August 1, 2025 • 31 mins
Racing Louisville teammates Emma Sears and Savannah DeMelo join Sarah to discuss their team’s recent trip to Brazil, their goals for the second half of the NWSL season, their experiences playing for the USWNT, and a Louisville favorite that’s somehow flown under their radar. Plus, a WNBA Finals rematch (and preview?!), we remind ourselves how to watch soccer, and we get out the cake and candles for Misha’s birthday.
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The AUSL All-Star Cup schedule is here
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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 just went.
Speaker 2 (00:02):
To see the new Billy Jean King play making its
world premiere run in Chicago, and now we want plays
about everybody, Wilma Rudolph, Pat Summit, Ellie the Elephant. It's Friday,
August first, and on today's show, we'll be chatting with
Racing Louisville teammates Emma Sears and Savannah Demelo about their
goals for the second half of the NWSL season, their
experiences playing for the national team, and a Louisville legend
(00:26):
that's somehow flown under their radar. Plus we finally get
a finals rematch, we remind ourselves how to watch soccer,
and a Pairris women goats.
Speaker 1 (00:35):
It's all coming up right after this.
Speaker 2 (00:43):
Welcome back slices. Here's what you need to know today.
Let's start with soccer. After a month off for confederation
competitions like Women's Euros and Copa America Feminina, the NWSL
is officially back. The regular season resumes with three games tonight.
Racing Louisville hosts the first place Kansas City Current and
the Chicago Stars host got the FC both of those
(01:06):
at eight pm. Eastern, then at ten Eastern Angel City
FC visits the Seattle Rain. We'll link to the full
weekend schedule in the show notes, and today's guests will
help give us a preview of what to expect in
that Louisville KC match tonight to the WNBA. Wednesday night
saw the long awaited first matchup of the season between
the Minnesota Lynks and New York Liberty, the first time
the teams faced off since the Liberty defeated the Links
(01:28):
in the WNBA Finals last season, and Wednesday's contest could
very well be a preview of this year's WNBA Finals two.
The Links walked away with this one one hundred to
ninety three, led by Nafisa Collier with thirty points in
kayleb McBride with twenty four.
Speaker 1 (01:42):
Now.
Speaker 2 (01:43):
The Liberty were missing Brianna Stewart, who sat out due
to injury. Ahead of the game, New York coach Sandy
Brondelos said Stuart sustained a bone bruise in her right
knee last Saturday and should be back at least by
the playoffs, but it's unclear as of now just how
many weeks she'll be out. In her absence, The Liberty
were led by Sabrina gan Escu, who were courted thirty
one points in the loss. More WNBA, It's another busy
(02:04):
weekend of games, starting tonight with ten teams in action.
Of the four games that get underway at seven thirty eastern,
we're most excited for Ali Shagree Britney Griner in the
Atlanta Dream hosting Alyssa Thomas and the Phoenix Mercury. Also,
the ten Eastern contest between the La Sparks and Seattle
Storm is going to give us another look at cam Brink,
who's finally back out on the court after knee injuries
caused her to miss most of last year and the
(02:26):
beginning of this season. Just like her first game back,
she'll likely still be on a minute's restriction, but.
Speaker 1 (02:31):
We'll take whatever we can get.
Speaker 2 (02:33):
Also, for my Wicked the musical fans, make sure you're
holding space for the show's collab with the WNBA. It
continues tonight in Uncasville, when The Connecticut Sun hosts the
New York Liberty at seven thirty Eastern with a ticket
giveaway and former Broadway Wicked cast members performing the national anthem,
Alex you want to give that big final noto.
Speaker 1 (02:51):
Shot no to the pool.
Speaker 2 (02:56):
The World Swimming Championships conclude this weekend and on Saturday
it's the most antis dissipated event of the meet, as
grown up Goat Katie Ladecci and baby goat Summer McIntosh
are slated to go head to head in the eight
hundred meter final. Ladeki has won three medals so far
in Singapore, including her sixth career world title in the
fifteen hundred meter on Wednesday. Meantime, the eighteen year old
(03:16):
McIntosh is currently three for three in her quest to
become the only swimmer other than Michael Phelps to win
five individual world titles at the same World Championships. It
should be a great race. While Ladeki owns twenty one
of the twenty five fastest times ever recorded in the
eight hundred meter, McIntosh handed the USTR her first defeat
in the eight hundred meter in fourteen years at a
(03:38):
meet back in February. To Cycling Latour de France. FEM
is nearing its mountainous end, entering stage seven today. Mauritian
Kim Lacourt is the owner of the yellow jersey. After
taking the overall lead on Wednesday, the same day, she
became the first competitor from Africa to win a stage
of latourda France FEM. The nine day competition will wrap
up on Sunday, following two days of niding through the
(04:00):
mountains to softball. Just a reminder that following Thursday night's draft,
the AUSL All Star Cup gets underway on Saturday. Will
link to the full schedule and tickets in the show notes. Finally,
some sad news. Retired German Olympic biathlete Lara Dahlmeyer is
presumed debt following a high elevation mountaineering accident earlier this
week in Pakistan. Dahlmeyer, a three time Olympic medallist who
(04:23):
retired in twenty nineteen, was climbing with a partner when
she was struck by falling rocks. After two days of
failed attempts to reach her, the rescue attempt was called
off due to hazardous conditions at the accident scene. In
a social media post, German President Frank Walter Steinmeier said, quote,
Lara Dahlmeyer was an ambassador of our country to the world,
a role model for peaceful, happy and fair coexistence across borders.
Speaker 1 (04:47):
This is how she will be to me. This is
how she will remain in the memory of many people
in our country. End quote. We got to take a
quick break when we come back.
Speaker 2 (04:57):
It's Racing Louisville teammates Emma Sears and Savannah Demelop. We
caught up with them on Wednesday ahead of tonight's contest
against Kansas City stick.
Speaker 1 (05:03):
Around joining US now.
Speaker 2 (05:12):
She's a forward for the US women's national team in
Racing Louisville of the NWSL. She played college soccer for
the Ohio State Buckeys and was drafted by Louisville in
the second round of the twenty twenty four NWSL draft.
She sometimes plays for Emma and her name is Emma.
It's Emma Sears Hi. Emma Hi also with US. A
midfielder for Racing Louisville FC of the NWSL, who made
her US women's national team debut in the sendoff game
(05:34):
for the twenty twenty.
Speaker 1 (05:35):
Three World Cup. She played her college soccer for the USC.
Speaker 2 (05:38):
Trojans and was the fourth pick in the twenty twenty
two NWSL draft. She's a fellow member of the torn
Achilles Club. She speaks Portuguese and she's one of the
most foweled players in the NWSL. It's Savannah Demelo.
Speaker 3 (05:48):
Hi, Savannah, Hi, thanks for having us so.
Speaker 1 (05:51):
Nice to talk to both of you.
Speaker 2 (05:53):
I want to jump to right before y'all got on
your summer break, because Racing was cruising. Savannah, five wins
in the last seven games before the break. What do
you think was clicking for your team down that stretch
of the first half.
Speaker 4 (06:05):
Yeah, I mean, I think it's always hard coming into
season and just figuring out with a new team, new coaching,
like how we wanted to play, and I think after
a couple of games, we kind of truly found our
identity and we were putting out ninety minute performances. So
we were playing just as hard in the first minute
as we were in the ninetieth minute, and I think
we were just really crucial and putting balls in the
(06:25):
back of the net and keeping them out of goal.
So everything was clicking, and you know, it's not going
to always go our way, but I think when things
were not going our way, we still kept our identity
and kept moving forward.
Speaker 2 (06:36):
Can you feel that in the game or can you
only feel it once the switch flips and it's working,
Like early on, when things aren't maybe going for a
full game. Can you tell that you need to get
to a different level.
Speaker 3 (06:48):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (06:49):
I mean I would say whenever we know things aren't
going our way, we always go back to what makes
us racing and like our basics and things that we
can control. And I think when you have a sturdy
foundation like that that you can always fall back on,
then I think it makes it easier for our identity
and to know, like, Okay, even though it's not working out,
we know that we're good at this, so we're going
to stay focused on that. And I think that's what's
(07:11):
been getting us like wins and ties.
Speaker 3 (07:13):
In good moments.
Speaker 2 (07:16):
Racing closed out the summer break playing in the Women's
Cup down in Brazil and Emma, you notched the first
goal the final and converted your PK, helping Racing to
win in penalties. It's the second straight Women's Cup win
for Louisville. What is winning a tournament like that mean
to the team, even though it's not really a part
of the NWSL season.
