February 2, 2026 • 35 mins
Let’s do that hockey! Specifically: the Women’s Beanpot and hockey at the Winter Olympics. Sarah spoke to Northeastern and team Switzerland player Alessia Baechler, as well as BU and Team Germany twin sisters Lilli and Luisa Welcke, about transitioning from their home countries to playing and living in the States, the moment they found out they made their team’s roster for next month’s Milan-Cortina Olympics, and the record that organizers are trying to break at next week’s Beanpot championship game in Boston. Plus, grief with a grievance, there’s drama Down Under, and the second installment of the Friday Fatto Figo!
SHOW NOTES:
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Check out the 2026 NWSL schedule here
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Read Annie Costabile and Ryan Glasspiegel’s reporting on Unrivaled’s viewership for Front Office Sports here
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The 2026 Australian Open women’s singles draw is here and the schedule is here
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The NCAA basketball schedule can be found here
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The PWHL schedule can be found here
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The Unrivaled schedule can be found here
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The NCAA hockey schedule can be found here
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The LOVB schedule can be found 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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Follow Sarah on social! Bluesky: @sarahspain.com TikTok: @Spain.Sarah Instagram: @Spain2323
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 cried
a little baby tear watching Sam Coffee tuck her new Man's.
Speaker 2 (00:05):
City kit in tour shorts. We're gonna miss that.
Speaker 1 (00:09):
It's Friday, January sixteenth, and on today's show, Let's do
That Hockey, we're talking the Women's bean Pot Tournament and
hockey at the upcoming Winter Olympics. On Wednesday, I caught
up with Alessia Beckler of Northeastern University and Team Switzerland
and twin sisters Lily and Luisa Welke of BU and
Team Germany one day after Bu's upset over Northeastern in
the semi finals of the bean Pot Tournament. We discussed
(00:32):
transitioning from their home countries to playing and living in
the States, the moment they found out they made the
rosters for next month's Milan Courtina Olympics, and the record
that organizers are hoping to break it next week's bean
Pot Championship game in Boston, plus screeving with a grievance.
There's drama down under and the second installment of the
Friday Fat Tofiigo.
Speaker 2 (00:52):
It's all coming up right after this. Welcome back Slaces.
Speaker 1 (00:59):
Here's what you need to know today. Let's start with
the NWSL. On yesterday's show, we told you that the
NWSLPA had officially filed aggrievance with the league following the
creation and implementation of the new High Impact Player Rule.
Well shortly after we finished recording, the NWSL responded, issuing
a statement to multiple media outlets that said, in part, quote,
(01:20):
we disagree with the nwslpa's assertions challenging the NWSL's ability
to implement the HIP rule. The NWSL has fully complied
with the CBA and federal law, and we will defend
those positions in our collectively bargained grievance process end quote.
As you heard in yesterday's interview with PA executive director
Megan Burke, the union certainly disagrees with that.
Speaker 2 (01:40):
Take more.
Speaker 1 (01:41):
NWSL. The twenty twenty six season schedule was unveiled on Thursday,
and the league's fourteen returning clubs and two new expansion sides,
Boston and Denver, will compete in two hundred and forty
six matches during the nine month season, which begins in
March and wraps up in November. The first match of
the new season kicks off March thirteenth, with last year's
runner up Washington Spirit hosting the Portland Thorns. The opening
(02:03):
weekend is also headlined by Boston Legacy FC's home opener
and inaugural game. Saturday, March fourteenth at Gillette Stadium, home
to the NFL's new England Patriots expansion side. Boston will
host the twenty twenty five NWSL Champs Gotham FC.
Speaker 2 (02:16):
In that one.
Speaker 1 (02:17):
Denver sum At FC won't host their first home game
until March twenty eight. That's against the Spirit at Mile
High Stadium, where the NFL's Broncos play. As previously announced,
the NWSL regular season will pause for nearly all of
June due to the twenty twenty six Men's World Cup,
which will be hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada.
The decision was made because seven of the league's sixteen
(02:37):
markets will be hosting World Cup games, but the league
isn't pausing completely. The summer break will be marked by
the return of the Challenge Cup, the annual match between
the NWSL champ and the NWSL shield winner from the
previous season. This year's Cup will be held on June
twenty sixth, and a neutral site Columbus, Ohio with Shield
winners the current taken on the champs GOTAM FC, per
(02:58):
reporting from the Equalizer of the initial schedule footprint, called
for the Challenge Cup to be held February twenty first
at the home stadium of the champion, but GOTAM protested,
citing their trip to London at the end of the
month to participate in the inaugural FIFA Women's Champions Cup.
Speaker 2 (03:12):
So the match will moved to June and to a
neutral site.
Speaker 1 (03:14):
We're starting to think that the challenge part of the
Challenge Cup comes from figuring out when this event is
and how it works. The NWSL regular season will conclude
with the return of Decision Day on Sunday, November first,
when all sixteen clubs will begin their games at the
same time, promising a chaotic conclusion to the season. The
Championship host city has not yet been announced, but the
game will be played Saturday, November twenty first. We'll link
(03:37):
to the full schedule in our show notes More NWSL.
The Orlando Pride has named Caitlin Carducci as the club's
new general manager and vice president of soccer Operations. Carducci
will fill the role that was left vacant by friend
of the Show Hailey Carter, who departed the Pride for
the Washington Spirit in November. Carducci previously served as the
GM of the Kansas City Current and helped lead the
team to the fastest shield in NWSL history last year,
(03:59):
but was ousted in November following the team's exit in
the quarterfinal round of the playoffs and the club's decision
to restructure its front office. You remember, head coach flatco
Endadovski moved into the sporting director role and the team
named a new GM to tennis where the world's best
players are down under at the first Grand Slam of
the year, the Happy Slam, the Australian Open. The first
round of the singles competition starts Saturday night here Sunday
(04:22):
morning there, and we'll link to the full drawing schedule
in the show notes. World number one Arena Sablenka is
the top seed going into the tournament. She won the
title in twenty twenty three and twenty four, but she
lost in the finals to American Madison Keys last year,
so redemption will absolutely fuel Sabolenka as she seeks to
take the crown back this year. But she's not the
only one with a lot on the line. World number
(04:43):
two egos Fiontech will be fighting to earn her career
Grand Slam after she won Wimbledon last year. The Australian
Open is the final Grand Slam the Polish pro needs
to win in order to achieve the feat Siontech likely
isn't thrilled with her draw, though, as she might have
to face some opponents who have given her trouble in
the past en route to the time title. We'll be
watching Venus Williams as well, of course. The forty five
(05:03):
year old Williams received a wild card to enter the tournament,
and when she steps on the court in Melbourne should
be the oldest player ever to compete in singles at
the Australian Open. At a press conference last summer, Williams said, quote,
it does not get old, it just gets more exciting.
Speaker 2 (05:16):
End quote.
Speaker 1 (05:17):
Let's hope we can say the same about Williams herself
come match time. We'll also be keeping an eye on
the Adelaide International Final today. You remember we mentioned in
Monday's show that in three of the past four years,
the woman who has hoisted the trophy in Adelaide has
gone on to win the Australian Open Women's singles title.
To the PWHL, We're nearly at the midpoint of the
regular season, and it's just like we all drew it
(05:38):
up heading into year three. The Hillary nightless Boston Fleet
Or at the top of the standings and the talent
loaded Seattle Torrent at Vancouver Golden Eyes expansion teams are
all the way down in seventh and eighth. No matter
whether your favorite team is feeling higher low, we can
all get behind the PWHL, enjoying its strongest attendance month
in history so far this January, welcoming more than one
hundred and four thousand fans across the first eleven games
(06:00):
of the month, and the numbers should go up with
the third annual Battle on Bay Street this Saturday, Scepters
versus Golden Eyes at Scotiabank Arena, home at the NHL's
Toronto Maple Leafs. There are three other games this weekend,
beginning tonight with the fourth ranked New York Sirens hosting
the third place Minnesota Frost at the Prudential Center in Newark.
We'll link to the full PWHL schedule in the show
notes to pro Vibes where there are two love games
(06:23):
on the calendar this weekend. Tonight at seven eastern, top
ranked Madison welcomes Nebraska to Wisconsin. Madison bested Salt Lake
last weekend, and Nebraska won against Houston when they took
the court last Sunday. It'll be a quick turnaround for Nebraska.
The team plays against Sunday night in a game against
Atlanta at six Eastern. To Basketball, where Unrivaled second season
is underway and after the.
Speaker 2 (06:43):
First full week of play three and zero.
Speaker 1 (06:44):
ROSEBC sit at the top of the standings, powered by
Las Vegas Aces point guard and friend at the show,
Chelsea Gray, who's averaging thirty one point seven points a
game for the club. At the bottom of the table
are Hive BC and the Lunar Owls, both at zero
and three, still looking for their first wins. Tonight at
seven thirty eastern, Lace's BC take on Phantom BC, followed
by First Versus Worse as ROSEBC take on the Hive.
