October 17, 2025 • 38 mins
Women’s soccer analyst and former pro player Lori Lindsey joins Sarah to discuss the state of the NWSL, predict which teams will thrive in the playoffs, and play a “Patience or Panic” speed round about several issues currently facing the league. Plus, playoff math, a hooper returns to the green, and praising a rival to close out a career.
SHOW NOTES:
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Follow Lori on Instagram here
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Check out Jen Cooper’s website “Keeper Notes” here
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Check out Alison Gale’s NWSL playoff simulator here
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Livestream the Aces victory parade here
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Watch Ariarne Titmus’s full retirement video here
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Leave us a voicemail at 872-204-5070 or send us a note at goodgame@wondermedianetwork.com
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Transcript
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 wishing
we could freeze ourselves in the brief, happy window of
time between Trinity Rodman's announced return to the US national
team Wednesday morning and her injury Wednesday night. Why can't
we have nice things? It's Friday, October seventeenth, and on
today's show, we're joined by women's soccer analyst and former
pro player Laurie Lindsay. We talk about how this NWSL
(00:22):
season has unfolded, the team's lori cees making the postseason,
and we play a patience or panic speed round regarding
several issues currently facing.
Speaker 2 (00:31):
The league, plus playoff math.
Speaker 1 (00:33):
A Hooper returns to the Green and praising arrival to
close out a career. It's all coming up right after
this Welcome back sliceys, Happy Friday. Here's what you need
to know today. Let's start with soccer and that injury
I mentioned in the show open On Thursday, we told
(00:56):
you that Trinity Rodman had been named the US national
training camp roster for a trio of friendlies later this month,
making her triumphant return after sitting out several camps with
a nagging back injury.
Speaker 2 (01:07):
Well, on Wednesday, night.
Speaker 1 (01:08):
Just a few hours after that roster drop, Rodman was
injured during a CONCACAF w Champions Cup group stage game
against Monterey, which her Washington's Spirit went on to win
for nothing. During the first half of the match, Rodman
suffered an apparent leg injury after attempting a tackle. She
needed help from athletic trainers to get to her feet
and seemed unable to put any weight on her right leg.
(01:29):
After the game, she was seen back on the field
on crutches and wearing a full length knee brace. As
of this recording, we don't have an update on Rodman's
status or prognosis. We just know how tough it was
to see such a talented player who's already been sidelined
by injury far too much in her career go down again.
We're sending Tren our best and we'll keep you updated
when we learn more. More soccer, there are three weeks
(01:51):
left in the NWSL regular season, but just two regular
season game days. There are no games scheduled during the
FIFA window October twenty second through twenty eighth. National team
players will be at camp and playing in those friendlies
I mentioned, so with just those two game days left,
there are still five postseason spots up for grabs, but
the playoff picture could become a lot clearer this weekend now.
(02:12):
As a reminder, eight teams will qualify for the NWSL postseason,
and heading into Friday nights games, three teams have already
clinched postseason berths Kansas City, Washington, and Orlando, and three
teams have already been eliminated from contention, the Utah Royals, BAFC,
and Chicago Stars.
Speaker 2 (02:30):
That leaves eight teams competing for the.
Speaker 1 (02:32):
Final five playoff spots Gotham, Seattle, San Diego, Portland, Louisville,
North Carolina, Angel City, and the Houston Dash. The first
five of those teams all control their own faith this weekend.
If they win, they're in, but some of those teams
might actually clinch before they even step on the field.
If the North Carolina Courage, currently in ninth loses its
(02:54):
game tonight against BFC, then Gotham, Seattle, San Diego, and
Portland will all mathematically clinched playoff berths. Shout out to
statistician extraordinaire and friend of the show Jen Cooper for
her work in unpacking these very complicated scenarios. We'll link
to her site keeper notes in the show notes. We'll
also link to a fantastic NWSL playoff simulator that Alison
(03:16):
Gail built. You could play around with it to see
what results your team needs in order to qualify. We're
also going to be keeping an eye on the race
for the Golden Boot, the award that goes to the
NWSL player with the most goals on the season. The
Kansas City Currents tem wasshewinga last year's winner, currently leads
the league with fifteen tallies, and she scored in four
straight matches while got them FC's Aestare sits in second
(03:38):
place with thirteen. We'll have plenty more on the NWSL
later in the show, when I'm joined by laur Lindsay
to the intersection of basketball and golf Gasketball Bolf, I'll
keep workshopping it. Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark missed the
end of the WNBA season with injury, but it seems
she's finally ready to return to action on the Links
(04:00):
announced on Thursday that Clark will play in next month
the Onica, a pro am event hosted by the LPGA.
Speaker 2 (04:05):
Clark also competed in the event last November.
Speaker 1 (04:08):
One of Clark's sponsors, Gainbridge, is a major sponsor of
the tournament, which includes a three point two five million
dollar prize and.
Speaker 2 (04:15):
Some more w news.
Speaker 1 (04:16):
On Thursday, the WNBA announced that the All Star Game
will be returning to Chicago. Chicago's been selected to host
the twenty twenty six All Star Game. It'll be the
second time the All Star Game is coming here to
my city, and I'm so grateful they're giving them a
second chance. Last time was a very short warning to
the city that the event would be going on, and
(04:37):
speaking to some folks who are at the highest levels
of events like this here in Chicago, they just felt
like they didn't have a chance to ramp it up
the way that they'd hoped because of that short timeline.
So plenty of time to get ahead of this one,
and I'm really excited to see what'll go down all
the festivities around my city. It's going to be Saturday,
July twenty fifth at the United Center and lots more
(04:59):
news I'm sure to come that. Finally, a reminder that
the Las Vegas Aces are celebrating their WNBA championship win
with a parade today in their home city local station
News three Las Vegas will be live streaming the celebration,
so we'll link to their website in the show notes,
and of course check your favee W reporters on social
to see if they're posted up parade side in Sin City.
Speaker 2 (05:21):
We got to take a quick break.
Speaker 1 (05:22):
When we come back, we run up and down the
NWSL table with Lour Lindsay. We talked to Laurie on
Wednesday before the Trinity Rodman jury stick around. She's back
for a second visit to the show. She's an NWSL,
MLS and EUROS analyst for CBS Sports, Apple, TV, Prime Video,
(05:45):
Fox and ESPN. A former midfielder who made thirty one
appearances for the US women's national team, including at the
twenty eleven World Cup where they were runners up.
Speaker 2 (05:53):
She's got a closet full of sleepless black teas.
Speaker 1 (05:56):
She's been on the big screen in Times Square, and
she grew a mullet as a kid because she wanted
to be former US men's keeper Tony Meola.
Speaker 2 (06:02):
It's Lori Lindsay, Hi, Lauri Hi.
Speaker 3 (06:05):
That was perfect. And the black sleeves or the sleeveless
black shirts is just amazing.
Speaker 1 (06:10):
So yeah, I mean not untrue, not all lesbians, but many.
Speaker 2 (06:15):
That's pretty much what are you gonna wear today?
Speaker 1 (06:17):
Well, it's between my white sleeveless tea and my black
sleeveless exactly.
Speaker 4 (06:21):
So you know, that's the exact reason why.
Speaker 1 (06:25):
I love being on So last time, when you were
on the show, we were prepping for the start of
this NWSL season, and I wonder if you can remember
any of the predictions you made, any of the players
you thought might be great, any of the teams that
you thought might be great that you now think to yourself, Wow,
I was way off.
Speaker 4 (06:43):
Okay, Well, I was trying to remember if we did
predict predictions and so, and then I was like, well,
I can't remember any except for probably Kansas City, which
I think a lot of us were right about. So
it's not like I'm patting myself on the back about
that one. But I also would say that I would
have had a Orlando up there again, even though and
they just clinched a playoff spot, But there was about
(07:05):
nine weeks of some nervy moments where I actually didn't
think they were gonna make it, So credit to them.
Speaker 3 (07:11):
Who else did I have? I can't even remember Gotham,
I would imagine I head up there too. Is that true?
Speaker 2 (07:17):
I'm gonna go back and look and double check.
Speaker 1 (07:19):
But I want to see what comes to mind for you,
because it's always interesting to me when somebody later on
is trying to go back and reconcile, because it's really
hard to put ourselves back in the mindset of one
season is starting, and to your point, like the Orlando Pride, duh,
but there was a giant stretch in the middle of
this season where we were all like, what happened to
the Pride? And are they even going to make the postseason?
(07:40):
Not to mention be the team that we saw last year.
So yeah, I'm pretty fascinated by how differently this NWSL
season has gone from what I expected. And part of
that is some major names not playing at all. Part
of that is Kansas City kind of making the at
least first place who's gonna win story completely unimportant at
(08:02):
this point, And I want to talk to you quickly
about the Kansas City current breaking records for points, wins,
fastest team to clinch the Shield. Why has this team
been so dominant?
Speaker 4 (08:13):
Well, I think one ownership, they are determined to be
the best, and we see that in everything they do
with their training facilities, the stadium and also the players,
I mean Blackoen and Oski, they're head coach, I mean
all of the there's a huge vision of from day
one when the Lungs took over, Mahomes took over, bringing
(08:33):
black Owen and Osky in, it was like, this is
the organization that we want to be. We want to
be the world's best and we want to be the
known team in global women's soccer. And they've done that,
and they also what I would say, is do such
a good job, particularly Blacko Andsky, of not only looking
at what they currently have, but also constantly saying, Okay,
(08:56):
we don't want to just be good for now, we
also want to set ourselves up for success for years
to come. So you see Ali sentinor you see ways
to get some of these young players, even just a
couple of games ago against Angel City too and a
seventeen year old, an eighteen year old and nineteen year
old all on the starting lineup on the front line.