Speaker 3 (07:34):
Yeah, I thought it was a great experience for the team.
Speaker 5 (07:37):
Obviously we were pretty far away from home, so I
would say it was a good bonding experience for us.
We spent a lot of time together on that trip,
but I think ultimately our goal heading down there was
to win the tournament, and that was the standard that
we set going into the week down there. And so
for us to have won the final and just get
experiences in final moments like that, and you know, having
(07:59):
gone into these two times in that tournament, I think
that that was super helpful for us building momentum into
the NDWSEL season starting back up this week.
Speaker 2 (08:08):
You mentioned you had some fun down there, far away
from home. What was your favorite thing to do off
the field together in Brazil.
Speaker 5 (08:14):
Yeah, I would say we we actually got a lot
of free time, which I was kind of surprised about,
but it was really awesome just kind of experiencing the
culture down there. We were able to go out to
dinner a couple of times, so that was probably my
favorite part of it.
Speaker 3 (08:26):
Yeah, the food down there is insane. It was so good.
Speaker 4 (08:29):
And we like, we had one night off, so we
went to like this really good pasta Italian like authentic place.
Speaker 3 (08:35):
Which is kind of funny, like you wouldn't like. Of course,
we went to.
Speaker 4 (08:38):
Italian I know Italian, and we just had ourselves the
best time and able to like take a lot of
stress off of ours. I think we put a lot
of stress on ourselves and it's been a stressful season.
So just being able to like enjoy each other as
people and like friends that we are it is always fun.
Speaker 2 (08:53):
It's such a big part of team's success, and it's
sometimes sort of forgotten about in pursuit of, you know,
focusing on the fundamentals or the things that happened on
the field, but being able to trust each other on
and off and really know and get each other's vibes
can be so helpful when the tough moments hit or
you hit some.
Speaker 1 (09:08):
Sort of losing skid. Did y'all try any wild food
down there?
Speaker 2 (09:11):
Italian is not I don't think traditionally Brazilian, But what
about anything that you hadn't tried before or we're surprised to.
Speaker 5 (09:18):
Like I would say, we not like anything crazy, but
the smoothie bulls down there were amazing.
Speaker 3 (09:25):
I'm pretty sure ASAE is like, yeah, like found there.
Speaker 4 (09:28):
Yeah, they like are pretty good with making their own afsie.
Speaker 3 (09:32):
Yeah, very definitely was so great here.
Speaker 5 (09:34):
And then a few of our teammates went to a
Brazilian steakhouse that they said was like unreal, So yeah, it.
Speaker 3 (09:38):
Was pretty cool.
Speaker 1 (09:39):
Okay, so a couple you did it right.
Speaker 2 (09:41):
It sounds like a couple of you had a lovely
Italian meal and a couple of you.
Speaker 4 (09:46):
We actually went to a Japanese market though. I think
it's like the biggest Japanese population outside of Japan, so
I did explore that.
Speaker 3 (09:54):
Yeah, that was cool, cool, that was really cool. Super crowded,
but it was really fun.
Speaker 1 (09:58):
That sounds like a lot of fun.
Speaker 2 (10:00):
There were also some pretty important soccer moments that happened there.
Your keeper Jordan Bloomer was fantastic, particularly in that last match,
and she's been great stepping in for your injured starter
Katie Lund and Savannah. I wonder how the team sort
of rallied around Jordan this season and how hard is
it to change keepers in the middle of a season.
Speaker 4 (10:18):
Yeah, I mean, I think bloom we call her bloom
She's very much like has a lot of energy and
she's like a very confident player. So I think coming
into that role, we just kind of let her be
the person that she is, and she brings a lot
of energy, a lot of confidence, and we all believe
in her and we knew her stepping in was something
that like she's been waiting for for a while.
Speaker 3 (10:38):
She's been really like looking forward to this moment.
Speaker 4 (10:40):
So I think just as sappointing her as friends and
teammates was really all she needed. And then we knew
she could handle the rest on the field, and she's
been making some amazing saves and kept us in games
that I think it was like her first game against Houston,
she made like a double save that was the difference
between us tying a game.
Speaker 3 (10:57):
And winning a game.
Speaker 4 (10:58):
So I think she made for those big moments, and
I think just being able to play more games is
giving her more confidence.
Speaker 2 (11:05):
Yeah, and having those games go into p case certainly
helpful for her confidence. As you come out on top, Emma,
you're going to get a chance to see whether that
Women's Cup momentum carries into the NWSL season when you
kick off the second half against none other than the
first place Kansas City Currents. So you're starting off with
a strong opponent. What's going to be the focus for
the team and that one as you look to continue
(11:26):
the success you had at the end of the first half.
Speaker 5 (11:28):
Yeah, I think similar to what sav said at the
end of the first half of the season. Back in June,
you know, we were kind of hitting our stride, and
so I think that the focus has just been continuing
that and just falling back on what we know that
we're good at. And I think that we were able
to execute certain things when we were down in Brazil
and just carrying that into the practices that we've had
this week. I think that the energy and the excitement
(11:51):
is there for this weekend, and you know, it's always
nice to be starting the season back up at home,
and so we're super excited to play in front of.
Speaker 3 (11:57):
Our home crowd.
Speaker 2 (11:58):
Yeah, Savanna, earlier you talked about kind of getting back
to your identity whenever you feel like things aren't in sync.
What is the identity of this racing team. What is
the kind of style that you all really discussed wanting
to make sure that you bring to every game.
Speaker 4 (12:14):
Yeah, I mean, we rely a lot on our press,
and I think we provide Oh it makes it We
make it really hard for teams to play out of
the back because we provide so much pressure. And I
think the higher up we can win the ball the
better because obviously that's where the goal is.
Speaker 3 (12:28):
So I think we make it really hard for.
Speaker 4 (12:29):
Teams to get out of that position on the field,
and then we're just very dangerous up top. I mean,
I think we're very threatening and we're exciting to watch,
and I think whenever we don't feel that way, we
know it's all things that we can control, like energy,
getting into tackles, when your battles, things like that are
all things you can control.
Speaker 3 (12:49):
So that's what we rely on.
Speaker 1 (12:51):
Savannah.
Speaker 2 (12:51):
For the players who weren't playing during the FIFA window
in various cups and tournaments or friendlies and camps, did
you like having some of those friendlies or would you
rather have just practiced.
Speaker 4 (13:03):
That's something we talk about a lot, and I feel
like you can either train and practice on the things
that like you want to like get better at, or
like things we need to tide up as a team.
But I also think it's so important to get game inutes,
Like you can't mimic a game unless you're playing a game.
Even when we play elevens, we always joke about it
because it is just transitional, Like when we play against
(13:24):
each other, it is just like one team attacks, okay,
then it goes back one team attacks then, So I
think when actually you get to play against other opponents,
there's more of a flow of the game.
Speaker 3 (13:33):
So I don't really feel like I know.
Speaker 4 (13:35):
Some teams feel like they haven't played in so long,
and I'm like, oh my god, we've played like four
games since we've played Orlando, So I think we're kind
of coming in with confidence and being like, oh, like,
I don't really feel like we've had that much of
a break, which is I think a good thing rather
than about the pros and cons. But I do think
a lot of us got the rest we needed. We
had like that week off where I know a lot
(13:56):
of us went with our families so like our happy
places and god like take soccer was like the last
thing on my mind. So I think they handled it
really well and kind of gave us good balance of everything.
Speaker 1 (14:09):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (14:09):
I mean, it's an interesting sport in that every season
can be drastically different depending on the international footprint and
how it affects the NWSL. So you might be like, Okay,
we're taking this long break because in the Olympics or
a World Cup, or it might be like this year
where there's like the players being sent off to a
variety of places and then coming back together. Let's talk
national team because Emma Hayes is making a lot of
(14:31):
moves giving looks to a big variety of players, including you. Emma,
and you scored in your very first cap. What were
the emotions in that moment?
Speaker 3 (14:40):
Oh my gosh. I feel like I reflect on that
moment a lot.
Speaker 5 (14:43):
It's definitely a game that I have highlighted at the
top of my career.
Speaker 3 (14:48):
It was such an amazing moment. And I would just
say that.
Speaker 5 (14:51):
The leadership and the support that I felt when I
have gone into camps has just been.
Speaker 3 (14:58):
Honestly just like really pivotal for my soccer career.
Speaker 5 (15:01):
I feel like they've all really just helped, you know,
get behind the new players and help build our confidence.
And so that's something that I've felt each time I've
gone into camp, and I think that that really just
propels the team moving forward.
Speaker 3 (15:12):
Like you said, she's.