(07:07):
Tune in on TNT or True TV, and there's plenty
more Unrivaled action Saturday and Sunday. You can catch those
games on True TV. And speaking of watching the games,
it's kind of important if we want to see this
league thrive. Front Office Sports reported this week that unrivaled
ratings have plunged in the league sophomore season. According to
their reporting, the opening night last season averaged three hundred
and twelve thousand viewers across TNT and True TV. This
(07:29):
year's opening slate just one hundred and seventy five thousand viewers,
and last Friday's games averaged even less. Unrivaled CEO Alex
Bizzell told Front Office Sports on Wednesday, quote, We're proud
of the product we're putting on the court eachweek, and
we are going to continue going our audience while showcasing
the best women's basketball players in the world. Leagues aren't
built overnight end quote. We'll link to the Front Office
Sports article in the show notes and seriously tune in.
(07:53):
The early season games have been thrilling to college hoops.
On Sunday, Iowa State. We'll play Oklahoma State at one PM.
The Cyclones were upset by Colorado earlier this week, falling
sixty eight sixty two at the Buzzer Breakout Center. Audie
Crooks recorded her lowest scoring game of the season with
seventeen points in that one. Cyclones have now lost all
four of their games in twenty twenty six. They're hoping
(08:14):
to turn that around this weekend. More college hoops, Flaje
Johnson has given us something to look forward to, as
reports say the LSU Senior plans to drop a new
Puma Player exclusive sneaker next month. The shoe is a
new take on the Puma All Pro Nitro two. It
has a tan and brown camouflage pattern with bright pink
and green accents. Johnson has been a key part of
Puma's Nil program since twenty twenty two. She launched her
(08:36):
player exclusive colourway in twenty four, but this new design
will be the Star's first Player exclusive available on the
consumer market. Look for the drop in early February. To Gymnastics,
where we're flipping into week three of the season. Number
two ranked Oklahoma, the raining NCAA champs, open their SEC
schedule against Missouri tonight. The Sooners faced the Tigers in
the National Championship last year, and Oklahoma enters this year's
(08:57):
meeting on a wind streak, but Miszoo on a hot
streak as well. The team opened the twenty twenty six
season ranks seventh in the nation in the preseason polls,
marking its highest preseason ranking in program history. Also tonight,
LSUS take it on Georgia, and tomorrow we'll see a
matchup between Nebraska and UCLA. It all leads up to
conference championships in mid March and NCAA's in April. To
college hockey, where there are a bunch of games between
(09:19):
ranked teams this weekend, including two Tonight at seven pm Eastern.
Number fourteen Minnesota State is hosting the number two ranked
Ohio State Buckeyes, and at the same time number eight
Minnesota Duluth will take on number fifteen Saint Cloud State.
Then on Saturday a rematch of both of those games. Meantime,
the number one ranked Wisconsin Badgers, which includes a roster
of five athletes who will compete at next month's Olympics,
(09:41):
They've got a Friday Saturday doubleheader against unranked Saint Thomas.
We'll link to the full college hockey schedule in the
show notes.
Speaker 2 (09:49):
Slices.
Speaker 1 (09:49):
Couple exciting sports and pop culture crossovers to shout out
as Chicago sky point guard Courtney van der Slute will
be a guest star on the January twenty first episode
of Chicago Med playing herself. Per the episode description, the
show's doctors are tending to a college basketball star with
a troubling medical mystery, and it looks like Slute pays
a visit to the ailing player.
Speaker 2 (10:09):
We are sat.
Speaker 1 (10:10):
We've also got news on the long awaited ninety nine
Ers feature film. Friend of the show, Julie Foudy has
been taking me through the ups and downs of trying
to get this movie made for a decade plus, and
we've got some real movement, folks. Netflix has announced that
Emily Bader, currently starring in the streaming sites film People
We Meet on Vacation, is signed on to play US
women's national team legend Mia Hammo. We can't wait to
(10:31):
see which actors are tabbed to play Foudy, Brandy Chastain,
Michelle Akers, Brianna Scurry, and the rest of the bunch.
Speaker 2 (10:38):
It's gonna be good.
Speaker 1 (10:39):
We got to take a break coming up here from
the Welky Twins and Alessia Beckler stick here.
Speaker 2 (10:48):
Joining us now.
Speaker 1 (10:49):
They're a pair of senior hockey players for Boston University,
born and raised in Germany, and both recently named to
the Team Germany roster for the Milan Courtina Olympics, best friends, teammates, roommates,
womb mates. It's identical twins, Lily and Louis a weelke.
Hi ladies, thanks for joining.
Speaker 3 (11:05):
Us, Hi, Hi, thanks for having us.
Speaker 1 (11:09):
Oh my gosh, I'm already loving this, this twins thing,
staring at your two identical bases.
Speaker 2 (11:14):
Okay, So, I love how you got started.
Speaker 1 (11:16):
You wanted to play tennis, but the camp was full
and hockey was the only camp that had openings.
Speaker 2 (11:20):
The rest is history.
Speaker 1 (11:21):
Now here you are playing for Boston University and getting
ready for the Olympics.
Speaker 2 (11:26):
I want to go back to being kids.
Speaker 1 (11:27):
And Lily, I want to know what's the best part
of growing up with a twin sister as your teammate.
Speaker 3 (11:33):
I think she can always be honest with me, and
I think that really helped us, like growing into the
hockey players and people we are today, because we always
had some sublime competition and rivalry going on the ice,
and not even not only on the ice, but also
(11:54):
in the classroom or any sport we did.
Speaker 1 (11:58):
Honestly, Louis, so, what's the toughest part of having a
twin sister as a teammate?
Speaker 3 (12:04):
I mean, I feel like Lily already mentioned the sibling rivalry,
but also I think it can be tough with like
the constant comparison. Growing up like was tough at times,
but I think we both just learned to see like
the good parts of it.
Speaker 1 (12:25):
Louisa, were you the kind of twins that like to
dress the same and trick people, or were you the
kind that tried to make sure everyone knew how different
you were.
Speaker 3 (12:34):
Make sure everybody knew how different we are. We never
liked wearing the same things, but I mean we always
liked the same kind of diets and stuff, so we
always got the same things, but in different colors to
make sure it's not like exactly the same.
Speaker 4 (12:49):
Yeah, and if we.
Speaker 3 (12:50):
By accident dressed the same, we would one of us
would have to go change. So whoever like or the
outfit first got like first pick.
Speaker 2 (13:03):
Nice Lily.
Speaker 1 (13:05):
I read that you both wanted to play the same position,
but there wasn't always room, so you would alternate between
forward and defense a lot when you were younger, until
eventually you could play forward together and you're on the
same line, right. So I read about some like telepathy
happening where you feel like you know where your sister's
going to be. Do you think that helps you on
the ice, that you have this like connection that goes
(13:27):
beyond just being teammates.
Speaker 4 (13:28):
Yes, for sure. I mean we've always played together. Growing up.
We had like a time where one.
Speaker 3 (13:35):
Of us would play defense, or actually we both started
on defense because we played with boys and they all
wanted to play forward, so we both started on defense.
But then we both were also like, oh, I also
want to play forward, So once one spot opened up,
one of us was allowed to play forward. But since
(13:56):
both of us wanted to play forward, we just switched
back and forth, like in between periods.
Speaker 4 (14:04):
So I would say we always.
Speaker 3 (14:07):
Grew kind of that connection on the ice, and then
once we started playing on the same line together, we
like further developed that connection.
Speaker 5 (14:18):
For sure.
Speaker 1 (14:19):
You guys are roommates and teammates and best friends. So
I'm wondering, Luisa, what's the biggest fight you've gotten in
and what was it about?
Speaker 3 (14:28):
Probably about clothes, because we have the same size and
like everything and we like the same style. So I
think our biggest fights are about like Lily going on
to my closet to pick an outfit that I wanted
to wear.
Speaker 2 (14:45):
What about you, Lily.
Speaker 3 (14:48):
I mean I feel like either that or shoes, honestly,
because we also really like shoes, and we have a
pretty big collection since we also have the same shoes side,
we try to not buy the same shoes.
Speaker 4 (15:04):
So we only have like different shoes.
Speaker 3 (15:06):
But if somebody wants to wear like a certain pair,
we only have one pair of it. So yeah, yeah,
we can get into fight sometimes.
Speaker 1 (15:14):
That's nice though, to have a closet, you double your closet,
you get more stuff that you get to wear.
Speaker 2 (15:20):
What about crushes? Have you ever had a crush on
the same person and had to do get out?
Speaker 4 (15:24):
Honestly, no, never.
Speaker 3 (15:27):
I feel like we're like pretty different in personality wise
once you get to know us, So yeah, we never
had the same crush, to be honest.
Speaker 1 (15:37):
All right, let's talk about the bean Pot. This is
your third time playing in the event. What makes it
so special, Louisa.
Speaker 3 (15:44):
I think just the hype around it in the city
of Boston. I feel like the support we get from
like our school and our band, and like just the
fans that come. It's just like such a special tournament
and it's just so great to see how many people
come to watch, like a Women's Tournament.
Speaker 1 (16:06):
Yeah, a record crowd was there in Walter Brown the
other night, and you guys pulled off the upset. Lily,
Northeastern was the clear favorite. What went right for your
team on Tuesday to get the win?
