won the
championship with got Them in her first season. She debuted
for the United States senior national team at twenty twenty
three and won a gold medal with the US at
the Paris Olympics. She's a Florida State seminole, winning the
NCAA championship with them in twenty one. She loves a
good cup of coffee and she wishes she could teleport
(08:16):
to practice instead of driving. That is a true New York,
New Jersey. Take if I've ever heard one, it's Jenna Nicewanger.
What's up, Jenna.
Speaker 3 (08:24):
Yeah, if I could go back in time, I said
I would teleport to the beach. I don't know why
teleporting to practice was my first thing that came to mind,
but I guess I'm lazy.
Speaker 2 (08:32):
So yeah.
Speaker 1 (08:33):
But also, like the big dream doesn't always help us
as much as the practical one, which is like teleporting
to the beach, You're not going to use that as
often as teleporting to practice.
Speaker 2 (08:42):
That's true.
Speaker 1 (08:42):
I've been in New York traffic, so I get it.
I actually want to start with fun stuff today. So
we're gonna do a Gotham Superlatives speed round. Okay, so
Jenna funniest person on the team sonic arose Okay, yeah,
the loudest person on the team.
Speaker 2 (09:03):
Oh this is supposed to be fast.
Speaker 4 (09:05):
Huh Yeah, Oh my god, this is horrible.
Speaker 2 (09:10):
I actually don't know the loudest key.
Speaker 1 (09:14):
Kelly counts. Yeah, Kelly O'Hara counts, even though technically she's
sort of retired. Jenna, quietest person on the team, shyest,
and yeah.
Speaker 2 (09:24):
I should have done that right away. Yes, who's the
best answer Mandy Freeman.
Speaker 1 (09:30):
Okay, uh Jenna. Who's the most likely to play DJ
in the locker room?
Speaker 4 (09:35):
Me?
Speaker 2 (09:35):
Unfortunately?
Speaker 1 (09:37):
Amazing. What's your go to genre during training?
Speaker 2 (09:40):
Like usually pop and then before the game rap? What
would you say?
Speaker 1 (09:46):
Yeah, yeah, yeah, that's good, that's good. Final question, who
is most likely to piss off your coach? And you
both can answer it?
Speaker 2 (09:53):
Anyone who shoots over the bar? Okay, does not shoot low?
Speaker 1 (10:00):
Okay. Let's talk about this team. Yeahs, obviously you're the
secret weapon. Two straight titles for you Portland twenty two,
got them, twenty three. You have a personal three peat
that could be achieved this year. What are the biggest
similarities that you see between the two title winning teams
that you've been on at the pro level.
Speaker 4 (10:19):
I think the depth of the squad is what's been
really key in times like this when you're at the
end of the season, there could be injuries, and you know,
you just never know what could happen, and I think
it's important that every person on the team is able
to step into a role or play a role that yeah.
Speaker 2 (10:38):
And just come in kind of seamlessly.
Speaker 4 (10:40):
And we've seen that throughout this season with this team
and everybody that has played and come on, even if
it's been a different role than maybe what they even trained,
you would never know because we just our squad is
that good and we have a lot of a lot
of different pieces to play and so we can really
do it all.
Speaker 2 (10:58):
And I think that's really key.
Speaker 1 (11:00):
I'm kind of fascinated from players who have been in
multiple places what differences they also notice. Whether that's in
Obviously there are big things like facilities and investment and
things like that, but in terms of team culture, are
there any big differences between Portland and Gotham.
Speaker 4 (11:16):
Something that I really recognized with this team was how
well and how often we celebrated everybody's accomplishments and it
really felt like a team accomplishment at the same time.
And not that Portland didn't have that, but I think
Gotham really emphasized that and on a whole new level.
And I think that really brings the team closer together
(11:37):
and it keeps everybody on the same track and on
the same page. And that's like what you want in
a team is for everybody to be on the same page,
because then the chances of you winning are so much higher.
And so I think having that foundation of like really
celebrating everybody's individual goals that really feel like team team
(11:58):
successes as well.
Speaker 2 (11:59):
Is what's really like separated.
Speaker 1 (12:01):
Gotham Jenna, you won the NWSL title last fall, a
gold medal this summer. Pretty decent run in your first
two years as a pro. Can you take us inside
the locker room with the US women's national team and
Emma Hayes in Paris? At what point did you really
start to think the team could or would win it all.