Speaker 5 (15:13):
Bringing in a lot of new faces, which with that
much change, it can definitely be hard to kind of
build that chemistry. But I think that she's made it
super clear of what the expectations are and I think
that everyone is on board with that, which ultimately is
leading to such great success.
Speaker 3 (15:28):
On the national team.
Speaker 2 (15:29):
I did not know this about you, but I was
reading and it was wild to discover that just a
couple years ago, in twenty twenty three, you didn't play
soccer for six months.
Speaker 1 (15:37):
You were like, all right, that was a nice career.
Speaker 2 (15:39):
I'm going to go into nutrition and maybe I'll kick
the ball around with some friends later in life. Had
a conversation with your college coach and realized, oh, maybe
I'll do this a little more.
Speaker 1 (15:48):
And now you're with the national team.
Speaker 2 (15:50):
Like, what do you even think when you look back
at that time in twenty twenty three about the potential
that you never got back into it.
Speaker 5 (15:58):
Yeah, honestly, I just feel silly that I ever thought
that I wanted to stop playing soccer. I think that
it was definitely I gained some new perspective on my
love for the game, and I think that that has
really helped me in this other portion.
Speaker 3 (16:14):
Of my career. I think that it's been such a whirlwind.
Speaker 5 (16:17):
I would have never imagined the path that my professional
career has kind of taken.
Speaker 3 (16:23):
But I couldn't be more grateful.
Speaker 5 (16:24):
And I think that just the support of my teammates
here and my teammates on the national team has just
been amazing.
Speaker 2 (16:31):
So and you probably in that six months got even
more informed on the nutrition side. So now you can
just be doling out advice to everyone on the team, right.
Speaker 5 (16:39):
Yeah, honestly it's come and handy more times than I
can counts me really nice.
Speaker 1 (16:43):
So yeah, lots of Italian, lots of people.
Speaker 3 (16:50):
That's the key tot success.
Speaker 1 (16:54):
Savannah.
Speaker 2 (16:55):
You made a lot of headlines back in twenty twenty
three when you were the only player named for the
World Cup roster who hadn't yet appeared in a game
for the national team. I remember the buzz around what
you had done at Racing to catch the eye of
the national team, and that is a true trial by fire.
Were there a ton of nerves when you got that
call and did you think, like, I'm ready for this
even though I haven't been up with the team at all.
Speaker 3 (17:17):
Yeah, I mean I kind of.
Speaker 4 (17:19):
It was back in April when I had talked to
at the time was black Go and he was like, Hey,
I just want to let you know that even though
you haven't been to camp, like we're still looking at
you from your performances with the nwself. Because there hadn't
been camps for like think four months, so a lot
of his decisions were based on NWSL play. So I
just remember remember focusing on each game and being like
(17:39):
I'm just going to go be sad and kind of
take the rest of the nerves out of it and
just remembering why I love to play. And I remember
when I got the call. I was with my sister
and she we were just like hanging out by the
pool and he called me like, he said, can I
FaceTime you?
Speaker 3 (17:53):
And I'm like yeah, yeah, and.
Speaker 4 (17:57):
I'm like, I hope he's not face himing me to
tell me, like I didn't make it. So then when
he told me, I was kind of in shock and
just enjoyed like the moment. But then the next day
I was like, oh my gosh, like I gotta get ready,
I gotta do this, gotta do that. And I kind
of just went in with the mentality of like how
grateful I am to be a part of the team
and just wanted.
Speaker 3 (18:14):
To learn so much.
Speaker 4 (18:16):
And then when I got there, I had a bigger
role than I intended. But like Emisods, just the support
you have from the players and the staff, it goes
a long way.
Speaker 2 (18:24):
What are you working on now When it comes to
your game. I assume you're hoping to get a call
back into camp and get another shot with the national team.
What are you focusing on and do you even ever?
I guess Black cos the enemy now, so you can't
call him up and ask like what should I work on?
Speaker 1 (18:37):
Or can you call I can't help.
Speaker 3 (18:39):
You'll see him this weekend.
Speaker 1 (18:40):
There you go, There you go.
Speaker 2 (18:41):
Can you call up Emma and say like, hey, how
do I get on your radar and have you give
me a shot?
Speaker 3 (18:47):
Yeah?
Speaker 4 (18:47):
I feel like I just like to focus on myself.
I think whenever you put one hundred and ten percent
into your club, that's when stuff with national team happens.
Like you're with the national team for maybe ten percent
of the year and you're with your club for the
ninety percent of it. So I think I'm just talking
a lot with my coaches on the ways I can
be better, more dangerous. I play attacking midfield, so I
just want to be assisting, taking shots, providing like attacking
(19:12):
opportunities for like my teammates.
Speaker 3 (19:14):
And I think just focusing on myself.
Speaker 4 (19:17):
And I kind of had some health issues, so I'm
just trying to get back with being like the healthy
save I know and I think once my health is
all intact and I can worry about the stuff on
the field, so kind of all that, Emma.
Speaker 1 (19:29):
What stands out to you about playing for Emma Hayes.
Speaker 3 (19:33):
I think just the fact that she's the real deal.
Speaker 5 (19:38):
I feel like I just feel so honored to be
coached by her. I mean, she just really you can
just tell she just obviously really knows what she's doing.
She's created such a winning mentality with the team and
such a short amount of time, and I think that
that's going to lead to such a successful team for
years to come. I think that her impact is incredible
(19:59):
and such a amount of time. They're so intentional with
how they communicate with the players when you're in camp,
and I think that obviously you're not in camp for
a very long time.
Speaker 3 (20:10):
It goes by super quickly. But I think just her impact.
Speaker 5 (20:14):
Is so lasting, and I just look forward to any
opportunity they have to be in that environment again with her.
Speaker 2 (20:21):
We had Megan Rapino on the show recently and she
talked about how she really hopes that the next generation
of players never has to fight as hard as her
generation fought for pay, equality, playing condition, safety, everything else.
But she also knows that the more players are involved
in fights like that and the more they use the voices,
the better it is for them. How do you consider
sort of this generation of women's soccer players as expansion
(20:44):
fees are going up, investments are up, things are looking great,
it feels good. How do you make sure that you
as players are staying connected to the people who are
making the decisions so that you don't get caught playing
catch up like previous generations have when the people up
top aren't making the right decison for folks.
Speaker 5 (21:01):
Yeah, I think a lot of it just comes down
to transparency and communication. I think that with so many
players coming together and I feel like kind of putting
their foot down with what we deserve and the acknowledgment
of how successful our league is in the trajectory of
where it's going, and like you said, you mentioned the
expansion teams, like that's just going to continue to happen
(21:22):
over the course of the next few years. And I
think that the game is growing exponentially and just the
opportunities that young players are getting now. I think that
the game for the women's side of it has come
such a long way, and so I think that. Obviously,
the older players who maybe are now retired, they helped
pave the way, and I think that it's our responsibility
(21:44):
now to just continue on with that and just help
keeping the game going in the right direction.
Speaker 1 (21:51):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (21:51):
I want to do a speed round with y'all for
your teammates, and I want you each to answer.
Speaker 1 (21:57):
So I'm a teammate most likely to take a over
the locker.
Speaker 2 (22:00):
Room playlist Jordan Bloomer, Savannah agrees, okay, Savannah. Teammate most
likely to be spotted rehearsing a TikTok dance.
Speaker 3 (22:09):
Bethany Balter, Okay, I.
Speaker 2 (22:13):
Agree, Okay, I'm a teammate least likely to be spotted
rehearsing a TikTok dance. Uh.
Speaker 5 (22:19):
Probably Janine's honest, because she wouldn't do that. Or like
Lauren Malay.
Speaker 4 (22:25):
Lauren Malay even she does have TikTok, but it's just
to like his friends send her.
Speaker 3 (22:30):
Yeah, that's fair, just to learn. But those are two
good ones.
Speaker 4 (22:33):
Yeah, those are the oldies kind of Yeah, don't aren't
on the They're more Instagram reels.
Speaker 3 (22:38):
Yeah, Instagram reels.
Speaker 1 (22:40):
Okay, I take that personally, but I relate.
Speaker 2 (22:43):
Okay, I'm the teammate you'd most trust your child or
pet with.
Speaker 3 (22:50):
Oh my gosh, one pet. Savannah Damello child child probably
a Marissa Grande. She has like very like motherly and
I feel like or Aaron Wright.
Speaker 1 (23:06):
She is a mom.
Speaker 2 (23:08):
Come on, that should have been top of mind, y'all,
let's come on, Savannah.
Speaker 1 (23:15):
The teamate. Who could best step in and coach the
team in a pinch?
