WEBVTT - She Came, She Saw, She F****d S*** Up with Merritt Mathias

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<v Speaker 1>Welcome to Good Game with Sarah Spain, where we're dumping

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<v Speaker 1>out our trick or treating bag, separating candy by our

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<v Speaker 1>faves and which ones we're willing to trade anybody wants

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<v Speaker 1>some whoppers. On today's show, we're talking to Angel City

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<v Speaker 1>defender Merrett Matthias about her decision to retire the NWSL's

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<v Speaker 1>evolution from game one to today, needing time to see

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<v Speaker 1>the worthiness of her career and accomplishments and the.

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<v Speaker 2>Legacy that she's leaving behind.

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<v Speaker 1>Plus PWHL expansion and poorly timed awards.

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<v Speaker 2>It's all coming up right after this.

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<v Speaker 1>Welcome back, slices and Happy Halloween. Here's what you need

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<v Speaker 1>to know today. Let's start with some news that I

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<v Speaker 1>got to hear first during a panel I hosted at

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<v Speaker 1>the espnW summit on Tuesday. Professional Women's Hockey League Senior

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<v Speaker 1>VP of Business ops Amy Sheer announced that the league

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<v Speaker 1>is planning to expand from six teams to eight, potentially

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<v Speaker 1>as soon as next season. The league plans to issue

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<v Speaker 1>a request for proposals from interested markets, and y'all know,

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<v Speaker 1>I'm hoping Chicago is in the mix, and if we

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<v Speaker 1>get a team, I'm immediately stealing Kendall quinnscofield for my squad.

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<v Speaker 1>In balloon Dior News, Spain's Ititana bon Maddi won her

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<v Speaker 1>second straight Ballon d'Or feminine, the award given annually to

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<v Speaker 1>the best player in the world. Bone Madi, a midfielder

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<v Speaker 1>who plays for Barcelona, helped her club win the Liga

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<v Speaker 1>F Women's Champion League, Copa de la Rena and Spanish

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<v Speaker 1>super Copa last year, the first time the club has.

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<v Speaker 2>Won all four trophies in the same season.

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<v Speaker 1>Meanwhile, US women's national team boss Emma Hayes won the

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<v Speaker 1>inaugural Ballon d'Or Coach of the Year award after leading

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<v Speaker 1>the US to Olympic gold, and then she went on

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<v Speaker 1>to call out event organizers for always holding the prestigious

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<v Speaker 1>award ceremony in the middle of a women's FIFA window. Hayes,

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<v Speaker 1>along with most of the nominated players, wasn't able to

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<v Speaker 1>attend the event in Paris as she was in the

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<v Speaker 1>middle of a US women's national team camp.

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<v Speaker 2>Take a listen, Yeah.

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<v Speaker 3>I mean, it'd be like running an oscars, wouldn't it

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<v Speaker 3>without a Golden Globe, without having any females present. It

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<v Speaker 3>just wouldn't happen. I think that all too often it's

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<v Speaker 3>an afterthought to be honest with you, and I know

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<v Speaker 3>that there's nothing you know I can do to control that.

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<v Speaker 3>If I'm honest with you, I'm happy to be with

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<v Speaker 3>my team. I'm not really one for the glam so

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<v Speaker 3>I love Paris, but I'm happy to be with my team.

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<v Speaker 3>But I think for those players and coaches and is

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<v Speaker 3>the one industry moment they get recognized. And it's disappointing,

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<v Speaker 3>but one that I did speak to. I did speak

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<v Speaker 3>to the organize about it, and they said that that

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<v Speaker 3>is something that will be changing in the future, and

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<v Speaker 3>let's hope that that is the case.

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<v Speaker 1>The US woman's national team and MA has closed out

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<v Speaker 1>the international window against Argentina last day in Louisville.

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<v Speaker 2>Will have more on that game tomorrow.

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<v Speaker 1>More soccer news, Angel City announced that the club has

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<v Speaker 1>signed veteran forward Sidney LaRue to a new three year

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<v Speaker 1>contract through the twenty twenty seventh season. LaRue, who has

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<v Speaker 1>played in the league since it started in twenty thirteen,

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<v Speaker 1>has been with Angel City since twenty twenty two, when

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<v Speaker 1>she was traded from Orlando midway through the season. Y'all

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<v Speaker 1>have to see the announcement that Angel City sent out

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<v Speaker 1>for this extension.