So they are have the foresight to think about, Okay,
(09:18):
how are we getting valuable minutes to young players, but
also still having our eye on winning a championship. We've
already locked up the shield fastest team to do that
in the month of September, which is incredible.
Speaker 3 (09:28):
But you're just seeing this team really.
Speaker 4 (09:31):
Push the envelope and it's forcing everybody else to level
up too, So yeah, that's awesome.
Speaker 1 (09:37):
Yeah, and you talked about the last time you were
on them potentially having a little chip on their shoulder.
They wanted to be in it, to win it in
their own stadium, this beautiful space that was purpose built
for women's sport. We heard that over and over and
it was a tremendous final that they weren't in. So
coming into this season saying whatever we left on the
field that didn't get us where we wanted to be,
(09:58):
we're going to do it this year.
Speaker 2 (10:00):
And yeah, we've certainly seen it.
Speaker 1 (10:02):
Tim Wushawinga speaking of doing something last year and somehow
getting better. Last year's Golden Boot winner on track to
take the title again. She's scored in four straight games.
She's got fifteen tallies on the season. Estaire from Gotham
FC is putting some pressure on her, currently sitting on
thirteen goals, but she hasn't scored in a month.
Speaker 2 (10:20):
Tims seems a lot hotter. What have you seen from
Temwao this year?
Speaker 3 (10:24):
Excellence?
Speaker 4 (10:26):
I mean just it is exceptional, I feel, and I
know I could speak for all the other pundits fans,
we are all coaches, even though they wish she was
on their team I'm sure the majority of the time.
But yeah, we just see this player who seems to
have so much joy when she's playing, loves her teammates,
works for her team, and you're just seeing her revolutionized
(10:48):
soccer in so many different ways with the way that
she plays. But I think the thing that's so fun
about Tim Wushawinga is last year she scored a ton
of goals, but also this year you see her refining
so many other skills in terms of her first touch,
her ability to set up her teammates, just the connection
she has with her teammates regardless who's on the field.
And I think that is a sign of an extraordinary
(11:10):
player to be able to bring other players in and
also teams honing in on her in a different way.
How do we get two or three players around her? Well,
it doesn't matter, because she can still find different ways
to get on the ball, whether it's taking on one
v one, whether it's getting on into service, setting up teammates.
I mean, we are seeing a player just come into
her continuously come into her own and expand the skill
(11:32):
set that's needed to play week in and week out
in this league.
Speaker 3 (11:36):
So it's exceptional, and.
Speaker 1 (11:37):
It feels like Vladkov should just give her a challenge
before each game of what new way to score a goal,
because it was unbelievable that literally the day before they're
having a bet on whether he should die his hair.
If she finally gets her first header in the league
and she scores in the very next game, it's like, hey, just.
Speaker 2 (11:53):
Start telling her random, new and quirky ways to score
and see if.
Speaker 4 (11:56):
She can pull it off this, you know what, That
might be the only challenge to be said about that
relationship as well, just a mutual respect between the two
of them, and he's obviously getting the best out of her,
but she's also just performing and feels incredibly comfortable being
with this team and this organization, So I don't think
that can be understated as well, because it's such a
(12:17):
fun the joke of the dyeing of the hair, right,
and just like their relationship is fun to watch yes.
Speaker 1 (12:23):
Great, All right, we talked briefly about the Pride, but
let's get into that slump.
Speaker 2 (12:26):
Are they officially out of it?
Speaker 1 (12:28):
Do you expect to see going forward the Pride, who
just clinched a playoff spot last week, being the team
that they started the season really pushing the current.
Speaker 4 (12:36):
Well, I think the tough part is with Orlando, and
this is why I felt like it was going to
be really difficult for them to come out of the slump.
Is because much like Timoshwinga, when you have Barbara Banda
on your team, just the makeup of your team looks
completely different. And that's a tough part. And I've always
said since they lost Barbara bandont to that season in
(12:56):
the injury is it's not always just like the presence
of Barbara on the field in terms of what she
can do in terms of scoring goals. It's also just
the mental emotional aspect that that takes on a team.
Because Orlando has been playing well and they've been creating
chances even after that injury to band us so, but
they just it was like the luck wouldn't come go
(13:17):
their way. They defensively, teams were clearing lines off or
clearing balls off the goal line, they couldn't buy a goal,
they're being called off side, whatnot. You can name everything, right,
but this team was still relatively playing well. To answer
your question, though, I do think we're starting to come
out of slump and I think they're going to gain
even more momentum given that they've been able to turn
things around these last three games. Four points on the
(13:39):
road from their two way games and then a home
win this past Friday against Portland.
Speaker 3 (13:44):
That's massive. But I also do.
Speaker 4 (13:47):
Think they have to expect everybody to start chipping in,
and we're seeing that more and more marked to coming
off the bench. What she brings to this team, I
would say, Simone Charlie, Simone Jackson. Those three I thought
were lights out on Friday against Portland, and that's what
you're going to have to expect from players. But the
one thing that I think could separate them is they're
in the playoffs right now. They knew that on Friday
(14:08):
night against Portland. That was their mentality. Then they'll have
away game at Washington, so it's not like their schedule
gets any easier, but they are in the playoffs, and
sometimes that's what you need to really cure yourself when
you don't, you didn't expect the season to go the
way that it has.
Speaker 1 (14:24):
Right, Yeah, And of course they want to make sure
that they're in a good spot in the postseason for
matchups sake, but also a little bit of weight.
Speaker 2 (14:30):
Off their shoulders to have clinched.
Speaker 1 (14:32):
So we've got the Current, the Pride, and the Washington
Spirit the only teams that have clinched the postseason despite
just two regular season match days remaining. So we've got
ourselves quite a raise for the remaining five playoffs spots.
Got them Seattle, San Diego, Portland, and Louisville all currently
holding spots four through eight, but North Carolina, Angel City
and Houston still alive just a few points back. So, first,
(14:54):
do you see the current top eight holding or do
you think one of those three I mentioned will sneak
their way in and display someone.
Speaker 4 (15:01):
I actually do think we're going to see those top eight.
I think I was just looking at the remaining two
games for all of the teams prior, and it's not
like it's not going to be easy, right, But racing
Louisville that's sitting in that eighth place, they're one point
behind Portland, who's in seventh. I think they're just playing
for something extra. This team is like, we want to
(15:22):
get into the playoffs for the first time in our existence.
They're playing for their coach, Bevvinez, who I think I
just have massive amount of respect for, and then also
Savedamelo has gone down, and so I just feel like, sometimes,
and I've said this before, in this league, when things
are so tight, you have to be playing for a
little bit more. We saw that a couple of years
ago with Ali Krieger being her last match. Last year,
(15:45):
when Orlando went on the run and did it was
like everyone was rallying around Marta.
Speaker 3 (15:50):
Right.
Speaker 4 (15:50):
There's just something extra with how fine the Margins are,
and I think we're going to see that with Racing Louisville,
even though they're at Gotham this weekend and then Decision
Day they're back home against Bay. While I've really liked
what North calend has done of late, they have to
go away to Bay and then they have Gotham and
they haven't been exceptional on the road at all, even
(16:11):
the last couple of years, and then have Gotham at home.
I think presents an interesting challenge. So that's my concern.
So I'm going to the I don't know how it's
actually going to play out in terms of the seating
of the eight, but I think these eight are going
to stay the same.
Speaker 1 (16:24):
All right, So you got Gotham, Seattle, San Diego, Portland,
and Louisville holding on. I have a question about a
couple of those teams. When we talked last time, we
were weighed down by the drama of the Gotham off season. Right,
there were players that seemed angry, there were players that
left for teams across the pond. They started the season
disappointing for the amount of talent they still have, but
(16:46):
here they are looking like a team that will make
the postseason.
Speaker 2 (16:50):
What have you made of this season?
Speaker 1 (16:52):
How they reacted to the weird off season, the changes
that are happening in the front office, Like who are
and what is this Gotham?
Speaker 4 (17:00):
Yeah, I'm laughing because if you had asked me, like
ask me about those changes offseason, I've been like, that
happened two years ago, right, So that's a lot while Yeah,
So yes, things are changing rapidly, and I would still
feel like this is a Gotham team that is continuously
trying to push the envelope and make sure that they
(17:22):
are known that there is They're in a New York market,
and they want to continue to improve. They want to
continue to play high tempo, possession oriented, fun pleasing on
the IE soccer and I think you see that with
the Jaden Shaw move. I think you see that with
just the way that they play, but also getting Rooselevel
(17:43):
back and Mitch Purse's back healthy, some of the young players,
Lily Real who just got called into the USM national
team camp again, Sarah Shapanski, so all of these players,
I think, to me, it's a it's an organization that
still continue to push and bring in the best of
the best they can, not only on the field but
in the office as well.
Speaker 3 (18:01):
But then and also a team that.
Speaker 4 (18:03):
Does a lot of work behind the scenes to bring
in the players that they feel like fit the way
that they.
Speaker 3 (18:09):
Want to play.
Speaker 4 (18:10):
And again, I keep going back to Jaden Shaw because
immediately she fits into the way that this team plays.
I would say the only thing that's been a little
bit perplexing, and this sometimes takes time when you are
bringing in new players or players are coming back from injury,
is getting everybody operating on the same page because all
those players and the Nata stare in there, who's just incredible.
(18:32):
All of those players are world class. They're world beaters.