Speaker 3 (16:18):
Yeah, I would say our team has been starting off
really strong in twenty twenty six, so I think just
the Bellpod in Ireland and then going into the bean
Pot it was like a similar tournament style, and now
we're going to face Harvard again, so I think we
just got really confident from those games. And our team
(16:42):
is like really bonning and really close right now, so
that's definitely been helping our game performances.
Speaker 1 (16:50):
It was an overtime win in front of the largest
women's hockey crowd ever at Walter Brown and TD Garden
holds way more people than that, more than nineteen thousand
people organized are hoping to fill the place and set
a new record for an American women's hockey game. Do
you get nervous when you play in front of a
big crowd like that, Louisa, I mean.
Speaker 3 (17:08):
A little bit, for sure, but I think it's more
like just excitement and I think it's just great to
have the opportunity to play in front of so many people,
So you definitely can feel like a little bit that
it's like a way different, like kind of set up
than like just a usual game.
Speaker 1 (17:30):
Yeah, what does that energy do for you, Lily, more
nervousness or excitement?
Speaker 3 (17:35):
Definitely excitement, I would say. I would also say a
little bit nervous, like I'm always a little bit nervous
in front of a big crowd, but in like a
good way. And I think it's just great to see
how much women's sport has grown throughout the past couple
of years and how much support we get.
Speaker 1 (17:57):
Yeah, well, if you're nervous in front of this scrout,
just wait for the Olympics.
Speaker 2 (18:02):
Y'all are on Team Germany.
Speaker 1 (18:04):
The first time Germany as a women's hockey team in
over a decade. So I want to know, Louisa, what
did it feel like to get the call that you
made your country's Olympic roster.
Speaker 3 (18:14):
I mean, obviously super exciting. It was like one of
the best calls I've ever gotten. So yeah, I think
you can really say much about it because I was
just so happy about it.
Speaker 2 (18:27):
So yeah, Lily, were you two together when you got
the call.
Speaker 3 (18:30):
Yeah, our coach called us together, so it was even
more special.
Speaker 2 (18:35):
Honestly, what were you doing at the time when you
got the call?
Speaker 3 (18:38):
Were baking Christmas cookies?
Speaker 5 (18:41):
Oh?
Speaker 2 (18:42):
Okay, you're yeah, we're we're.
Speaker 4 (18:44):
Baking Christmas cookies.
Speaker 1 (18:46):
Okay, Lily, this might be a tough question, and maybe
this has never happened, but has there ever been a
time when one or the other of you has made
a roster and the other one didn't or won an
award and the other one didn't. And how do you
handle it if somebody, you know, get something that the
other one doesn't.
Speaker 3 (19:02):
Yeah, so five years ago, we both weren't really on
the German rostery yet, but we were kind of like
getting invited to some tryout and getting some exposure. And
so then we had the qualifiers for the Olympics five
years ago and somebody got hurt on the roster and
(19:24):
we both weren't on it, but I got caught up
and Louise a din So it was a little bit
difficult for sure, and we didn't end up making it
to the Olympics. So this time it's definitely even more
special being on the team together and making the Olympics together.
Speaker 2 (19:44):
Yeah, Louisa, how did you handle that five years ago?
Speaker 3 (19:48):
I mean, I was definitely still super excited for her,
even though I mean I wish I would have made
it too, But I think we're always just I don't know,
we also thrive through each other's successes. So I mean
I was just super excited for her.
Speaker 2 (20:08):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (20:09):
What do your parents do at these games? How do
they decide who's jersey to wear?
Speaker 2 (20:13):
And who? You know? Do they cut down the middle
and wear half of each?
Speaker 3 (20:18):
Oh? No, I don't even know which jersey they're gonna pick,
but it's gonna be interesting to see.
Speaker 2 (20:25):
Maybe one wears one and one wears the other.
Speaker 4 (20:28):
Yeah, yeah, probably.
Speaker 2 (20:29):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (20:30):
So for our listeners who are excited to watch you
compete in Italy on television, what do you want them
to know about you as a person, Lily?
Speaker 2 (20:37):
What makes you different and special from your sister?
Speaker 3 (20:41):
It's a hard one, but I think I don't know.
Louisa always likes to try new things, and I kind
of hop on the trend, Like whenever she discovers something
new and she likes it, then I just take a
look at her and see if I like it too,
and then I just hop on the trend, but I
(21:04):
always let her try everything first, so I don't have
to go through with everything. What about you, Louisa, Yeah,
I mean I like to explore, like new things. I
love to travel. I don't really know what to say,
but I also love arts and like just creative stuff.
(21:29):
So I feel that also translates like on the ice
for me, because I just love trying new things and like,
I don't know, just being creative.
Speaker 2 (21:40):
Cool or we're gonna say, Lily, I was gonna say that.
Speaker 3 (21:43):
I'm also really into other sports like skiing, snowboarding, everything outdoorsy, honestly,
and that also goes with traveling and just trying new things.
Speaker 2 (21:58):
Do you, either of you tend to a lot.
Speaker 1 (22:00):
And do you think that you'll be crying when you
first take the ice at the Olympics or hear the
national anthem or anything like that.
Speaker 4 (22:07):
I mean, oh no, I think we're boys. Don't really
tend to cry.
Speaker 3 (22:11):
No, I'm not a big cry but I might have
some tears in my eyes.
Speaker 2 (22:17):
Okay, so Lily might shed a tear. Luisa's hold and strong.
Speaker 4 (22:21):
I think, so it's gonna be Lily.
Speaker 2 (22:23):
Yeah, how very German of you. Okay, very stoic. Well.
Speaker 1 (22:28):
Bu is going to be going for its first bean
Pot title since twenty nineteen, taking on Harvard next week.
So good luck in the championship and thanks for joining us.
My producer Alex and I will be out in Italy
covering the Olympics, so I look forward to hopefully getting
to see you play.
Speaker 4 (22:41):
Thank you so much. Thank you.
Speaker 1 (22:44):
Thanks again to Lily and Louisa for hanging out with us.
I also caught up with Northeastern and Team Switzerland player
Alessia Beckler to.
Speaker 2 (22:51):
Take a listen joining us now.
Speaker 1 (22:54):
She's a defender on the Northeastern ice hockey team. She's
suited up for the Swiss national team for the last
four World champion and was recently named the Team Switzerland
roster for the upcoming Milan Cortina Games.
Speaker 2 (23:04):
It's Alessi a Beckler. Thanks for joining us.
Speaker 5 (23:07):
Hello everybody, Thank you so much for having me.
Speaker 1 (23:10):
You're a freshman at Northeastern, so I'm wondering how your
first year of college in America.
Speaker 2 (23:14):
Has been going.
Speaker 5 (23:16):
It's been quite an adjustment, especially in the beginning living
in a different country. It's not always easy, but now
I kind of found my routine and yeah, It's been
big improvement from this start, and it's great.
Speaker 1 (23:34):
How does the level of hockey that you're playing compared
to what you saw playing professionally in Switzerland?
Speaker 5 (23:39):
It's definitely more competitive here. There are many more skilled
players and every team has a lot of depths, at
least like three to four good lines, and compared to
back home, we also had a bunch of really good
and highly skilled players, but only like one to two
lines per teams, so that's definitely a big difference.
Speaker 1 (24:03):
I was in Switzerland a couple of years ago and
I marveled at the Italian, French, German all the languages
being spoken. Am I guessing correctly that your native language
is German?
Speaker 5 (24:15):
Yes, my native language is German, although I had French
and Italian in school as well. The only national language
I did not have was Romance, which I have no
clue about.
Speaker 1 (24:30):
Yeah, so now you're up to four languages. That is
incredibly impressive.
Speaker 2 (24:35):
Wow. Let's talk about the bean Pot.
Speaker 1 (24:38):
Northeastern won the event the last three years running, and
as a freshman, this is your first time playing in it.
So what did your teammates tell you about why the
bean Pot is so special?
Speaker 5 (24:48):
They told us quite a bit about it. It's definitely
different than just Hockey East regular season, and they said,
or they told us that this school really values it.
A lot of students show up, and I think just
the support from the school in general is so special
(25:08):
and makes this tournament even cooler to play in.
Speaker 2 (25:14):
I guess your team entered as the favorites.
Speaker 1 (25:17):
Northeastern is ranked sixth in the country, the only ranked
team out of all of the four competing teams.
Speaker 2 (25:22):
But you fell to be you in the semi final
on Tuesday. What do you think went wrong in that game?
Speaker 5 (25:28):
It was definitely a disappointing loss. We really gave it,
are All. But yeah, a hockey game, it doesn't matter
if you're ranked or not. In the end, you just
have to win it. And sometimes you just come up
short and you can't win those important games. But I
still think we as a team, we really fought to
(25:50):
the end and we gave it are All.
Speaker 1 (25:53):
You've got a game coming up next week, the third
place game at TD Garden, which holds nineteen thousand plus
fans and organizers of the bean Pot are hoping to
fill the place. So do you get more nervous or
more excited when you think about playing in front of
such a big crowd.