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<v Speaker 2>This is the cutest.

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<v Speaker 1>Contract extension photo you'll ever see. It's Sid's two kids,

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<v Speaker 1>Cassius and Rue, wearing Angel City jerseys with the numbers

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<v Speaker 1>twenty and twenty seven, the year through which Sid is

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<v Speaker 1>now signed. We'll post a link to that pick in

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<v Speaker 1>our show notes.

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<v Speaker 2>We got to take a quick break when we come back.

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<v Speaker 1>Don't miss this an honest, raw and sometimes tearful conversation

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<v Speaker 1>with retiring NWSL legend Meary at Matthias.

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<v Speaker 2>Joining us.

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<v Speaker 1>She's a right back for Angel CITYFC of the NWSL,

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<v Speaker 1>and has won three NWSL shields and three NWSL championships

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<v Speaker 1>during her twelve seasons in the league. One championship with

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<v Speaker 1>FC Kansas City, one shield with the Seattle Rain and

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<v Speaker 1>two doubles with the North Carolina Current. She heared a

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<v Speaker 1>cap with the US when it's national team in twenty eighteen.

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<v Speaker 1>She played college soccer at UNC and Texas and M

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<v Speaker 1>And she's not dating Sydney LaRue, no matter how many

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<v Speaker 1>times the Internet wants it to be.

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<v Speaker 2>So it's Merret, Matthia's what's up? Merrit? What's up? Everyone.

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<v Speaker 2>Thank you for having me, Thanks for doing this. We're

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<v Speaker 2>reunited where we first hung out. I know. Anniversary. Wow,

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<v Speaker 2>it is our anniversary.

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<v Speaker 1>I've seen you less than I would hope if this

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<v Speaker 1>is the one year occasion.

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<v Speaker 4>Of our data, I know, but I feel like the

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<v Speaker 4>retirement is just going to open up so much time.

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<v Speaker 2>I have so much more time to get.

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<v Speaker 1>This conversation will need to be more professional than any

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<v Speaker 1>conversation we had here last year.

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<v Speaker 2>Perfect. I think I'm ready for it, and the bar

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<v Speaker 2>is low mart.

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<v Speaker 1>We literally could talk about almost anything anxietly qualifying. Okay,

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<v Speaker 1>so you announced that you're retiring at the end of

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<v Speaker 1>this season with, in my opinion, the perfect caption I came,

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<v Speaker 1>I saw I ship up.

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<v Speaker 2>Perfect.

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<v Speaker 1>Angel City has been eliminated from the postseason, which means

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<v Speaker 1>we are having this conversation as you are preparing for

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<v Speaker 1>your last professional soccer game.

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<v Speaker 2>What are the emotions. I feel very at peace.

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<v Speaker 4>I am also currently just not able to play soccer.

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<v Speaker 4>I sprained my mcl acl about a few weeks ago,

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<v Speaker 4>and my body is taking longer than I would.

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<v Speaker 2>Like for it too to recover.

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<v Speaker 4>So the end of my season, the end of my career,

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<v Speaker 4>looks much different than I anticipated. There was a moment

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<v Speaker 4>where I had been coming back and we were in

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<v Speaker 4>the back season of our or back half of our season,

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<v Speaker 4>and I was like four appearances away from like hitting

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<v Speaker 4>two hundred, and I was like, all I have.

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<v Speaker 2>To do is make it into like four games.

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<v Speaker 4>Make appearances. I'm going to wrap a bow around this career.

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<v Speaker 4>It's going to be great.

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<v Speaker 2>And then yeah, we go to Louisville.

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<v Speaker 4>I go to block a shot and has changed in

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<v Speaker 4>a matter of an instant, and I immediately knew.

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<v Speaker 2>I'm like, this isn't good.

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<v Speaker 4>And so I pushed to try to get back and

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<v Speaker 4>my body just wasn't having it.

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<v Speaker 2>My knee couldn't hit a ball in the same way.