So it's kind of like, Okay, it's perplexing because you
want them to be more ruthless, you want them to
be scoring a lot more goals than they are. They're
solid defensively and have been for a number of years,
so I'm just kind of waiting for that attack to
take shape more consistently. And that's where I have a
few question marks, but we'll see in some.
Speaker 2 (18:53):
Of that's chemistry.
Speaker 1 (18:54):
You've got me thinking about this term that comes up
a lot in this workout class I take, which is
like time undert and that's like, yeah, you know, that's
like when your body's actually working really hard, Like we
need to keep the time under tension, like as long
as that's what I feel like is these parts of
Gotham need more time under tension together where they're all
healthy and in the place they're supposed to be, and
so they can then figure out how do we react
(19:15):
in what works best for us in those moments and
they need to get there. Same time, we were talking
about Gotham having a really tough offseason, you were real
hyped about Houston and the moves that they were making.
They are still alive, but what still hasn't been able
to click for Houston and maybe the same question for
Angel City, two teams that every off season we're sort
(19:35):
of like.
Speaker 2 (19:36):
Oh, I think they're going to figure it out.
Speaker 3 (19:38):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (19:39):
I think with Houston mostly it's just exactly what we're
talking about with Gotham, consistency, the understanding time with Fabris Gatraw,
their head coach. But I really like this Houston team,
and I think they have the foundation and a much
clearer foundation than we've seen in this organization's existence as well.
I really like what they're doing. I think that's just
(20:00):
going to continue to improve. I think the Italian player
Boatine thought she was wonderful during the Euros for Italy
is more minutes she gets. But I think once you
start bringing in some players, it's tough, depending on if
you're chasing playoffs, to then bring new players in, because one,
you have some chemistry with some players currently and to
bring other players out and shake things up can be
(20:23):
difficult at this point in time. And I think that's
a little bit of the issue that they've had late
down this stretch as they have gotten much more consistent
after that international break and during the Euros, so I
still am high on them. I think it doesn't mean
it wasn't a successful year if they don't make the playoffs,
so keep going in the direction.
Speaker 3 (20:41):
Yeah, exactly. And then for Angel City, I think it's.
Speaker 4 (20:44):
Just this is a completely different team than we've seen
at the beginning of the season. I mean, you're bringing
in so many new players, losing a big one. Yep, yeah,
exactly too, Ali Riley, Well, I'm talking a little oh well,
of course, yes, Eliza Thompson, Yeah, huge. I was thinking
retirement because like everybody's in shambles with everybody's resiring, we're
(21:08):
all washed. Yeah, But with Alyssa Thompson, that is the
biggest one, right because she was a face. She's the
one that felt like every attack went through and rightfully,
so young, energetic, the future, we thought, generational talent. Yeah,
and so huge loss. But then I feel like you
feel that momentum of what they're trying to do as well.
(21:30):
But it's tough when you have a new coach coming
in mid season and you're learning in real time really
how to implement these new tactics. Plus you're looking over
and like, I've never even seen you until yesterday.
Speaker 1 (21:42):
So well, so that theme keeps coming up, and in
some ways it's inevitable with injury, but it also does
it seem like the current structure of this league, whether
that's the ins and outs of coaches so fast or
interim coach, we know we're going to get this coach,
but they're not going to arrive until the end of
this other's season in this other country, or players that
(22:03):
are getting added at the end of seasons for other leagues, Like,
is it always going to be influx to the point
where it's whatever team can adjust most quickly to the
pieces changing, or should there be more emphasis on this
league keeping coaches for longer, maintaining players start to finish
of the season.
Speaker 2 (22:20):
Is that even possible?
Speaker 4 (22:22):
I do think it is possible, and I think we're
actually going to see it. Sometimes I do feel like, yeah,
it does feel like we're in flux. There's such constant change.
I do think as the game grows that will be
an aspect for sure, because players can be traded if
they want to write, or there can be transfers, and
depending on different leagues, I mean that is generally pro
(22:44):
sports as well, so you will see things being shaken up.
But I think in terms of coaches, it does feel
like we are starting to get to a place where
that can level out a little bit, is my hope,
and for the players hope as well, just because you
want that consistency right, You want to know what is
being asked of you, what's like the common theme I'm
(23:05):
going to training every day with. But it does feel
like we are starting to get there, even though it
was a bit of for lack of a better term,
maybe chaos at the beginning of the season or to
the middle part of the season.
Speaker 1 (23:18):
Well, and I think part of that too is like
the storylines that have been building over the last year
or so. We're sort of stunted from Triple Espresso being
out due to two babies and an injury, Barbara Banda
getting hurt again, the current kind of running away with things.
Are there players we should be talking about and aren't
because we were so wrapped up in those big names
(23:39):
that now aren't playing. Are there storylines that you thought
should have gotten more media attention, It should have been
a draw and instead I feel like the NWSL hasn't
been able to steal headlines in spotlight much this season
as a result of a lot of those injuries and absences.
Speaker 4 (23:53):
Well, I think the biggest storyline, and we are talking
about it, but is parody.
Speaker 3 (23:58):
And you know, there was a big.
Speaker 4 (23:59):
Question on what they're not it actually is parody because
of Kansas City running away with it.
Speaker 3 (24:03):
But this is what makes this league.
Speaker 4 (24:05):
I love that Kansas City's run away with it. It
forces everybody, as we mentioned at the beginning here, it forces.
Speaker 3 (24:10):
Everybody like, well, how do we get how do we
get better?
Speaker 4 (24:12):
How do we continue to push and continue to show
excellence within our organization? But there's so much parody. I mean,
if you look in everything that we've just talked about,
it is down to the wire scrambling for points. Even
if I mean just look into Orlando. This is a
team that collected so many points at the beginning of
the season that they went on a nine game losing
(24:34):
streak and then just clinched as a third team, which
is remarkable because we were all like, I don't think
they're going to be able to regroup, right, And so
you have all of these different aspects that yes, I
think we could be talking more about I mean Portland
had total revamping of losing Christine Sinclair to retirement, Megan Klingenberg,
(24:54):
Becky sowerbrun a young team, they're still in a mix.
No one knew what this team was going to look
like again, Gotham reshuffling in the middle of the season
after those players losing. So this to me, even though
it feels like there has been a lot of turnover,
and you know, players like Alyssa Thompson have gone to
Chelsea in the Super League, I love it. I mean,
(25:16):
I don't want to lose those players, rightly, wrong, but
I'm happy for Listen the.
Speaker 1 (25:20):
Drama, Yes, decision day is gonna be insane because of that.
Speaker 4 (25:24):
And it's it's the league, right we have exceptional players
that play in this league, and obviously with Alosa Thompson,
I want her to go where she's the most excited about.
But yeah, I mean, we have players that are being
called up to the US women's national team. What was
it like twenty some different caps at Emma Hay's first
caps that she gave because of like the experience these
players are getting in this league, and I think that's
(25:46):
exceptional and it speaks to how difficult every single game
is for these players.
Speaker 1 (25:51):
Yeah, let's talk about the postseason. Right now, we do
have only three of eight teams confirmed.
Speaker 2 (25:57):
Of those couple that.
Speaker 1 (25:59):
Are you know, hanging in there that you think are
going to hold their ground in the top eight, who
could be the most dangerous right now? It feels like
it's very top heavy with the current and the Spirit.
Speaker 2 (26:08):
Who else do you see being dangerous?
Speaker 3 (26:11):
Yeah?
Speaker 4 (26:11):
I do feel like Racing Louisville could be dangerous down
this stretch. I think the team camaraderie then fighting for
one another, they're difficult to play against. They don't shy
away from that. I love that they're not afraid to
be like, yep, we're gonna be bruisers, We're gonna get
in tackles, and here we are right like watch out.
Speaker 3 (26:30):
I think that can always be dangerous.
Speaker 4 (26:32):
I think if Gotham catches some momentum with their attack,
they're a team that obviously has these championship experience, playoff experience,
don't count them out. But honestly, if I'm thinking of
a team that is going to be really interesting, it's
the Washington Spirit. Yeah, they have a lot of different
players in the attack that give you a different look.
(26:54):
Trinny Rodman has hit form at the exact right time,
and you have a team that has gotten much more
solidified defensively since that international break as well, and so
since before their national break, they haven't lost the game,
which is exceptional.
Speaker 1 (27:11):
In every sport, health and momentum are major factors to
which teams feel like they're going to potentially go on
a postseason run in soccer? Is there any other aspect
of a team that tends to indicate potential for more success?
In some sports, it's like, oh, if you've got a
better starting pitching, your relief isn't as important in the postseason,
or depth versus the power of your starting five. Like
(27:33):
in soccer, is there any style of play or aspect
of a team that there's an old adage about them
faring better in the playoffs?
Speaker 4 (27:42):
Well, even though I'm pretty sure this is still the
statistic because Mike Watts had looked this up, who's who
I work with with Prime Video, And actually, I think
there's more way wins for teams if I remember this correctly,
than actually home field or home being home field advantage
and wins this year, which is really interesting, and I
feel like, now I feel nervous and don't call me
(28:03):
on that, but I'm almo positive that show.
Speaker 2 (28:05):
Even if it's close, that's still wild.
Speaker 4 (28:07):
Yeah, it's super close. But I would say in playoffs,
home field advantage is huge. One, just with the sheer
travel that these players have been through the aspect that
we are going to have an international break between the
second to last and decision day, which is just weird.
It's just challenging, right because wild breaks up.
Speaker 2 (28:26):
Mom, I was very confused.
