March 16, 2025 • 45 mins
It's the first episode of 2025 – Just in time for the start of the new NWSL season with an exclusive panel interview with 2x Women's World Cup winner and now ESPN announcer Ali Krieger.
Hosted by ESPN, this intimate panel discussion includes five media members (including your humble host) and Ali talking about all-things NWSL. You can't start the NWSL season without listening to Ali's unique thoughts on the growth of the league, the latest happenings, player news, and more.
Did you miss Ali's appearance on WWFShow way back in 2015? Here's the link: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/episode-36-ali-krieger/id726185549?i=1000335611349
Follow Women’s World Football Show on Facebook, Instagram, and our blog at wwfshowblog.com.
Listen to Women’s World Football Show on Apple Podcasts, iHeart Radio, Spotify, Spreaker, TuneIn Radio, Castbox, Stitcher, and Soundcloud.
Broadcast Date: March 16, 2025
World Football Show is hosted, written, edited, and produced by Patty La Bella.
Additional assistance for this episode by ESPN and Ali Krieger
Women’s World Football Show website design and theme music by Patricia La Bella
Women’s World Football Show® is a registered trademark whose audio and logo cannot be used without written authorization.
Catch Patty's YouTube Show “My Partridge Family Collection” – https://www.youtube.com/@MyPartridgeFamilyCollection
Hosted by ESPN, this intimate panel discussion includes five media members (including your humble host) and Ali talking about all-things NWSL. You can't start the NWSL season without listening to Ali's unique thoughts on the growth of the league, the latest happenings, player news, and more.
Did you miss Ali's appearance on WWFShow way back in 2015? Here's the link: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/episode-36-ali-krieger/id726185549?i=1000335611349
Follow Women’s World Football Show on Facebook, Instagram, and our blog at wwfshowblog.com.
Listen to Women’s World Football Show on Apple Podcasts, iHeart Radio, Spotify, Spreaker, TuneIn Radio, Castbox, Stitcher, and Soundcloud.
Broadcast Date: March 16, 2025
World Football Show is hosted, written, edited, and produced by Patty La Bella.
Additional assistance for this episode by ESPN and Ali Krieger
Women’s World Football Show website design and theme music by Patricia La Bella
Women’s World Football Show® is a registered trademark whose audio and logo cannot be used without written authorization.
Catch Patty's YouTube Show “My Partridge Family Collection” – https://www.youtube.com/@MyPartridgeFamilyCollection
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:09):
Everybody, Welcome to another season of Women's World Football Show.
I'm so excited to be here. I'm excited that we
are co inciting the beginning of our season with the
beginning of the NWSL kicking off as I'm recording this
on the same weekend and have a great show to
share with you, also talking about the NWSL. You know,
(00:30):
we started this podcast, and I say we because I
include you guys in this with me in the same
year that the NWSL kicked off in twenty thirteen, and
so I have a soft spot in my heart for
the league and just very honored to share the beginning
of our season with the beginning of the NWSL season
(00:51):
twenty twenty five. Unbelievable. And let me tell you, for
those of you who are listening outside of the United States,
and I know you are, I see the downloads, a
lot of our listeners come from beyond the United States.
And if you want to know what it's like here
at the kickoff of the NWSL season, let me just
tell you there's not a shortage of excitement around the league.
(01:13):
I mean it's everywhere. It's on the TV. We're seeing
commercials and advertisements and of course a lot of the
games are being played on Amazon Prime, so you open
up Amazon and you got banner ads splashed across the
website and it's just so great. I mean, billboards, I mean,
it's just everybody's talking about it. There's definitely an excitement
(01:33):
to this league. But it's just really nice to see
a lot of people jumping on the bandwagon right now
and giving the league what it deserves as far as
attention and like I said, advertisements and just a lot
of hoopla around the league and it's exciting. And you know,
there's a lot of internationals playing in this league right now,
I mean, probably more than ever before. And you know,
(01:55):
I'd never like to say best league, you know, in
the world, because I think that's very subjective and I
think every league brings something different. But there is something
very interesting about the NWSL that makes these international players
want to come here and play. And it's just a
good game. It's a fun game. Already, we're seeing some
games this season that are just very exciting seeing some
players that are exciting to watch, and a lot of
(02:18):
them are internationals, and we welcome them with open arms
because they do make the league interesting. They make it
more exciting. And then of course we have these great
teams and not all these great cities, and we've seen it.
The worst to first run of a lot of these
teams in the past few years has been has been
remarkable to see and it's fun. We don't want to
see just one team winning all the time like we
(02:40):
saw like early in the league, so we're seeing that change.
Sometimes there's so much talent, you know, and so many
things are changing all the time. And our guests today
are who you'll be hearing from, not really a one
on one guest, but who you'll be hearing from. Of course,
former uswim's national team player, two time Women's World Cup winner,
and of course she was part of that Gotham FC
(03:00):
team who won in twenty twenty three, went from worse
to first, so she understands that concept and she actually
talks about it. I'm gonna share this conversation with you
with the great Ali Kreeger, and I am calling it
a conversation because it's not really a press conference. It
was a panel discussion that I was invited to join,
(03:22):
and it was very intimate, it was very interesting. ESPN
hosted it and there was only like honestly, like four
four people invited, including myself, to have this nice sit
down conversation with Ali Kreeger. I mean that never happens.
I just hats off to ESPN for doing this, and
a lot of us are independent media people, so that
(03:43):
was great too. So we'll get into that. I know
this is something you're really gonna You're really good to enjoy,
I promise you. And Ali Kreeger is actually joining the
ESPN staff this season. She's really the becoming the voice
of women's football analysis in this country in the broadcast booth,
not in the broadcast booth, but analyzing. And she's I mean,
(04:05):
she served as the lead studio voice for ESPN News
and Information coverage for the twenty twenty three Women's World
Cup and she just, I mean, she just fits so
seamlessly well into that role. And so she's come on board.
She's taken on the NWSL on ESPN this season and
its affiliates. They have actually an all star panel broadcasters
(04:26):
and analysts coming in, including another friend of Art of
the Show, Leanne Sanderson too was on that team at ESPN.
But Ali Krueger, of course longtime front of the show
because she was one of our first national team players
that came on the show back in I think it
was twenty thirteen or twenty fourteen. I know it was
before the twenty fifteen Women's World Cup because we had
(04:48):
an extensive conversation about that. If you did miss that interview,
I'll put the link on the show. It say it's
a couple of years old. Now, I mean ten years old, right,
eleven years old? Can you believe it? But still pretty
fun to talk to her. You know, she's always been
an advocate of women's football, She's always been an advocate
of women, you know, women in sports. She's a powerhouse
and she's taken it into the studio now and really
(05:12):
really feel very fortunate to have her so knowledgeable, and
you'll see that in this conversation. So I'm going to
tell you who was on this panel first, because normally,
if I do a press conference, you know, I usually
edit out the media people questions just for the sake
of time, right to keep the show moving. But this
is a very cool panel and some people that you
(05:33):
may know. So who's on this panel set beside myself?
Seth Vert Telney. He's a writer at USA Today covering
NWSL and Michelle Chavez, she's a staff writer at the
Sports Tribune and also covers Angel City FC. Andrew Bookholtz,
who's a writer for a great website called Awful Announcing,
(05:57):
and Vetus Carosella, who writes for Forbes and covers the
NWSL for Forbes and some other outlets. Then that was it.
That was it, and so it makes for a nice
little intimate conversation. Of course it was done by zoom,
but able to talk to Ali and ask her some
questions that maybe we wouldn't ordinarily get to ask her
in a format, you know, in a press conference format.
(06:19):
So that was really fun and I want to share
that with you. I know, you know, Ali Kreeger is
such a fan favorite when it comes to former players
and players, and you know she's still a player's advocate
at Gotham FC. She talks a little bit about that too,
and still so still doing great stuff, right, she hasn't
skipped a beat. Let me tell you from retirement into
(06:42):
this new role as broadcaster. So let's listen to it.
I hope you enjoy it, and please welcome two times
World Cup winner Ali Kreeger.
Speaker 2 (06:54):
Yeah, it's so great to chat with everyone, and I'm
so excited this next season coming up. I say, we
talked a lot about about it on the show last night.
I'm just excited with all the signings and just the
movement with all the teams. I do think it was
(07:14):
last year. They seem to be getting stronger and stronger.
I'm excited to see, you know what some of the
bottom you know teams could potentially do because they've strengthened
their squad as well as in a Utah and a Houston.
So that should be exciting coming up. And just thrilled
to kind of start this next year. And after the
(07:37):
end of Basia Media Day, talking to a lot of
the players, they all seem so thrilled with this next
phase of the league and the progression that is going in.
And I'm really happy with the media and the broadcasting
teams that are surrounding the league and just making it
more well known. So this will be an exciting year
and it just seems to be getting better and better.
(08:00):
And yeah, there's a lot of movement. There's a lot
of excitement and new coaches coming into the league and
a lot of changes that are going to be really
positive and impactful. So Yeah, that's what I'm looking for
to most.
Speaker 3 (08:16):
How's it going, Alan, Good to see you again.
Speaker 2 (08:18):
Yeah, good.
Speaker 3 (08:19):
I wanted to get your take on just the growth
of the league and specifically expansion. There's a two new
teams coming in next year. But I thought Jessica Berman
said something really interesting. I think it was last month.
Speaker 4 (08:38):
But she basically said that she was kind of looking
at MLS as a model which would essentially see the
number of teams in this league double over an indetermined.
Speaker 3 (08:51):
Period of time.
Speaker 4 (08:52):
But I was kind of wondering your take on that,
and do you think that thirty would be like a
good number for this league?
Speaker 3 (09:02):
Should it be more, should it be less?