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<v Speaker 4>And so there were a few days that were really

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<v Speaker 4>really tough, and just having to accept that I don't

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<v Speaker 4>have control over this thing that I very much thought

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<v Speaker 4>that it was going to end a certain way. I

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<v Speaker 4>think within that time, allowing myself to kind of accept that,

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<v Speaker 4>be at peace with that, and kind of be able

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<v Speaker 4>to acknowledge that not ending my career the way that

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<v Speaker 4>I want to take doesn't take away anything from what

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<v Speaker 4>I've done. And so with that and a lot of

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<v Speaker 4>love and support from friends and family. I decided to

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<v Speaker 4>lean into like being celebrated and really lean into what

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<v Speaker 4>our last.

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<v Speaker 2>Home game looked like.

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<v Speaker 4>And it was just an incredible, incredible moment for me,

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<v Speaker 4>and I think that was it allowed me to put

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<v Speaker 4>a bow around a really successful career and one that I'm.

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<v Speaker 2>Really proud of. I want to talk about the retirement ceremony.

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<v Speaker 1>I want to talk about the physical aspect and the

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<v Speaker 1>battle you had just to play this season. But I

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<v Speaker 1>guess what I mean by your final professional game is

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<v Speaker 1>that it's so much more than just playing soccer. It's

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<v Speaker 1>being in the locker room with your teammates, it's being

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<v Speaker 1>on the sidelines, it's being in uniform or in street

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<v Speaker 1>closer or whatever it is, but being with your teammates

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<v Speaker 1>in a way that you can always come back and

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<v Speaker 1>after retirement you could be a part of things. But

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<v Speaker 1>is there any part of you that that last moment

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<v Speaker 1>of like looking around at the fans or the pre

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<v Speaker 1>and post game stuff, even as an injured player, is

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<v Speaker 1>there any part of it you're going to pay special

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<v Speaker 1>attention to.

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<v Speaker 2>In that moment and like really try to take in.

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<v Speaker 4>I feel for me, the last game it was really

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<v Speaker 4>much like looking around and being like, oh my gosh,

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<v Speaker 4>Like I feel so privileged to have played on the

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<v Speaker 4>teams that I've played on and to be surrounded by

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<v Speaker 4>the women that I've been surrounded by. I would argue

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<v Speaker 4>that I've been a part of some of the best

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<v Speaker 4>teams in the NWSL, not just on the field but

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<v Speaker 4>outside of that, and they have, you know, those big

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<v Speaker 4>and small moments have like shaped who I am so much.

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<v Speaker 4>And you love a locker room and like a good

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<v Speaker 4>locker room because it's like what you're drawn to is

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<v Speaker 4>that allows you to be exactly who you are and

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<v Speaker 4>be loved for it.

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<v Speaker 2>And I think along my way and along my journey.

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<v Speaker 4>The more that I've been comfortable with fully being who

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<v Speaker 4>I am, I hope that I've allowed other people to

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<v Speaker 4>believe that they can do the same. So yeah, that

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<v Speaker 4>you hear everyone say, like, you just miss the locker room.

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<v Speaker 4>There's nothing that replicates that ever again, And so in

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<v Speaker 4>that like the last game, you look around and I.

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<v Speaker 2>Think that's why it was so touching for the team

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<v Speaker 2>to have dressed.

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<v Speaker 4>Like me walking in and to have had these like

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<v Speaker 4>really special moments where I'm like, I think I was

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<v Speaker 4>in all of just like what I have meant to

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<v Speaker 4>people and when I have meant to people on my

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<v Speaker 4>team and for them to take the time to like

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<v Speaker 4>dedicate something to me was really really special. So yeah,

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<v Speaker 4>that will be missed. I think you also, it's really funny.

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<v Speaker 4>I'm like, I love being around like our younger players,

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<v Speaker 4>like the Ilissa's and the Kennedy's and the G's, And

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<v Speaker 4>you're like, wow, you keep me young. You know, like

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<v Speaker 4>there is a part of it that you feel, like

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<v Speaker 4>Peter Pan like you don't grow up in this. And

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<v Speaker 4>I like, I was actually with Sue and p not

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<v Speaker 4>too long ago and I said something.

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<v Speaker 2>They're like, what does that mean? I was like, what

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<v Speaker 2>do you mean? You don't know what that means? And

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<v Speaker 2>like a retired they kept young, They're not being kept young.