Speaker 1 (28:27):
I was looking at the schedule and I was like, wait,
hold on, there's three weeks left, but only two game days,
like what happened exactly.
Speaker 4 (28:33):
And so home field advantage, I feel like is massive
in the playoffs, especially when you look at a team
like Washington who's really turned things around and made Audi
Field rowdy. Audi Yeah, just their place, CPKC stadiums. You know,
we can talk about that all day. So those those
types of venues are huge, and just to not have
to travel at that point time in the season. But
(28:55):
also depth, I would say stylistically yes and no, but
I think that depends on if you're playing at home
or away. But depth is huge, I think at this
point in time. If something's not going right, then you
can bring on another attacker whatever that looks for.
Speaker 2 (29:10):
There's an injury or otherwise. Yeah, for sure, exactly.
Speaker 1 (29:14):
I've been curious if you've heard any Seann nhas courage updates.
When he was let go, the quote from the team
was very terse. The initial quote, and then later they
made a statement that read quote confounding performance issues, culture issues,
and a perceived lack of fit that created an environment
that club leadership felt was untenable to the point that
(29:36):
change was necessary at the head coaching position.
Speaker 2 (29:38):
End quote. It's a mouthful.
Speaker 1 (29:40):
We all left feeling sort of like, huh, Like did
he get fired because they weren't playing well enough.
Speaker 2 (29:46):
Or because of culture? And why did you seem so
angry and then thank him and then not.
Speaker 1 (29:50):
Tell us that there was a problem, so that if
there is a problem, other teams know not to hire him.
Have you heard anything else about what went down?
Speaker 4 (29:58):
I have not heard one thing, actually, And oddly enough,
there's been like three teams. It was Houston that I've
only had one this year, San Diego have I haven't
called a game at all, which is interesting? And then
North Carolina I think it was one or two, So
it was just an organization that typically I'd have a
lot more and I'd be asking these questions, but because
(30:18):
I haven't had their games, and it seems to be
kind of died.
Speaker 2 (30:22):
Yeah weird. Yeah, all right, well we'll keep taking on
that one. I'm very curious.
Speaker 1 (30:26):
I just think, first of all, we all like the tea,
but more importantly, we all know, because of the history
of this league that it's not okay if there is
a problem with a coach culture wise or otherwise to
let it not be said aloud and let that person
continue coaching. But it's also unfair to him if there
wasn't an issue, it was just a matter of what
(30:46):
wins and losses, and the way they set it up
made us feel like there was something more to the story.
Speaker 2 (30:50):
So I'd like someone to get to the bottom of that.
Speaker 1 (30:52):
Probably Maglenahan, that's who I may get to the bottom
of everything. Okay, last little speed round, patients or panic,
I'm going to give you a story from around women's soccer.
You tell me if we should be patient and not
freak out about it, or if we should be panicking. Okay,
American players going to the Women's Super League patient because
it's not just Alyssa, it's Naomi, it's all these Yeah.
Speaker 3 (31:14):
Patient, Okay, I'm panicking, that's fair. Yeah, I patience. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (31:21):
NWSL attendance down this year.
Speaker 3 (31:24):
Patience. Okay, maybe I'm just a patient. I don't want
everybody to be patient. This is gonna be interesting, all right.
Speaker 1 (31:31):
Commissioner Jessica Berman's contract renewed through twenty twenty eight.
Speaker 2 (31:35):
Patience, all right, you are a very patient person.
Speaker 1 (31:38):
So the last one dis sailed the Houston dash and
some of the rumors about what the new ownership could
be like patients or panic patience. Wow, Okay, do any
of your answers change if instead of panic, the other
option is concern.
Speaker 3 (31:55):
Oh? Interesting.
Speaker 4 (31:56):
I would say it's still more more patient, just in
the way that the game is growing, the way that, yeah,
the league is evolving in so many different directions, right,
expansion coaches, bringing in new ownership, all of that.
Speaker 3 (32:11):
I think it does require a little bit of patience.
Speaker 1 (32:14):
Yeah, it does feel like growing pains, both because they
needed to align themselves with the international schedule and the
way the rest of world soccer works. That also opens
the door for players to play elsewhere, and it also
means adjusting to how that impacts every single aspect of
the game, and I do think as simple as it is,
just getting back a couple of the stars that made
(32:35):
a name for themselves in the Olympics and national team
will help calm some of the concerns about attendance about
players leaving.
Speaker 3 (32:45):
Yeah, for sure.
Speaker 2 (32:45):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (32:46):
The one thing I will say is I feel like
this very much aligns too with how MLS was at
this point time in their league.
Speaker 3 (32:53):
As well as figuring out, Okay, how do we tap into.
Speaker 4 (32:56):
The fans growing pains, I think is a great way
to explain it, and just continuing in a time when
things are moving so quickly in women's sport in general, it's.
Speaker 3 (33:07):
Like how do you not just keep up with it?
But how do you.
Speaker 4 (33:09):
Kind of keep everything is like, okay, let's not get
ahead of ourselves and it's like rush into anything. We
understand players are moving, that's just how the game is expanding,
and that should be exciting. But let's look at all
these players that we do have playing in this league
and that.
Speaker 3 (33:25):
We are tracting.
Speaker 4 (33:26):
So to me, that's why there's just so much There
has to be patients within all of this because things
are moving so rapidly. I feel like if you get
caught up and start to panic in those things, that's
when it's like you're making bad quote unquote bad decisions.
Speaker 1 (33:39):
Right. And I think the CBA hitting just last year
changing things like the draft system. You need a few
more years for it to play out for how that
impacts how the endw yourself plays with the rest of
the international world.
Speaker 2 (33:51):
And all right, well.
Speaker 1 (33:53):
You've calmed us down, you've informed us, you've entertained us
as always.
Speaker 2 (33:57):
So great to have you, Lori.
Speaker 3 (33:58):
Yeah, thanks for having me.
Speaker 1 (34:00):
Thanks again to Lourie for taking the time. We got
to take another break. When we come back, a longtime
rival takes a gracious bow.
Speaker 2 (34:13):
Welcome back. Slices.
Speaker 1 (34:14):
Want to quickly recognize that today is a very special
birthday taint. Today is the day between two busy birthday dates.
On Thursday, friend of the show Icon would vote for
her for president. Sue Byrd celebrated a birthday along with
tennis superstar Naomi Osaka and tomorrow skiing superstar Lindsay Vaughn Hooper,
Britney Griner and my mom Nancy Spain all.
Speaker 2 (34:36):
Celebrate another trip around the sun. Was this all just
a poorly disguised excuse to shout up my mom's birthday.
Speaker 1 (34:42):
No, it was also a poorly disguised excuse to say
birthday taint. We always 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.
Speaker 2 (34:54):
Follow Laurie on social media. We'll link to.
Speaker 1 (34:56):
Her Instagram in the show notes, and check out the
clips with the Chicago Guy's Angel Reese strutting her stuff
in the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show. What once was a
pretty problematic display of exclusively emaciated white models has evolved
of late this year there were plus size, trans and
pregnant models.
Speaker 2 (35:13):
It's still not really my thing.
Speaker 1 (35:15):
That being said, i have to say Angel looked like
a goddamn goddess.
Speaker 2 (35:20):
Seeing a six.
Speaker 1 (35:21):
Foot three athletic badass woman strut her stuff on a
runway would have meant a lot to young me. So
keep it up, Angel, show them that strength and grace
are a beautiful combination. Finally, to our Vegas Laics who
go to the Aces Victory Parade today, we want to
hear from you, so send us your photos, maybe even
a voice note from the parade route itself. You can
(35:41):
leave us a voicemail at eight seven two two oh
four fifty seventy or send us an email at good
Game at wondermediaetwork dot com. You know we always love
to hear from you, and don't forget to subscribe, Rate
and review. It's easy watch praising a rival in your
retirement announcement rating five out of five holding back tears
emojis review. Australian swimmer Arian Titmas announced this week that
(36:06):
she's retiring from swimming. The twenty five year old concludes
her career with eight Olympic medals, and she's also the
only person ever to win gold over Katie Ladeki in
an individual Olympic race. In fact, she did it three times.
Ladeki claimed silver behind Titmas in the four hundred meter
freestyle at both the twenty twenty one Tokyo and twenty
twenty four Paris Olympics, and also finished fifth behind TITMSS
(36:27):
and the two hundred meter free in twenty twenty one.
In her retirement announcement on Instagram, Titmas credited Ladeki with
pushing her to be her best.
Speaker 5 (36:35):
Take a listen to win Olympic gold. And this didn't
have to be the best in the world. I had
to beat the greatest ever in the world. And you
know what, someone could look at that as a burden,
but I absolutely looked at it as a blessing because
I can say, without a doubt, without racing Katie, I
wouldn't have been the athlete that I am. She set
this incredible standard and I was just so willing to
(36:57):
chase it. And I just feel so grateful that I've
been a part of such an incredible rivalry. I feel
like we both have so much respect for each other,
and that will really sit with me for the rest
of my life, that rivalry that I've had with her.
Speaker 2 (37:11):
I'm not crying, you're crying.
Speaker 1 (37:14):
What a kind gesture to take a moment to pay
tribute to such a fierce rivalry. We enjoyed watching the
two of them battle for so long, and we really
enjoy this moment of sportsmanship and respect too. Congratulations on
your retirement, Arion. Now it's your turn slices, rate and review.
Thanks for listening, Have a great weekend, See you next week.
Speaker 2 (37:34):
Good game, Lori, good game, Arion.