Speaker 2 (09:04):
Like?
Speaker 3 (09:04):
How do you see that all playing out?
Speaker 2 (09:07):
Well? First and foremost, thank you for the question. First
and foremost, I like quantity over sorry, I like quality
over quantity, and I never want to delete the league.
I think we need to really be careful in the
way that we expand, and all of the resources and
the accommodations have to be in place for a team
to be successful, and the leadership has to be set
(09:29):
before you really open up to a lot of different
teams and cities around the country. Yes, do I think
we could potentially get there, that would be great, but
then you don't want the quality to drop. And I
think we do have a good amount of players in
this league who are very who are very good and
are continuing to get better and very technical. I think,
(09:52):
you know, the college league will definitely the NCAA and
the college teams will definitely hurt. I think a little
bit because as the league grows, I think the player
pool is going to grow, and a lot of these
younger players are going to get into the professional league
a lot quicker and a lot sooner, because I think
as the gap closes too. With what Emma has is
trying to do with the national team and developing a
(10:14):
lot of these younger players are kind of closing the
gap between the seniors who are really seasoned and experienced
compared to some of the younger players who don't have
that much development yet and aren't as experienced at that level.
I think she's working on doing that as well, So
I think we'll start to see more and more younger
players getting into the professional league. But you don't want
to dilute the league, right. You want to make sure
(10:35):
that you have quality players who can perform well. At
this level and you don't just want to stretch us
thin where you can't really enjoy the quality of the game.
It's not that I'm saying MS has done that. I
don't necessarily think that's the model that we should be,
you know, immediately following. I think there's some really great
models around the world in the European leagues of the
(10:55):
women's game that we could follow. But I'm just like
good for example, it's what I'm also really really too.
But for our country, you have to think it how
much bigger we are, right, so we have to facilitate that.
We have to think about that environment as well, where
you can maybe have a west, you know, an East,
a north, and a south region and then kind of
(11:16):
do it that way in the future. But we might
have to be different because other countries are such smaller
and they don't have as many teams. So that's going
to be the struggle moving forward. But I always want
to think of quality first, and I want to watch
good players play the game. I don't want to just
(11:36):
you know, open it up to anyone and everyone where
then the level drops, right, the development isn't happening, and
then you know, the coaches aren't also good enough to
be there, right, So you have to really make sure
all of that is in place before you just open
it up, you know, to as many teams as we
can fit.
Speaker 4 (11:56):
You know, over the last few years, player safety has
been a big top in this league, and I think
in a lot of ways things have really improved since
you know, everything went down a few years ago.
Speaker 2 (12:09):
But I wanted to.
Speaker 4 (12:10):
Get your take on the situation at BFC because there
have been some reports coming out lately in the last
couple of weeks about their.
Speaker 3 (12:19):
Head coach, and I think what's different about.
Speaker 4 (12:22):
This situation is with those accusations coming out, the team
has opted to keep him in place rather than like
previous teams have kind of put these coaches on some
sort of suspension or something like that. And you know,
the team seems to be backing him. And you know,
without getting into maybe some of the specifics of that
(12:43):
that situation and what kind of message does it said,
you know, having a coach in place who's been accused
of that and kind of keeping him there as this
investigation plays out, Yeah.
Speaker 2 (12:57):
That's difficult. You can't you know, just fire him a
media because if it's not you know, and if it's
not I don't want to say if it's not true.
I think I believe players, right. I believe when players,
you know, say their experience, that they're telling the truth, right.
I don't think they would go to those lengths or anybody,
any staff member, right, if they're complaining about the way
(13:18):
that they've been treated in that environment, you want to
believe that that's true. So they have to be investigated, right,
And if it comes to a point where, you know,
the investigation goes through and they don't find any fout
play or any harassment, so to speak, then you know,
I feel like he's going to keep his job. And
(13:40):
that's just the way that things go. But as long
as they're doing an investigation and they're talking to the
right people and they're getting answers, it's really all I
can say to that from the outside looking in, you
have to investigate it. You can't just ignore players having
these concerns. I think that's what's appropriate. But you also
can't just fire somebody assuming that those are the exact
(14:02):
things that have occurred. So you have to get both
sides of the story, and then they have to come
to a conclusion of what's best for the team and
the environment. But it's still unfortunate to see these things
happen because you just hope that you have staff and
players who want to be in environments that are safe,
that are healthy, that are allowing players develop and staff
(14:24):
to develop in a successful manner. You just want people
to go and do their job and do it right.
You don't want to have to show up to work
and think, oh, I'm going to go get harassed there,
I'm going to get bullied, or I'm going to get
you know, whatever it may be. You just want a
safe space to do your job and do it well.
And I'm hoping that we can move to, you know,
(14:45):
a space where that can continue to happen and grow,
because it would be nice as a player just to
show up and do your job and not have to
worry about all the other things off the field that
could happen. Right then, you have sometimes players who just
can't receive information or criticism and then they become disfrontled.
So I understand there's also moments like that, or players
(15:09):
are just unhappy because they're not playing and they don't
understand why, and they just don't like the team or
the environment. Or the coaching staff, So that's also coming
into play, and we have to just take all the
information we can and come to a conclusion. And that's
obviously not our job, that's the club's job, and whatever
they decided, hopefully will be the right decision for the
(15:30):
club to move forward. Hi Alias, great talking to you.
You mentioned at the beginning of.
Speaker 5 (15:38):
This that you think that you know, like the top
four teams on the table and will be the same. Obviously,
this weekend is the home opener between Age of City
and San Diego, two teams who didn't have the best
of seasons last time around.
Speaker 6 (15:51):
What do you feel like, coming from a player who's
had a lot of success and whose team has been
on the top, that these teams need to do and
moving forward this season to kind of maybe not winch
the top, but definitely.
Speaker 2 (16:02):
Get up there. Well, I think they have to take,
you know, one game at a time, one week at
a time. You know, things change. Is such a long season.
You know, sometimes players get injured, they're not available, your
lineup changes, formation changes. You shouldn't peaked right at the beginning. Anyway,
we went from last place to first place, so maybe
Houston can get to into the top four, but not
(16:23):
not much has changed within those top teams. And we
saw Orlando and DC look very familiar as they played
in the final of last season, and they look even
stronger and were you know, I guess consistent, and they
looked like they were you know, just strengthening both squads,
(16:43):
and so I don't doubt that they're going to be
at the top of the table. I think that was
proved to all of us on Friday and also now
here all this has a whole season with them, So
that's why I was, you know, thinking that they were
going to stay at the top as well. But I
do agree like Houston and a Utah who maybe finished
the season. Houston not so much as Utah, but Utah
(17:05):
maybe the last ten games with a new coach had
showed such improvement and it was, you know, such a
difference they had second half of the season from the
first part of the season for them. So I think
if they continue that mentality to take it week by week,
then they're going to have no problems, you know, fighting
for a playoff spot. And also with San Diego and
(17:25):
LA you know, just new opportunities, new coaches coming in
one's European Lady's going to be in and then potential
you know, Garrett Taylor from in City coming in in June,
who knows, you know. I think if everyone has this
mentality of starting fresh and they have, you know, a
new squad, there's a lot of turnover. So I think
(17:47):
there's going to be a new culture, new mentality anyway,
and that's always really refreshing for a team. I know,
for example, in twenty twenty two we came in the
last place at Gotham and then twenty twenty three, you know,
Lawn came in.
Speaker 3 (18:00):
There were a few changes to the squad.
Speaker 2 (18:02):
We had just this new mentality and this new excitement,
and I think that can fuel anyone to want to
be great. So good question any it's anybody's championship. Really,
you just have to have the mentality. You have to
have the leadership. I say this all the time. Leadership
is key from top down. And you can see the
Angela Heith Leaves, for example, coming into Houston and as
(18:22):
in the president role can really help facilitate and then
for Breeze coming in as the head coach, they're really
putting investment into the women's side. And I also think
Tim Howard having an effect on the ownership group. I think,
you know, he obviously has to win. So all of
that needs to be aligned in order for a team
to be successful. Not only and I've said this before,
(18:45):
not only do the players need everything they they you know,
want and need to be successful and thrive, but the
coaches also need everything to want to thrive and be
good at what they do. So it goes hand in hand.
But if I think it's anyone's, it's anyone's championship. You
just have to have the quality of players, the understanding
(19:07):
of the roles and responsibilities, and then leadership.
Speaker 5 (19:11):
And then if I could ask the follow up, I
know you kind of touched on this with Seth.
Speaker 6 (19:14):
In terms of the younger players, both LA and San
Diego have been.
Speaker 2 (19:18):
Incorporating a lot more younger players. We have the Thompson sisters,
Casey Fair, et cetera. How do you want to see.
Speaker 5 (19:25):
Youngsters utilized outside of the national team to kind of
push the NWS forward with some of these senior players,
you know, retire your adventure off to other opportunities.
Speaker 2 (19:36):
I think it's tough, right There's there's on field progression
and impacts and then there's off fields impacts, right and
building your brand. We were lucky at a time where
social media was just starting out in twenty eleven, really
on you know, the national team, and so we were
kind of right there, front row and center of everything
and just thrown out.
Speaker 3 (19:56):
There and just started to use our.
Speaker 2 (19:57):
Platforms to build our own brands up in order one
to make money and make a living and keep a
roof over our heads, you know, because we weren't just
making that for club football and playing on the national
team itself, it helped, but you know, we would make
more off the fields than on the field, so I
think we spent more time focused on that. But on fields.
(20:20):
I remember playing with Sandy Huth who was in Germany
and I was playing with Frankfurt. She was sixteen years
old and she played in front of me in the
Champions League game, and she just had that exposure and
that experience thrown at her at a very young age.