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<v Speaker 2>And so I'm like, oh my god. I had a

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<v Speaker 2>moment of like, am I going to get old? Like that?

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<v Speaker 2>Those little things are.

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<v Speaker 4>Those little things You're like, oh my gosh, this is

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<v Speaker 4>such a massive part of my life. Not to say

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<v Speaker 4>that I don't have community outside of soccer that I'm sure.

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<v Speaker 2>I will lean heavily on. And I think actually now

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<v Speaker 2>it is better.

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<v Speaker 1>There is a lot more ability for female athletes to

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<v Speaker 1>get together after their careers because it is a bigger

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<v Speaker 1>deal to go to games, to go to championships. There's

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<v Speaker 1>more events, there's more parties, there's more reasons to get together.

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<v Speaker 1>I really feel for athletes of earlier times that that

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<v Speaker 1>was it, like, you're probably not they're going to spread

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<v Speaker 1>out across the country. There's not broadcasting opportunities, there's not

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<v Speaker 1>managing and coaching opportunities, none of that stuff.

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<v Speaker 2>So you will, you will get to be around them.

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<v Speaker 4>Yeah, it's just that picture has changed a bit, which

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<v Speaker 4>is a wonderful thing.

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<v Speaker 2>It's always great to bring.

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<v Speaker 4>I think the first year that the league really invested

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<v Speaker 4>in like a championship weekend that really like kind of

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<v Speaker 4>set the tone was DC and I remember being in

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<v Speaker 4>this party and it's like, what the what is this

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<v Speaker 4>going to be? Like?

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<v Speaker 2>Is it gonna be fun?

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<v Speaker 4>You kind of had like anything the league does, it's

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<v Speaker 4>kind of like not a.

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<v Speaker 2>Torny, it's you know these things that you're like, eh,

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<v Speaker 2>And it was one of the best nights.

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<v Speaker 4>I think, I will like woke come the next day,

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<v Speaker 4>I'm like I'm so hungover, Like I had no intention

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<v Speaker 4>of that being the case.

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<v Speaker 2>And within that.

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<v Speaker 4>Moment, there were like so many players from around the

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<v Speaker 4>league that had come in, and whether you know someone

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<v Speaker 4>closely or not, you just have a general respect if

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<v Speaker 4>you've played in this league for any length of time,

0:11:37.440 --> 0:11:40.720
<v Speaker 4>and you're just like you connect on that level. So

0:11:40.800 --> 0:11:42.600
<v Speaker 4>all of a sudden, you're like, even though I don't

0:11:42.600 --> 0:11:45.040
<v Speaker 4>know you, I feel like I know you, and I

0:11:45.160 --> 0:11:48.160
<v Speaker 4>know of you enough from like people in between that

0:11:48.679 --> 0:11:51.520
<v Speaker 4>it just is a really incredible community of women.

0:11:52.040 --> 0:11:53.360
<v Speaker 2>And so that's been really fun.

0:11:53.400 --> 0:11:56.160
<v Speaker 4>It's been really fun to see like that kind of

0:11:56.200 --> 0:11:58.560
<v Speaker 4>takeoff in our league where to your point, you have

0:11:58.720 --> 0:12:01.880
<v Speaker 4>moments an opportunity to like get that thing that you

0:12:01.960 --> 0:12:06.280
<v Speaker 4>love so much, which is the camaraderie of women's sport.

0:12:07.040 --> 0:12:10.760
<v Speaker 1>You mentioned that a lot of your teammate showed up

0:12:10.800 --> 0:12:14.120
<v Speaker 1>wearing fits inspired by you for that last ACFC home game.

0:12:14.400 --> 0:12:15.920
<v Speaker 2>A lot of tears, a lot of laughs.

0:12:17.520 --> 0:12:19.440
<v Speaker 1>You are one of the most stylish players in sport.

0:12:19.559 --> 0:12:22.920
<v Speaker 1>That is a very notable thing about you. Who nailed

0:12:22.960 --> 0:12:25.440
<v Speaker 1>their version of merit best. Oh my gosh.

0:12:26.120 --> 0:12:28.079
<v Speaker 4>I will start off by saying, I think everyone did

0:12:28.120 --> 0:12:32.560
<v Speaker 4>like such an incredible job. I was actually blown away.