Speaker 3 (12:22):
I feel like from the time we went into the
sendoff games, we all kind of had that feeling. I
think you just really have to like believe it the
whole time to for it to happen. Like I remember,
I was always like, Okay, we're going to be in
France until August tenth, and like you kind of like
didn't really have any other mindset.
Speaker 1 (12:44):
Yeah. What makes Emma so special as a coach.
Speaker 2 (12:47):
Tactically, Like she's so smart.
Speaker 3 (12:49):
I think sitting in film sessions with her, you just
learned so much and she has such a great team
along with her, and she expects.
Speaker 2 (12:59):
She has such high.
Speaker 3 (12:59):
Stands for everyone, which I think drives everyone to work
harder and push themselves, and I think that also just
creates like a good culture. She's really big on like
culture and everyone being close and caring about each other,
which I think is really important to Did you.
Speaker 1 (13:14):
End up getting those manicures she promised? We saw that video,
but I never saw the results the manicures. Yeah, yeah,
we got a few because there was a There was
a video of her promising that she was bringing someone
in to give everybody manicures, but I never saw if
there were some good results from that.
Speaker 2 (13:30):
Yeah, I definitely utilized that.
Speaker 1 (13:32):
Okay, good, Yeah, as you got your first cap just
a few weeks ago, take us through the emotions there.
Speaker 2 (13:39):
It was a dream come true.
Speaker 4 (13:41):
I had been waiting for a moment, that moment specifically
for a really long time, and had been looking forward
to it my entire career, and so to finally be
in that situation and be a part of this team
was really like almost for me, like a breath of
fresh air to know that I have the abilities to
(14:04):
be at this level and not in a way like
I made it. But I mean, obviously there's still this
is the beginning of a whole new journey, which is
really cool. But that I got to start this journey,
and so I really was just almost relieved that I
finally broke through and was able to play a game
and be.
Speaker 2 (14:23):
A part of this team and be in camp.
Speaker 4 (14:25):
So I really couldn't have been more grateful to have
experienced that.
Speaker 1 (14:30):
Yeah, the first one is so exciting, but also a
lot of it is just like get it over with,
get it over with, and then just like, oh, now
I'm on the team, right, I'm not trying to get
to that spot. Is there like an og member of
the national team that you looked for for advice on
camp on proving yourself and getting those first minutes?
Speaker 4 (14:48):
I think you want to kind of prove yourself to
everybody there that that you want that you can be
there consistently. A player that I was looking forward to
with playing again was Lindsay Horan. I only got to
play with her for a short amount of time at Portland,
but with my time at Portland, I mean, I think
she's great and she always was talking with me about
(15:08):
soccer and giving me a lot of advice, and at
the time when I was more consistently playing midfield, she
was a player that I that I looked to to
learn from and so I was really excited to get
to play with her again and get to speak with
her again.
Speaker 2 (15:22):
So that was really cool.
Speaker 1 (15:24):
Jenna. When you first started getting into camps and trying
to make your way onto the team, was there an
OG that you asked for advice on, like just understanding selection,
knowing what coaches are going to look for, how to
stand out all that stuff.
Speaker 2 (15:38):
I kind of just like.
Speaker 3 (15:41):
Waited for the email to show up, Like I just
wanted to keep playing my game and keep doing me,
and like I didn't really want to let a national
team selection change how I played. I also think too,
like I just want to say about yeas coming into camp.
I think like a lot of people when they first
get called and they kind of struggle with like confidence
and oh my god, Like how am I going to
(16:01):
do when I first come in? I know I was
like nervous, But I think something cool about yeah is
that no one gets to see is that her first training,
like she was scaring bangers and like you think that
it was like her at least fifth camp, And I
think that's something like really hard to do. Like when
she came into the game, she's so easily like fit
into our playing style, which is not an easy thing.
Speaker 4 (16:24):
When that was so nice, I know, but to hear
it again, you know, that's cool, especially because like you're
in it and like you.
Speaker 1 (16:33):
Know, you know, where does that confidence come from to
be able to show up and just be like, yeah,
I belong here and here's a couple bangers.