Speaker 3 (23:19):
Lauren Malat.
Speaker 4 (23:20):
She is getting like her coaching license I think as
we speak, and she's just like such a knowledgeable player.
Speaker 2 (23:27):
Okay, Emma, person you'd most trust to cook the whole
team dinner?
Speaker 3 (23:32):
Jordan Bloomer. Yeah, she like scheves it up. She's pretty good.
Sometimes it's really nice.
Speaker 4 (23:38):
Yeah, she's made us like Greek boles, this pasta sauce
that she is like perfected with like cottage cheese.
Speaker 3 (23:46):
It's so good. It's really good.
Speaker 5 (23:48):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (23:49):
She can talk about food for hours as well. Her
and Taylor Flint can talk about food.
Speaker 2 (23:53):
All right, we're gonna get him on the show. Just
have like a special food episode.
Speaker 3 (23:57):
Okay.
Speaker 2 (24:00):
Who's the teammate most likely to accidentally give the team
food poisoning?
Speaker 4 (24:03):
Mm? Like I feel like Katy Okane the rookies.
Speaker 1 (24:10):
Yeah, I don't don't have their life in order yet.
Speaker 6 (24:14):
Yeah, kind of let me think, because yeah, I would
think Katy Okane just because she isn't she vegan? Yeah,
she's vegan, and like, I don't know, can you get
food poisoning from tofu?
Speaker 3 (24:25):
She's always eating to explain, maybe that's what she would do.
Speaker 2 (24:31):
You know what I will say As a vegetarian, I'm
always pissed. It's always like the salad that gets recalled
because of some bacteria and I'm.
Speaker 3 (24:38):
Like, come on, man, maybe that's so true.
Speaker 1 (24:41):
Let us over here.
Speaker 3 (24:43):
Always like has like a recall every other month.
Speaker 1 (24:46):
Yeah, okay.
Speaker 2 (24:48):
Last one, which teammate is always bringing the best tunnel fits?
Speaker 3 (24:52):
I kind of Ari Borges or like.
Speaker 4 (24:55):
And Angela always has like firefits fire fits, and it's
usually from Nike, And I'm always like, wait, where did
you find where did you find that website?
Speaker 1 (25:06):
Get it?
Speaker 2 (25:07):
Angela Barone? Yes, yeah, okay, okay, last one.
Speaker 1 (25:11):
We do a little thing.
Speaker 2 (25:12):
It's kind of like bench Stark cut, except it's good, gooder,
goodest in honor of good game. So you don't have
to cut anything, but something has to just be good,
so go in order of good good or goodest Bourbon
hot browns and mint julips are what are hot browns?
Speaker 1 (25:35):
Y'all live in Louisville.
Speaker 3 (25:37):
I know why we're gonna get freaking.
Speaker 2 (25:43):
I've only been there twice, and I know, and I'm
a vegetarian and I know so A Louisville hot brown
is a sandwich that honestly looks pretty ass to me,
but people seem.
Speaker 1 (25:54):
To like it.
Speaker 2 (25:54):
It is open faced and it has turkey, breast, bacon,
creamy more sauce, and then it's baked or broiled until
the bread is crisp, and then you can add things
like tomatoes and mushroom slices.
Speaker 1 (26:05):
And occasionally canned peaches.
Speaker 2 (26:08):
Again, this sounds trash to me, but it is a
famous thing created at the Brown Hotel in Louisville. I
can't believe you've lived there and you haven't seen it
on a menu.
Speaker 1 (26:17):
Do you go to Roit?
Speaker 3 (26:18):
We should go try. Literally, though what she just said
does not sound that's what we it. How about we
go try it and we'll take a picture and we'll
send it to you.
Speaker 1 (26:27):
On your tiktoks.
Speaker 3 (26:29):
Put it on your fine okay, And I've put it on.
Speaker 2 (26:32):
A reel after that so I see it.
Speaker 5 (26:34):
Okay, I'm gonna say good is bourbon. I'm gonna say
Gooder is this sandwich because I'm not gonna like, I'm
not gonna hate on it until I try it like that,
and I'm gonna say Goodest is a mandella.
Speaker 4 (26:46):
Okay, Okay, I'll say good is the sandwich, Gooder is
the bourbon because I do love bourbon tours. Like I
think that's me too. Every time, like my parents come,
we go and I'm like, okay, I could take like
a sip and enjoy it. Yeah, and then Goodest is
midjull of those are actually delicious.
Speaker 5 (27:06):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (27:07):
I actually think that bourbon tastes like fire, Like I
can barely tell the difference between different ones.
Speaker 1 (27:13):
Like they'll be like this is the best place, and
I'll be like it's just still fire to me. But
I really like going.
Speaker 2 (27:17):
I've got a multiple bourbon tours even though I don't
like bourbon.
Speaker 3 (27:21):
Well, they say you're supposed to do then or like
the can.
Speaker 4 (27:25):
No, it's something like it to chew it and then
you can taste it when it's.
Speaker 3 (27:29):
In your mouth. There's a certain way to drink it. Yeah,
there's a.
Speaker 4 (27:31):
Certain way to drink it, because then you can get
the like notes or whatever, and then the fire yes,
and then you can actually taste it, and then I
love their like, oh, bourbon gives you like a Kentucky
hug because it makes you feel so warm, you feel
warm warm.
Speaker 2 (27:46):
I have a really nice bourbon collection because every time
I go to Louisville, people give it to me, and
then people come.
Speaker 1 (27:51):
Over to my house and like, ooh, what a collection.
You must be a fan, and I'm like, actually, I
hate it, but you will have.
Speaker 3 (27:58):
Yeah, you should do your own bourbon. No, we do too, Honestly.
We get like a bourbon with like our own little
seal at the top. Yeah, so kind of have a
nice little clutch too. Yeah.
Speaker 1 (28:10):
Yeah, it's fun. It's really fun.
Speaker 2 (28:13):
Well I can't I truly can't believe that I had
to teach you about hot browns. But go eat one
post about it, hopefully one without canned peaches, and tell
me what you think. And keep up the awesome work
this season. It's been really fun to watch and we're
looking forward to the second half.
Speaker 3 (28:28):
Thank you, Thank you for having us so much fun.
Speaker 2 (28:32):
Thanks so much to Emma and Savannah for taking the
time We got to take another break. When we come back,
get out the cake and candles. It's Misha's birthday. Welcome
back slices. 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. Follow
(28:55):
Savannah and Emma. We'll link to their social media handles
in the show notes. Also a fun assignment for you.
Google Lynn Family Stadium where racing plays, and check out
the vertical lights jutting out from the top of the stadium.
After we stop recording, Savannah shared the fun fact that
those are meant to look like eyelashes. Optometrist turned entrepreneur
(29:15):
Mark Lynn, who funded the stadium, wanted it to have
a little nod to his profession, and the logo does too.
There's a little eyelash esque swoops accenting the words Lynn
Family Stadium on the side of the building. I also
did a little internet sleuthing and learned the facade on
the building is meant to evoke a bourbon barrel neat
good fun fact, Savannah, We love to hear from you,
(29:36):
so hit us up on email. Good game at wondermedianetwork
dot com or leave us a voicemail at eight seven
two two oh four fifty seventy, and don't forget to subscribe,
Rate and review.
Speaker 1 (29:45):
It's so easy.
Speaker 2 (29:47):
Watch Misha's birthday rating twenty one out of twenty one
birthday candles. Review Mesha isn't here today because they're celebrating
what I have to assume is their twenty first twenty
second birthday.
Speaker 1 (30:04):
I don't know.
Speaker 2 (30:05):
Once you're old enough to rent a car and be
a member of the US Senate, it's sort of hard
to keep track of these young, weaper snappers. And while
Mish knows more and has accomplished more than their years
would suggest, they still weren't alive to see Clueless in
the theaters, and they consider friends a period piece. Their
skin is naturally dewy, their spine isn't dust, and they
can stay up till three am partying without needing a
full week to recover.
Speaker 1 (30:26):
So enjoy it.
Speaker 2 (30:27):
Why you can, kid, hope you have the best birthday
weekend ever and get everything you asked for a labooboo.
Speaker 1 (30:34):
I presume now it's your turn. Rate and review.
Speaker 2 (30:37):
Thanks for listening, See you next week. Good game, Emma,
good game, Savannah. Thank you that thing when the wind
keeps blowing out the candles at your outdoor birthday party,
Just let a birthday bitch have.
Speaker 1 (30:48):
This one thing. Come on.
Speaker 2 (30:52):
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, Apple Podcasts, or wherever
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.