But she ended up thriving in that and playing with
a professional team at that age really helped her development.
She ended up being the German national team captain for
(20:43):
many years and played in big, big time tournaments, but
she wasn't scared at age twenty to jump into that
type of level and that atmosphere, that environment where you
have eighty thousand people watching you. I mean, she was
seasoned and she was well experienced by that time. She
had years at the professional level with FF Frankfort by then.
So I think it's really beneficial for a lot of
(21:06):
these younger players who have that willingness and that drive
to want to be good at football and want to
succeed in this sport, that they need to put themselves
in situations where players are better than them. And that's
for everyone in order to grow and be successful at
this level on field and then off field, whether you
like it or not, all the other things come along
(21:27):
with it. Right. I only signed up to play soccer
and to win games and championships. I didn't sign up to,
you know, be on social media all the time and
be an influencer. Right, that's not like my gig. I'm
an athlete. But it also comes along with it, and
building your brand is really important because that's how you
make a lot of money.
Speaker 3 (21:44):
And we've just been in.
Speaker 2 (21:46):
That life now for a long time and most of
our career because we have to survive, right, nowadays, it's
a little bit different because some of these younger players
are getting paid, you know, what they deserve and true
their true value, so they don't have to focus so
much on them. But all in all, I think it
goes hand in hand. You want to get these younger
(22:08):
players as long as they're good enough and they could
keep up and they can continue to develop.
Speaker 3 (22:13):
This is a great a great place for.
Speaker 2 (22:15):
Them, especially when you know the teams kind of continue
to grow and expand they have such good opportunities, which
is why I mentioned the college game might shift a
little bit and change.
Speaker 7 (22:40):
Hi, Ali, how are you? It's great?
Speaker 2 (22:43):
Thank you great that you're here.
Speaker 7 (22:46):
As a native of the d m V. I wanted
to get your opinion more on the Washington Spirit. Yeah,
I know you mentioned them already. They've had a lot
of signings this offseason. They already won the Challenge Cup.
Joanah is going to be in the job for a
full season this year. So what do you make of
their prospects this season? Picking into account they already also
(23:09):
have a lot of injuries.
Speaker 2 (23:11):
Right obviously, think you know Kroyd probably isn't back fully
fit just yet. There's still time and it's good that
it is right at the beginning of the seasoncause you
want to peak right away, like I'd mentioned before, so
she has time to get back into full fitness and
I'm sure her return to play is going to be
prioritized for them, but having her back is going to
be key. Obviously with tren I mentioned that she might
(23:34):
be up for the MVP of the Year, so I'm
hoping she can be consistent and week in and week
out and play as long as her back is holding up.
So I understand that's a struggle. Obviously Andy's out, but
I think Santos fills in such an amazing role for them.
We saw them on Friday night against Orlando and having
(23:54):
Rebecca Bernald come in from the Mexican national team, and
I think she's going to be incredible defensive defensively, whether
that's in a defensive midfielder role or a center back role,
she's going to be crucial. And I think she fills
in a great solid spot there for them. And then yeah,
(24:16):
just having Aubrey and Gold, having the spine of your
team with McEwan in the back as well, and her
confidence building after you know, national team experience recently. I
think she's going to be getting better and better, and
it's just nice to have a head coach who's going
to be there consistently for the entire year. I could
say from a player's perspective, it's really hard when you
(24:36):
don't have that day to day, you know, contact and
consistency with a head coach right when they come in
half the season, which is why I'm a little bit
nervous for Angel City because if Lady gets them off
to a good start and then they have a new
coach come in in June, it's just really difficult to
kind of change that whole, you know, tactical approach, the formation, personnel,
(25:00):
like it's just a lot listen, it could all go well.
But I'm also happy for Washington to have a full
season with him to be able to implement what he's
really going to implement. And I think that possession oriented
style of the fact space that dictating the game mentality
is going to be really healthy for them. And despite
the fact that they have these injuries, it didn't really
(25:22):
seem to affect them negatively.
Speaker 3 (25:23):
Last year getting to the final.
Speaker 2 (25:25):
Just in those big moments, I mean to step up
and really utilizing all the players because you need big
players to do big players in big games, right, And
I'm hoping that they can get everyone fit and healthy
for the season altogether, because I think they if they do,
they're going to be damn good, awesome.
Speaker 3 (25:47):
And then one follow up for you.
Speaker 7 (25:49):
We've mentioned a lot the growth of the league and
I just wanted to get your perspective because you've also
played a broad Where do you feel the league sits
at this point in time? Do you think it's the
strongest league in the world. Do you think it's heading
in that direction. We've seen a lot of foreign players
and coaches coming in in recent seasons, so just curious
(26:09):
to hear your opinion on where the NWSL sits compared
to say the WSL, LEGA Fit, etc.
Speaker 2 (26:18):
Yeah. I do think we are in the best I
think we still need a few of the best European
players in order to solidify that top spot as the
best league in the world, because you see in the
WSL you have a lot of amazing and incredible Europeans
playing there for you know, obviously various teams. There's Barcelona
(26:39):
of Leon, you have Chelsea of you know, Arsenal even
competing and Wolfsburg Bayern. So I would love to see
more Europeans in our in our league. But it's a
different type of game, right and everybody wants to win
the Champions League. Everybody wants to play Champions League football.
There's nothing that compares to it at the club level,
and so that is the ultimate goal. And when you
(26:59):
play indivisal and when you play in the US for
a long time, you obviously want a different challenge. I
also think that's that, and you want to go overseas.
It's exactly what I how I felt even though we
didn't have a league as strong as the INDIVISL when
I was coming out of college and not a league
at all just had folded. I was kind of forced
to go there in order to make it to where
I wanted to be. So that's a different that's a
(27:21):
different time period obviously, And now you just see coaches
who maybe want a new challenge, so they want to
come to the NDAVISL and kind of, you know, have
a different experience and challenge themselves in a different level.
So I think it's about it's it's it's both players
and coaches, but a lot of European players really enjoy
(27:41):
that slower paced, tactical, technical game. It's not better or worse,
you know, it's just what you as a player can
thrive in which environment fits best to your style play.
Speaker 3 (27:54):
So you have to kind of go through a lot
of variables.
Speaker 2 (27:56):
It's not just to say, oh, we have the best
league because we have the most athletics as pace high
pressing players in the world. Yeah, do we have really
good players. We do, but so do other league So
it's touch to compare when you don't have Champions League
football too. I think that's such a draw why American players.
Speaker 3 (28:17):
Want to go and have that experience.
Speaker 2 (28:19):
But hopefully in the future a lot of European players
will continue to come and we're starting to see that
even this year and at the end of last year,
so that's exciting as well.
Speaker 7 (28:30):
Do you think the parody in the league is something
that's attractive to players because I think in some of
the European leagues we see one team kind of winning
year after year.
Speaker 3 (28:41):
Yeah, you're absolutely right.
Speaker 2 (28:42):
The parody. I mean, any any game, any team can
win on any weekend here, right, it's so difficult to
win this league because every game amount if you're in
last place or first place, it doesn't matter. It's always
going to be exciting. There's always going to be you know, yeah, parody,
which is I'm glad you brought the up because that's
what's so attractive to a lot of us here, and
(29:02):
that's why a lot of us continue to play here
because I did go to Germany and there are only
like two or three teams at the top of the
league at the time, which was US Potsdam and Wolfsburg
and Byron maybe coming in at fourth.
Speaker 3 (29:14):
So that was consistent every year, and.
Speaker 2 (29:17):
Sometimes that just gets to be a bit monotonous. As
you can see, Chelsea's just bulking up their team.
Speaker 3 (29:21):
They're probably going.
Speaker 2 (29:22):
To be sit at the top of the table for
the next few years, you know, your fight with Manstony
and Arsenal and now Man United is obviously in third,
so yeah, we'll see. But that's a good point. It
is very very athletic, fast paced, transitional, high pressing game
in the US, and a lot of Europeans, you know,
(29:44):
you know, they just don't want to do that type
of running. But it's it's also a lot of travel too,
It's a lot on your body, so I can understand why,
you know, there's both attract both leagues are very attractive.
Thank you for the opportunity.
Speaker 1 (30:01):
I appreciate it. Ali, you were one of my first
guests on my show and my podcast back in two
thousand and thirteen when no one had podcasts and you
came on, and it was I'm like, so indebted to
you for that.
Speaker 2 (30:13):
So I appreciate that.
Speaker 1 (30:17):
Now everyone's gone, but my but one thing that you
said to me at that time that I always remembered
was you said that you thrived on pressure. And I'm
wondering if you've taken that mindset as a player who
thrives on pressure, to take that into the broadcasting booth
with you into this this new this new landscape. I
(30:39):
guess that you're in.
Speaker 2 (30:40):
Yeah, great question. I do. I think I do that
and everything I do right like I.
Speaker 3 (30:45):
I'm so, it's just it's just in me.
Speaker 2 (30:48):
It's just something that drives me. I love to be
under pressure. I love, Yeah, everything that has to do
with pressure and thriving in that space. I think that
adrenaline as well is something that's, you know, really exciting.
So yeah, for me specifically, that's I'm just so used
(31:09):
to it at the playing at the highest level and
on the world's biggest stages. It's hard to like, I
guess turn the knob down a little bit and turn
the switch off. I think it's something I will do
and everything that occurs and and what I am my
hand in and and different aspects of my life and
different passions. So yeah, I think that's still true today,
(31:31):
even after I've retired. I'm very competitive and still addicted
to winning and want to be in pressure situation situations
because I feel like, oddly enough, I'm calm in those
situations because I'm so familiar with it.