0:12:32.679 --> 0:12:35.959
<v Speaker 4>I think I loved like Alyssa's take and Gee's take

0:12:36.120 --> 0:12:40.120
<v Speaker 4>just because it was like, we're like straight up replicating it.

0:12:41.200 --> 0:12:45.120
<v Speaker 4>I loved Kjo's like she did her thing in a

0:12:45.280 --> 0:12:49.280
<v Speaker 4>me inspired way. So honestly, I can't really choose, Like

0:12:49.360 --> 0:12:52.120
<v Speaker 4>everyone did. They saw an incredible job, they did such

0:12:52.120 --> 0:12:53.000
<v Speaker 4>an incredible job.

0:12:53.480 --> 0:12:53.640
<v Speaker 2>You know.

0:12:53.720 --> 0:12:56.319
<v Speaker 1>The tunnel fits, the desire to get to know players

0:12:56.360 --> 0:12:59.000
<v Speaker 1>off the field, to get to know people's personalities. It's

0:12:59.040 --> 0:13:01.640
<v Speaker 1>all part of this growing fan and media attention for

0:13:01.679 --> 0:13:03.520
<v Speaker 1>the league in a way that didn't exist before. And

0:13:03.520 --> 0:13:06.240
<v Speaker 1>you're really uniquely positioned to talk about how different it

0:13:06.240 --> 0:13:09.240
<v Speaker 1>feels now from day one because you were literally there

0:13:09.360 --> 0:13:12.920
<v Speaker 1>day one, the very first NWSL match with FC Kansas

0:13:12.960 --> 0:13:15.720
<v Speaker 1>City in April of twenty thirteen. So how do you

0:13:15.720 --> 0:13:17.880
<v Speaker 1>put in perspective how much things have changed in the

0:13:17.880 --> 0:13:19.359
<v Speaker 1>twelve years of the NWSL.

0:13:20.160 --> 0:13:23.040
<v Speaker 2>Well, I can tell you no one had enough money

0:13:23.080 --> 0:13:27.240
<v Speaker 2>to buy an sick outfit. I no Commas in that

0:13:27.280 --> 0:13:27.840
<v Speaker 2>first page.

0:13:27.880 --> 0:13:30.679
<v Speaker 4>Oh Commas did not have a comma in that first paycheck,

0:13:30.679 --> 0:13:33.600
<v Speaker 4>which I think we talked about. Yeah, I remember getting

0:13:33.600 --> 0:13:36.480
<v Speaker 4>my first paycheck and it missed.

0:13:38.160 --> 0:13:40.840
<v Speaker 2>It missed a comma and it was devastating.

0:13:40.880 --> 0:13:44.960
<v Speaker 4>And also at that time, I didn't care, you know,

0:13:45.400 --> 0:13:47.840
<v Speaker 4>and that's a bit of a privilege. I had parents

0:13:47.840 --> 0:13:49.880
<v Speaker 4>that could help support me, and I can recognize that.

0:13:50.040 --> 0:13:52.160
<v Speaker 2>But I think.

0:13:52.720 --> 0:13:54.400
<v Speaker 4>There was a part of it that it was like

0:13:54.520 --> 0:13:58.760
<v Speaker 4>the league had folded. There was for a while no

0:13:58.960 --> 0:14:01.199
<v Speaker 4>hope that anything was coming back, and it came back

0:14:01.280 --> 0:14:04.920
<v Speaker 4>quite quickly, and so you're in it and you're like,

0:14:05.400 --> 0:14:07.800
<v Speaker 4>I'm a professional athlete, Like at the end of the day,

0:14:07.840 --> 0:14:10.600
<v Speaker 4>this is the thing that I've wanted to do since

0:14:10.640 --> 0:14:13.720
<v Speaker 4>it became an opportunity to do it. That for me

0:14:13.800 --> 0:14:16.600
<v Speaker 4>at twenty I believe I was like, twenty three years

0:14:16.600 --> 0:14:21.560
<v Speaker 4>old was enough. Yeah, And what that looked like in

0:14:21.680 --> 0:14:28.160
<v Speaker 4>Kansas City, I mean it was beautiful and hard and

0:14:28.280 --> 0:14:32.120
<v Speaker 4>all the things that define you and start to shape

0:14:32.120 --> 0:14:34.560
<v Speaker 4>you into what you are going to look like throughout

0:14:34.600 --> 0:14:35.040
<v Speaker 4>your career.