(31:13):
Our editors are Emily Rutter, Britney Martinez, Grace Lynch, and
Gianna Palmer. Our associate producer is Lucy Jones. Production assistance
from Avery Loftus and I'm Your Host Sarah Spain
Welcome to Good Game with Sarah Spain, where we just went.
Speaker 2 (00:02):
To see the new Billy Jean King play making its
world premiere run in Chicago, and now we want plays
about everybody, Wilma Rudolph, Pat Summit, Ellie the Elephant. It's Friday,
August first, and on today's show, we'll be chatting with
Racing Louisville teammates Emma Sears and Savannah Demelo about their
goals for the second half of the NWSL season, their
experiences playing for the national team, and a Louisville legend
(00:26):
that's somehow flown under their radar. Plus we finally get
a finals rematch, we remind ourselves how to watch soccer,
and a Pairris women goats.
Speaker 1 (00:35):
It's all coming up right after this.
Speaker 2 (00:43):
Welcome back slices. Here's what you need to know today.
Let's start with soccer. After a month off for confederation
competitions like Women's Euros and Copa America Feminina, the NWSL
is officially back. The regular season resumes with three games tonight.
Racing Louisville hosts the first place Kansas City Current and
the Chicago Stars host got the FC both of those
(01:06):
at eight pm. Eastern, then at ten Eastern Angel City
FC visits the Seattle Rain. We'll link to the full
weekend schedule in the show notes, and today's guests will
help give us a preview of what to expect in
that Louisville KC match tonight to the WNBA. Wednesday night
saw the long awaited first matchup of the season between
the Minnesota Lynks and New York Liberty, the first time
the teams faced off since the Liberty defeated the Links
(01:28):
in the WNBA Finals last season, and Wednesday's contest could
very well be a preview of this year's WNBA Finals two.
The Links walked away with this one one hundred to
ninety three, led by Nafisa Collier with thirty points in
kayleb McBride with twenty four.
Speaker 1 (01:42):
Now.
Speaker 2 (01:43):
The Liberty were missing Brianna Stewart, who sat out due
to injury. Ahead of the game, New York coach Sandy
Brondelos said Stuart sustained a bone bruise in her right
knee last Saturday and should be back at least by
the playoffs, but it's unclear as of now just how
many weeks she'll be out. In her absence, The Liberty
were led by Sabrina gan Escu, who were courted thirty
one points in the loss. More WNBA, It's another busy
(02:04):
weekend of games, starting tonight with ten teams in action.
Of the four games that get underway at seven thirty eastern,
we're most excited for Ali Shagree Britney Griner in the
Atlanta Dream hosting Alyssa Thomas and the Phoenix Mercury. Also,
the ten Eastern contest between the La Sparks and Seattle
Storm is going to give us another look at cam Brink,
who's finally back out on the court after knee injuries
caused her to miss most of last year and the
(02:26):
beginning of this season. Just like her first game back,
she'll likely still be on a minute's restriction, but.
Speaker 1 (02:31):
We'll take whatever we can get.
Speaker 2 (02:33):
Also, for my Wicked the musical fans, make sure you're
holding space for the show's collab with the WNBA. It
continues tonight in Uncasville, when The Connecticut Sun hosts the
New York Liberty at seven thirty Eastern with a ticket
giveaway and former Broadway Wicked cast members performing the national anthem,
Alex you want to give that big final noto.
Speaker 1 (02:51):
Shot no to the pool.
Speaker 2 (02:56):
The World Swimming Championships conclude this weekend and on Saturday
it's the most antis dissipated event of the meet, as
grown up Goat Katie Ladecci and baby goat Summer McIntosh
are slated to go head to head in the eight
hundred meter final. Ladeki has won three medals so far
in Singapore, including her sixth career world title in the
fifteen hundred meter on Wednesday. Meantime, the eighteen year old
(03:16):
McIntosh is currently three for three in her quest to
become the only swimmer other than Michael Phelps to win
five individual world titles at the same World Championships. It
should be a great race. While Ladeki owns twenty one
of the twenty five fastest times ever recorded in the
eight hundred meter, McIntosh handed the USTR her first defeat
in the eight hundred meter in fourteen years at a
(03:38):
meet back in February. To Cycling Latour de France. FEM
is nearing its mountainous end, entering stage seven today. Mauritian
Kim Lacourt is the owner of the yellow jersey. After
taking the overall lead on Wednesday, the same day, she
became the first competitor from Africa to win a stage
of latourda France FEM. The nine day competition will wrap
up on Sunday, following two days of niding through the
(04:00):
mountains to softball. Just a reminder that following Thursday night's draft,
the AUSL All Star Cup gets underway on Saturday. Will
link to the full schedule and tickets in the show notes. Finally,
some sad news. Retired German Olympic biathlete Lara Dahlmeyer is
presumed debt following a high elevation mountaineering accident earlier this
week in Pakistan. Dahlmeyer, a three time Olympic medallist who
(04:23):
retired in twenty nineteen, was climbing with a partner when
she was struck by falling rocks. After two days of
failed attempts to reach her, the rescue attempt was called
off due to hazardous conditions at the accident scene. In
a social media post, German President Frank Walter Steinmeier said, quote,
Lara Dahlmeyer was an ambassador of our country to the world,
a role model for peaceful, happy and fair coexistence across borders.
Speaker 1 (04:47):
This is how she will be to me. This is
how she will remain in the memory of many people
in our country. End quote. We got to take a
quick break when we come back.
Speaker 2 (04:57):
It's Racing Louisville teammates Emma Sears and Savannah Demelop. We
caught up with them on Wednesday ahead of tonight's contest
against Kansas City stick.
Speaker 1 (05:03):
Around joining US now.
Speaker 2 (05:12):
She's a forward for the US women's national team in
Racing Louisville of the NWSL. She played college soccer for
the Ohio State Buckeys and was drafted by Louisville in
the second round of the twenty twenty four NWSL draft.
She sometimes plays for Emma and her name is Emma.
It's Emma Sears Hi. Emma Hi also with US. A
midfielder for Racing Louisville FC of the NWSL, who made
her US women's national team debut in the sendoff game
(05:34):
for the twenty twenty.
Speaker 1 (05:35):
Three World Cup. She played her college soccer for the USC.
Speaker 2 (05:38):
Trojans and was the fourth pick in the twenty twenty
two NWSL draft. She's a fellow member of the torn
Achilles Club. She speaks Portuguese and she's one of the
most foweled players in the NWSL. It's Savannah Demelo.
Speaker 3 (05:48):
Hi, Savannah, Hi, thanks for having us so.
Speaker 1 (05:51):
Nice to talk to both of you.
Speaker 2 (05:53):
I want to jump to right before y'all got on
your summer break, because Racing was cruising. Savannah, five wins
in the last seven games before the break. What do
you think was clicking for your team down that stretch
of the first half.
Speaker 4 (06:05):
Yeah, I mean, I think it's always hard coming into
season and just figuring out with a new team, new coaching,
like how we wanted to play, and I think after
a couple of games, we kind of truly found our
identity and we were putting out ninety minute performances. So
we were playing just as hard in the first minute
as we were in the ninetieth minute, and I think
we were just really crucial and putting balls in the
(06:25):
back of the net and keeping them out of goal.
So everything was clicking, and you know, it's not going
to always go our way, but I think when things
were not going our way, we still kept our identity
and kept moving forward.
Speaker 2 (06:36):
Can you feel that in the game or can you
only feel it once the switch flips and it's working,
Like early on, when things aren't maybe going for a
full game. Can you tell that you need to get
to a different level.
Speaker 3 (06:48):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (06:49):
I mean I would say whenever we know things aren't
going our way, we always go back to what makes
us racing and like our basics and things that we
can control. And I think when you have a sturdy
foundation like that that you can always fall back on,
then I think it makes it easier for our identity
and to know, like, Okay, even though it's not working out,
we know that we're good at this, so we're going
to stay focused on that. And I think that's what's
(07:11):
been getting us like wins and ties.
Speaker 3 (07:13):
In good moments.
Speaker 2 (07:16):
Racing closed out the summer break playing in the Women's
Cup down in Brazil and Emma, you notched the first
goal the final and converted your PK, helping Racing to
win in penalties. It's the second straight Women's Cup win
for Louisville. What is winning a tournament like that mean
to the team, even though it's not really a part
of the NWSL season.
Speaker 3 (07:34):
Yeah, I thought it was a great experience for the team.
Speaker 5 (07:37):
Obviously we were pretty far away from home, so I
would say it was a good bonding experience for us.