Speaker 1 (31:45):
It seems like the transition happened for you pretty pretty seamlessly,
and then on top of it, you were also a
voice for women players. You still continue to be and
in fighting for the rights, and do you take that
also in broadcasting, is there's something like within the show
that do you have a voice?
Speaker 2 (32:03):
Do you have goals?
Speaker 1 (32:04):
Are you able to like bring that to the table.
Speaker 2 (32:07):
Yeah, I do. I feel like it's really important to
not only talk about football, but also everything that comes
along with the game and to help these players succeed
in the environments, the accommodations and resources. I think if
you still talk about it, especially in media, when you
have all the eyes watching, then people will listen. And
I think understanding the game is not just what's on
(32:29):
the field, but off the field as well. And I
think having a player's experience is so key for broadcasting
as well, because you've lived it, you've breathed it, you've
been there, you have firsthand experience. And that's also why
I love my ambassador Wile of GOTHAMFC, because I'm having
a meeting lader with the club as well to just
talk about things that they can you know, one improve,
(32:51):
but also you know, host events or you know, do
specific things for the players because I feel like I'm
a liaison also between the players and the club. So
I think it's just nice to have a player's perspective,
no matter if it's broadcasting or on our own platforms,
in podcasts, you know, just out of games. I think
(33:13):
it's extremely important because we live it every day and
we know what's needed. We know what the players want
and what can help them succeed. So I want to
continue to do that, whether that's in the studio and
now that my job is to analyze the games and
players and provide some content behind that and education as
(33:34):
well behind that. But I do feel like it's a
really great platform for us to talk about, you know,
the real the realness about off field stuff as well,
and how we can help these women really succeed and
thrive off the field and out of the workspace, so
to speak as well. Thank you, appreciate that. Appreciate you.
Speaker 8 (33:57):
Yeah, Ellie serve on that stread how he brought up
like you've always been an advocate And I remember you
spoke to a group of US media at the Final
four in Houston and twenty twenty three back when you're
sing then you were you were really passionate about the
broadcasting situation in particular, thing we deserve more, we deserve better. Well,
(34:17):
the league signs its new broadcasting deals.
Speaker 2 (34:19):
That November, and now how do you.
Speaker 8 (34:23):
Where it's at from from a broadcasting standpoint?
Speaker 2 (34:26):
Yeah, I feel amazing, And I feel like, you know,
people are really paying attention and hearing us and supporting
us and putting money behind us and investing. That's what
it's all about, because they know that it's such a
good product. Right, you have quality human beings first and foremost,
and then you have extremely qualified and talented players who
(34:47):
deserve to be on you know, the Friday nights games
and you know prime time Saturdays and Sunday afternoons. And
I think that its people are recognizing that you're not
only investing in the club and new organizations in the league,
but you're investing in the players who are performing week
weekly within these clubs and within these leagues. And so
(35:11):
it's great that we have five I think broadcasting companies.
I think ESPN is obviously leading the way in that
and really also not afraid to support all of the
other for broadcasting media companies and holding their hand and
really guiding them so that it's kind of a project,
a team project. It's it's really healthy to see and
(35:33):
it's so much progress and I wish that, you know,
I was still playing another five ten years just to
enjoy the benefits of it all. Now I'm kind of
you know, at the desk and behind the behind the scenes.
But it's it's really great to see the impact that
we've had as players too kind of now you know,
continue to grow and and you know people are actually
(35:56):
finally hearing us, and it's just comforting, is rewarding because
you work so hard over the years to just get
the game to where it's at now and the work
is not done, and it can continue to grow. You know,
we're not quite there, but we're closer and we're getting
there each and every day, and every season is getting better.
(36:19):
You could see that even at the final and twenty
twenty three, they put so much money into really making
an experience for the players and really being professional and
having these parties and having these you know, just the
hotel was dressed up with the signage and you know,
you really felt like the media behind it, the content
behind it, the game itself. The field wasn't great, which
(36:42):
was probably the most important part, but you know, we're
working on that. But you could see the end of
baself really and then having a media day this year
for all the players that come in the you know,
doing photo shoots in the new jerseys, and I mean
it's growing tremendously and it's really about the players, and
the media is investing now, and broadcasting teams are investing now,
(37:05):
and it's just really rewarding because that's exactly what we
wanted to do all this time. And if you invest,
you can actually see the quality that you're investing in,
and it's so so important and you can see the investment.
As long as that continues to grow, then the players
are giving more because they're happier, they're earning more, and
(37:27):
you know, the game is just really really.
Speaker 3 (37:30):
Fun to watch now for sure.
Speaker 8 (37:32):
And on a personal level, how are you feeling about
broadcasting after a season of doing it and maybe especially
with doing both the studio work and the game work.
Speaker 2 (37:43):
Yeah, it's hard, right, it's I love it. I love
talking soccer, I love analyzing games, I love analyzing players,
and just you know, I guess just pumping up the
league and also dabbling in the lega and matchis feminia.
I think that's important to talk about because you know,
the World Cup coming up hopefully in twenty thirty one,
we're going to be hosting all inside them and then
(38:04):
you know Canada to our neighbors having talking about you know,
their new league coming out, and then the WSL now
that ESPN has taken over, you know, broadcasting for the WSL.
It's just enjoyable that we have now women's games on
all the time. It's hard because you don't always get
right and you are learning every single day, but more
(38:27):
reps you get, the better it'll become, and the easier
it'll become. So I'm learning a lot behind the scenes,
and I'm learning that media is a lot tougher than
it looks from the outside in. And I'm really enjoying
the Yeah, working with other badass female hosts and journalists
and reporters along the way, I think they have been
(38:48):
incredible and everybody just wants each other to win. So
that's something that's really exciting at ESPN. Perfect. Thank you
so much, Thank you, Thank you everyone. I hope you
have a great first and there is no weekends.
Speaker 1 (39:05):
So great, I mean, wasn't that That's just I mean,
I'm blown away by Ali Kreeger's knowledge, but also the
fact that, I mean she just dives in head first
into everything she does. Right, This girl does not do
anything half assed. She did it with her career. You know,
when there was no league here, she went off and
played in Germany, she came back. You know, she fought
(39:28):
for equal rights for women, fought for equal pay, and
you know, she won a lot of awards along the way,
and really hated to see her retire when she did,
but it wasn't the last we saw her, right, thank goodness.
But yeah, I'm just so blown away by her knowledge
and even watching the broadcast, like she was on the
broadcast the day after this panel interview, and I was like, man,
(39:53):
you know she's done her research. She's fully excited about this.
I mean, you can't fake that. You heard it right.
You heard that excite in her voice and that passion
that she has for the game. It definitely spills over.
It's genuine, right, It's not something put on that she
just loves this game. She loves talking about the players.
He heard her. She loves talking about the teams. And
(40:14):
if you're not excited about the beginning of a season,
of any season, from listening to Ali Krieger, I don't know.
She got a site hyped up for sure. And hey,
I want to give a big shout out and thanks
to the good people at ESPN for including me in this.
I mean, there's some great writers on this panel. The
fact that I was included in it just is like
(40:34):
mind bottling. They maybe they didn't figure me out yet,
but no, it'd be great to be a part of
that panel. But I want to thank Macnulu and also
want to thank Christine Kolcogno for inviting me on that panel.
It was an honor and I just I loved every
minute of it and glad to be able to share
it with you most of all, So really appreciate that
(40:56):
to be involved in that panel. Very honored to be
amongst that panel of really great sports writers and respected
sports writers. And I don't know, I don't know what
I was doing there, but thank you for for Espan
for inviting me. It was a pleasure. And let me
just tell you if you are an Ali Kreeger fan
(41:17):
and you always wondered, like, you know, what does she
really like in person? Everything that you want her to be.
She is. She's such a nice person. She's so down
to earth, she's so engaged when she talks to you.
I've talked to her many times over the years, just
like you know, uh mix zones and you know, postgame
and press conferences and things like that, and also on
(41:40):
the show as a guest. But let me just tell
you that sometimes there are players who are not fully
engaged in the conversation when you're asking them questions. They
are their eyes are darting around, you know, they're they're
thinking about what they're they're gonna do, Like if they
get away from this media person you or the mix
zone whatever, Like, you know, they're just not engaged, which
(42:02):
is okay, you know, they've got they're busy, you know,
that's you know a lot of times it's after the
game and players want to go and have dinner with
their families or whatever. But Ali Kreeger is one of
those players who's always so happy to see you, so
happy to see the even the media, right, just so engaged,
actively listening really like like just like, what are you saying.
(42:24):
I'm going to answer you with the best that I have.
I've never seen Ali Kreeger be anything but that postgame
pregame you know now, like in the studio, Like she's
just she's just one of the nicest people in the
game that you'll ever want to meet, and always willing
to take time, you know, and take time, and that's
(42:45):
so appreciated and so rare, you know, it really is.
I can name a handful of players or former players
who are like that, and she's one of that. So
she's really a great role model. If you're Ali Kreeger fan,
I hope that you're happy to hear that nice, nice
person and so knowledgeable is floored by her knowledge and
the fact and the time that she probably puts in
(43:06):
the study because this isn't easy. You know, We've seen
other athletes in all sports, you know, try to try
to make that transition into the you know, whether the
broadcast booth or analyzing or you know whatever, and it's
and they don't. They don't do it. They don't do
it well right, they fail miserably, and some people just
don't do it. And it's it's a tough gig, it
(43:27):
really is. It's really tough. But she's done it, and
she's doing it, and she's doing it seamlessly and very
very well. So if you can catch her, if you're
you know, on ESPN W or you know, if you're
outside the States or ESPN or their affiliate stations, catch
Ali Kreeger and she and you'll learn something. I know
I did just yeah, just from that interview or from
(43:48):
that discussion. And I'm also learning from her analysis in
the booth, postgame, pregame, during the game. So great, Hey,
I really hope that you enjoyed episode, by the way,
a Women's World Football Show. I would love to hear
thoughts on this conversation with the great Ali Krueger. Feel
free to email me at Patti at wwfshow dot com.