0:14:35.040 --> 0:14:38.360
<v Speaker 2>And I believe that team really did that. It exposed me.

0:14:39.520 --> 0:14:42.080
<v Speaker 4>It exposed me to like professional sport and like an

0:14:42.120 --> 0:14:45.080
<v Speaker 4>actually very safe way. The people, the women that were

0:14:45.120 --> 0:14:48.480
<v Speaker 4>on that team were incredible and took me under their

0:14:48.520 --> 0:14:51.720
<v Speaker 4>wing and allowed me to grow and understand this game.

0:14:51.920 --> 0:14:54.680
<v Speaker 4>But yeah, from that moment to where we are now,

0:14:55.640 --> 0:14:58.400
<v Speaker 4>I think that there has been a significant jump, and

0:14:58.440 --> 0:15:00.000
<v Speaker 4>within that, there's a lot.

0:15:00.280 --> 0:15:03.440
<v Speaker 2>That is lagging. And so while we have.

0:15:05.600 --> 0:15:08.240
<v Speaker 4>Markets that look like Angel City, we don't have enough

0:15:08.280 --> 0:15:11.640
<v Speaker 4>markets that look like Angel City. And while women are

0:15:11.640 --> 0:15:15.200
<v Speaker 4>getting paid significantly more than they were twelve years ago,

0:15:15.400 --> 0:15:16.480
<v Speaker 4>it's certainly.

0:15:16.080 --> 0:15:17.640
<v Speaker 2>Not enough to.

0:15:19.520 --> 0:15:22.240
<v Speaker 4>Live in the way that a professional athlete should be living,

0:15:22.800 --> 0:15:27.600
<v Speaker 4>and so there is growth needed. There is definitely like

0:15:27.680 --> 0:15:31.560
<v Speaker 4>we have not we are not done. I think that

0:15:31.600 --> 0:15:37.400
<v Speaker 4>there is a great need for women that have played

0:15:37.400 --> 0:15:39.720
<v Speaker 4>in this league for a long time to get back

0:15:39.800 --> 0:15:45.720
<v Speaker 4>into roles that are making decisions and creating change and

0:15:45.760 --> 0:15:47.920
<v Speaker 4>setting the direction for what this league will look like,

0:15:48.600 --> 0:15:52.040
<v Speaker 4>and one there hasn't been opportunity there for a long time.

0:15:52.120 --> 0:15:53.720
<v Speaker 4>I think that is one of the things where I

0:15:53.800 --> 0:15:56.880
<v Speaker 4>look back and reflect on my career where people used

0:15:56.920 --> 0:15:59.640
<v Speaker 4>to ask me way too young, like what I would

0:15:59.680 --> 0:16:01.480
<v Speaker 4>be doing next? And when I be done playing soccer?

0:16:01.560 --> 0:16:03.960
<v Speaker 4>I'm like, you would never ask this of a male

0:16:04.040 --> 0:16:08.120
<v Speaker 4>professional athlete, but okay, But I think for a long

0:16:08.160 --> 0:16:09.880
<v Speaker 4>time I was like, I'm going to continue to keep playing,

0:16:09.920 --> 0:16:13.360
<v Speaker 4>so the only path after this is coaching. And while

0:16:13.400 --> 0:16:16.560
<v Speaker 4>I have a lot of respect for anyone who enters

0:16:16.560 --> 0:16:18.720
<v Speaker 4>that realm, it just never felt right for me.

0:16:18.920 --> 0:16:21.440
<v Speaker 2>It's not what I felt passionate about.

0:16:21.520 --> 0:16:26.360
<v Speaker 4>It's not what I felt was going to scratch the

0:16:26.440 --> 0:16:30.560
<v Speaker 4>itch that I of something a bit more. And so

0:16:31.560 --> 0:16:36.440
<v Speaker 4>as the league's grown, is opportunities grown, that path has

0:16:36.560 --> 0:16:39.720
<v Speaker 4>changed and it becomes there's a lot of different pathways.