Speaker 1 (37:37):
You brief glimmers of hope that get immediately crushed. 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
you get your podcasts. Production by Wonder Media Network, our
producers are alex Asie Grace, Lynch, Taylor Williamson, and Lucy Jones.
(38:00):
Our executive producers are Christina Everett, Jesse Katz, Jenny Kaplan
and Emily Rutterer. Our editors are Emily Rutterer, 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 wishing
we could freeze ourselves in the brief, happy window of
time between Trinity Rodman's announced return to the US national
team Wednesday morning and her injury Wednesday night. Why can't
we have nice things? It's Friday, October seventeenth, and on
today's show, we're joined by women's soccer analyst and former
pro player Laurie Lindsay. We talk about how this NWSL
(00:22):
season has unfolded, the team's lori cees making the postseason,
and we play a patience or panic speed round regarding
several issues currently facing.
Speaker 2 (00:31):
The league, plus playoff math.
Speaker 1 (00:33):
A Hooper returns to the Green and praising arrival to
close out a career. It's all coming up right after
this Welcome back sliceys, Happy Friday. Here's what you need
to know today. Let's start with soccer and that injury
I mentioned in the show open On Thursday, we told
(00:56):
you that Trinity Rodman had been named the US national
training camp roster for a trio of friendlies later this month,
making her triumphant return after sitting out several camps with
a nagging back injury.
Speaker 2 (01:07):
Well, on Wednesday, night.
Speaker 1 (01:08):
Just a few hours after that roster drop, Rodman was
injured during a CONCACAF w Champions Cup group stage game
against Monterey, which her Washington's Spirit went on to win
for nothing. During the first half of the match, Rodman
suffered an apparent leg injury after attempting a tackle. She
needed help from athletic trainers to get to her feet
and seemed unable to put any weight on her right leg.
(01:29):
After the game, she was seen back on the field
on crutches and wearing a full length knee brace. As
of this recording, we don't have an update on Rodman's
status or prognosis. We just know how tough it was
to see such a talented player who's already been sidelined
by injury far too much in her career go down again.
We're sending Tren our best and we'll keep you updated
when we learn more. More soccer, there are three weeks
(01:51):
left in the NWSL regular season, but just two regular
season game days. There are no games scheduled during the
FIFA window October twenty second through twenty eighth. National team
players will be at camp and playing in those friendlies
I mentioned, so with just those two game days left,
there are still five postseason spots up for grabs, but
the playoff picture could become a lot clearer this weekend now.
(02:12):
As a reminder, eight teams will qualify for the NWSL postseason,
and heading into Friday nights games, three teams have already
clinched postseason berths Kansas City, Washington, and Orlando, and three
teams have already been eliminated from contention, the Utah Royals, BAFC,
and Chicago Stars.
Speaker 2 (02:30):
That leaves eight teams competing for the.
Speaker 1 (02:32):
Final five playoff spots Gotham, Seattle, San Diego, Portland, Louisville,
North Carolina, Angel City, and the Houston Dash. The first
five of those teams all control their own faith this weekend.
If they win, they're in, but some of those teams
might actually clinch before they even step on the field.
If the North Carolina Courage, currently in ninth loses its
(02:54):
game tonight against BFC, then Gotham, Seattle, San Diego, and
Portland will all mathematically clinched playoff berths. Shout out to
statistician extraordinaire and friend of the show Jen Cooper for
her work in unpacking these very complicated scenarios. We'll link
to her site keeper notes in the show notes. We'll
also link to a fantastic NWSL playoff simulator that Alison
(03:16):
Gail built. You could play around with it to see
what results your team needs in order to qualify. We're
also going to be keeping an eye on the race
for the Golden Boot, the award that goes to the
NWSL player with the most goals on the season. The
Kansas City Currents tem wasshewinga last year's winner, currently leads
the league with fifteen tallies, and she scored in four
straight matches while got them FC's Aestare sits in second
(03:38):
place with thirteen. We'll have plenty more on the NWSL
later in the show, when I'm joined by laur Lindsay
to the intersection of basketball and golf Gasketball Bolf, I'll
keep workshopping it. Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark missed the
end of the WNBA season with injury, but it seems
she's finally ready to return to action on the Links
(04:00):
announced on Thursday that Clark will play in next month
the Onica, a pro am event hosted by the LPGA.
Speaker 2 (04:05):
Clark also competed in the event last November.
Speaker 1 (04:08):
One of Clark's sponsors, Gainbridge, is a major sponsor of
the tournament, which includes a three point two five million
dollar prize and.
Speaker 2 (04:15):
Some more w news.
Speaker 1 (04:16):
On Thursday, the WNBA announced that the All Star Game
will be returning to Chicago. Chicago's been selected to host
the twenty twenty six All Star Game. It'll be the
second time the All Star Game is coming here to
my city, and I'm so grateful they're giving them a
second chance. Last time was a very short warning to
the city that the event would be going on, and
(04:37):
speaking to some folks who are at the highest levels
of events like this here in Chicago, they just felt
like they didn't have a chance to ramp it up
the way that they'd hoped because of that short timeline.
So plenty of time to get ahead of this one,
and I'm really excited to see what'll go down all
the festivities around my city. It's going to be Saturday,
July twenty fifth at the United Center and lots more
(04:59):
news I'm sure to come that. Finally, a reminder that
the Las Vegas Aces are celebrating their WNBA championship win
with a parade today in their home city local station
News three Las Vegas will be live streaming the celebration,
so we'll link to their website in the show notes,
and of course check your favee W reporters on social
to see if they're posted up parade side in Sin City.
Speaker 2 (05:21):
We got to take a quick break.
Speaker 1 (05:22):
When we come back, we run up and down the
NWSL table with Lour Lindsay. We talked to Laurie on
Wednesday before the Trinity Rodman jury stick around. She's back
for a second visit to the show. She's an NWSL,
MLS and EUROS analyst for CBS Sports, Apple, TV, Prime Video,
(05:45):
Fox and ESPN. A former midfielder who made thirty one
appearances for the US women's national team, including at the
twenty eleven World Cup where they were runners up.
Speaker 2 (05:53):
She's got a closet full of sleepless black teas.
Speaker 1 (05:56):
She's been on the big screen in Times Square, and
she grew a mullet as a kid because she wanted
to be former US men's keeper Tony Meola.
Speaker 2 (06:02):
It's Lori Lindsay, Hi, Lauri Hi.
Speaker 3 (06:05):
That was perfect. And the black sleeves or the sleeveless
black shirts is just amazing.
Speaker 1 (06:10):
So yeah, I mean not untrue, not all lesbians, but many.
Speaker 2 (06:15):
That's pretty much what are you gonna wear today?
Speaker 1 (06:17):
Well, it's between my white sleeveless tea and my black
sleeveless exactly.
Speaker 4 (06:21):
So you know, that's the exact reason why.
Speaker 1 (06:25):
I love being on So last time, when you were
on the show, we were prepping for the start of
this NWSL season, and I wonder if you can remember
any of the predictions you made, any of the players
you thought might be great, any of the teams that
you thought might be great that you now think to yourself, Wow,
I was way off.
Speaker 4 (06:43):
Okay, Well, I was trying to remember if we did
predict predictions and so, and then I was like, well,
I can't remember any except for probably Kansas City, which
I think a lot of us were right about. So
it's not like I'm patting myself on the back about
that one. But I also would say that I would
have had a Orlando up there again, even though and
they just clinched a playoff spot, But there was about
(07:05):
nine weeks of some nervy moments where I actually didn't
think they were gonna make it, So credit to them.
Speaker 3 (07:11):
Who else did I have? I can't even remember Gotham,
I would imagine I head up there too. Is that true?
Speaker 2 (07:17):
I'm gonna go back and look and double check.
Speaker 1 (07:19):
But I want to see what comes to mind for you,
because it's always interesting to me when somebody later on
is trying to go back and reconcile, because it's really
hard to put ourselves back in the mindset of one
season is starting, and to your point, like the Orlando Pride, duh,
but there was a giant stretch in the middle of
this season where we were all like, what happened to
the Pride? And are they even going to make the postseason?
(07:40):
Not to mention be the team that we saw last year.
So yeah, I'm pretty fascinated by how differently this NWSL
season has gone from what I expected. And part of
that is some major names not playing at all. Part
of that is Kansas City kind of making the at
least first place who's gonna win story completely unimportant at
(08:02):
this point, And I want to talk to you quickly
about the Kansas City current breaking records for points, wins,
fastest team to clinch the Shield. Why has this team
been so dominant?
Speaker 4 (08:13):
Well, I think one ownership, they are determined to be
the best, and we see that in everything they do
with their training facilities, the stadium and also the players,
I mean Blackoen and Oski, they're head coach, I mean
all of the there's a huge vision of from day
one when the Lungs took over, Mahomes took over, bringing
(08:33):
black Owen and Osky in, it was like, this is
the organization that we want to be. We want to
be the world's best and we want to be the
known team in global women's soccer. And they've done that,
and they also what I would say, is do such
a good job, particularly Blacko Andsky, of not only looking
at what they currently have, but also constantly saying, Okay,
(08:56):
we don't want to just be good for now, we
also want to set ourselves up for success for years
to come. So you see Ali sentinor you see ways
to get some of these young players, even just a
couple of games ago against Angel City too and a
seventeen year old, an eighteen year old and nineteen year
old all on the starting lineup on the front line.
So they are have the foresight to think about, Okay,
(09:18):
how are we getting valuable minutes to young players, but
also still having our eye on winning a championship. We've
already locked up the shield fastest team to do that
in the month of September, which is incredible.
Speaker 3 (09:28):
But you're just seeing this team really.