Speaker 4 (16:41):
Well, honestly, I think that's something that I've tried to
have my entire career playing is like and like knowing
and I and I do think that at some level
you do have to have that confidence to play at
the highest level and to even play pro And I
know that I want to play and I want to
(17:03):
like it's not just oh, like I can say I'm
a part of the team, but like now, like how
do I get minutes? And like how do I actually
make an impact on the field? And so for me,
I know that like confidence has to come with that
or else it's never going to happen. And then another
part of that is that I think coming into the
league and getting on a team like Portland where immediately
(17:23):
I'm playing with Christine Sinclair, Lindsay Iran, Sophia Smith, Rocky Rodriguez,
so many people that are so experienced at the international
level and have, yeah, just all that experience and so
and then coming here where you get to play with
Roosevelt and Tierna Davidson and all the new players that
(17:44):
they brought in as well, and the players that were
here too, Christy Muis Ali Krieger was a huge one.
So like, I think having experience playing with those players
before entering into that environment and was like, really, I
think really a lot like knowing that like I have
chained with these players before, I have played with them before,
(18:04):
so all I know is that I need to keep
doing me and just learning and growing like within myself.
Speaker 2 (18:12):
So I did that. That really played a part.
Speaker 3 (18:14):
I just want to add on, like I think that
kind of like to her point, you get called it,
like she got called in because she's like yeahs me
and Ryan, Like players get called in because it's like
who they are. So if you go and like you
try to change for a system or change who you're
playing Gets because you're playing Gets with these new players,
then you're doing yourself and like you're doing Emma and
the team of Disservice because they brought you in to
(18:36):
like be who you are.
Speaker 2 (18:37):
I think it's easier said than done, but everyone.
Speaker 3 (18:40):
Kind of like needs to have that mentality going into
like new environments.
Speaker 1 (18:44):
That's so true. Absolutely. It sounds like you have a
very independent and solitary approach. Jenna to saying like, listen,
I'm just gonna play my best soccer and if the
email comes and I get the invite, then great, that
was the goal and I've earned it. But that's my focus.
Once you get to camp, there is this sort of
like dual thing. And I've listened a lot to like
(19:05):
Sammy Muis and Becky Sower Brennan folks like that talking
about this, like you get to camp and these are
your teammates, these are your friends and technically also your
competitors for the spots that are going to get to
go to the Paris Olympics and get to go to
these international tournaments. How do you get yourself in a
mindset to compete alongside and support your teammates while also
technically fighting against them for those spots.
Speaker 3 (19:27):
I think it's kind of like do two separate scenarios.
So when you're going into the camps trying to make it,
you are really focusing on I guess like you're more
so focusing on yourself doing well, but I think once
you get into the Olympics, you really just want to
do We talked a lot about like doing anything that
it takes, like for the team. For example, like I
(19:48):
didn't start, but like I knew that that was my role,
so then it was like going into something more. Okay,
I'm not trying to beat out the left back in
a match D minus one training, Like Crystal is very
clearly starting, So what can I do to help her
feel prepared or help the other teammates feel confident in
what they're doing.
Speaker 1 (20:07):
Yeah, yeah, that's great. Jenna Alie obviously a big loss
to the team this year, both personality and play. Where
else do you see the differences between last year's Gotham
team and this year's As you're entering the postseason.
Speaker 4 (20:22):
This year feels more business like get the job done,
like very like business.
Speaker 2 (20:28):
Last year I think with Ali Kreeger.
Speaker 4 (20:31):
Retiring and us finishing sixth in the league, like so
barely making the playoffs, we I believe we were confident
as a team, but it was a little more like, okay,
like we made it in so everything was like for Ali,
we can say yeah, in a way it was, Yeah,
(20:54):
it was less like, yeah, definitely no pressure on, like
nobody expected us to win obviously, Like it was a
little more like light to go into.
Speaker 1 (21:04):
Being the underdog sometimes easier, yeah, being the favorite or
trying to repeat, which is what you're trying to do. Now,
Can you replicate that looseness or do you think the
business like approach this year will serve you in a
different way?
Speaker 3 (21:16):
No?
Speaker 4 (21:16):
Yeah, I think I think the business approach in the
way that we kind of are with it now is
is it.
Speaker 2 (21:21):
Also a good thing?
Speaker 4 (21:23):
Just the opposite, Like it's because we are so confident
as a group and we have a specific style. We
have a way of playing that we've never changed, we
do not change for any team, and like I said,
with how deep this squad is as well, like we
we know whoever is on the field is going to
do their role and is going to execute.