We spent a lot of time together on that trip,
but I think ultimately our goal heading down there was
to win the tournament, and that was the standard that
we set going into the week down there. And so
for us to have won the final and just get
experiences in final moments like that, and you know, having
(07:59):
gone into these two times in that tournament, I think
that that was super helpful for us building momentum into
the NDWSEL season starting back up this week.
Speaker 2 (08:08):
You mentioned you had some fun down there, far away
from home. What was your favorite thing to do off
the field together in Brazil.
Speaker 5 (08:14):
Yeah, I would say we we actually got a lot
of free time, which I was kind of surprised about,
but it was really awesome just kind of experiencing the
culture down there. We were able to go out to
dinner a couple of times, so that was probably my
favorite part of it.
Speaker 3 (08:26):
Yeah, the food down there is insane. It was so good.
Speaker 4 (08:29):
And we like, we had one night off, so we
went to like this really good pasta Italian like authentic place.
Speaker 3 (08:35):
Which is kind of funny, like you wouldn't like. Of course,
we went to.
Speaker 4 (08:38):
Italian I know Italian, and we just had ourselves the
best time and able to like take a lot of
stress off of ours. I think we put a lot
of stress on ourselves and it's been a stressful season.
So just being able to like enjoy each other as
people and like friends that we are it is always fun.
Speaker 2 (08:53):
It's such a big part of team's success, and it's
sometimes sort of forgotten about in pursuit of, you know,
focusing on the fundamentals or the things that happened on
the field, but being able to trust each other on
and off and really know and get each other's vibes
can be so helpful when the tough moments hit or
you hit some.
Speaker 1 (09:08):
Sort of losing skid. Did y'all try any wild food
down there?
Speaker 2 (09:11):
Italian is not I don't think traditionally Brazilian, But what
about anything that you hadn't tried before or we're surprised to.
Speaker 5 (09:18):
Like I would say, we not like anything crazy, but
the smoothie bulls down there were amazing.
Speaker 3 (09:25):
I'm pretty sure ASAE is like, yeah, like found there.
Speaker 4 (09:28):
Yeah, they like are pretty good with making their own afsie.
Speaker 3 (09:32):
Yeah, very definitely was so great here.
Speaker 5 (09:34):
And then a few of our teammates went to a
Brazilian steakhouse that they said was like unreal, So yeah, it.
Speaker 3 (09:38):
Was pretty cool.
Speaker 1 (09:39):
Okay, so a couple you did it right.
Speaker 2 (09:41):
It sounds like a couple of you had a lovely
Italian meal and a couple of you.
Speaker 4 (09:46):
We actually went to a Japanese market though. I think
it's like the biggest Japanese population outside of Japan, so
I did explore that.
Speaker 3 (09:54):
Yeah, that was cool, cool, that was really cool. Super crowded,
but it was really fun.
Speaker 1 (09:58):
That sounds like a lot of fun.
Speaker 2 (10:00):
There were also some pretty important soccer moments that happened there.
Your keeper Jordan Bloomer was fantastic, particularly in that last match,
and she's been great stepping in for your injured starter
Katie Lund and Savannah. I wonder how the team sort
of rallied around Jordan this season and how hard is
it to change keepers in the middle of a season.
Speaker 4 (10:18):
Yeah, I mean, I think bloom we call her bloom
She's very much like has a lot of energy and
she's like a very confident player. So I think coming
into that role, we just kind of let her be
the person that she is, and she brings a lot
of energy, a lot of confidence, and we all believe
in her and we knew her stepping in was something
that like she's been waiting for for a while.
Speaker 3 (10:38):
She's been really like looking forward to this moment.
Speaker 4 (10:40):
So I think just as sappointing her as friends and
teammates was really all she needed. And then we knew
she could handle the rest on the field, and she's
been making some amazing saves and kept us in games
that I think it was like her first game against Houston,
she made like a double save that was the difference
between us tying a game.
Speaker 3 (10:57):
And winning a game.
Speaker 4 (10:58):
So I think she made for those big moments, and
I think just being able to play more games is
giving her more confidence.
Speaker 2 (11:05):
Yeah, and having those games go into p case certainly
helpful for her confidence. As you come out on top, Emma,
you're going to get a chance to see whether that
Women's Cup momentum carries into the NWSL season when you
kick off the second half against none other than the
first place Kansas City Currents. So you're starting off with
a strong opponent. What's going to be the focus for
the team and that one as you look to continue
(11:26):
the success you had at the end of the first half.
Speaker 5 (11:28):
Yeah, I think similar to what sav said at the
end of the first half of the season. Back in June,
you know, we were kind of hitting our stride, and
so I think that the focus has just been continuing
that and just falling back on what we know that
we're good at. And I think that we were able
to execute certain things when we were down in Brazil
and just carrying that into the practices that we've had
this week. I think that the energy and the excitement
(11:51):
is there for this weekend, and you know, it's always
nice to be starting the season back up at home,
and so we're super excited to play in front of.
Speaker 3 (11:57):
Our home crowd.
Speaker 2 (11:58):
Yeah, Savanna, earlier you talked about kind of getting back
to your identity whenever you feel like things aren't in sync.
What is the identity of this racing team. What is
the kind of style that you all really discussed wanting
to make sure that you bring to every game.
Speaker 4 (12:14):
Yeah, I mean, we rely a lot on our press,
and I think we provide Oh it makes it We
make it really hard for teams to play out of
the back because we provide so much pressure. And I
think the higher up we can win the ball the
better because obviously that's where the goal is.
Speaker 3 (12:28):
So I think we make it really hard for.
Speaker 4 (12:29):
Teams to get out of that position on the field,
and then we're just very dangerous up top. I mean,
I think we're very threatening and we're exciting to watch,
and I think whenever we don't feel that way, we
know it's all things that we can control, like energy,
getting into tackles, when your battles, things like that are
all things you can control.
Speaker 3 (12:49):
So that's what we rely on.
Speaker 1 (12:51):
Savannah.
Speaker 2 (12:51):
For the players who weren't playing during the FIFA window
in various cups and tournaments or friendlies and camps, did
you like having some of those friendlies or would you
rather have just practiced.
Speaker 4 (13:03):
That's something we talk about a lot, and I feel
like you can either train and practice on the things
that like you want to like get better at, or
like things we need to tide up as a team.
But I also think it's so important to get game inutes,
Like you can't mimic a game unless you're playing a game.
Even when we play elevens, we always joke about it
because it is just transitional, Like when we play against
(13:24):
each other, it is just like one team attacks, okay,
then it goes back one team attacks then, So I
think when actually you get to play against other opponents,
there's more of a flow of the game.
Speaker 3 (13:33):
So I don't really feel like I know.
Speaker 4 (13:35):
Some teams feel like they haven't played in so long,
and I'm like, oh my god, we've played like four
games since we've played Orlando, So I think we're kind
of coming in with confidence and being like, oh, like,
I don't really feel like we've had that much of
a break, which is I think a good thing rather
than about the pros and cons. But I do think
a lot of us got the rest we needed. We
had like that week off where I know a lot
(13:56):
of us went with our families so like our happy
places and god like take soccer was like the last
thing on my mind. So I think they handled it
really well and kind of gave us good balance of everything.
Speaker 1 (14:09):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (14:09):
I mean, it's an interesting sport in that every season
can be drastically different depending on the international footprint and
how it affects the NWSL. So you might be like, Okay,
we're taking this long break because in the Olympics or
a World Cup, or it might be like this year
where there's like the players being sent off to a
variety of places and then coming back together. Let's talk
national team because Emma Hayes is making a lot of
(14:31):
moves giving looks to a big variety of players, including you. Emma,
and you scored in your very first cap. What were
the emotions in that moment?
Speaker 3 (14:40):
Oh my gosh. I feel like I reflect on that
moment a lot.
Speaker 5 (14:43):
It's definitely a game that I have highlighted at the
top of my career.
Speaker 3 (14:48):
It was such an amazing moment. And I would just
say that.
Speaker 5 (14:51):
The leadership and the support that I felt when I
have gone into camps has just been.
Speaker 3 (14:58):
Honestly just like really pivotal for my soccer career.
Speaker 5 (15:01):
I feel like they've all really just helped, you know,
get behind the new players and help build our confidence.
And so that's something that I've felt each time I've
gone into camp, and I think that that really just
propels the team moving forward.
Speaker 3 (15:12):
Like you said, she's.
Speaker 5 (15:13):
Bringing in a lot of new faces, which with that
much change, it can definitely be hard to kind of
build that chemistry. But I think that she's made it
super clear of what the expectations are and I think
that everyone is on board with that, which ultimately is
leading to such great success.