Speaker 4 (09:31):
Push the envelope and it's forcing everybody else to level
up too, So yeah, that's awesome.
Speaker 1 (09:37):
Yeah, and you talked about the last time you were
on them potentially having a little chip on their shoulder.
They wanted to be in it, to win it in
their own stadium, this beautiful space that was purpose built
for women's sport. We heard that over and over and
it was a tremendous final that they weren't in. So
coming into this season saying whatever we left on the
field that didn't get us where we wanted to be,
(09:58):
we're going to do it this year.
Speaker 2 (10:00):
And yeah, we've certainly seen it.
Speaker 1 (10:02):
Tim Wushawinga speaking of doing something last year and somehow
getting better. Last year's Golden Boot winner on track to
take the title again. She's scored in four straight games.
She's got fifteen tallies on the season. Estaire from Gotham
FC is putting some pressure on her, currently sitting on
thirteen goals, but she hasn't scored in a month.
Speaker 2 (10:20):
Tims seems a lot hotter. What have you seen from
Temwao this year?
Speaker 3 (10:24):
Excellence?
Speaker 4 (10:26):
I mean just it is exceptional, I feel, and I
know I could speak for all the other pundits fans,
we are all coaches, even though they wish she was
on their team I'm sure the majority of the time.
But yeah, we just see this player who seems to
have so much joy when she's playing, loves her teammates,
works for her team, and you're just seeing her revolutionized
(10:48):
soccer in so many different ways with the way that
she plays. But I think the thing that's so fun
about Tim Wushawinga is last year she scored a ton
of goals, but also this year you see her refining
so many other skills in terms of her first touch,
her ability to set up her teammates, just the connection
she has with her teammates regardless who's on the field.
And I think that is a sign of an extraordinary
(11:10):
player to be able to bring other players in and
also teams honing in on her in a different way.
How do we get two or three players around her? Well,
it doesn't matter, because she can still find different ways
to get on the ball, whether it's taking on one
v one, whether it's getting on into service, setting up teammates.
I mean, we are seeing a player just come into
her continuously come into her own and expand the skill
(11:32):
set that's needed to play week in and week out
in this league.
Speaker 3 (11:36):
So it's exceptional, and.
Speaker 1 (11:37):
It feels like Vladkov should just give her a challenge
before each game of what new way to score a goal,
because it was unbelievable that literally the day before they're
having a bet on whether he should die his hair.
If she finally gets her first header in the league
and she scores in the very next game, it's like, hey, just.
Speaker 2 (11:53):
Start telling her random, new and quirky ways to score
and see if.
Speaker 4 (11:56):
She can pull it off this, you know what, That
might be the only challenge to be said about that
relationship as well, just a mutual respect between the two
of them, and he's obviously getting the best out of her,
but she's also just performing and feels incredibly comfortable being
with this team and this organization, So I don't think
that can be understated as well, because it's such a
(12:17):
fun the joke of the dyeing of the hair, right,
and just like their relationship is fun to watch yes.
Speaker 1 (12:23):
Great, All right, we talked briefly about the Pride, but
let's get into that slump.
Speaker 2 (12:26):
Are they officially out of it?
Speaker 1 (12:28):
Do you expect to see going forward the Pride, who
just clinched a playoff spot last week, being the team
that they started the season really pushing the current.
Speaker 4 (12:36):
Well, I think the tough part is with Orlando, and
this is why I felt like it was going to
be really difficult for them to come out of the slump.
Is because much like Timoshwinga, when you have Barbara Banda
on your team, just the makeup of your team looks
completely different. And that's a tough part. And I've always
said since they lost Barbara bandont to that season in
(12:56):
the injury is it's not always just like the presence
of Barbara on the field in terms of what she
can do in terms of scoring goals. It's also just
the mental emotional aspect that that takes on a team.
Because Orlando has been playing well and they've been creating
chances even after that injury to band us so, but
they just it was like the luck wouldn't come go
(13:17):
their way. They defensively, teams were clearing lines off or
clearing balls off the goal line, they couldn't buy a goal,
they're being called off side, whatnot. You can name everything, right,
but this team was still relatively playing well. To answer
your question, though, I do think we're starting to come
out of slump and I think they're going to gain
even more momentum given that they've been able to turn
things around these last three games. Four points on the
(13:39):
road from their two way games and then a home
win this past Friday against Portland.
Speaker 3 (13:44):
That's massive. But I also do.
Speaker 4 (13:47):
Think they have to expect everybody to start chipping in,
and we're seeing that more and more marked to coming
off the bench. What she brings to this team, I
would say, Simone Charlie, Simone Jackson. Those three I thought
were lights out on Friday against Portland, and that's what
you're going to have to expect from players. But the
one thing that I think could separate them is they're
in the playoffs right now. They knew that on Friday
(14:08):
night against Portland. That was their mentality. Then they'll have
away game at Washington, so it's not like their schedule
gets any easier, but they are in the playoffs, and
sometimes that's what you need to really cure yourself when
you don't, you didn't expect the season to go the
way that it has.
Speaker 1 (14:24):
Right, Yeah, And of course they want to make sure
that they're in a good spot in the postseason for
matchups sake, but also a little bit of weight.
Speaker 2 (14:30):
Off their shoulders to have clinched.
Speaker 1 (14:32):
So we've got the Current, the Pride, and the Washington
Spirit the only teams that have clinched the postseason despite
just two regular season match days remaining. So we've got
ourselves quite a raise for the remaining five playoffs spots.
Got them Seattle, San Diego, Portland, and Louisville all currently
holding spots four through eight, but North Carolina, Angel City
and Houston still alive just a few points back. So, first,
(14:54):
do you see the current top eight holding or do
you think one of those three I mentioned will sneak
their way in and display someone.
Speaker 4 (15:01):
I actually do think we're going to see those top eight.
I think I was just looking at the remaining two
games for all of the teams prior, and it's not
like it's not going to be easy, right, But racing
Louisville that's sitting in that eighth place, they're one point
behind Portland, who's in seventh. I think they're just playing
for something extra. This team is like, we want to
(15:22):
get into the playoffs for the first time in our existence.
They're playing for their coach, Bevvinez, who I think I
just have massive amount of respect for, and then also
Savedamelo has gone down, and so I just feel like, sometimes,
and I've said this before, in this league, when things
are so tight, you have to be playing for a
little bit more. We saw that a couple of years
ago with Ali Krieger being her last match. Last year,
(15:45):
when Orlando went on the run and did it was
like everyone was rallying around Marta.
Speaker 3 (15:50):
Right.
Speaker 4 (15:50):
There's just something extra with how fine the Margins are,
and I think we're going to see that with Racing Louisville,
even though they're at Gotham this weekend and then Decision
Day they're back home against Bay. While I've really liked
what North calend has done of late, they have to
go away to Bay and then they have Gotham and
they haven't been exceptional on the road at all, even
(16:11):
the last couple of years, and then have Gotham at home.
I think presents an interesting challenge. So that's my concern.
So I'm going to the I don't know how it's
actually going to play out in terms of the seating
of the eight, but I think these eight are going
to stay the same.
Speaker 1 (16:24):
All right, So you got Gotham, Seattle, San Diego, Portland,
and Louisville holding on. I have a question about a
couple of those teams. When we talked last time, we
were weighed down by the drama of the Gotham off season. Right,
there were players that seemed angry, there were players that
left for teams across the pond. They started the season
disappointing for the amount of talent they still have, but
(16:46):
here they are looking like a team that will make
the postseason.
Speaker 2 (16:50):
What have you made of this season?
Speaker 1 (16:52):
How they reacted to the weird off season, the changes
that are happening in the front office, Like who are
and what is this Gotham?
Speaker 4 (17:00):
Yeah, I'm laughing because if you had asked me, like
ask me about those changes offseason, I've been like, that
happened two years ago, right, So that's a lot while Yeah,
So yes, things are changing rapidly, and I would still
feel like this is a Gotham team that is continuously
trying to push the envelope and make sure that they
(17:22):
are known that there is They're in a New York market,
and they want to continue to improve. They want to
continue to play high tempo, possession oriented, fun pleasing on
the IE soccer and I think you see that with
the Jaden Shaw move. I think you see that with
just the way that they play, but also getting Rooselevel
(17:43):
back and Mitch Purse's back healthy, some of the young players,
Lily Real who just got called into the USM national
team camp again, Sarah Shapanski, so all of these players,
I think, to me, it's a it's an organization that
still continue to push and bring in the best of
the best they can, not only on the field but
in the office as well.
Speaker 3 (18:01):
But then and also a team that.
Speaker 4 (18:03):
Does a lot of work behind the scenes to bring
in the players that they feel like fit the way
that they.
Speaker 3 (18:09):
Want to play.
Speaker 4 (18:10):
And again, I keep going back to Jaden Shaw because
immediately she fits into the way that this team plays.
I would say the only thing that's been a little
bit perplexing, and this sometimes takes time when you are
bringing in new players or players are coming back from injury,
is getting everybody operating on the same page because all
those players and the Nata stare in there, who's just incredible.
(18:32):
All of those players are world class. They're world beaters.
So it's kind of like, Okay, it's perplexing because you
want them to be more ruthless, you want them to
be scoring a lot more goals than they are. They're
solid defensively and have been for a number of years,
so I'm just kind of waiting for that attack to
take shape more consistently. And that's where I have a
few question marks, but we'll see in some.
Speaker 2 (18:53):
Of that's chemistry.