Speaker 5 (26:12):
I think it's always super exciting if a lot of
people show up to watch your hockey game. I also
see it as an opportunity to show young girls what
they can be capable of and that women can play
in front of big crowds too, And especially although it's
only the game for the third place, I still think
(26:32):
there's a lot on the line and we really want
to win against DC.
Speaker 1 (26:38):
Yeah, you've got a bit of a tune up here
in terms of playing in front of a big crowd
that I'll get you ready for the Olympic Games, where
you're also going to have a lot of pressure and
excitement and play in front of big crowds. What did
it feel like for you to get the call that
you made the Swiss roster.
Speaker 5 (26:53):
I was actually in the midst of a team lift.
We had a workoup, and I saw it Our national
team coach tried to call me, and I knew that
he was going to call me on that day if
I would make the team. So I called back and
I went outside of our weightlifting room and I saw
(27:15):
my teammates look through the glass and Yeah, I was
just smiling all the time, so they immediately knew and
after the call and that everybody was super happy and
it was awesome. I mean, I've been working towards this
for such a long time, so it was just a.
Speaker 2 (27:35):
Lot of emotions in one moment and not too far
from home.
Speaker 1 (27:39):
So do you expect a lot of family and friends
will make it over to Italy to watch you?
Speaker 5 (27:44):
Yes, it's definitely great that it's close to home. My
parents are going to be there. One of my best
friends said that she was going to come and watch,
and maybe even my brother. So this is going to
be awesome. And I think in general a lot of
Swiss people will have the opportunity to come watch sports
events in Italy because by train it's only like three hours.
Speaker 1 (28:09):
Yeah, my producer, Alex and I are going to be
out there, so we'll get the chance to hopefully watch
you play. I'm wondering for our listeners who will be
watching you on television, what do you want them to
know about you as a hockey player.
Speaker 5 (28:23):
I'm maybe not the most spectacular player to watch, but
I try to be a very reliable player and yeah,
doing my job on the ice and as a defenseman
that's mostly preventing goals. So yeah, maybe not always shown
up on the scoring sheet, but still trying to contribute.
Speaker 2 (28:44):
What do you want them to know about you as
a person.
Speaker 5 (28:47):
I'm just very grateful and thankful to get the opportunity
to go and play in the Olympic Games. It's something
that I've been working towards for a long time, kind
of a life long dream since I saw the Swiss
national team win bronze in twenty fourteen and ever since. Yeah,
(29:08):
I really wanted this to become true for myself too,
So I'm just very grateful and thankful to get the opportunity.
Speaker 2 (29:18):
Are you a crier?
Speaker 1 (29:19):
Do you think when you first take the ice, or
hear the national anthem, or any moment in the opening ceremony,
do you think you'll probably be crying?
Speaker 5 (29:27):
Usually I don't cry. I mean the first time I
cried because of joy was when I got the call
that I made the roster for the Olympics. But I'll
definitely be smiling. Usually I'm a big I always have
a big smile on my face, So that's how I
show my gratefulness.
Speaker 2 (29:48):
I love it. I love it.
Speaker 1 (29:49):
Well, good luck in the bean pot game next week
and good luck in the Olympics.
Speaker 2 (29:53):
We look forward to watching you out there.
Speaker 5 (29:54):
Thank you so much for having me.
Speaker 1 (29:56):
Thanks again, do We'll ask you for taking the time
we got to take another break when we come back.
The Winter Olympics are one week closer, which means the
return of the Friday Fata Figo Say it with Me
Fa to Figo, ben Tornado, Speci Drancha. As we continue
to ramp up for our trip to the Milan Cortina Games,
(30:18):
it's time for another edition of our weekly segment Friday
Fa Tofigo, which loosely translates by me to Friday fun Facts. Today,
with exactly three weeks until the opening ceremony on February sixth,
we're gonna reveal a little bit more about the specific
journey producer Alex and I will be taking at the
twenty twenty six Games, starting with a look at the
three regions will be visiting and which events will be covering.
(30:40):
We'll start with Milano, population one point four million, a
global capital of design, fashion and finance, home to the
Duomo Leonardo da Vinci's The Last Supper, the famed opera
house La Scala, and Women's Olympic ice hockey, which gets
going before the Olympic cauldron is even lit. We'll start
our journey at the Milano Row Ice rink, watching USA
versus Chechia and Finland versus Canada in group play games.
(31:03):
Now it sounds like that rink is much closer to
completion than the Olympics other hockey venue, Milan Saint de Julia.
You might remember earlier this week we told you about
how organizers are scrambling to ensure that construction there is
done in time for competition. In those first few days
in Milan, Alex and I are also going to cover
figure skating and hopefully find our way into the opening
ceremony at San Sero Olympic Stadium. Seats are limited and
(31:25):
everyone wants to be there for Mariah Carey Andrea Buccelli,
an Italian pop star Laura Pausini Fato Figo. Back in
my early twenties, when I was out in La doing
acting in comedy, I auditioned for and earned a small
part in a Laura Pausini music video, one of three
music videos I'm in, which I believe qualifies me as
a video vixen.
Speaker 2 (31:45):
And when I was in Milan a year or two later.
Dropping the fact that I'd.
Speaker 1 (31:48):
Met Laura was like saying I was BFF with Britney spears.
The Italians went nuts. So I hope we make it
into the ceremony to see her. I can have a
little reunion of sorts, you know, from thousands of seats away.
So we'll start in Milan and then Sunday, February eighth
is when the whole planes, trains and automobiles of it
all begins. For me and Alex, we'll take a train
and then two buses, a journey where naively optimistic will
(32:11):
take about four hours total to get to Lavigno, a
ski resort town in the Alps near the Swiss border,
population sixty eight hundred elevation nearly six thousand feet.
Speaker 2 (32:21):
Average high temperature.
Speaker 1 (32:22):
In February twenty three degrees, lows around four degrees, so
you bet your ass will be packing gloves, hats, handwarmers,
heated vests and more. We'll be there to cover snowboard,
big air and snowboard, halfpipe, free ski, slope style and moguls.
Don't worry, we'll explain the particulars of all of those
events in a future fa Tofigo nicknamed Little Tibet, Lavigno
(32:42):
is a duty free town, hello shopping and has fun
spots like Mikey's Disco Club and a little chalet called
Lattee de chiap Bechep, located right on the ski run,
where we can warm up with a bombardino, a popular
Italian winter cocktail made from hot egg licore and brandy,
topped with whipp cream and cinnamon.
Speaker 2 (33:01):
I'm in next.
Speaker 1 (33:02):
We're going to make the trek from Lavigno to Courtina,
a roughly ten hour trip that, as I'm recording these words,
Alex is telling me might be closer to forteen hours.
It involves at least three buses, two trains, and a
whole lot of mountains.
Speaker 2 (33:18):
Pray for my lower back pain, y'all.
Speaker 1 (33:20):
Now might actually be a good time to remind you
that these Winter Olympics are the most geographically spread out
of any in history, a fact that we've decided to
meet with extra strength tailanol and several downloaded books in
my case, and prescription strength dramamine and Alex's a former
vacation spot for folks like Ernest Hemingway.
Speaker 2 (33:37):
I have to believe getting.
Speaker 1 (33:38):
To Courtina will be worth the effort a luxury ski
resort town population fifty five hundred, leaping up to forty
thousand during peak tourism season. It's tucked away on all
sides by mountains, and Alex and I will catch some skeleton,
giant slala, monobob and curling. Also, I've been told that Cortina,
the quote unquote queen of the Dolomites, will woo us
with views, wow us with restaurants, and tempt us with spas. Finally,
(34:02):
it's back to Milan to catch the gold metal hockey games,
some speed skating, and the closing ceremony. Who I'm tired
just telling y'all about it. I think we're gonna need
a lot of pasta to power us through. 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. Let us know what you
want to learn from us during the Winter Olympics. Do
you want stories about the cities, were visiting, athlete insights,
(34:25):
the food, the drinks. What do you most want to
hear about?
Speaker 2 (34:29):
Let us know.
Speaker 1 (34:29):
Hit us up on email, good game at wondermediaetwork dot com,
or leave us a voicemail at eight seven two two
O four fifty seventy and don't.
Speaker 2 (34:37):
Forget to subscribe, Rate and review slices.
Speaker 1 (34:39):
It's easy watch Angel Reese and Asia Wilson making movie
Magic with Steph Curry rating two of two WNBA Superstars
continuing to take.
Speaker 2 (34:48):
Over the World review.
Speaker 1 (34:50):
Angel and Asia are set to add to their cinematic
resumes by voicing characters in the upcoming animated movie Goat,
produced by MNBA Great Steph Curry. Reese voice is a
polar Bear, while Asia plays a reptile now. Asia previously
appeared in another animated movie, Space Jam a New Legacy,
while Angel played herself in the Netflix political thriller.
Speaker 2 (35:09):
A House of Dynamite. Go get those bags girls, Now.
Speaker 1 (35:12):
It's your turn y'all, rate and review, Thanks for listening,
See you next week. Good Game, Lily and Luisa, Good Game, Alessia,
You Car.
Speaker 2 (35:20):
Signis and back Pain.