Speaker 3 (15:28):
On the national team.
Speaker 2 (15:29):
I did not know this about you, but I was
reading and it was wild to discover that just a
couple years ago, in twenty twenty three, you didn't play
soccer for six months.
Speaker 1 (15:37):
You were like, all right, that was a nice career.
Speaker 2 (15:39):
I'm going to go into nutrition and maybe I'll kick
the ball around with some friends later in life. Had
a conversation with your college coach and realized, oh, maybe
I'll do this a little more.
Speaker 1 (15:48):
And now you're with the national team.
Speaker 2 (15:50):
Like, what do you even think when you look back
at that time in twenty twenty three about the potential
that you never got back into it.
Speaker 5 (15:58):
Yeah, honestly, I just feel silly that I ever thought
that I wanted to stop playing soccer. I think that
it was definitely I gained some new perspective on my
love for the game, and I think that that has
really helped me in this other portion.
Speaker 3 (16:14):
Of my career. I think that it's been such a whirlwind.
Speaker 5 (16:17):
I would have never imagined the path that my professional
career has kind of taken.
Speaker 3 (16:23):
But I couldn't be more grateful.
Speaker 5 (16:24):
And I think that just the support of my teammates
here and my teammates on the national team has just
been amazing.
Speaker 2 (16:31):
So and you probably in that six months got even
more informed on the nutrition side. So now you can
just be doling out advice to everyone on the team, right.
Speaker 5 (16:39):
Yeah, honestly it's come and handy more times than I
can counts me really nice.
Speaker 1 (16:43):
So yeah, lots of Italian, lots of people.
Speaker 3 (16:50):
That's the key tot success.
Speaker 1 (16:54):
Savannah.
Speaker 2 (16:55):
You made a lot of headlines back in twenty twenty
three when you were the only player named for the
World Cup roster who hadn't yet appeared in a game
for the national team. I remember the buzz around what
you had done at Racing to catch the eye of
the national team, and that is a true trial by fire.
Were there a ton of nerves when you got that
call and did you think, like, I'm ready for this
even though I haven't been up with the team at all.
Speaker 3 (17:17):
Yeah, I mean I kind of.
Speaker 4 (17:19):
It was back in April when I had talked to
at the time was black Go and he was like, Hey,
I just want to let you know that even though
you haven't been to camp, like we're still looking at
you from your performances with the nwself. Because there hadn't
been camps for like think four months, so a lot
of his decisions were based on NWSL play. So I
just remember remember focusing on each game and being like
(17:39):
I'm just going to go be sad and kind of
take the rest of the nerves out of it and
just remembering why I love to play. And I remember
when I got the call. I was with my sister
and she we were just like hanging out by the
pool and he called me like, he said, can I
FaceTime you?
Speaker 3 (17:53):
And I'm like yeah, yeah, and.
Speaker 4 (17:57):
I'm like, I hope he's not face himing me to
tell me, like I didn't make it. So then when
he told me, I was kind of in shock and
just enjoyed like the moment. But then the next day
I was like, oh my gosh, like I gotta get ready,
I gotta do this, gotta do that. And I kind
of just went in with the mentality of like how
grateful I am to be a part of the team
and just wanted.
Speaker 3 (18:14):
To learn so much.
Speaker 4 (18:16):
And then when I got there, I had a bigger
role than I intended. But like Emisods, just the support
you have from the players and the staff, it goes
a long way.
Speaker 2 (18:24):
What are you working on now When it comes to
your game. I assume you're hoping to get a call
back into camp and get another shot with the national team.
What are you focusing on and do you even ever?
I guess Black cos the enemy now, so you can't
call him up and ask like what should I work on?
Speaker 1 (18:37):
Or can you call I can't help.
Speaker 3 (18:39):
You'll see him this weekend.
Speaker 1 (18:40):
There you go, There you go.
Speaker 2 (18:41):
Can you call up Emma and say like, hey, how
do I get on your radar and have you give
me a shot?
Speaker 3 (18:47):
Yeah?
Speaker 4 (18:47):
I feel like I just like to focus on myself.
I think whenever you put one hundred and ten percent
into your club, that's when stuff with national team happens.
Like you're with the national team for maybe ten percent
of the year and you're with your club for the
ninety percent of it. So I think I'm just talking
a lot with my coaches on the ways I can
be better, more dangerous. I play attacking midfield, so I
just want to be assisting, taking shots, providing like attacking
(19:12):
opportunities for like my teammates.
Speaker 3 (19:14):
And I think just focusing on myself.
Speaker 4 (19:17):
And I kind of had some health issues, so I'm
just trying to get back with being like the healthy
save I know and I think once my health is
all intact and I can worry about the stuff on
the field, so kind of all that, Emma.
Speaker 1 (19:29):
What stands out to you about playing for Emma Hayes.
Speaker 3 (19:33):
I think just the fact that she's the real deal.
Speaker 5 (19:38):
I feel like I just feel so honored to be
coached by her. I mean, she just really you can
just tell she just obviously really knows what she's doing.
She's created such a winning mentality with the team and
such a short amount of time, and I think that
that's going to lead to such a successful team for
years to come. I think that her impact is incredible
(19:59):
and such a amount of time. They're so intentional with
how they communicate with the players when you're in camp,
and I think that obviously you're not in camp for
a very long time.
Speaker 3 (20:10):
It goes by super quickly. But I think just her impact.
Speaker 5 (20:14):
Is so lasting, and I just look forward to any
opportunity they have to be in that environment again with her.
Speaker 2 (20:21):
We had Megan Rapino on the show recently and she
talked about how she really hopes that the next generation
of players never has to fight as hard as her
generation fought for pay, equality, playing condition, safety, everything else.
But she also knows that the more players are involved
in fights like that and the more they use the voices,
the better it is for them. How do you consider
sort of this generation of women's soccer players as expansion
(20:44):
fees are going up, investments are up, things are looking great,
it feels good. How do you make sure that you
as players are staying connected to the people who are
making the decisions so that you don't get caught playing
catch up like previous generations have when the people up
top aren't making the right decison for folks.
Speaker 5 (21:01):
Yeah, I think a lot of it just comes down
to transparency and communication. I think that with so many
players coming together and I feel like kind of putting
their foot down with what we deserve and the acknowledgment
of how successful our league is in the trajectory of
where it's going, and like you said, you mentioned the
expansion teams, like that's just going to continue to happen
(21:22):
over the course of the next few years. And I
think that the game is growing exponentially and just the
opportunities that young players are getting now. I think that
the game for the women's side of it has come
such a long way, and so I think that. Obviously,
the older players who maybe are now retired, they helped
pave the way, and I think that it's our responsibility
(21:44):
now to just continue on with that and just help
keeping the game going in the right direction.
Speaker 1 (21:51):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (21:51):
I want to do a speed round with y'all for
your teammates, and I want you each to answer.
Speaker 1 (21:57):
So I'm a teammate most likely to take a over
the locker.
Speaker 2 (22:00):
Room playlist Jordan Bloomer, Savannah agrees, okay, Savannah. Teammate most
likely to be spotted rehearsing a TikTok dance.
Speaker 3 (22:09):
Bethany Balter, Okay, I.
Speaker 2 (22:13):
Agree, Okay, I'm a teammate least likely to be spotted
rehearsing a TikTok dance. Uh.
Speaker 5 (22:19):
Probably Janine's honest, because she wouldn't do that. Or like
Lauren Malay.
Speaker 4 (22:25):
Lauren Malay even she does have TikTok, but it's just
to like his friends send her.
Speaker 3 (22:30):
Yeah, that's fair, just to learn. But those are two
good ones.
Speaker 4 (22:33):
Yeah, those are the oldies kind of Yeah, don't aren't
on the They're more Instagram reels.
Speaker 3 (22:38):
Yeah, Instagram reels.
Speaker 1 (22:40):
Okay, I take that personally, but I relate.
Speaker 2 (22:43):
Okay, I'm the teammate you'd most trust your child or
pet with.
Speaker 3 (22:50):
Oh my gosh, one pet. Savannah Damello child child probably
a Marissa Grande. She has like very like motherly and
I feel like or Aaron Wright.
Speaker 1 (23:06):
She is a mom.
Speaker 2 (23:08):
Come on, that should have been top of mind, y'all,
let's come on, Savannah.
Speaker 1 (23:15):
The teamate. Who could best step in and coach the
team in a pinch?
Speaker 3 (23:19):
Lauren Malat.
Speaker 4 (23:20):
She is getting like her coaching license I think as
we speak, and she's just like such a knowledgeable player.