Speaker 2 (21:43):
So it's definitely the confidence in a good way.
Speaker 4 (21:46):
Like we're like like we know we should be here
like now, like we're going to do it because we
know that we can do it again. We can have
a repeat and got them's no longer this underdog. We
are at the top and we want to stay at
the top.
Speaker 1 (21:58):
Are you excited to take on your former team, because
I feel like Portland's now going to have the like
win one for sink the same way that y'all had
for Ali last year. Do you want to end the
hopes and dreams of a Canadian legend?
Speaker 2 (22:13):
Well, I love.
Speaker 4 (22:15):
But yeah, I mean I think if we get them
out early and like, then then they have no chance
to win it. Versus if they were on the other
side of the bracket, they could have had a better
chance to get to the final. And then I think
that game, I mean probably would have been harder just
because I mean it's a final, but.
Speaker 5 (22:34):
Rip off the band aid early. Yeah, I think it
in the first round. Yeah, let's just let them down
easy while it's yeah, they made it here.
Speaker 2 (22:44):
But yeah, I feel.
Speaker 3 (22:47):
Like you want to play like the hardest teams, Like
last year we played North Carolina than Portland and then
Rain and like just you don't, I don't know, you
don't necessarily want like an easy quarterfinal because then you
can take your foot off the gas. So when you're
playing a team like Portland, like you have to bring
a hundred.
Speaker 1 (23:04):
Yeah, how are your bodies feeling? There was a lot
of soccer this summer. There was NWSL, there was League
Ex Feminial, there was the Paris Olympics. There's friendlies for
the US national team. There's I think there's like some
other Gold Cup stuff I'm forgetting right, I mean, there was.
Speaker 2 (23:21):
Like Champions League.
Speaker 1 (23:22):
Yeah, conga, CAF Champion. There's like so many things we
want to watch more soccer. Y'all want to get paid
and recognized as people that everyone wants to go watch
and see, and yet soccer's really hard on your bodies. So, yeah,
what did you think about this year's schedule. I know
it's not going to always be like that because it's
an Olympic year, but did you have to take extra
(23:44):
care to be ready and capable to bring it during
this postseason? Yeah?
Speaker 2 (23:48):
I definitely did.
Speaker 4 (23:49):
I mean, with this many games, it's if you don't
properly take care of your body, you will be out immediately,
and there's it will take everybody down. So I mean, yeah,
I gave this This stretch of at like towards the
end of the season definitely made me.
Speaker 2 (24:07):
Pay extra attention to.
Speaker 4 (24:09):
The details and the type of recovery that I'm doing
and finding things that actually work for me and even
things that work for.
Speaker 2 (24:16):
Me a little quicker than what I would be used to.
Speaker 4 (24:20):
It's not just we've had a lot of months where
it's not a full week of recovery, it's two days
and then you got to be one hundred percent again
in two days. And so yeah, I definitely have like
had to pay attention extra to to the recovery and
the type of fuel and extra hydration as well, which
(24:41):
is which ends up being such a benefit to in.
Speaker 2 (24:44):
The long run.
Speaker 4 (24:45):
And knowing that we made it through this and that
we did it and came out with very few injuries,
nothing season ending, season ending knock on wood, which was great.
Speaker 2 (25:00):
That's kudos to the team for taking care of themselves
as well.
Speaker 4 (25:03):
But yeah, but at the same time, I think it's
really it's really cool to get to experience all these
different games in different scenarios, with the different tournaments and
international teams and.
Speaker 2 (25:14):
Playing for different titles. It really it amped up everything,
that's for.
Speaker 1 (25:20):
Sure, Jenna. This is an opportunity to bring New York
slash New Jersey another title. Right after the New York
Liberty won the w NBA title. Were you watching from
across the way watching Ellie the Elephant and the rest
of the team get their ticker tape parade and watching
the city rally around them and thinking like, oh, yeah,
(25:40):
we want to do that again.
Speaker 3 (25:42):
Yeah, I think obviously we're at like Kelly's O'Hara's retirement
party when they won, and I think it was like
cool because everyone's eyes are glued to the TV and
it's just so exciting to see the recognition that the
w NBA is getting and they deserve and kind of
I think when there's a one a win in one
woman's sport, it's like a win for all women's sports.
(26:03):
So it was really exciting and to see the crowd
that they brought in is really inspiring.