Speaker 1 (35:25):
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.
Speaker 2 (35:34):
You get your podcasts.
Speaker 1 (35:35):
Production by Wonder Media Network, our producers are alex Azzie,
Grace Lynch, Taylor Williamson, and Lucy Jones. Our executive producers
are Christina Everett, Jesse Katz, Jenny.
Speaker 2 (35:45):
Kaplan and Emily Rudder.
Speaker 1 (35:46):
Our editors are Emily Rudder, Britney Martinez and Gianna Palmer.
Production assistants from Avery Loftus and I'm Your Host Sarah
Spain
Welcome to Good Game with Sarah Spain, where we cried
a little baby tear watching Sam Coffee tuck her new Man's.
Speaker 2 (00:05):
City kit in tour shorts. We're gonna miss that.
Speaker 1 (00:09):
It's Friday, January sixteenth, and on today's show, Let's do
That Hockey, we're talking the Women's bean Pot Tournament and
hockey at the upcoming Winter Olympics. On Wednesday, I caught
up with Alessia Beckler of Northeastern University and Team Switzerland
and twin sisters Lily and Luisa Welke of BU and
Team Germany one day after Bu's upset over Northeastern in
the semi finals of the bean Pot Tournament. We discussed
(00:32):
transitioning from their home countries to playing and living in
the States, the moment they found out they made the
rosters for next month's Milan Courtina Olympics, and the record
that organizers are hoping to break it next week's bean
Pot Championship game in Boston, plus screeving with a grievance.
There's drama down under and the second installment of the
Friday Fat Tofiigo.
Speaker 2 (00:52):
It's all coming up right after this. Welcome back Slaces.
Speaker 1 (00:59):
Here's what you need to know today. Let's start with
the NWSL. On yesterday's show, we told you that the
NWSLPA had officially filed aggrievance with the league following the
creation and implementation of the new High Impact Player Rule.
Well shortly after we finished recording, the NWSL responded, issuing
a statement to multiple media outlets that said, in part, quote,
(01:20):
we disagree with the nwslpa's assertions challenging the NWSL's ability
to implement the HIP rule. The NWSL has fully complied
with the CBA and federal law, and we will defend
those positions in our collectively bargained grievance process end quote.
As you heard in yesterday's interview with PA executive director
Megan Burke, the union certainly disagrees with that.
Speaker 2 (01:40):
Take more.
Speaker 1 (01:41):
NWSL. The twenty twenty six season schedule was unveiled on Thursday,
and the league's fourteen returning clubs and two new expansion sides,
Boston and Denver, will compete in two hundred and forty
six matches during the nine month season, which begins in
March and wraps up in November. The first match of
the new season kicks off March thirteenth, with last year's
runner up Washington Spirit hosting the Portland Thorns. The opening
(02:03):
weekend is also headlined by Boston Legacy FC's home opener
and inaugural game. Saturday, March fourteenth at Gillette Stadium, home
to the NFL's new England Patriots expansion side. Boston will
host the twenty twenty five NWSL Champs Gotham FC.
Speaker 2 (02:16):
In that one.
Speaker 1 (02:17):
Denver sum At FC won't host their first home game
until March twenty eight. That's against the Spirit at Mile
High Stadium, where the NFL's Broncos play. As previously announced,
the NWSL regular season will pause for nearly all of
June due to the twenty twenty six Men's World Cup,
which will be hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada.
The decision was made because seven of the league's sixteen
(02:37):
markets will be hosting World Cup games, but the league
isn't pausing completely. The summer break will be marked by
the return of the Challenge Cup, the annual match between
the NWSL champ and the NWSL shield winner from the
previous season. This year's Cup will be held on June
twenty sixth, and a neutral site Columbus, Ohio with Shield
winners the current taken on the champs GOTAM FC, per
(02:58):
reporting from the Equalizer of the initial schedule footprint, called
for the Challenge Cup to be held February twenty first
at the home stadium of the champion, but GOTAM protested,
citing their trip to London at the end of the
month to participate in the inaugural FIFA Women's Champions Cup.
Speaker 2 (03:12):
So the match will moved to June and to a
neutral site.
Speaker 1 (03:14):
We're starting to think that the challenge part of the
Challenge Cup comes from figuring out when this event is
and how it works. The NWSL regular season will conclude
with the return of Decision Day on Sunday, November first,
when all sixteen clubs will begin their games at the
same time, promising a chaotic conclusion to the season. The
Championship host city has not yet been announced, but the
game will be played Saturday, November twenty first. We'll link
(03:37):
to the full schedule in our show notes More NWSL.
The Orlando Pride has named Caitlin Carducci as the club's
new general manager and vice president of soccer Operations. Carducci
will fill the role that was left vacant by friend
of the Show Hailey Carter, who departed the Pride for
the Washington Spirit in November. Carducci previously served as the
GM of the Kansas City Current and helped lead the
team to the fastest shield in NWSL history last year,
(03:59):
but was ousted in November following the team's exit in
the quarterfinal round of the playoffs and the club's decision
to restructure its front office. You remember, head coach flatco
Endadovski moved into the sporting director role and the team
named a new GM to tennis where the world's best
players are down under at the first Grand Slam of
the year, the Happy Slam, the Australian Open. The first
round of the singles competition starts Saturday night here Sunday
(04:22):
morning there, and we'll link to the full drawing schedule
in the show notes. World number one Arena Sablenka is
the top seed going into the tournament. She won the
title in twenty twenty three and twenty four, but she
lost in the finals to American Madison Keys last year,
so redemption will absolutely fuel Sabolenka as she seeks to
take the crown back this year. But she's not the
only one with a lot on the line. World number
(04:43):
two egos Fiontech will be fighting to earn her career
Grand Slam after she won Wimbledon last year. The Australian
Open is the final Grand Slam the Polish pro needs
to win in order to achieve the feat Siontech likely
isn't thrilled with her draw, though, as she might have
to face some opponents who have given her trouble in
the past en route to the time title. We'll be
watching Venus Williams as well, of course. The forty five
(05:03):
year old Williams received a wild card to enter the tournament,
and when she steps on the court in Melbourne should
be the oldest player ever to compete in singles at
the Australian Open. At a press conference last summer, Williams said, quote,
it does not get old, it just gets more exciting.
Speaker 2 (05:16):
End quote.
Speaker 1 (05:17):
Let's hope we can say the same about Williams herself
come match time. We'll also be keeping an eye on
the Adelaide International Final today. You remember we mentioned in
Monday's show that in three of the past four years,
the woman who has hoisted the trophy in Adelaide has
gone on to win the Australian Open Women's singles title.
To the PWHL, We're nearly at the midpoint of the
regular season, and it's just like we all drew it
(05:38):
up heading into year three. The Hillary nightless Boston Fleet
Or at the top of the standings and the talent
loaded Seattle Torrent at Vancouver Golden Eyes expansion teams are
all the way down in seventh and eighth. No matter
whether your favorite team is feeling higher low, we can
all get behind the PWHL, enjoying its strongest attendance month
in history so far this January, welcoming more than one
hundred and four thousand fans across the first eleven games
(06:00):
of the month, and the numbers should go up with
the third annual Battle on Bay Street this Saturday, Scepters
versus Golden Eyes at Scotiabank Arena, home at the NHL's
Toronto Maple Leafs. There are three other games this weekend,
beginning tonight with the fourth ranked New York Sirens hosting
the third place Minnesota Frost at the Prudential Center in Newark.
We'll link to the full PWHL schedule in the show
notes to pro Vibes where there are two love games
(06:23):
on the calendar this weekend. Tonight at seven eastern, top
ranked Madison welcomes Nebraska to Wisconsin. Madison bested Salt Lake
last weekend, and Nebraska won against Houston when they took
the court last Sunday. It'll be a quick turnaround for Nebraska.
The team plays against Sunday night in a game against
Atlanta at six Eastern. To Basketball, where Unrivaled second season
is underway and after the.
Speaker 2 (06:43):
First full week of play three and zero.
Speaker 1 (06:44):
ROSEBC sit at the top of the standings, powered by
Las Vegas Aces point guard and friend at the show,
Chelsea Gray, who's averaging thirty one point seven points a
game for the club. At the bottom of the table
are Hive BC and the Lunar Owls, both at zero
and three, still looking for their first wins. Tonight at
seven thirty eastern, Lace's BC take on Phantom BC, followed
by First Versus Worse as ROSEBC take on the Hive.
(07:07):
Tune in on TNT or True TV, and there's plenty
more Unrivaled action Saturday and Sunday. You can catch those
games on True TV. And speaking of watching the games,
it's kind of important if we want to see this
league thrive. Front Office Sports reported this week that unrivaled
ratings have plunged in the league sophomore season. According to
their reporting, the opening night last season averaged three hundred
and twelve thousand viewers across TNT and True TV. This
(07:29):
year's opening slate just one hundred and seventy five thousand viewers,
and last Friday's games averaged even less. Unrivaled CEO Alex
Bizzell told Front Office Sports on Wednesday, quote, We're proud
of the product we're putting on the court eachweek, and
we are going to continue going our audience while showcasing
the best women's basketball players in the world. Leagues aren't
built overnight end quote. We'll link to the Front Office
Sports article in the show notes and seriously tune in.
