The Late Sub with Claire Watkins

The Late Sub with Claire Watkins

The Late Sub with Claire Watkins brings you the latest news and freshest takes on all things USWNT, NWSL and whatever else is popping off in women's soccer each week. Special guest appearances with the biggest names in women’s sports make The Late Sub a must-listen for every soccer fan. You can find The Late Sub wherever you get your podcasts. Follow Claire on X/Twitter @ScoutRipley and subscribe to the Just Women’s Sports newsletter for more.

Episodes

Five bold women’s soccer predictions for 2026

December 17, 2025 • 24 mins
We're closing out 2025 with a bang! In this week’s episode, Claire makes a few predictions for 2026, chatting about transfer possibilities, World Cup qualifying, way too early MVP candidates in more. Thanks everyone for listening through a great year of soccer, we’ll see y’all in January.
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The NWSL is failing Trinity Rodman

December 11, 2025 • 22 mins
In this week’s episode, Claire runs down the timeline that’s led to Trinity Rodman’s contract dispute with the NWSL, where the league is falling short and the pressure the ongoing saga places on one of the most exciting talents in the game.
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The 4 BIGGEST takeaways from the USWNT vs Italy

December 4, 2025 • 22 mins
Subscribe: https://pod.link/1563105123 In this week’s episode, Claire breaks down the USWNT friendlies against Italy. Claire shares her biggest takeaways heading into 2026, from what these lineups told us about the midfield, what its means to have Naomi Girma back, and what opponents shouldn't do against his team. Subscribe to The Late Sub to never miss an episode. Follow Claire on Twitter/X (@scoutripley) and sign up for the Jus...
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Gotham gamed their way to a title!

November 24, 2025 • 23 mins
In this week’s episode, Claire breaks down NWSL championship weekend, on getting a sense of both Washington and Gotham’s dynamics going into Saturdays game, and how the Bats put themselves in a position to strike for a second championship in three years. Then, she does a quick breakdown of this week’s USWNT roster, as the team prepares to close out the year against Italy.
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The Spirit are peaking at the right time!

November 18, 2025 • 32 mins
In this week’s episode, Claire breaks down last weekend’s semifinal action, and previews a championship game between two of the more ambitious clubs in the entire NWSL. Then, she chats with Bay FC defender Abby Dahlkemper, about Sutter Heath and the club’s support for family planning as she plans for a very exciting 2026.
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How Gotham SHOCKED the KC Current

November 13, 2025 • 21 mins
In this week’s episode, Claire breaks down what she got right and what she got very wrong about the NWSL quarterfinals, which team has the biggest chip on their shoulder, and what may or may not happen when the semifinals hit this weekend.
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Four bold predictions for the NWSL Playoffs

November 6, 2025 • 20 mins
In this week’s episode, Claire roots for chaos as the NWSL postseason begins by making four bold predictions about the upcoming quarterfinal round. Which underdogs can take it to the full 90, what tactics are most likely to prevail, and yes a bracket buster or two.
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The USWNT has decisions to make

October 30, 2025 • 21 mins
On this week’s episode, Claire breaks down the second two matches in the USWNT’s October window: who stood out, what question marks remain, and what the U.S. can take out of three very different performances over the course of the week from both a coaching and a player pool level.
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Is the USWNT taking a step backwards?

October 24, 2025 • 25 mins
In today's episode, Claire goes long on the USWNT opening the October window with their first-ever loss to Portugal: why the team's setup didn't help players succeed, what went wrong as the US chased the game, and how the team can adjust going into a rematch on Sunday.
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The USWNT October roster is here!

October 16, 2025 • 24 mins
*Note: This episode was recorded before Trinity Rodman left Wednesday's game with an injury* This week, Claire breaks down the roster for the USWNT’s upcoming October friendlies. Who made it, who is still on the outside looking in, and Emma Hayes’s comments as the team nears the year-mark until next fall’s World Cup Qualifying tournament.
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How did US stars play in the Champions League?

October 10, 2025 • 19 mins
In today’s episode, Claire breaks down the first week of 2025/26 UWCL action, as the USWNT contingent in the competition grows in size every year. She chats about the level of importance USWNT manager Emma Hayes places on the tournament, and how USWNT players are fairing in the early going of the league phase.
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NWSL changing of the guard

October 2, 2025 • 24 mins
This week, Claire reflects on the retirement of Angel City captain Ali Riley, amidst a larger generational shift in the NWSL that has seen giants of the game step away while young stars rise. How has the league’s new CBA impacted the overall storytelling as the league creates new stars, and has the NWSL taken advantage of a quiet year for the USWNT?
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Do better, Ballon d'Or...

September 25, 2025 • 22 mins
In this week’s episode, Claire reflects on this week’s Ballon d’Or ceremony, breaking down the issues with modern football awards that can leave the women’s game looking like an afterthought, especially for players neither from or playing in Europe.
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Can the NWSL salary cap keep up with stars like Jaedyn Shaw?

September 11, 2025 • 25 mins
In this week’s episode, Claire reflects on the news Jaedyn Shaw is making a record NWSL transfer to Gotham FC, breaking down how million dollar trades work within a salary cap system that nonetheless keeps salaries restricted. She chats transfer growth, salaries vs transfer fees, and why certain players earning big ticket salaries doesn’t end the concerns risen by the high profile transfer of Alyssa Thompson to Chelsea.
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Alyssa Thompson's transfer is concerning for NWSL

September 4, 2025 • 22 mins
In this week’s episode, Claire discusses the implications of Alyssa Thompson’s possible impending transfer to Chelsea, with the WSL season upon us primed to have its biggest season ever, and the NWSL trying to keep up in an ever-shifting global market.
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Kansas City Current: Championship or Bust | The Late Sub

August 28, 2025 • 22 mins
In this week’s episode, Claire takes a deeper look at Kansas City’s historic success this season, what on-field tweaks Vlatko Andonovski has implemented to set the team up for long-term consistency after falling just short in 2024, and what an almost assured Shield win might mean for the team’s championship chances.
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NWSL trades we'd like to see!

August 21, 2025 • 23 mins
This week, Claire takes a look around the NWSL and proposes a few suggestions to a hypothetical league-wide trade market after the return from the international break has garnered mostly draws. What should your team do to shore up their roster before the end of the regular season?
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Is Portland back? A deep dive into the Thorns

August 14, 2025 • 21 mins
In this week's episode, Claire takes a deeper look at the Portland Thorns after their expectation re-setting win over Seattle. She talks through why on their best day the Thorns could be a serious postseason contender, why they still need to raise their floor, and why it matters that one of the founding clubs of the NWSL finds their way.
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Ranking the NWSL rivalries

August 7, 2025 • 24 mins
In this week’s episode, Claire breaks down NWSL Rivalry Week, ranking each of this weekend’s matchups into tiers based on drama potential, national relevance, regional history and more. Which games have the juice, and which ones feel more like they’re being stashed.
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The NWSL returns! A preview into the remainder of the season

July 31, 2025 • 23 mins
The NWSL is back, and we’ve got a lot to catch up on! This week, Claire takes a trip through the NWSL standings, talking first half surprises, disappointments, individual performances, and who could end up hoisting the Shield and Championship trophies at the end of the season.
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