Speaker 1 (18:54):
You've got me thinking about this term that comes up
a lot in this workout class I take, which is
like time undert and that's like, yeah, you know, that's
like when your body's actually working really hard, Like we
need to keep the time under tension, like as long
as that's what I feel like is these parts of
Gotham need more time under tension together where they're all
healthy and in the place they're supposed to be, and
so they can then figure out how do we react
(19:15):
in what works best for us in those moments and
they need to get there. Same time, we were talking
about Gotham having a really tough offseason, you were real
hyped about Houston and the moves that they were making.
They are still alive, but what still hasn't been able
to click for Houston and maybe the same question for
Angel City, two teams that every off season we're sort
(19:35):
of like.
Speaker 2 (19:36):
Oh, I think they're going to figure it out.
Speaker 3 (19:38):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (19:39):
I think with Houston mostly it's just exactly what we're
talking about with Gotham, consistency, the understanding time with Fabris Gatraw,
their head coach. But I really like this Houston team,
and I think they have the foundation and a much
clearer foundation than we've seen in this organization's existence as well.
I really like what they're doing. I think that's just
(20:00):
going to continue to improve. I think the Italian player
Boatine thought she was wonderful during the Euros for Italy
is more minutes she gets. But I think once you
start bringing in some players, it's tough, depending on if
you're chasing playoffs, to then bring new players in, because one,
you have some chemistry with some players currently and to
bring other players out and shake things up can be
(20:23):
difficult at this point in time. And I think that's
a little bit of the issue that they've had late
down this stretch as they have gotten much more consistent
after that international break and during the Euros, so I
still am high on them. I think it doesn't mean
it wasn't a successful year if they don't make the playoffs,
so keep going in the direction.
Speaker 3 (20:41):
Yeah, exactly. And then for Angel City, I think it's.
Speaker 4 (20:44):
Just this is a completely different team than we've seen
at the beginning of the season. I mean, you're bringing
in so many new players, losing a big one. Yep, yeah,
exactly too, Ali Riley, Well, I'm talking a little oh well,
of course, yes, Eliza Thompson, Yeah, huge. I was thinking
retirement because like everybody's in shambles with everybody's resiring, we're
(21:08):
all washed. Yeah, But with Alyssa Thompson, that is the
biggest one, right because she was a face. She's the
one that felt like every attack went through and rightfully,
so young, energetic, the future, we thought, generational talent. Yeah,
and so huge loss. But then I feel like you
feel that momentum of what they're trying to do as well.
(21:30):
But it's tough when you have a new coach coming
in mid season and you're learning in real time really
how to implement these new tactics. Plus you're looking over
and like, I've never even seen you until yesterday.
Speaker 1 (21:42):
So well, so that theme keeps coming up, and in
some ways it's inevitable with injury, but it also does
it seem like the current structure of this league, whether
that's the ins and outs of coaches so fast or
interim coach, we know we're going to get this coach,
but they're not going to arrive until the end of
this other's season in this other country, or players that
(22:03):
are getting added at the end of seasons for other leagues, Like,
is it always going to be influx to the point
where it's whatever team can adjust most quickly to the
pieces changing, or should there be more emphasis on this
league keeping coaches for longer, maintaining players start to finish
of the season.
Speaker 2 (22:20):
Is that even possible?
Speaker 4 (22:22):
I do think it is possible, and I think we're
actually going to see it. Sometimes I do feel like, yeah,
it does feel like we're in flux. There's such constant change.
I do think as the game grows that will be
an aspect for sure, because players can be traded if
they want to write, or there can be transfers, and
depending on different leagues, I mean that is generally pro
(22:44):
sports as well, so you will see things being shaken up.
But I think in terms of coaches, it does feel
like we are starting to get to a place where
that can level out a little bit, is my hope,
and for the players hope as well, just because you
want that consistency right, You want to know what is
being asked of you, what's like the common theme I'm
(23:05):
going to training every day with. But it does feel
like we are starting to get there, even though it
was a bit of for lack of a better term,
maybe chaos at the beginning of the season or to
the middle part of the season.
Speaker 1 (23:18):
Well, and I think part of that too is like
the storylines that have been building over the last year
or so. We're sort of stunted from Triple Espresso being
out due to two babies and an injury, Barbara Banda
getting hurt again, the current kind of running away with things.
Are there players we should be talking about and aren't
because we were so wrapped up in those big names
(23:39):
that now aren't playing. Are there storylines that you thought
should have gotten more media attention, It should have been
a draw and instead I feel like the NWSL hasn't
been able to steal headlines in spotlight much this season
as a result of a lot of those injuries and absences.
Speaker 4 (23:53):
Well, I think the biggest storyline, and we are talking
about it, but is parody.
Speaker 3 (23:58):
And you know, there was a big.
Speaker 4 (23:59):
Question on what they're not it actually is parody because
of Kansas City running away with it.
Speaker 3 (24:03):
But this is what makes this league.
Speaker 4 (24:05):
I love that Kansas City's run away with it. It
forces everybody, as we mentioned at the beginning here, it forces.
Speaker 3 (24:10):
Everybody like, well, how do we get how do we
get better?
Speaker 4 (24:12):
How do we continue to push and continue to show
excellence within our organization? But there's so much parody. I mean,
if you look in everything that we've just talked about,
it is down to the wire scrambling for points. Even
if I mean just look into Orlando. This is a
team that collected so many points at the beginning of
the season that they went on a nine game losing
(24:34):
streak and then just clinched as a third team, which
is remarkable because we were all like, I don't think
they're going to be able to regroup, right, And so
you have all of these different aspects that yes, I
think we could be talking more about I mean Portland
had total revamping of losing Christine Sinclair to retirement, Megan Klingenberg,
(24:54):
Becky sowerbrun a young team, they're still in a mix.
No one knew what this team was going to look
like again, Gotham reshuffling in the middle of the season
after those players losing. So this to me, even though
it feels like there has been a lot of turnover,
and you know, players like Alyssa Thompson have gone to
Chelsea in the Super League, I love it. I mean,
(25:16):
I don't want to lose those players, rightly, wrong, but
I'm happy for Listen the.
Speaker 1 (25:20):
Drama, Yes, decision day is gonna be insane because of that.
Speaker 4 (25:24):
And it's it's the league, right we have exceptional players
that play in this league, and obviously with Alosa Thompson,
I want her to go where she's the most excited about.
But yeah, I mean, we have players that are being
called up to the US women's national team. What was
it like twenty some different caps at Emma Hay's first
caps that she gave because of like the experience these
players are getting in this league, and I think that's
(25:46):
exceptional and it speaks to how difficult every single game
is for these players.
Speaker 1 (25:51):
Yeah, let's talk about the postseason. Right now, we do
have only three of eight teams confirmed.
Speaker 2 (25:57):
Of those couple that.
Speaker 1 (25:59):
Are you know, hanging in there that you think are
going to hold their ground in the top eight, who
could be the most dangerous right now? It feels like
it's very top heavy with the current and the Spirit.
Speaker 2 (26:08):
Who else do you see being dangerous?
Speaker 3 (26:11):
Yeah?
Speaker 4 (26:11):
I do feel like Racing Louisville could be dangerous down
this stretch. I think the team camaraderie then fighting for
one another, they're difficult to play against. They don't shy
away from that. I love that they're not afraid to
be like, yep, we're gonna be bruisers, We're gonna get
in tackles, and here we are right like watch out.
Speaker 3 (26:30):
I think that can always be dangerous.
Speaker 4 (26:32):
I think if Gotham catches some momentum with their attack,
they're a team that obviously has these championship experience, playoff experience,
don't count them out. But honestly, if I'm thinking of
a team that is going to be really interesting, it's
the Washington Spirit. Yeah, they have a lot of different
players in the attack that give you a different look.
(26:54):
Trinny Rodman has hit form at the exact right time,
and you have a team that has gotten much more
solidified defensively since that international break as well, and so
since before their national break, they haven't lost the game,
which is exceptional.
Speaker 1 (27:11):
In every sport, health and momentum are major factors to
which teams feel like they're going to potentially go on
a postseason run in soccer? Is there any other aspect
of a team that tends to indicate potential for more success?
In some sports, it's like, oh, if you've got a
better starting pitching, your relief isn't as important in the postseason,
or depth versus the power of your starting five. Like
(27:33):
in soccer, is there any style of play or aspect
of a team that there's an old adage about them
faring better in the playoffs?
Speaker 4 (27:42):
Well, even though I'm pretty sure this is still the
statistic because Mike Watts had looked this up, who's who
I work with with Prime Video, And actually, I think
there's more way wins for teams if I remember this correctly,
than actually home field or home being home field advantage
and wins this year, which is really interesting, and I
feel like, now I feel nervous and don't call me
(28:03):
on that, but I'm almo positive that show.
Speaker 2 (28:05):
Even if it's close, that's still wild.
Speaker 4 (28:07):
Yeah, it's super close. But I would say in playoffs,
home field advantage is huge. One, just with the sheer
travel that these players have been through the aspect that
we are going to have an international break between the
second to last and decision day, which is just weird.
It's just challenging, right because wild breaks up.
Speaker 2 (28:26):
Mom, I was very confused.
Speaker 1 (28:27):
I was looking at the schedule and I was like, wait,
hold on, there's three weeks left, but only two game days,
like what happened exactly.
Speaker 4 (28:33):
And so home field advantage, I feel like is massive
in the playoffs, especially when you look at a team
like Washington who's really turned things around and made Audi
Field rowdy. Audi Yeah, just their place, CPKC stadiums. You know,
we can talk about that all day. So those those
types of venues are huge, and just to not have
to travel at that point time in the season. But
(28:55):
also depth, I would say stylistically yes and no, but
I think that depends on if you're playing at home
or away. But depth is huge, I think at this
point in time. If something's not going right, then you
can bring on another attacker whatever that looks for.