0:16:39.760 --> 0:16:42.560
<v Speaker 4>While there's coaching, there is access to being a GM,

0:16:42.600 --> 0:16:44.760
<v Speaker 4>there is the ability to work in the front office,

0:16:44.800 --> 0:16:48.680
<v Speaker 4>there is like ownership opportunity, all these things that like

0:16:49.040 --> 0:16:55.320
<v Speaker 4>twelve years ago didn't exist, And that is so powerful

0:16:55.400 --> 0:16:59.320
<v Speaker 4>and it's also so necessary for the women of this

0:16:59.400 --> 0:17:00.560
<v Speaker 4>league to feel in power.

0:17:00.360 --> 0:17:02.640
<v Speaker 2>To step into those roles in positions.

0:17:03.120 --> 0:17:06.959
<v Speaker 4>Because I think there is something to be said that

0:17:07.040 --> 0:17:09.520
<v Speaker 4>you become an expert in something when you've done it

0:17:09.600 --> 0:17:13.600
<v Speaker 4>for such a long period of time. And I think

0:17:13.600 --> 0:17:16.400
<v Speaker 4>that there are people that are in positions and roles

0:17:16.400 --> 0:17:18.679
<v Speaker 4>that don't have this experience. They don't know what it's like,

0:17:18.760 --> 0:17:22.280
<v Speaker 4>and decisions are made based on something that they.

0:17:22.119 --> 0:17:22.840
<v Speaker 2>Don't know about.

0:17:22.960 --> 0:17:25.399
<v Speaker 4>Yeah, or let that trickles down and what that effect

0:17:25.480 --> 0:17:28.199
<v Speaker 4>looks like on players.

0:17:28.560 --> 0:17:31.120
<v Speaker 2>Yeah, it harms them or not harms but it can't

0:17:31.119 --> 0:17:33.080
<v Speaker 2>purs that it can sometimes, yeah, you know.

0:17:33.160 --> 0:17:36.200
<v Speaker 1>In September, ESPN release the result of an anonymous survey

0:17:37.080 --> 0:17:40.560
<v Speaker 1>with all fourteen nwslgms. Among the things that they talked

0:17:40.560 --> 0:17:44.160
<v Speaker 1>about was player safety and protections, and multiple gms said

0:17:44.200 --> 0:17:46.680
<v Speaker 1>that they thought efforts to protect players have quote gone

0:17:46.720 --> 0:17:50.760
<v Speaker 1>too far that it spreads fear and confusion among staff.

0:17:51.040 --> 0:17:52.840
<v Speaker 2>What is your response to that as someone.

0:17:52.680 --> 0:17:54.480
<v Speaker 1>Who's been in the league since the beginning when there

0:17:54.560 --> 0:17:57.600
<v Speaker 1>was basically zero care for the players and the environments

0:17:57.600 --> 0:17:59.760
<v Speaker 1>in which they played, and also as someone who played

0:17:59.760 --> 0:18:02.040
<v Speaker 1>for with Paul Riley who's been banned for life from

0:18:02.080 --> 0:18:04.760
<v Speaker 1>the league due to abusive behavior and sexual coersion. When

0:18:04.800 --> 0:18:08.720
<v Speaker 1>you hear GMS people in leadership positions saying they've gone

0:18:08.760 --> 0:18:12.600
<v Speaker 1>too far in player protections and safety, I think it's.

0:18:12.480 --> 0:18:16.320
<v Speaker 2>Hard to hear. I think there was a time, as

0:18:16.320 --> 0:18:17.480
<v Speaker 2>you mentioned, that there was.

0:18:17.680 --> 0:18:20.960
<v Speaker 4>No guardrails around the league, there was no protection for players.

0:18:21.040 --> 0:18:24.280
<v Speaker 4>There was rights could be held. They have no decision

0:18:24.320 --> 0:18:29.240
<v Speaker 4>making power, and that is harmful. It created the environment

0:18:29.280 --> 0:18:33.920
<v Speaker 4>that it created, and it harbored a sexual predator, and

0:18:35.280 --> 0:18:38.640
<v Speaker 4>that once you make that mistake, you really can't make

0:18:38.680 --> 0:18:41.800
<v Speaker 4>it again. And so yeah, you have to implement things

0:18:41.800 --> 0:18:42.679
<v Speaker 4>to protect players.