Speaker 1 (26:09):
Yeah, we got to get you out one of those
parades that looked like a lot of fun. And I'm
a Chicagoan, so I was like mildly jealous of New
York success, but also like excited for them that it happened. Okay,
last question. Yeah, we got Jenna on the DJ tables
turntables in the locker room. I know you don't actually
have turntables, but you know, go along with me here.
What is the song you're requesting pregame before the game
(26:31):
against Portland?
Speaker 4 (26:33):
Well, yeah, the song that I have been listening to
before games has been Invincible by pop Smoke.
Speaker 1 (26:42):
Okay, oh yeah, that one.
Speaker 2 (26:45):
I'm definitely requesting noted, that's the request.
Speaker 1 (26:47):
Okay, Jenna, what's your go to? What's what's your song
that's going to get the team hype?
Speaker 3 (26:54):
Jenna, I don't know. Honestly, I'm pressing Shuffle from the spot.
If I played this I put together for the team
and I I'm gonna go get ready.
Speaker 2 (27:04):
It's too much pressure.
Speaker 1 (27:05):
I hate it all right. DJ Shuffle is taking no
accountability for what comes out of that. I love it.
Speaker 2 (27:13):
It's like you guys made the playlist, so if you
don't like it, like that's on you.
Speaker 1 (27:16):
Perfect, perfect, Well, thank you guys so much for taking
the time. I know it's a busy week ahead at
the quarter final. Good luck in your game and congrats
and all the success with the national team too, and
thanks for joining us.
Speaker 2 (27:26):
Thanks, thank you so much.
Speaker 1 (27:30):
We got to pay some bills when we come back.
We dig deeper into the NWSL quarterfinal matchups. Stick with us,
Welcome back, slices. Let's preview the NWSL quarterfinals, shall we? First?
Tonight Orlando Pride Number one versus the Number eight Chicago
(27:52):
Red Stars in Orlando. That's eight pm Eastern on Prime Video.
This is the first ever home playoff game for an
Orlando team that looked like it might not lose a
game all season until after they claimed the shield and
took their foot off the gas, and they lost two
games while resting players late in the regular season. But
the Pride have something to prove after long being an
afterthought in this league, and while the shield is certainly
(28:14):
an accomplishment, the title is the goal for this team,
especially since they'd love to give legendary striker Marta, who's
a six time FIFA World Player of the Year, her
very first NWSL championship in what could be her final
season with Orlando. Meantime, Chicago Red Stars entered the postseason
on a three game losing streak and just one win
in their last five games. But when you've got Male
(28:36):
Swanson attacking and a Listenare in goal, you've always got
a shot. The Pride's rallying cry for this game, win
one for Marta. The Red Stars tagline the Stars are
here to spoil a near perfect season all right. Saturday
November ninth, we got the Kansas City Current the number
four seed versus the number five North Carolina Courage. That's
twelve pm Eastern on CBS and also streaming on Paramount Plus.
(29:00):
This is the second playoff appearance for the Current and
the first home playoff game for them. They're hoping to
benefit from the support of a raucous home crowd that
helped them become the first NWSL team to sell out
every home regular season game. The Current set the new
league mark for goals in a season by a team
with fifty seven and by a player tem Wichewinga with twenty,
in addition to the most different goal scorers eighteen, and
(29:24):
they already claimed two trophies this year in the Summer
Cup and the Women's Cup. They got to get through
a Courage team that's one of only three teams to
beat them this season, but the Courage will have to
figure out how to win on the road. To do it,
they're just three and ten away from home this season.
The Current's rallying cry, We've got Temwa and seventeen other
goal scorers. The Courage tagline, we're tops in the league
(29:47):
in possession and possess the ability to surprise you with
a win Sunday. We've got a doubleheader. Washington Spirit the
number two seed versus number seven BAFC. That's twelve thirty
pm Eastern on ABC. The Spirit set new club records
in points with fifty six, goals scored with fifty one,
and wins with eighteen, which also ties the league's single
(30:08):
season record, but injuries are killing them, including to star
Andy Sullivan, and they're a different team than the one
we saw for much of the season. Trinity Rodman always
dangerous though. Meantime, BFC is peaking at the right time
and has benefited from the arrival of Abby Dhalkemper and
the veteran leadership she brings, and Rachel Kundanaji has shown
the tricks up her sleeve are all but impossible to defend.