Speaker 2 (29:10):
There's an injury or otherwise. Yeah, for sure, exactly.
Speaker 1 (29:14):
I've been curious if you've heard any Seann nhas courage updates.
When he was let go, the quote from the team
was very terse. The initial quote, and then later they
made a statement that read quote confounding performance issues, culture issues,
and a perceived lack of fit that created an environment
that club leadership felt was untenable to the point that
(29:36):
change was necessary at the head coaching position.
Speaker 2 (29:38):
End quote. It's a mouthful.
Speaker 1 (29:40):
We all left feeling sort of like, huh, Like did
he get fired because they weren't playing well enough.
Speaker 2 (29:46):
Or because of culture? And why did you seem so
angry and then thank him and then not.
Speaker 1 (29:50):
Tell us that there was a problem, so that if
there is a problem, other teams know not to hire him.
Have you heard anything else about what went down?
Speaker 4 (29:58):
I have not heard one thing, actually, And oddly enough,
there's been like three teams. It was Houston that I've
only had one this year, San Diego have I haven't
called a game at all, which is interesting? And then
North Carolina I think it was one or two, So
it was just an organization that typically I'd have a
lot more and I'd be asking these questions, but because
(30:18):
I haven't had their games, and it seems to be
kind of died.
Speaker 2 (30:22):
Yeah weird. Yeah, all right, well we'll keep taking on
that one. I'm very curious.
Speaker 1 (30:26):
I just think, first of all, we all like the tea,
but more importantly, we all know, because of the history
of this league that it's not okay if there is
a problem with a coach culture wise or otherwise to
let it not be said aloud and let that person
continue coaching. But it's also unfair to him if there
wasn't an issue, it was just a matter of what
(30:46):
wins and losses, and the way they set it up
made us feel like there was something more to the story.
Speaker 2 (30:50):
So I'd like someone to get to the bottom of that.
Speaker 1 (30:52):
Probably Maglenahan, that's who I may get to the bottom
of everything. Okay, last little speed round, patients or panic,
I'm going to give you a story from around women's soccer.
You tell me if we should be patient and not
freak out about it, or if we should be panicking. Okay,
American players going to the Women's Super League patient because
it's not just Alyssa, it's Naomi, it's all these Yeah.
Speaker 3 (31:14):
Patient, Okay, I'm panicking, that's fair. Yeah, I patience. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (31:21):
NWSL attendance down this year.
Speaker 3 (31:24):
Patience. Okay, maybe I'm just a patient. I don't want
everybody to be patient. This is gonna be interesting, all right.
Speaker 1 (31:31):
Commissioner Jessica Berman's contract renewed through twenty twenty eight.
Speaker 2 (31:35):
Patience, all right, you are a very patient person.
Speaker 1 (31:38):
So the last one dis sailed the Houston dash and
some of the rumors about what the new ownership could
be like patients or panic patience. Wow, Okay, do any
of your answers change if instead of panic, the other
option is concern.
Speaker 3 (31:55):
Oh? Interesting.
Speaker 4 (31:56):
I would say it's still more more patient, just in
the way that the game is growing, the way that, yeah,
the league is evolving in so many different directions, right,
expansion coaches, bringing in new ownership, all of that.
Speaker 3 (32:11):
I think it does require a little bit of patience.
Speaker 1 (32:14):
Yeah, it does feel like growing pains, both because they
needed to align themselves with the international schedule and the
way the rest of world soccer works. That also opens
the door for players to play elsewhere, and it also
means adjusting to how that impacts every single aspect of
the game, and I do think as simple as it is,
just getting back a couple of the stars that made
(32:35):
a name for themselves in the Olympics and national team
will help calm some of the concerns about attendance about
players leaving.
Speaker 3 (32:45):
Yeah, for sure.
Speaker 2 (32:45):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (32:46):
The one thing I will say is I feel like
this very much aligns too with how MLS was at
this point time in their league.
Speaker 3 (32:53):
As well as figuring out, Okay, how do we tap into.
Speaker 4 (32:56):
The fans growing pains, I think is a great way
to explain it, and just continuing in a time when
things are moving so quickly in women's sport in general, it's.
Speaker 3 (33:07):
Like how do you not just keep up with it?
But how do you.
Speaker 4 (33:09):
Kind of keep everything is like, okay, let's not get
ahead of ourselves and it's like rush into anything. We
understand players are moving, that's just how the game is expanding,
and that should be exciting. But let's look at all
these players that we do have playing in this league
and that.
Speaker 3 (33:25):
We are tracting.
Speaker 4 (33:26):
So to me, that's why there's just so much There
has to be patients within all of this because things
are moving so rapidly. I feel like if you get
caught up and start to panic in those things, that's
when it's like you're making bad quote unquote bad decisions.
Speaker 1 (33:39):
Right. And I think the CBA hitting just last year
changing things like the draft system. You need a few
more years for it to play out for how that
impacts how the endw yourself plays with the rest of
the international world.
Speaker 2 (33:51):
And all right, well.
Speaker 1 (33:53):
You've calmed us down, you've informed us, you've entertained us
as always.
Speaker 2 (33:57):
So great to have you, Lori.
Speaker 3 (33:58):
Yeah, thanks for having me.
Speaker 1 (34:00):
Thanks again to Lourie for taking the time. We got
to take another break. When we come back, a longtime
rival takes a gracious bow.
Speaker 2 (34:13):
Welcome back. Slices.
Speaker 1 (34:14):
Want to quickly recognize that today is a very special
birthday taint. Today is the day between two busy birthday dates.
On Thursday, friend of the show Icon would vote for
her for president. Sue Byrd celebrated a birthday along with
tennis superstar Naomi Osaka and tomorrow skiing superstar Lindsay Vaughn Hooper,
Britney Griner and my mom Nancy Spain all.
Speaker 2 (34:36):
Celebrate another trip around the sun. Was this all just
a poorly disguised excuse to shout up my mom's birthday.
Speaker 1 (34:42):
No, it was also a poorly disguised excuse to say
birthday taint. We always 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.
Speaker 2 (34:54):
Follow Laurie on social media. We'll link to.
Speaker 1 (34:56):
Her Instagram in the show notes, and check out the
clips with the Chicago Guy's Angel Reese strutting her stuff
in the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show. What once was a
pretty problematic display of exclusively emaciated white models has evolved
of late this year there were plus size, trans and
pregnant models.
Speaker 2 (35:13):
It's still not really my thing.
Speaker 1 (35:15):
That being said, i have to say Angel looked like
a goddamn goddess.
Speaker 2 (35:20):
Seeing a six.
Speaker 1 (35:21):
Foot three athletic badass woman strut her stuff on a
runway would have meant a lot to young me. So
keep it up, Angel, show them that strength and grace
are a beautiful combination. Finally, to our Vegas Laics who
go to the Aces Victory Parade today, we want to
hear from you, so send us your photos, maybe even
a voice note from the parade route itself. You can
(35:41):
leave us a voicemail at eight seven two two oh
four fifty seventy or send us an email at good
Game at wondermediaetwork dot com. You know we always love
to hear from you, and don't forget to subscribe, Rate
and review. It's easy watch praising a rival in your
retirement announcement rating five out of five holding back tears
emojis review. Australian swimmer Arian Titmas announced this week that
(36:06):
she's retiring from swimming. The twenty five year old concludes
her career with eight Olympic medals, and she's also the
only person ever to win gold over Katie Ladeki in
an individual Olympic race. In fact, she did it three times.
Ladeki claimed silver behind Titmas in the four hundred meter
freestyle at both the twenty twenty one Tokyo and twenty
twenty four Paris Olympics, and also finished fifth behind TITMSS
(36:27):
and the two hundred meter free in twenty twenty one.
In her retirement announcement on Instagram, Titmas credited Ladeki with
pushing her to be her best.
Speaker 5 (36:35):
Take a listen to win Olympic gold. And this didn't
have to be the best in the world. I had
to beat the greatest ever in the world. And you
know what, someone could look at that as a burden,
but I absolutely looked at it as a blessing because
I can say, without a doubt, without racing Katie, I
wouldn't have been the athlete that I am. She set
this incredible standard and I was just so willing to
(36:57):
chase it. And I just feel so grateful that I've
been a part of such an incredible rivalry. I feel
like we both have so much respect for each other,
and that will really sit with me for the rest
of my life, that rivalry that I've had with her.
Speaker 2 (37:11):
I'm not crying, you're crying.
Speaker 1 (37:14):
What a kind gesture to take a moment to pay
tribute to such a fierce rivalry. We enjoyed watching the
two of them battle for so long, and we really
enjoy this moment of sportsmanship and respect too. Congratulations on
your retirement, Arion. Now it's your turn slices, rate and review.
Thanks for listening, Have a great weekend, See you next week.
Speaker 2 (37:34):
Good game, Lori, good game, Arion.
Speaker 1 (37:37):
You brief glimmers of hope that get immediately crushed. 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
you get your podcasts. Production by Wonder Media Network, our
producers are alex Asie Grace, Lynch, Taylor Williamson, and Lucy Jones.
(38:00):
Our executive producers are Christina Everett, Jesse Katz, Jenny Kaplan
and Emily Rutterer. Our editors are Emily Rutterer, Britney Martinez
and Gianna Palmer. Production assistants from Avery Loftus and I'm
Your Host Sarah Spain
Host
Sarah Spain
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