Speaker 2 (23:27):
Okay, Emma, person you'd most trust to cook the whole
team dinner?
Speaker 3 (23:32):
Jordan Bloomer. Yeah, she like scheves it up. She's pretty good.
Sometimes it's really nice.
Speaker 4 (23:38):
Yeah, she's made us like Greek boles, this pasta sauce
that she is like perfected with like cottage cheese.
Speaker 3 (23:46):
It's so good. It's really good.
Speaker 5 (23:48):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (23:49):
She can talk about food for hours as well. Her
and Taylor Flint can talk about food.
Speaker 2 (23:53):
All right, we're gonna get him on the show. Just
have like a special food episode.
Speaker 3 (23:57):
Okay.
Speaker 2 (24:00):
Who's the teammate most likely to accidentally give the team
food poisoning?
Speaker 4 (24:03):
Mm? Like I feel like Katy Okane the rookies.
Speaker 1 (24:10):
Yeah, I don't don't have their life in order yet.
Speaker 6 (24:14):
Yeah, kind of let me think, because yeah, I would
think Katy Okane just because she isn't she vegan? Yeah,
she's vegan, and like, I don't know, can you get
food poisoning from tofu?
Speaker 3 (24:25):
She's always eating to explain, maybe that's what she would do.
Speaker 2 (24:31):
You know what I will say As a vegetarian, I'm
always pissed. It's always like the salad that gets recalled
because of some bacteria and I'm.
Speaker 3 (24:38):
Like, come on, man, maybe that's so true.
Speaker 1 (24:41):
Let us over here.
Speaker 3 (24:43):
Always like has like a recall every other month.
Speaker 1 (24:46):
Yeah, okay.
Speaker 2 (24:48):
Last one, which teammate is always bringing the best tunnel fits?
Speaker 3 (24:52):
I kind of Ari Borges or like.
Speaker 4 (24:55):
And Angela always has like firefits fire fits, and it's
usually from Nike, And I'm always like, wait, where did
you find where did you find that website?
Speaker 1 (25:06):
Get it?
Speaker 2 (25:07):
Angela Barone? Yes, yeah, okay, okay, last one.
Speaker 1 (25:11):
We do a little thing.
Speaker 2 (25:12):
It's kind of like bench Stark cut, except it's good, gooder,
goodest in honor of good game. So you don't have
to cut anything, but something has to just be good,
so go in order of good good or goodest Bourbon
hot browns and mint julips are what are hot browns?
Speaker 1 (25:35):
Y'all live in Louisville.
Speaker 3 (25:37):
I know why we're gonna get freaking.
Speaker 2 (25:43):
I've only been there twice, and I know, and I'm
a vegetarian and I know so A Louisville hot brown
is a sandwich that honestly looks pretty ass to me,
but people seem.
Speaker 1 (25:54):
To like it.
Speaker 2 (25:54):
It is open faced and it has turkey, breast, bacon,
creamy more sauce, and then it's baked or broiled until
the bread is crisp, and then you can add things
like tomatoes and mushroom slices.
Speaker 1 (26:05):
And occasionally canned peaches.
Speaker 2 (26:08):
Again, this sounds trash to me, but it is a
famous thing created at the Brown Hotel in Louisville. I
can't believe you've lived there and you haven't seen it
on a menu.
Speaker 1 (26:17):
Do you go to Roit?
Speaker 3 (26:18):
We should go try. Literally, though what she just said
does not sound that's what we it. How about we
go try it and we'll take a picture and we'll
send it to you.
Speaker 1 (26:27):
On your tiktoks.
Speaker 3 (26:29):
Put it on your fine okay, And I've put it on.
Speaker 2 (26:32):
A reel after that so I see it.
Speaker 5 (26:34):
Okay, I'm gonna say good is bourbon. I'm gonna say
Gooder is this sandwich because I'm not gonna like, I'm
not gonna hate on it until I try it like that,
and I'm gonna say Goodest is a mandella.
Speaker 4 (26:46):
Okay, Okay, I'll say good is the sandwich, Gooder is
the bourbon because I do love bourbon tours. Like I
think that's me too. Every time, like my parents come,
we go and I'm like, okay, I could take like
a sip and enjoy it. Yeah, and then Goodest is
midjull of those are actually delicious.
Speaker 5 (27:06):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (27:07):
I actually think that bourbon tastes like fire, Like I
can barely tell the difference between different ones.
Speaker 1 (27:13):
Like they'll be like this is the best place, and
I'll be like it's just still fire to me. But
I really like going.
Speaker 2 (27:17):
I've got a multiple bourbon tours even though I don't
like bourbon.
Speaker 3 (27:21):
Well, they say you're supposed to do then or like
the can.
Speaker 4 (27:25):
No, it's something like it to chew it and then
you can taste it when it's.
Speaker 3 (27:29):
In your mouth. There's a certain way to drink it. Yeah,
there's a.
Speaker 4 (27:31):
Certain way to drink it, because then you can get
the like notes or whatever, and then the fire yes,
and then you can actually taste it, and then I
love their like, oh, bourbon gives you like a Kentucky
hug because it makes you feel so warm, you feel
warm warm.
Speaker 2 (27:46):
I have a really nice bourbon collection because every time
I go to Louisville, people give it to me, and
then people come.
Speaker 1 (27:51):
Over to my house and like, ooh, what a collection.
You must be a fan, and I'm like, actually, I
hate it, but you will have.
Speaker 3 (27:58):
Yeah, you should do your own bourbon. No, we do too, Honestly.
We get like a bourbon with like our own little
seal at the top. Yeah, so kind of have a
nice little clutch too. Yeah.
Speaker 1 (28:10):
Yeah, it's fun. It's really fun.
Speaker 2 (28:13):
Well I can't I truly can't believe that I had
to teach you about hot browns. But go eat one
post about it, hopefully one without canned peaches, and tell
me what you think. And keep up the awesome work
this season. It's been really fun to watch and we're
looking forward to the second half.
Speaker 3 (28:28):
Thank you, Thank you for having us so much fun.
Speaker 2 (28:32):
Thanks so much to Emma and Savannah for taking the
time We got to take another break. When we come back,
get out the cake and candles. It's Misha's birthday. Welcome
back slices. 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. Follow
(28:55):
Savannah and Emma. We'll link to their social media handles
in the show notes. Also a fun assignment for you.
Google Lynn Family Stadium where racing plays, and check out
the vertical lights jutting out from the top of the stadium.
After we stop recording, Savannah shared the fun fact that
those are meant to look like eyelashes. Optometrist turned entrepreneur
(29:15):
Mark Lynn, who funded the stadium, wanted it to have
a little nod to his profession, and the logo does too.
There's a little eyelash esque swoops accenting the words Lynn
Family Stadium on the side of the building. I also
did a little internet sleuthing and learned the facade on
the building is meant to evoke a bourbon barrel neat
good fun fact, Savannah, We love to hear from you,
(29:36):
so hit us up on email. Good game at wondermedianetwork
dot com or leave us a voicemail at eight seven
two two oh four fifty seventy, and don't forget to subscribe,
Rate and review.
Speaker 1 (29:45):
It's so easy.
Speaker 2 (29:47):
Watch Misha's birthday rating twenty one out of twenty one
birthday candles. Review Mesha isn't here today because they're celebrating
what I have to assume is their twenty first twenty
second birthday.
Speaker 1 (30:04):
I don't know.
Speaker 2 (30:05):
Once you're old enough to rent a car and be
a member of the US Senate, it's sort of hard
to keep track of these young, weaper snappers. And while
Mish knows more and has accomplished more than their years
would suggest, they still weren't alive to see Clueless in
the theaters, and they consider friends a period piece. Their
skin is naturally dewy, their spine isn't dust, and they
can stay up till three am partying without needing a
full week to recover.
Speaker 1 (30:26):
So enjoy it.
Speaker 2 (30:27):
Why you can, kid, hope you have the best birthday
weekend ever and get everything you asked for a labooboo.
Speaker 1 (30:34):
I presume now it's your turn. Rate and review.
Speaker 2 (30:37):
Thanks for listening, See you next week. Good game, Emma,
good game, Savannah. Thank you that thing when the wind
keeps blowing out the candles at your outdoor birthday party,
Just let a birthday bitch have.
Speaker 1 (30:48):
This one thing. Come on.
Speaker 2 (30:52):
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, Apple Podcasts, or wherever
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.
(31:13):
Our editors are Emily Rutter, Britney Martinez, Grace Lynch, and
Gianna Palmer. Our associate producer is Lucy Jones. Production assistance
from Avery Loftus and I'm Your Host Sarah Spain
Host
Sarah Spain
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