(07:53):
The early season games have been thrilling to college hoops.
On Sunday, Iowa State. We'll play Oklahoma State at one PM.
The Cyclones were upset by Colorado earlier this week, falling
sixty eight sixty two at the Buzzer Breakout Center. Audie
Crooks recorded her lowest scoring game of the season with
seventeen points in that one. Cyclones have now lost all
four of their games in twenty twenty six. They're hoping
(08:14):
to turn that around this weekend. More college hoops, Flaje
Johnson has given us something to look forward to, as
reports say the LSU Senior plans to drop a new
Puma Player exclusive sneaker next month. The shoe is a
new take on the Puma All Pro Nitro two. It
has a tan and brown camouflage pattern with bright pink
and green accents. Johnson has been a key part of
Puma's Nil program since twenty twenty two. She launched her
(08:36):
player exclusive colourway in twenty four, but this new design
will be the Star's first Player exclusive available on the
consumer market. Look for the drop in early February. To Gymnastics,
where we're flipping into week three of the season. Number
two ranked Oklahoma, the raining NCAA champs, open their SEC
schedule against Missouri tonight. The Sooners faced the Tigers in
the National Championship last year, and Oklahoma enters this year's
(08:57):
meeting on a wind streak, but Miszoo on a hot
streak as well. The team opened the twenty twenty six
season ranks seventh in the nation in the preseason polls,
marking its highest preseason ranking in program history. Also tonight,
LSUS take it on Georgia, and tomorrow we'll see a
matchup between Nebraska and UCLA. It all leads up to
conference championships in mid March and NCAA's in April. To
college hockey, where there are a bunch of games between
(09:19):
ranked teams this weekend, including two Tonight at seven pm Eastern.
Number fourteen Minnesota State is hosting the number two ranked
Ohio State Buckeyes, and at the same time number eight
Minnesota Duluth will take on number fifteen Saint Cloud State.
Then on Saturday a rematch of both of those games. Meantime,
the number one ranked Wisconsin Badgers, which includes a roster
of five athletes who will compete at next month's Olympics,
(09:41):
They've got a Friday Saturday doubleheader against unranked Saint Thomas.
We'll link to the full college hockey schedule in the
show notes.
Speaker 2 (09:49):
Slices.
Speaker 1 (09:49):
Couple exciting sports and pop culture crossovers to shout out
as Chicago sky point guard Courtney van der Slute will
be a guest star on the January twenty first episode
of Chicago Med playing herself. Per the episode description, the
show's doctors are tending to a college basketball star with
a troubling medical mystery, and it looks like Slute pays
a visit to the ailing player.
Speaker 2 (10:09):
We are sat.
Speaker 1 (10:10):
We've also got news on the long awaited ninety nine
Ers feature film. Friend of the show, Julie Foudy has
been taking me through the ups and downs of trying
to get this movie made for a decade plus, and
we've got some real movement, folks. Netflix has announced that
Emily Bader, currently starring in the streaming sites film People
We Meet on Vacation, is signed on to play US
women's national team legend Mia Hammo. We can't wait to
(10:31):
see which actors are tabbed to play Foudy, Brandy Chastain,
Michelle Akers, Brianna Scurry, and the rest of the bunch.
Speaker 2 (10:38):
It's gonna be good.
Speaker 1 (10:39):
We got to take a break coming up here from
the Welky Twins and Alessia Beckler stick here.
Speaker 2 (10:48):
Joining us now.
Speaker 1 (10:49):
They're a pair of senior hockey players for Boston University,
born and raised in Germany, and both recently named to
the Team Germany roster for the Milan Courtina Olympics, best friends, teammates, roommates,
womb mates. It's identical twins, Lily and Louis a weelke.
Hi ladies, thanks for joining.
Speaker 3 (11:05):
Us, Hi, Hi, thanks for having us.
Speaker 1 (11:09):
Oh my gosh, I'm already loving this, this twins thing,
staring at your two identical bases.
Speaker 2 (11:14):
Okay, So, I love how you got started.
Speaker 1 (11:16):
You wanted to play tennis, but the camp was full
and hockey was the only camp that had openings.
Speaker 2 (11:20):
The rest is history.
Speaker 1 (11:21):
Now here you are playing for Boston University and getting
ready for the Olympics.
Speaker 2 (11:26):
I want to go back to being kids.
Speaker 1 (11:27):
And Lily, I want to know what's the best part
of growing up with a twin sister as your teammate.
Speaker 3 (11:33):
I think she can always be honest with me, and
I think that really helped us, like growing into the
hockey players and people we are today, because we always
had some sublime competition and rivalry going on the ice,
and not even not only on the ice, but also
(11:54):
in the classroom or any sport we did.
Speaker 1 (11:58):
Honestly, Louis, so, what's the toughest part of having a
twin sister as a teammate?
Speaker 3 (12:04):
I mean, I feel like Lily already mentioned the sibling rivalry,
but also I think it can be tough with like
the constant comparison. Growing up like was tough at times,
but I think we both just learned to see like
the good parts of it.
Speaker 1 (12:25):
Louisa, were you the kind of twins that like to
dress the same and trick people, or were you the
kind that tried to make sure everyone knew how different
you were.
Speaker 3 (12:34):
Make sure everybody knew how different we are. We never
liked wearing the same things, but I mean we always
liked the same kind of diets and stuff, so we
always got the same things, but in different colors to
make sure it's not like exactly the same.
Speaker 4 (12:49):
Yeah, and if we.
Speaker 3 (12:50):
By accident dressed the same, we would one of us
would have to go change. So whoever like or the
outfit first got like first pick.
Speaker 2 (13:03):
Nice Lily.
Speaker 1 (13:05):
I read that you both wanted to play the same position,
but there wasn't always room, so you would alternate between
forward and defense a lot when you were younger, until
eventually you could play forward together and you're on the
same line, right. So I read about some like telepathy
happening where you feel like you know where your sister's
going to be. Do you think that helps you on
the ice, that you have this like connection that goes
(13:27):
beyond just being teammates.
Speaker 4 (13:28):
Yes, for sure. I mean we've always played together. Growing up.
We had like a time where one.
Speaker 3 (13:35):
Of us would play defense, or actually we both started
on defense because we played with boys and they all
wanted to play forward, so we both started on defense.
But then we both were also like, oh, I also
want to play forward, So once one spot opened up,
one of us was allowed to play forward. But since
(13:56):
both of us wanted to play forward, we just switched
back and forth, like in between periods.
Speaker 4 (14:04):
So I would say we always.
Speaker 3 (14:07):
Grew kind of that connection on the ice, and then
once we started playing on the same line together, we
like further developed that connection.
Speaker 5 (14:18):
For sure.
Speaker 1 (14:19):
You guys are roommates and teammates and best friends. So
I'm wondering, Luisa, what's the biggest fight you've gotten in
and what was it about?
Speaker 3 (14:28):
Probably about clothes, because we have the same size and
like everything and we like the same style. So I
think our biggest fights are about like Lily going on
to my closet to pick an outfit that I wanted
to wear.
Speaker 2 (14:45):
What about you, Lily.
Speaker 3 (14:48):
I mean I feel like either that or shoes, honestly,
because we also really like shoes, and we have a
pretty big collection since we also have the same shoes side,
we try to not buy the same shoes.
Speaker 4 (15:04):
So we only have like different shoes.
Speaker 3 (15:06):
But if somebody wants to wear like a certain pair,
we only have one pair of it. So yeah, yeah,
we can get into fight sometimes.
Speaker 1 (15:14):
That's nice though, to have a closet, you double your closet,
you get more stuff that you get to wear.
Speaker 2 (15:20):
What about crushes? Have you ever had a crush on
the same person and had to do get out?
Speaker 4 (15:24):
Honestly, no, never.
Speaker 3 (15:27):
I feel like we're like pretty different in personality wise
once you get to know us, So yeah, we never
had the same crush, to be honest.
Speaker 1 (15:37):
All right, let's talk about the bean Pot. This is
your third time playing in the event. What makes it
so special, Louisa.
Speaker 3 (15:44):
I think just the hype around it in the city
of Boston. I feel like the support we get from
like our school and our band, and like just the
fans that come. It's just like such a special tournament
and it's just so great to see how many people
come to watch, like a Women's Tournament.
Speaker 1 (16:06):
Yeah, a record crowd was there in Walter Brown the
other night, and you guys pulled off the upset. Lily,
Northeastern was the clear favorite. What went right for your
team on Tuesday to get the win?
Speaker 3 (16:18):
Yeah, I would say our team has been starting off
really strong in twenty twenty six, so I think just
the Bellpod in Ireland and then going into the bean
Pot it was like a similar tournament style, and now
we're going to face Harvard again, so I think we
just got really confident from those games. And our team
(16:42):
is like really bonning and really close right now, so
that's definitely been helping our game performances.
Speaker 1 (16:50):
It was an overtime win in front of the largest
women's hockey crowd ever at Walter Brown and TD Garden
holds way more people than that, more than nineteen thousand
people organized are hoping to fill the place and set
a new record for an American women's hockey game. Do
you get nervous when you play in front of a
big crowd like that, Louisa, I mean.