(44:10):
I read all the emails and I do my best
to reply in a timely manner. If you did enjoy
this episode, subscribe now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeartRadio, app,
tuned in, Castbox, Spreaker, Stitcher, wwfshow dot Com, or wherever
you're listening to this right now. And if you really
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(44:30):
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(44:53):
notes on WWF show dot com, connect with us on Facebook, Instagram,
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editing produced by Patti Lavella and that's me. Additional assistance
for this episode by Christine Calcagno and Mac Noulu. Appreciate you, guys,
and of course all the good people at ESPN, and
(45:16):
thank you especially you for joining me on this exciting
journey through women's football. Stay strong, stay mindful, keep loving
your heart. Just see you next time.
Everybody, Welcome to another season of Women's World Football Show.
I'm so excited to be here. I'm excited that we
are co inciting the beginning of our season with the
beginning of the NWSL kicking off as I'm recording this
on the same weekend and have a great show to
share with you, also talking about the NWSL. You know,
(00:30):
we started this podcast, and I say we because I
include you guys in this with me in the same
year that the NWSL kicked off in twenty thirteen, and
so I have a soft spot in my heart for
the league and just very honored to share the beginning
of our season with the beginning of the NWSL season
(00:51):
twenty twenty five. Unbelievable. And let me tell you, for
those of you who are listening outside of the United States,
and I know you are, I see the downloads, a
lot of our listeners come from beyond the United States.
And if you want to know what it's like here
at the kickoff of the NWSL season, let me just
tell you there's not a shortage of excitement around the league.
(01:13):
I mean it's everywhere. It's on the TV. We're seeing
commercials and advertisements and of course a lot of the
games are being played on Amazon Prime, so you open
up Amazon and you got banner ads splashed across the
website and it's just so great. I mean, billboards, I mean,
it's just everybody's talking about it. There's definitely an excitement
(01:33):
to this league. But it's just really nice to see
a lot of people jumping on the bandwagon right now
and giving the league what it deserves as far as
attention and like I said, advertisements and just a lot
of hoopla around the league and it's exciting. And you know,
there's a lot of internationals playing in this league right now,
I mean, probably more than ever before. And you know,
(01:55):
I'd never like to say best league, you know, in
the world, because I think that's very subjective and I
think every league brings something different. But there is something
very interesting about the NWSL that makes these international players
want to come here and play. And it's just a
good game. It's a fun game. Already, we're seeing some
games this season that are just very exciting seeing some
players that are exciting to watch, and a lot of
(02:18):
them are internationals, and we welcome them with open arms
because they do make the league interesting. They make it
more exciting. And then of course we have these great
teams and not all these great cities, and we've seen it.
The worst to first run of a lot of these
teams in the past few years has been has been
remarkable to see and it's fun. We don't want to
see just one team winning all the time like we
(02:40):
saw like early in the league, so we're seeing that change.
Sometimes there's so much talent, you know, and so many
things are changing all the time. And our guests today
are who you'll be hearing from, not really a one
on one guest, but who you'll be hearing from. Of course,
former uswim's national team player, two time Women's World Cup winner,
and of course she was part of that Gotham FC
(03:00):
team who won in twenty twenty three, went from worse
to first, so she understands that concept and she actually
talks about it. I'm gonna share this conversation with you
with the great Ali Kreeger, and I am calling it
a conversation because it's not really a press conference. It
was a panel discussion that I was invited to join,
(03:22):
and it was very intimate, it was very interesting. ESPN
hosted it and there was only like honestly, like four
four people invited, including myself, to have this nice sit
down conversation with Ali Kreeger. I mean that never happens.
I just hats off to ESPN for doing this, and
a lot of us are independent media people, so that
(03:43):
was great too. So we'll get into that. I know
this is something you're really gonna You're really good to enjoy,
I promise you. And Ali Kreeger is actually joining the
ESPN staff this season. She's really the becoming the voice
of women's football analysis in this country in the broadcast booth,
not in the broadcast booth, but analyzing. And she's I mean,
(04:05):
she served as the lead studio voice for ESPN News
and Information coverage for the twenty twenty three Women's World
Cup and she just, I mean, she just fits so
seamlessly well into that role. And so she's come on board.
She's taken on the NWSL on ESPN this season and
its affiliates. They have actually an all star panel broadcasters
(04:26):
and analysts coming in, including another friend of Art of
the Show, Leanne Sanderson too was on that team at ESPN.
But Ali Krueger, of course longtime front of the show
because she was one of our first national team players
that came on the show back in I think it
was twenty thirteen or twenty fourteen. I know it was
before the twenty fifteen Women's World Cup because we had
(04:48):
an extensive conversation about that. If you did miss that interview,
I'll put the link on the show. It say it's
a couple of years old. Now, I mean ten years old, right,
eleven years old? Can you believe it? But still pretty
fun to talk to her. You know, she's always been
an advocate of women's football, She's always been an advocate
of women, you know, women in sports. She's a powerhouse
and she's taken it into the studio now and really
(05:12):
really feel very fortunate to have her so knowledgeable, and
you'll see that in this conversation. So I'm going to
tell you who was on this panel first, because normally,
if I do a press conference, you know, I usually
edit out the media people questions just for the sake
of time, right to keep the show moving. But this
is a very cool panel and some people that you
(05:33):
may know. So who's on this panel set beside myself?
Seth Vert Telney. He's a writer at USA Today covering
NWSL and Michelle Chavez, she's a staff writer at the
Sports Tribune and also covers Angel City FC. Andrew Bookholtz,
who's a writer for a great website called Awful Announcing,
(05:57):
and Vetus Carosella, who writes for Forbes and covers the
NWSL for Forbes and some other outlets. Then that was it.
That was it, and so it makes for a nice
little intimate conversation. Of course it was done by zoom,
but able to talk to Ali and ask her some
questions that maybe we wouldn't ordinarily get to ask her
in a format, you know, in a press conference format.
(06:19):
So that was really fun and I want to share
that with you. I know, you know, Ali Kreeger is
such a fan favorite when it comes to former players
and players, and you know she's still a player's advocate
at Gotham FC. She talks a little bit about that too,
and still so still doing great stuff, right, she hasn't
skipped a beat. Let me tell you from retirement into
(06:42):
this new role as broadcaster. So let's listen to it.
I hope you enjoy it, and please welcome two times
World Cup winner Ali Kreeger.
Speaker 2 (06:54):
Yeah, it's so great to chat with everyone, and I'm
so excited this next season coming up. I say, we
talked a lot about about it on the show last night.
I'm just excited with all the signings and just the
movement with all the teams. I do think it was
(07:14):
last year. They seem to be getting stronger and stronger.
I'm excited to see, you know what some of the
bottom you know teams could potentially do because they've strengthened
their squad as well as in a Utah and a Houston.
So that should be exciting coming up. And just thrilled
to kind of start this next year. And after the
(07:37):
end of Basia Media Day, talking to a lot of
the players, they all seem so thrilled with this next
phase of the league and the progression that is going in.
And I'm really happy with the media and the broadcasting
teams that are surrounding the league and just making it
more well known. So this will be an exciting year
and it just seems to be getting better and better.
(08:00):
And yeah, there's a lot of movement. There's a lot
of excitement and new coaches coming into the league and
a lot of changes that are going to be really
positive and impactful. So Yeah, that's what I'm looking for
to most.
Speaker 3 (08:16):
How's it going, Alan, Good to see you again.
Speaker 2 (08:18):
Yeah, good.
Speaker 3 (08:19):
I wanted to get your take on just the growth
of the league and specifically expansion. There's a two new
teams coming in next year. But I thought Jessica Berman
said something really interesting. I think it was last month.
Speaker 4 (08:38):
But she basically said that she was kind of looking
at MLS as a model which would essentially see the
number of teams in this league double over an indetermined.
Speaker 3 (08:51):
Period of time.
Speaker 4 (08:52):
But I was kind of wondering your take on that,
and do you think that thirty would be like a
good number for this league?
Speaker 3 (09:02):
Should it be more, should it be less?
Speaker 2 (09:04):
Like?
Speaker 3 (09:04):
How do you see that all playing out?
Speaker 2 (09:07):
Well? First and foremost, thank you for the question. First
and foremost, I like quantity over sorry, I like quality
over quantity, and I never want to delete the league.
I think we need to really be careful in the
way that we expand, and all of the resources and
the accommodations have to be in place for a team
to be successful, and the leadership has to be set
(09:29):
before you really open up to a lot of different
teams and cities around the country. Yes, do I think
we could potentially get there, that would be great, but
then you don't want the quality to drop. And I
think we do have a good amount of players in
this league who are very who are very good and
are continuing to get better and very technical. I think,
(09:52):
you know, the college league will definitely the NCAA and
the college teams will definitely hurt. I think a little
bit because as the league grows, I think the player
pool is going to grow, and a lot of these
younger players are going to get into the professional league
a lot quicker and a lot sooner, because I think
as the gap closes too. With what Emma has is
trying to do with the national team and developing a
(10:14):
lot of these younger players are kind of closing the
gap between the seniors who are really seasoned and experienced
compared to some of the younger players who don't have
that much development yet and aren't as experienced at that level.
I think she's working on doing that as well, So
I think we'll start to see more and more younger
players getting into the professional league. But you don't want
to dilute the league, right. You want to make sure
(10:35):
that you have quality players who can perform well. At
this level and you don't just want to stretch us
thin where you can't really enjoy the quality of the game.