(30:30):
The Spirit's rallying cry will be we've flown under the radar,
but when it matters, most will come out on top,
and the Bays tagline when it comes to winning, we're
ten toes down on top of a soccer ball. Finally,
New York, New Jersey GOTHMAFC the number three versus number
six Portland Thorns, three pm Eastern on ABC. This is
a rematch of last year's semifinal when Gotham upset Portland
(30:52):
at Providence Park en route to an unlikely title coming
out of the sixth seed. But they are not sneaking
up on anyone this year as they look to defend
their twenty twenty three championship. Portland meanwhile boasting triple Espresso
star soph Smith and the greatest international scorer of all time,
Christine Sinclair. We'll certainly be trying to play spoiler on
Gotham's attempt to repeat Gotham's rallying cry back to back
(31:15):
batties Baby and the Thorns tagline one last trophy for Sync.
We're super pumped for these games. We've got our schedules
cleared out, and we are hoping for a little NWSL
chaos despite the parody that we've seen lacking this season.
So Alex, give me one big, bold NWSL chaos prediction
(31:35):
for this week's quarterfinals.
Speaker 3 (31:37):
I think we're gonna see at least one upset, and
I think that is going to be Portland beating Gotham.
Speaker 4 (31:46):
Whoa very interesting spicy Do you feel bad saying that
given that we had Jenna and Yasmine on today's show?
Speaker 3 (31:53):
Yeah?
Speaker 1 (31:54):
Yeah, they just come on. They give us their time
and then immediately you're like, yeah, you're gonna lose. That's
exactly bold prediction, Mish. How about you. I think Tim
Wichewinga's goal tally is going up from twenty to twenty three.
She's got to get a hat trick in this quarterfinal. Yeah,
I think it's happening. A hat trick in the quarterfinal.
That is a big bold prediction. I like that. I
(32:18):
like that. I don't know if I believe it, Mesh,
but I like the idea of that. That would be spicy, Alex.
The one I've seen most people call in terms of
believing there could be an upset is actually Bay over
the Spirit because of the Spirit's injuries, especially to Andy Sullivan.
So I haven't heard the Portland call, but certainly there
is something to be said for that team rallying around
that player in their final year. We saw it with
Gotham last year and Ali, so will it be Portland
(32:40):
pulling it off for Sink this year? That's a good one.
My big bold prediction is a fun one. I just
want a river goal in Casey. That's all I want.
We've been looking for them all year. We've been cheering
for them all year, so give me a river goal.
All right. We're gonna list all the matchups and how
you can watch in our show notes slices. As you know,
we love that you're listening, but we do want you
to get in the game every day too, So here's
(33:02):
our good gameplay of the day. It's simple. Watch the
NWSL playoffs, grab your snacks, settle in on the couch,
and let some NWSL chaos drown out the rest of
life's chaos for just a couple hours at least. Or
even better, grab some friends and go watch at your
favorite local sports bar women's sports bar if you've got one.
Sometimes it does feel like you want to be alone,
(33:23):
but the research is all true. We feel better when
we're together. So take the time for some footy and
some friends this weekend if you can. We'd love to
hear from you. Hit us up on email good game
at wondermedianetwork dot com or leave us a voicemail at
eight seven two two o four fifty seventy and you
know what I'm going to say, Slices, don't forget to subscribe,
rate and review, Tell your friends, tell your enemies. It's
(33:44):
easy watch a long walk in the sun, rating five
out of five. Must do, even if you don't want twos.
Review walking releases and doorphins, which are linked to lower
levels of stress, anxiety, and depression, and sunshine increases serotonin
and improves mental health. So even if you feel like
you want to curl in a ball and hide, make
yourself get outside and walk in the sun. And if
(34:06):
it's cloudy near you, one out of two is better
than none. Now it's your turn, rate and review. Thanks
for listening, Have a good weekend, Take care of yourselves.
Good Game, Yasmine, Good Game, jennak You, Fox News. 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 wherever
(34:28):
you get your podcasts. Production by Wonder Media Network, our
producers are Alex Azzie and Misha Jones. Our executive producers
are Christina Everett, Jesse Katz, Jenny Kaplan and Emily Rudder.
Our editors are Emily Rudder, Britney Martinez, Grace Lynch, and
Lindsay Crawdawell. Production assistants from Lucy Jones and I'm your host,
Sarah Spain
Host
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