Speaker 3 (17:08):
A little bit, for sure, but I think it's more
like just excitement and I think it's just great to
have the opportunity to play in front of so many people,
So you definitely can feel like a little bit that
it's like a way different, like kind of set up
than like just a usual game.
Speaker 1 (17:30):
Yeah, what does that energy do for you, Lily, more
nervousness or excitement?
Speaker 3 (17:35):
Definitely excitement, I would say. I would also say a
little bit nervous, like I'm always a little bit nervous
in front of a big crowd, but in like a
good way. And I think it's just great to see
how much women's sport has grown throughout the past couple
of years and how much support we get.
Speaker 1 (17:57):
Yeah, well, if you're nervous in front of this scrout,
just wait for the Olympics.
Speaker 2 (18:02):
Y'all are on Team Germany.
Speaker 1 (18:04):
The first time Germany as a women's hockey team in
over a decade. So I want to know, Louisa, what
did it feel like to get the call that you
made your country's Olympic roster.
Speaker 3 (18:14):
I mean, obviously super exciting. It was like one of
the best calls I've ever gotten. So yeah, I think
you can really say much about it because I was
just so happy about it.
Speaker 2 (18:27):
So yeah, Lily, were you two together when you got
the call.
Speaker 3 (18:30):
Yeah, our coach called us together, so it was even
more special.
Speaker 2 (18:35):
Honestly, what were you doing at the time when you
got the call?
Speaker 3 (18:38):
Were baking Christmas cookies?
Speaker 5 (18:41):
Oh?
Speaker 2 (18:42):
Okay, you're yeah, we're we're.
Speaker 4 (18:44):
Baking Christmas cookies.
Speaker 1 (18:46):
Okay, Lily, this might be a tough question, and maybe
this has never happened, but has there ever been a
time when one or the other of you has made
a roster and the other one didn't or won an
award and the other one didn't. And how do you
handle it if somebody, you know, get something that the
other one doesn't.
Speaker 3 (19:02):
Yeah, so five years ago, we both weren't really on
the German rostery yet, but we were kind of like
getting invited to some tryout and getting some exposure. And
so then we had the qualifiers for the Olympics five
years ago and somebody got hurt on the roster and
(19:24):
we both weren't on it, but I got caught up
and Louise a din So it was a little bit
difficult for sure, and we didn't end up making it
to the Olympics. So this time it's definitely even more
special being on the team together and making the Olympics together.
Speaker 2 (19:44):
Yeah, Louisa, how did you handle that five years ago?
Speaker 3 (19:48):
I mean, I was definitely still super excited for her,
even though I mean I wish I would have made
it too, But I think we're always just I don't know,
we also thrive through each other's successes. So I mean
I was just super excited for her.
Speaker 2 (20:08):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (20:09):
What do your parents do at these games? How do
they decide who's jersey to wear?
Speaker 2 (20:13):
And who? You know? Do they cut down the middle
and wear half of each?
Speaker 3 (20:18):
Oh? No, I don't even know which jersey they're gonna pick,
but it's gonna be interesting to see.
Speaker 2 (20:25):
Maybe one wears one and one wears the other.
Speaker 4 (20:28):
Yeah, yeah, probably.
Speaker 2 (20:29):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (20:30):
So for our listeners who are excited to watch you
compete in Italy on television, what do you want them
to know about you as a person, Lily?
Speaker 2 (20:37):
What makes you different and special from your sister?
Speaker 3 (20:41):
It's a hard one, but I think I don't know.
Louisa always likes to try new things, and I kind
of hop on the trend, Like whenever she discovers something
new and she likes it, then I just take a
look at her and see if I like it too,
and then I just hop on the trend, but I
(21:04):
always let her try everything first, so I don't have
to go through with everything. What about you, Louisa, Yeah,
I mean I like to explore, like new things. I
love to travel. I don't really know what to say,
but I also love arts and like just creative stuff.
(21:29):
So I feel that also translates like on the ice
for me, because I just love trying new things and like,
I don't know, just being creative.
Speaker 2 (21:40):
Cool or we're gonna say, Lily, I was gonna say that.
Speaker 3 (21:43):
I'm also really into other sports like skiing, snowboarding, everything outdoorsy, honestly,
and that also goes with traveling and just trying new things.
Speaker 2 (21:58):
Do you, either of you tend to a lot.
Speaker 1 (22:00):
And do you think that you'll be crying when you
first take the ice at the Olympics or hear the
national anthem or anything like that.
Speaker 4 (22:07):
I mean, oh no, I think we're boys. Don't really
tend to cry.
Speaker 3 (22:11):
No, I'm not a big cry but I might have
some tears in my eyes.
Speaker 2 (22:17):
Okay, so Lily might shed a tear. Luisa's hold and strong.
Speaker 4 (22:21):
I think, so it's gonna be Lily.
Speaker 2 (22:23):
Yeah, how very German of you. Okay, very stoic. Well.
Speaker 1 (22:28):
Bu is going to be going for its first bean
Pot title since twenty nineteen, taking on Harvard next week.
So good luck in the championship and thanks for joining us.
My producer Alex and I will be out in Italy
covering the Olympics, so I look forward to hopefully getting
to see you play.
Speaker 4 (22:41):
Thank you so much. Thank you.
Speaker 1 (22:44):
Thanks again to Lily and Louisa for hanging out with us.
I also caught up with Northeastern and Team Switzerland player
Alessia Beckler to.
Speaker 2 (22:51):
Take a listen joining us now.
Speaker 1 (22:54):
She's a defender on the Northeastern ice hockey team. She's
suited up for the Swiss national team for the last
four World champion and was recently named the Team Switzerland
roster for the upcoming Milan Cortina Games.
Speaker 2 (23:04):
It's Alessi a Beckler. Thanks for joining us.
Speaker 5 (23:07):
Hello everybody, Thank you so much for having me.
Speaker 1 (23:10):
You're a freshman at Northeastern, so I'm wondering how your
first year of college in America.
Speaker 2 (23:14):
Has been going.
Speaker 5 (23:16):
It's been quite an adjustment, especially in the beginning living
in a different country. It's not always easy, but now
I kind of found my routine and yeah, It's been
big improvement from this start, and it's great.
Speaker 1 (23:34):
How does the level of hockey that you're playing compared
to what you saw playing professionally in Switzerland?
Speaker 5 (23:39):
It's definitely more competitive here. There are many more skilled
players and every team has a lot of depths, at
least like three to four good lines, and compared to
back home, we also had a bunch of really good
and highly skilled players, but only like one to two
lines per teams, so that's definitely a big difference.
Speaker 1 (24:03):
I was in Switzerland a couple of years ago and
I marveled at the Italian, French, German all the languages
being spoken. Am I guessing correctly that your native language
is German?
Speaker 5 (24:15):
Yes, my native language is German, although I had French
and Italian in school as well. The only national language
I did not have was Romance, which I have no
clue about.
Speaker 1 (24:30):
Yeah, so now you're up to four languages. That is
incredibly impressive.
Speaker 2 (24:35):
Wow. Let's talk about the bean Pot.
Speaker 1 (24:38):
Northeastern won the event the last three years running, and
as a freshman, this is your first time playing in it.
So what did your teammates tell you about why the
bean Pot is so special?
Speaker 5 (24:48):
They told us quite a bit about it. It's definitely
different than just Hockey East regular season, and they said,
or they told us that this school really values it.
A lot of students show up, and I think just
the support from the school in general is so special
(25:08):
and makes this tournament even cooler to play in.
Speaker 2 (25:14):
I guess your team entered as the favorites.
Speaker 1 (25:17):
Northeastern is ranked sixth in the country, the only ranked
team out of all of the four competing teams.
Speaker 2 (25:22):
But you fell to be you in the semi final
on Tuesday. What do you think went wrong in that game?
Speaker 5 (25:28):
It was definitely a disappointing loss. We really gave it,
are All. But yeah, a hockey game, it doesn't matter
if you're ranked or not. In the end, you just
have to win it. And sometimes you just come up
short and you can't win those important games. But I
still think we as a team, we really fought to
(25:50):
the end and we gave it are All.
Speaker 1 (25:53):
You've got a game coming up next week, the third
place game at TD Garden, which holds nineteen thousand plus
fans and organizers of the bean Pot are hoping to
fill the place. So do you get more nervous or
more excited when you think about playing in front of
such a big crowd.
Speaker 5 (26:12):
I think it's always super exciting if a lot of
people show up to watch your hockey game. I also
see it as an opportunity to show young girls what
they can be capable of and that women can play
in front of big crowds too, And especially although it's
only the game for the third place, I still think
(26:32):
there's a lot on the line and we really want
to win against DC.
Speaker 1 (26:38):
Yeah, you've got a bit of a tune up here
in terms of playing in front of a big crowd
that I'll get you ready for the Olympic Games, where
you're also going to have a lot of pressure and
excitement and play in front of big crowds. What did
it feel like for you to get the call that
you made the Swiss roster.