It's not that I'm saying MS has done that. I
don't necessarily think that's the model that we should be,
you know, immediately following. I think there's some really great
models around the world in the European leagues of the
(10:55):
women's game that we could follow. But I'm just like
good for example, it's what I'm also really really too.
But for our country, you have to think it how
much bigger we are, right, so we have to facilitate that.
We have to think about that environment as well, where
you can maybe have a west, you know, an East,
a north, and a south region and then kind of
(11:16):
do it that way in the future. But we might
have to be different because other countries are such smaller
and they don't have as many teams. So that's going
to be the struggle moving forward. But I always want
to think of quality first, and I want to watch
good players play the game. I don't want to just
(11:36):
you know, open it up to anyone and everyone where
then the level drops, right, the development isn't happening, and
then you know, the coaches aren't also good enough to
be there, right, So you have to really make sure
all of that is in place before you just open
it up, you know, to as many teams as we
can fit.
Speaker 4 (11:56):
You know, over the last few years, player safety has
been a big top in this league, and I think
in a lot of ways things have really improved since
you know, everything went down a few years ago.
Speaker 2 (12:09):
But I wanted to.
Speaker 4 (12:10):
Get your take on the situation at BFC because there
have been some reports coming out lately in the last
couple of weeks about their.
Speaker 3 (12:19):
Head coach, and I think what's different about.
Speaker 4 (12:22):
This situation is with those accusations coming out, the team
has opted to keep him in place rather than like
previous teams have kind of put these coaches on some
sort of suspension or something like that. And you know,
the team seems to be backing him. And you know,
without getting into maybe some of the specifics of that
(12:43):
that situation and what kind of message does it said,
you know, having a coach in place who's been accused
of that and kind of keeping him there as this
investigation plays out, Yeah.
Speaker 2 (12:57):
That's difficult. You can't you know, just fire him a
media because if it's not you know, and if it's
not I don't want to say if it's not true.
I think I believe players, right. I believe when players,
you know, say their experience, that they're telling the truth, right.
I don't think they would go to those lengths or anybody,
any staff member, right, if they're complaining about the way
(13:18):
that they've been treated in that environment, you want to
believe that that's true. So they have to be investigated, right,
And if it comes to a point where, you know,
the investigation goes through and they don't find any fout
play or any harassment, so to speak, then you know,
I feel like he's going to keep his job. And
(13:40):
that's just the way that things go. But as long
as they're doing an investigation and they're talking to the
right people and they're getting answers, it's really all I
can say to that from the outside looking in, you
have to investigate it. You can't just ignore players having
these concerns. I think that's what's appropriate. But you also
can't just fire somebody assuming that those are the exact
(14:02):
things that have occurred. So you have to get both
sides of the story, and then they have to come
to a conclusion of what's best for the team and
the environment. But it's still unfortunate to see these things
happen because you just hope that you have staff and
players who want to be in environments that are safe,
that are healthy, that are allowing players develop and staff
(14:24):
to develop in a successful manner. You just want people
to go and do their job and do it right.
You don't want to have to show up to work
and think, oh, I'm going to go get harassed there,
I'm going to get bullied, or I'm going to get
you know, whatever it may be. You just want a
safe space to do your job and do it well.
And I'm hoping that we can move to, you know,
(14:45):
a space where that can continue to happen and grow,
because it would be nice as a player just to
show up and do your job and not have to
worry about all the other things off the field that
could happen. Right then, you have sometimes players who just
can't receive information or criticism and then they become disfrontled.
So I understand there's also moments like that, or players
(15:09):
are just unhappy because they're not playing and they don't
understand why, and they just don't like the team or
the environment. Or the coaching staff, So that's also coming
into play, and we have to just take all the
information we can and come to a conclusion. And that's
obviously not our job, that's the club's job, and whatever
they decided, hopefully will be the right decision for the
(15:30):
club to move forward. Hi Alias, great talking to you.
You mentioned at the beginning of.
Speaker 5 (15:38):
This that you think that you know, like the top
four teams on the table and will be the same. Obviously,
this weekend is the home opener between Age of City
and San Diego, two teams who didn't have the best
of seasons last time around.
Speaker 6 (15:51):
What do you feel like, coming from a player who's
had a lot of success and whose team has been
on the top, that these teams need to do and
moving forward this season to kind of maybe not winch
the top, but definitely.
Speaker 2 (16:02):
Get up there. Well, I think they have to take,
you know, one game at a time, one week at
a time. You know, things change. Is such a long season.
You know, sometimes players get injured, they're not available, your
lineup changes, formation changes. You shouldn't peaked right at the beginning. Anyway,
we went from last place to first place, so maybe
Houston can get to into the top four, but not
(16:23):
not much has changed within those top teams. And we
saw Orlando and DC look very familiar as they played
in the final of last season, and they look even
stronger and were you know, I guess consistent, and they
looked like they were you know, just strengthening both squads,
(16:43):
and so I don't doubt that they're going to be
at the top of the table. I think that was
proved to all of us on Friday and also now
here all this has a whole season with them, So
that's why I was, you know, thinking that they were
going to stay at the top as well. But I
do agree like Houston and a Utah who maybe finished
the season. Houston not so much as Utah, but Utah
(17:05):
maybe the last ten games with a new coach had
showed such improvement and it was, you know, such a
difference they had second half of the season from the
first part of the season for them. So I think
if they continue that mentality to take it week by week,
then they're going to have no problems, you know, fighting
for a playoff spot. And also with San Diego and
(17:25):
LA you know, just new opportunities, new coaches coming in
one's European Lady's going to be in and then potential
you know, Garrett Taylor from in City coming in in June,
who knows, you know. I think if everyone has this
mentality of starting fresh and they have, you know, a
new squad, there's a lot of turnover. So I think
(17:47):
there's going to be a new culture, new mentality anyway,
and that's always really refreshing for a team. I know,
for example, in twenty twenty two we came in the
last place at Gotham and then twenty twenty three, you know,
Lawn came in.
Speaker 3 (18:00):
There were a few changes to the squad.
Speaker 2 (18:02):
We had just this new mentality and this new excitement,
and I think that can fuel anyone to want to
be great. So good question any it's anybody's championship. Really,
you just have to have the mentality. You have to
have the leadership. I say this all the time. Leadership
is key from top down. And you can see the
Angela Heith Leaves, for example, coming into Houston and as
(18:22):
in the president role can really help facilitate and then
for Breeze coming in as the head coach, they're really
putting investment into the women's side. And I also think
Tim Howard having an effect on the ownership group. I think,
you know, he obviously has to win. So all of
that needs to be aligned in order for a team
to be successful. Not only and I've said this before,
(18:45):
not only do the players need everything they they you know,
want and need to be successful and thrive, but the
coaches also need everything to want to thrive and be
good at what they do. So it goes hand in hand.
But if I think it's anyone's, it's anyone's championship. You
just have to have the quality of players, the understanding
(19:07):
of the roles and responsibilities, and then leadership.
Speaker 5 (19:11):
And then if I could ask the follow up, I
know you kind of touched on this with Seth.
Speaker 6 (19:14):
In terms of the younger players, both LA and San
Diego have been.
Speaker 2 (19:18):
Incorporating a lot more younger players. We have the Thompson sisters,
Casey Fair, et cetera. How do you want to see.
Speaker 5 (19:25):
Youngsters utilized outside of the national team to kind of
push the NWS forward with some of these senior players,
you know, retire your adventure off to other opportunities.
Speaker 2 (19:36):
I think it's tough, right There's there's on field progression
and impacts and then there's off fields impacts, right and
building your brand. We were lucky at a time where
social media was just starting out in twenty eleven, really
on you know, the national team, and so we were
kind of right there, front row and center of everything
and just thrown out.
Speaker 3 (19:56):
There and just started to use our.
Speaker 2 (19:57):
Platforms to build our own brands up in order one
to make money and make a living and keep a
roof over our heads, you know, because we weren't just
making that for club football and playing on the national
team itself, it helped, but you know, we would make
more off the fields than on the field, so I
think we spent more time focused on that. But on fields.
(20:20):
I remember playing with Sandy Huth who was in Germany
and I was playing with Frankfurt. She was sixteen years
old and she played in front of me in the
Champions League game, and she just had that exposure and
that experience thrown at her at a very young age.
But she ended up thriving in that and playing with
a professional team at that age really helped her development.
She ended up being the German national team captain for
(20:43):
many years and played in big, big time tournaments, but
she wasn't scared at age twenty to jump into that
type of level and that atmosphere, that environment where you
have eighty thousand people watching you. I mean, she was
seasoned and she was well experienced by that time. She
had years at the professional level with FF Frankfort by then.
So I think it's really beneficial for a lot of
(21:06):
these younger players who have that willingness and that drive
to want to be good at football and want to
succeed in this sport, that they need to put themselves
in situations where players are better than them. And that's
for everyone in order to grow and be successful at
this level on field and then off field, whether you
like it or not, all the other things come along
(21:27):
with it. Right. I only signed up to play soccer
and to win games and championships. I didn't sign up to,
you know, be on social media all the time and
be an influencer. Right, that's not like my gig. I'm
an athlete. But it also comes along with it, and
building your brand is really important because that's how you
make a lot of money.
Speaker 3 (21:44):
And we've just been in.
Speaker 2 (21:46):
That life now for a long time and most of
our career because we have to survive, right, nowadays, it's
a little bit different because some of these younger players
are getting paid, you know, what they deserve and true
their true value, so they don't have to focus so
much on them. But all in all, I think it
goes hand in hand. You want to get these younger
(22:08):
players as long as they're good enough and they could
keep up and they can continue to develop.
Speaker 3 (22:13):
This is a great a great place for.
Speaker 2 (22:15):
Them, especially when you know the teams kind of continue
to grow and expand they have such good opportunities, which
is why I mentioned the college game might shift a
little bit and change.
Speaker 7 (22:40):
Hi, Ali, how are you? It's great?
Speaker 2 (22:43):
Thank you great that you're here.
Speaker 7 (22:46):
As a native of the d m V. I wanted
to get your opinion more on the Washington Spirit. Yeah,
I know you mentioned them already. They've had a lot
of signings this offseason. They already won the Challenge Cup.
Joanah is going to be in the job for a
full season this year. So what do you make of
their prospects this season? Picking into account they already also
(23:09):
have a lot of injuries.
Speaker 2 (23:11):
Right obviously, think you know Kroyd probably isn't back fully
fit just yet. There's still time and it's good that
it is right at the beginning of the seasoncause you
want to peak right away, like I'd mentioned before, so
she has time to get back into full fitness and
I'm sure her return to play is going to be
prioritized for them, but having her back is going to
be key. Obviously with tren I mentioned that she might
(23:34):
be up for the MVP of the Year, so I'm
hoping she can be consistent and week in and week
out and play as long as her back is holding up.
So I understand that's a struggle. Obviously Andy's out, but
I think Santos fills in such an amazing role for them.
We saw them on Friday night against Orlando and having
(23:54):
Rebecca Bernald come in from the Mexican national team, and
I think she's going to be incredible defensive defensively, whether
that's in a defensive midfielder role or a center back role,
she's going to be crucial. And I think she fills
in a great solid spot there for them. And then yeah,
(24:16):
just having Aubrey and Gold, having the spine of your
team with McEwan in the back as well, and her
confidence building after you know, national team experience recently. I
think she's going to be getting better and better, and
it's just nice to have a head coach who's going
to be there consistently for the entire year. I could
say from a player's perspective, it's really hard when you
(24:36):
don't have that day to day, you know, contact and
consistency with a head coach right when they come in
half the season, which is why I'm a little bit
nervous for Angel City because if Lady gets them off
to a good start and then they have a new
coach come in in June, it's just really difficult to
kind of change that whole, you know, tactical approach, the formation, personnel,
(25:00):
like it's just a lot listen, it could all go well.
But I'm also happy for Washington to have a full
season with him to be able to implement what he's
really going to implement. And I think that possession oriented
style of the fact space that dictating the game mentality
is going to be really healthy for them. And despite
the fact that they have these injuries, it didn't really
(25:22):
seem to affect them negatively.
Speaker 3 (25:23):
Last year getting to the final.
Speaker 2 (25:25):
Just in those big moments, I mean to step up
and really utilizing all the players because you need big
players to do big players in big games, right, And
I'm hoping that they can get everyone fit and healthy
for the season altogether, because I think they if they do,
they're going to be damn good, awesome.
Speaker 3 (25:47):
And then one follow up for you.
Speaker 7 (25:49):
We've mentioned a lot the growth of the league and
I just wanted to get your perspective because you've also
played a broad Where do you feel the league sits
at this point in time? Do you think it's the
strongest league in the world. Do you think it's heading
in that direction. We've seen a lot of foreign players
and coaches coming in in recent seasons, so just curious
(26:09):
to hear your opinion on where the NWSL sits compared
to say the WSL, LEGA Fit, etc.
Speaker 2 (26:18):
Yeah. I do think we are in the best I
think we still need a few of the best European
players in order to solidify that top spot as the
best league in the world, because you see in the
WSL you have a lot of amazing and incredible Europeans
playing there for you know, obviously various teams. There's Barcelona
(26:39):
of Leon, you have Chelsea of you know, Arsenal even
competing and Wolfsburg Bayern. So I would love to see
more Europeans in our in our league. But it's a
different type of game, right and everybody wants to win
the Champions League. Everybody wants to play Champions League football.
There's nothing that compares to it at the club level,
and so that is the ultimate goal. And when you
(26:59):
play indivisal and when you play in the US for
a long time, you obviously want a different challenge. I
also think that's that, and you want to go overseas.
It's exactly what I how I felt even though we
didn't have a league as strong as the INDIVISL when
I was coming out of college and not a league
at all just had folded. I was kind of forced
to go there in order to make it to where
I wanted to be. So that's a different that's a
(27:21):
different time period obviously, And now you just see coaches
who maybe want a new challenge, so they want to
come to the NDAVISL and kind of, you know, have
a different experience and challenge themselves in a different level.
So I think it's about it's it's it's both players
and coaches, but a lot of European players really enjoy
(27:41):
that slower paced, tactical, technical game. It's not better or worse,
you know, it's just what you as a player can
thrive in which environment fits best to your style play.
Speaker 3 (27:54):
So you have to kind of go through a lot
of variables.
Speaker 2 (27:56):
It's not just to say, oh, we have the best
league because we have the most athletics as pace high
pressing players in the world. Yeah, do we have really
good players. We do, but so do other league So
it's touch to compare when you don't have Champions League
football too. I think that's such a draw why American players.
Speaker 3 (28:17):
Want to go and have that experience.
Speaker 2 (28:19):
But hopefully in the future a lot of European players
will continue to come and we're starting to see that
even this year and at the end of last year,
so that's exciting as well.
Speaker 7 (28:30):
Do you think the parody in the league is something
that's attractive to players because I think in some of
the European leagues we see one team kind of winning
year after year.
Speaker 3 (28:41):
Yeah, you're absolutely right.
Speaker 2 (28:42):
The parody. I mean, any any game, any team can
win on any weekend here, right, it's so difficult to
win this league because every game amount if you're in
last place or first place, it doesn't matter. It's always
going to be exciting. There's always going to be you know, yeah, parody,
which is I'm glad you brought the up because that's
what's so attractive to a lot of us here, and
(29:02):
that's why a lot of us continue to play here
because I did go to Germany and there are only
like two or three teams at the top of the
league at the time, which was US Potsdam and Wolfsburg
and Byron maybe coming in at fourth.
Speaker 3 (29:14):
So that was consistent every year, and.
Speaker 2 (29:17):
Sometimes that just gets to be a bit monotonous. As
you can see, Chelsea's just bulking up their team.
Speaker 3 (29:21):
They're probably going.
Speaker 2 (29:22):
To be sit at the top of the table for
the next few years, you know, your fight with Manstony
and Arsenal and now Man United is obviously in third,
so yeah, we'll see. But that's a good point. It
is very very athletic, fast paced, transitional, high pressing game
in the US, and a lot of Europeans, you know,
(29:44):
you know, they just don't want to do that type
of running. But it's it's also a lot of travel too,
It's a lot on your body, so I can understand why,
you know, there's both attract both leagues are very attractive.
Thank you for the opportunity.
Speaker 1 (30:01):
I appreciate it. Ali, you were one of my first
guests on my show and my podcast back in two
thousand and thirteen when no one had podcasts and you
came on, and it was I'm like, so indebted to
you for that.
Speaker 2 (30:13):
So I appreciate that.
Speaker 1 (30:17):
Now everyone's gone, but my but one thing that you
said to me at that time that I always remembered
was you said that you thrived on pressure. And I'm
wondering if you've taken that mindset as a player who
thrives on pressure, to take that into the broadcasting booth
with you into this this new this new landscape. I
(30:39):
guess that you're in.
Speaker 2 (30:40):
Yeah, great question. I do. I think I do that
and everything I do right like I.
Speaker 3 (30:45):
I'm so, it's just it's just in me.
Speaker 2 (30:48):
It's just something that drives me. I love to be
under pressure. I love, Yeah, everything that has to do
with pressure and thriving in that space. I think that
adrenaline as well is something that's, you know, really exciting.
So yeah, for me specifically, that's I'm just so used
(31:09):
to it at the playing at the highest level and
on the world's biggest stages. It's hard to like, I
guess turn the knob down a little bit and turn
the switch off. I think it's something I will do
and everything that occurs and and what I am my
hand in and and different aspects of my life and
different passions. So yeah, I think that's still true today,
(31:31):
even after I've retired. I'm very competitive and still addicted
to winning and want to be in pressure situation situations
because I feel like, oddly enough, I'm calm in those
situations because I'm so familiar with it.
Speaker 1 (31:45):
It seems like the transition happened for you pretty pretty seamlessly,
and then on top of it, you were also a
voice for women players. You still continue to be and
in fighting for the rights, and do you take that
also in broadcasting, is there's something like within the show
that do you have a voice?
Speaker 2 (32:03):
Do you have goals?
Speaker 1 (32:04):
Are you able to like bring that to the table.
Speaker 2 (32:07):
Yeah, I do. I feel like it's really important to
not only talk about football, but also everything that comes
along with the game and to help these players succeed
in the environments, the accommodations and resources. I think if
you still talk about it, especially in media, when you
have all the eyes watching, then people will listen. And
I think understanding the game is not just what's on
(32:29):
the field, but off the field as well. And I
think having a player's experience is so key for broadcasting
as well, because you've lived it, you've breathed it, you've
been there, you have firsthand experience. And that's also why
I love my ambassador Wile of GOTHAMFC, because I'm having
a meeting lader with the club as well to just
talk about things that they can you know, one improve,
(32:51):
but also you know, host events or you know, do
specific things for the players because I feel like I'm
a liaison also between the players and the club. So
I think it's just nice to have a player's perspective,
no matter if it's broadcasting or on our own platforms,
in podcasts, you know, just out of games. I think
(33:13):
it's extremely important because we live it every day and
we know what's needed. We know what the players want
and what can help them succeed. So I want to
continue to do that, whether that's in the studio and
now that my job is to analyze the games and
players and provide some content behind that and education as
(33:34):
well behind that. But I do feel like it's a
really great platform for us to talk about, you know,
the real the realness about off field stuff as well,
and how we can help these women really succeed and
thrive off the field and out of the workspace, so
to speak as well. Thank you, appreciate that. Appreciate you.