Speaker 5 (26:53):
I was actually in the midst of a team lift.
We had a workoup, and I saw it Our national
team coach tried to call me, and I knew that
he was going to call me on that day if
I would make the team. So I called back and
I went outside of our weightlifting room and I saw
(27:15):
my teammates look through the glass and Yeah, I was
just smiling all the time, so they immediately knew and
after the call and that everybody was super happy and
it was awesome. I mean, I've been working towards this
for such a long time, so it was just a.
Speaker 2 (27:35):
Lot of emotions in one moment and not too far
from home.
Speaker 1 (27:39):
So do you expect a lot of family and friends
will make it over to Italy to watch you?
Speaker 5 (27:44):
Yes, it's definitely great that it's close to home. My
parents are going to be there. One of my best
friends said that she was going to come and watch,
and maybe even my brother. So this is going to
be awesome. And I think in general a lot of
Swiss people will have the opportunity to come watch sports
events in Italy because by train it's only like three hours.
Speaker 1 (28:09):
Yeah, my producer, Alex and I are going to be
out there, so we'll get the chance to hopefully watch
you play. I'm wondering for our listeners who will be
watching you on television, what do you want them to
know about you as a hockey player.
Speaker 5 (28:23):
I'm maybe not the most spectacular player to watch, but
I try to be a very reliable player and yeah,
doing my job on the ice and as a defenseman
that's mostly preventing goals. So yeah, maybe not always shown
up on the scoring sheet, but still trying to contribute.
Speaker 2 (28:44):
What do you want them to know about you as
a person.
Speaker 5 (28:47):
I'm just very grateful and thankful to get the opportunity
to go and play in the Olympic Games. It's something
that I've been working towards for a long time, kind
of a life long dream since I saw the Swiss
national team win bronze in twenty fourteen and ever since. Yeah,
(29:08):
I really wanted this to become true for myself too,
So I'm just very grateful and thankful to get the opportunity.
Speaker 2 (29:18):
Are you a crier?
Speaker 1 (29:19):
Do you think when you first take the ice, or
hear the national anthem, or any moment in the opening ceremony,
do you think you'll probably be crying?
Speaker 5 (29:27):
Usually I don't cry. I mean the first time I
cried because of joy was when I got the call
that I made the roster for the Olympics. But I'll
definitely be smiling. Usually I'm a big I always have
a big smile on my face, So that's how I
show my gratefulness.
Speaker 2 (29:48):
I love it. I love it.
Speaker 1 (29:49):
Well, good luck in the bean pot game next week
and good luck in the Olympics.
Speaker 2 (29:53):
We look forward to watching you out there.
Speaker 5 (29:54):
Thank you so much for having me.
Speaker 1 (29:56):
Thanks again, do We'll ask you for taking the time
we got to take another break when we come back.
The Winter Olympics are one week closer, which means the
return of the Friday Fata Figo Say it with Me
Fa to Figo, ben Tornado, Speci Drancha. As we continue
to ramp up for our trip to the Milan Cortina Games,
(30:18):
it's time for another edition of our weekly segment Friday
Fa Tofigo, which loosely translates by me to Friday fun Facts. Today,
with exactly three weeks until the opening ceremony on February sixth,
we're gonna reveal a little bit more about the specific
journey producer Alex and I will be taking at the
twenty twenty six Games, starting with a look at the
three regions will be visiting and which events will be covering.
(30:40):
We'll start with Milano, population one point four million, a
global capital of design, fashion and finance, home to the
Duomo Leonardo da Vinci's The Last Supper, the famed opera
house La Scala, and Women's Olympic ice hockey, which gets
going before the Olympic cauldron is even lit. We'll start
our journey at the Milano Row Ice rink, watching USA
versus Chechia and Finland versus Canada in group play games.
(31:03):
Now it sounds like that rink is much closer to
completion than the Olympics other hockey venue, Milan Saint de Julia.
You might remember earlier this week we told you about
how organizers are scrambling to ensure that construction there is
done in time for competition. In those first few days
in Milan, Alex and I are also going to cover
figure skating and hopefully find our way into the opening
ceremony at San Sero Olympic Stadium. Seats are limited and
(31:25):
everyone wants to be there for Mariah Carey Andrea Buccelli,
an Italian pop star Laura Pausini Fato Figo. Back in
my early twenties, when I was out in La doing
acting in comedy, I auditioned for and earned a small
part in a Laura Pausini music video, one of three
music videos I'm in, which I believe qualifies me as
a video vixen.
Speaker 2 (31:45):
And when I was in Milan a year or two later.
Dropping the fact that I'd.
Speaker 1 (31:48):
Met Laura was like saying I was BFF with Britney spears.
The Italians went nuts. So I hope we make it
into the ceremony to see her. I can have a
little reunion of sorts, you know, from thousands of seats away.
So we'll start in Milan and then Sunday, February eighth
is when the whole planes, trains and automobiles of it
all begins. For me and Alex, we'll take a train
and then two buses, a journey where naively optimistic will
(32:11):
take about four hours total to get to Lavigno, a
ski resort town in the Alps near the Swiss border,
population sixty eight hundred elevation nearly six thousand feet.
Speaker 2 (32:21):
Average high temperature.
Speaker 1 (32:22):
In February twenty three degrees, lows around four degrees, so
you bet your ass will be packing gloves, hats, handwarmers,
heated vests and more. We'll be there to cover snowboard,
big air and snowboard, halfpipe, free ski, slope style and moguls.
Don't worry, we'll explain the particulars of all of those
events in a future fa Tofigo nicknamed Little Tibet, Lavigno
(32:42):
is a duty free town, hello shopping and has fun
spots like Mikey's Disco Club and a little chalet called
Lattee de chiap Bechep, located right on the ski run,
where we can warm up with a bombardino, a popular
Italian winter cocktail made from hot egg licore and brandy,
topped with whipp cream and cinnamon.
Speaker 2 (33:01):
I'm in next.
Speaker 1 (33:02):
We're going to make the trek from Lavigno to Courtina,
a roughly ten hour trip that, as I'm recording these words,
Alex is telling me might be closer to forteen hours.
It involves at least three buses, two trains, and a
whole lot of mountains.
Speaker 2 (33:18):
Pray for my lower back pain, y'all.
Speaker 1 (33:20):
Now might actually be a good time to remind you
that these Winter Olympics are the most geographically spread out
of any in history, a fact that we've decided to
meet with extra strength tailanol and several downloaded books in
my case, and prescription strength dramamine and Alex's a former
vacation spot for folks like Ernest Hemingway.
Speaker 2 (33:37):
I have to believe getting.
Speaker 1 (33:38):
To Courtina will be worth the effort a luxury ski
resort town population fifty five hundred, leaping up to forty
thousand during peak tourism season. It's tucked away on all
sides by mountains, and Alex and I will catch some skeleton,
giant slala, monobob and curling. Also, I've been told that Cortina,
the quote unquote queen of the Dolomites, will woo us
with views, wow us with restaurants, and tempt us with spas. Finally,
(34:02):
it's back to Milan to catch the gold metal hockey games,
some speed skating, and the closing ceremony. Who I'm tired
just telling y'all about it. I think we're gonna need
a lot of pasta to power us through. 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. Let us know what you
want to learn from us during the Winter Olympics. Do
you want stories about the cities, were visiting, athlete insights,
(34:25):
the food, the drinks. What do you most want to
hear about?
Speaker 2 (34:29):
Let us know.
Speaker 1 (34:29):
Hit us up on email, good game at wondermediaetwork dot com,
or leave us a voicemail at eight seven two two
O four fifty seventy and don't.
Speaker 2 (34:37):
Forget to subscribe, Rate and review slices.
Speaker 1 (34:39):
It's easy watch Angel Reese and Asia Wilson making movie
Magic with Steph Curry rating two of two WNBA Superstars
continuing to take.
Speaker 2 (34:48):
Over the World review.
Speaker 1 (34:50):
Angel and Asia are set to add to their cinematic
resumes by voicing characters in the upcoming animated movie Goat,
produced by MNBA Great Steph Curry. Reese voice is a
polar Bear, while Asia plays a reptile now. Asia previously
appeared in another animated movie, Space Jam a New Legacy,
while Angel played herself in the Netflix political thriller.
Speaker 2 (35:09):
A House of Dynamite. Go get those bags girls, Now.
Speaker 1 (35:12):
It's your turn y'all, rate and review, Thanks for listening,
See you next week. Good Game, Lily and Luisa, Good Game, Alessia,
You Car.
Speaker 2 (35:20):
Signis and back Pain.
Speaker 1 (35:25):
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.
Speaker 2 (35:34):
You get your podcasts.
Speaker 1 (35:35):
Production by Wonder Media Network, our producers are alex Azzie,
Grace Lynch, Taylor Williamson, and Lucy Jones. Our executive producers
are Christina Everett, Jesse Katz, Jenny.
Speaker 2 (35:45):
Kaplan and Emily Rudder.
Speaker 1 (35:46):
Our editors are Emily Rudder, Britney Martinez and Gianna Palmer.
Production assistants from Avery Loftus and I'm Your Host Sarah
Spain
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