Speaker 8 (33:57):
Yeah, Ellie serve on that stread how he brought up
like you've always been an advocate And I remember you
spoke to a group of US media at the Final
four in Houston and twenty twenty three back when you're
sing then you were you were really passionate about the
broadcasting situation in particular, thing we deserve more, we deserve better. Well,
(34:17):
the league signs its new broadcasting deals.
Speaker 2 (34:19):
That November, and now how do you.
Speaker 8 (34:23):
Where it's at from from a broadcasting standpoint?
Speaker 2 (34:26):
Yeah, I feel amazing, And I feel like, you know,
people are really paying attention and hearing us and supporting
us and putting money behind us and investing. That's what
it's all about, because they know that it's such a
good product. Right, you have quality human beings first and foremost,
and then you have extremely qualified and talented players who
(34:47):
deserve to be on you know, the Friday nights games
and you know prime time Saturdays and Sunday afternoons. And
I think that its people are recognizing that you're not
only investing in the club and new organizations in the league,
but you're investing in the players who are performing week
weekly within these clubs and within these leagues. And so
(35:11):
it's great that we have five I think broadcasting companies.
I think ESPN is obviously leading the way in that
and really also not afraid to support all of the
other for broadcasting media companies and holding their hand and
really guiding them so that it's kind of a project,
a team project. It's it's really healthy to see and
(35:33):
it's so much progress and I wish that, you know,
I was still playing another five ten years just to
enjoy the benefits of it all. Now I'm kind of
you know, at the desk and behind the behind the scenes.
But it's it's really great to see the impact that
we've had as players too kind of now you know,
continue to grow and and you know people are actually
(35:56):
finally hearing us, and it's just comforting, is rewarding because
you work so hard over the years to just get
the game to where it's at now and the work
is not done, and it can continue to grow. You know,
we're not quite there, but we're closer and we're getting
there each and every day, and every season is getting better.
(36:19):
You could see that even at the final and twenty
twenty three, they put so much money into really making
an experience for the players and really being professional and
having these parties and having these you know, just the
hotel was dressed up with the signage and you know,
you really felt like the media behind it, the content
behind it, the game itself. The field wasn't great, which
(36:42):
was probably the most important part, but you know, we're
working on that. But you could see the end of
baself really and then having a media day this year
for all the players that come in the you know,
doing photo shoots in the new jerseys, and I mean
it's growing tremendously and it's really about the players, and
the media is investing now, and broadcasting teams are investing now,
(37:05):
and it's just really rewarding because that's exactly what we
wanted to do all this time. And if you invest,
you can actually see the quality that you're investing in,
and it's so so important and you can see the investment.
As long as that continues to grow, then the players
are giving more because they're happier, they're earning more, and
(37:27):
you know, the game is just really really.
Speaker 3 (37:30):
Fun to watch now for sure.
Speaker 8 (37:32):
And on a personal level, how are you feeling about
broadcasting after a season of doing it and maybe especially
with doing both the studio work and the game work.
Speaker 2 (37:43):
Yeah, it's hard, right, it's I love it. I love
talking soccer, I love analyzing games, I love analyzing players,
and just you know, I guess just pumping up the
league and also dabbling in the lega and matchis feminia.
I think that's important to talk about because you know,
the World Cup coming up hopefully in twenty thirty one,
we're going to be hosting all inside them and then
(38:04):
you know Canada to our neighbors having talking about you know,
their new league coming out, and then the WSL now
that ESPN has taken over, you know, broadcasting for the WSL.
It's just enjoyable that we have now women's games on
all the time. It's hard because you don't always get
right and you are learning every single day, but more
(38:27):
reps you get, the better it'll become, and the easier
it'll become. So I'm learning a lot behind the scenes,
and I'm learning that media is a lot tougher than
it looks from the outside in. And I'm really enjoying
the Yeah, working with other badass female hosts and journalists
and reporters along the way, I think they have been
(38:48):
incredible and everybody just wants each other to win. So
that's something that's really exciting at ESPN. Perfect. Thank you
so much, Thank you, Thank you everyone. I hope you
have a great first and there is no weekends.
Speaker 1 (39:05):
So great, I mean, wasn't that That's just I mean,
I'm blown away by Ali Kreeger's knowledge, but also the
fact that, I mean she just dives in head first
into everything she does. Right, This girl does not do
anything half assed. She did it with her career. You know,
when there was no league here, she went off and
played in Germany, she came back. You know, she fought
(39:28):
for equal rights for women, fought for equal pay, and
you know, she won a lot of awards along the way,
and really hated to see her retire when she did,
but it wasn't the last we saw her, right, thank goodness.
But yeah, I'm just so blown away by her knowledge
and even watching the broadcast, like she was on the
broadcast the day after this panel interview, and I was like, man,
(39:53):
you know she's done her research. She's fully excited about this.
I mean, you can't fake that. You heard it right.
You heard that excite in her voice and that passion
that she has for the game. It definitely spills over.
It's genuine, right, It's not something put on that she
just loves this game. She loves talking about the players.
He heard her. She loves talking about the teams. And
(40:14):
if you're not excited about the beginning of a season,
of any season, from listening to Ali Krieger, I don't know.
She got a site hyped up for sure. And hey,
I want to give a big shout out and thanks
to the good people at ESPN for including me in this.
I mean, there's some great writers on this panel. The
fact that I was included in it just is like
(40:34):
mind bottling. They maybe they didn't figure me out yet,
but no, it'd be great to be a part of
that panel. But I want to thank Macnulu and also
want to thank Christine Kolcogno for inviting me on that panel.
It was an honor and I just I loved every
minute of it and glad to be able to share
it with you most of all, So really appreciate that
(40:56):
to be involved in that panel. Very honored to be
amongst that panel of really great sports writers and respected
sports writers. And I don't know, I don't know what
I was doing there, but thank you for for Espan
for inviting me. It was a pleasure. And let me
just tell you if you are an Ali Kreeger fan
(41:17):
and you always wondered, like, you know, what does she
really like in person? Everything that you want her to be.
She is. She's such a nice person. She's so down
to earth, she's so engaged when she talks to you.
I've talked to her many times over the years, just
like you know, uh mix zones and you know, postgame
and press conferences and things like that, and also on
(41:40):
the show as a guest. But let me just tell
you that sometimes there are players who are not fully
engaged in the conversation when you're asking them questions. They
are their eyes are darting around, you know, they're they're
thinking about what they're they're gonna do, Like if they
get away from this media person you or the mix
zone whatever, Like, you know, they're just not engaged, which
(42:02):
is okay, you know, they've got they're busy, you know,
that's you know a lot of times it's after the
game and players want to go and have dinner with
their families or whatever. But Ali Kreeger is one of
those players who's always so happy to see you, so
happy to see the even the media, right, just so engaged,
actively listening really like like just like, what are you saying.
(42:24):
I'm going to answer you with the best that I have.
I've never seen Ali Kreeger be anything but that postgame
pregame you know now, like in the studio, Like she's
just she's just one of the nicest people in the
game that you'll ever want to meet, and always willing
to take time, you know, and take time, and that's
(42:45):
so appreciated and so rare, you know, it really is.
I can name a handful of players or former players
who are like that, and she's one of that. So
she's really a great role model. If you're Ali Kreeger fan,
I hope that you're happy to hear that nice, nice
person and so knowledgeable is floored by her knowledge and
the fact and the time that she probably puts in
(43:06):
the study because this isn't easy. You know, We've seen
other athletes in all sports, you know, try to try
to make that transition into the you know, whether the
broadcast booth or analyzing or you know whatever, and it's
and they don't. They don't do it. They don't do
it well right, they fail miserably, and some people just
don't do it. And it's it's a tough gig, it
(43:27):
really is. It's really tough. But she's done it, and
she's doing it, and she's doing it seamlessly and very
very well. So if you can catch her, if you're
you know, on ESPN W or you know, if you're
outside the States or ESPN or their affiliate stations, catch
Ali Kreeger and she and you'll learn something. I know
I did just yeah, just from that interview or from
(43:48):
that discussion. And I'm also learning from her analysis in
the booth, postgame, pregame, during the game. So great, Hey,
I really hope that you enjoyed episode, by the way,
a Women's World Football Show. I would love to hear
thoughts on this conversation with the great Ali Krueger. Feel
free to email me at Patti at wwfshow dot com.
(44:10):
I read all the emails and I do my best
to reply in a timely manner. If you did enjoy
this episode, subscribe now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeartRadio, app,
tuned in, Castbox, Spreaker, Stitcher, wwfshow dot Com, or wherever
you're listening to this right now. And if you really
really enjoy listening to Women's World Football Show, one of
the best ways you could show your appreciation is to
(44:30):
give us a five star rating and leave a review
wherever you listen. Always love to know your thoughts and
reviews are the best ways for others to find the show. Also,
another way to help grow the show and grow this
beautiful game that we love is to tell your friends
and family about Women's World Football Show. If you're listening
on mobile device, swipe over the cover art and you'll
find the episode notes, including some details you may have
missed the relative links from this episode. Visit our show
(44:53):
notes on WWF show dot com, connect with us on Facebook, Instagram,
and TikTok at WWF Show. Women's Roll Football Show is hosted, written,
editing produced by Patti Lavella and that's me. Additional assistance
for this episode by Christine Calcagno and Mac Noulu. Appreciate you, guys,
and of course all the good people at ESPN, and
(45:16):
thank you especially you for joining me on this exciting
journey through women's football. Stay strong, stay mindful, keep loving
your heart. Just see you next time.
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