0:18:42.720 --> 0:18:43.639
<v Speaker 2>What does this look like?

0:18:43.920 --> 0:18:46.840
<v Speaker 4>How do we move forward, and how do we move

0:18:46.880 --> 0:18:52.120
<v Speaker 4>forward in a way that is really finding a balance

0:18:52.200 --> 0:18:56.040
<v Speaker 4>between what it means to be a professional athlete and

0:18:56.160 --> 0:19:00.280
<v Speaker 4>what it means to be harmed within your profession. And

0:19:00.520 --> 0:19:06.560
<v Speaker 4>I believe that there is going to have to be

0:19:06.840 --> 0:19:09.760
<v Speaker 4>a learning point of the pendulum that's had to swing

0:19:10.240 --> 0:19:14.400
<v Speaker 4>the other way, and so it is finding that balance

0:19:14.640 --> 0:19:19.159
<v Speaker 4>and that the ideas that come with like how do

0:19:19.200 --> 0:19:22.200
<v Speaker 4>you create safe space, what does it look like to motivate?

0:19:22.280 --> 0:19:25.679
<v Speaker 4>How do you encourage players? How do you hold players accountable?

0:19:26.080 --> 0:19:29.240
<v Speaker 4>No woman I believe in this league doesn't want to

0:19:29.359 --> 0:19:32.720
<v Speaker 4>get better or doesn't want to perform at a high level.

0:19:33.200 --> 0:19:37.719
<v Speaker 4>What they do not want is to be dragged in

0:19:37.760 --> 0:19:43.320
<v Speaker 4>a way that is harmful and not supportive and abusive.

0:19:44.000 --> 0:19:46.800
<v Speaker 4>And I think that there is a blueprint where it's

0:19:46.840 --> 0:19:48.480
<v Speaker 4>like this is what worked, this is what we.

0:19:48.480 --> 0:19:49.199
<v Speaker 2>Know it works.

0:19:49.359 --> 0:19:53.320
<v Speaker 4>And now that that blueprint has been taken away, it's

0:19:53.359 --> 0:19:56.320
<v Speaker 4>like what do we do? Should we say anything? Should

0:19:56.320 --> 0:19:59.960
<v Speaker 4>we not say anything? And I'm like that also causes problems.

0:20:00.119 --> 0:20:03.080
<v Speaker 4>I am not saying that that is like to do

0:20:03.160 --> 0:20:06.000
<v Speaker 4>nothing and to not hold accountability and to not push

0:20:06.080 --> 0:20:08.800
<v Speaker 4>a standard is what you should do within your environments.

0:20:08.800 --> 0:20:14.399
<v Speaker 4>But there's certainly a balance between having no protection, right

0:20:14.520 --> 0:20:16.040
<v Speaker 4>and having protection at some point.

0:20:16.040 --> 0:20:17.840
<v Speaker 1>It's like if you're airing on the side of the

0:20:17.880 --> 0:20:20.919
<v Speaker 1>players for a while because you so gravely picked up before,

0:20:21.600 --> 0:20:23.639
<v Speaker 1>then that's okay, and it's not that you want people

0:20:23.680 --> 0:20:28.040
<v Speaker 1>walking on eggshells. And actually, as someone who is more

0:20:28.240 --> 0:20:30.399
<v Speaker 1>likely to be at my age friends with people in

0:20:30.520 --> 0:20:33.399
<v Speaker 1>charge of places instead of the underlings, I recognize that

0:20:33.400 --> 0:20:35.880
<v Speaker 1>there's a push and pull with gen z of once

0:20:35.880 --> 0:20:40.080
<v Speaker 1>you learn language like toxic and you know, you start

0:20:40.119 --> 0:20:42.199
<v Speaker 1>to use it sometimes maybe even when you're just not

0:20:42.240 --> 0:20:44.520
<v Speaker 1>sure that that's how jobs are, they suck sometimes, right,

0:20:44.560 --> 0:20:45.919
<v Speaker 1>there are a lot of work and you don't want

0:20:45.960 --> 0:20:47.760
<v Speaker 1>to be there, and sometimes people are wrestles. Yeah, there's

0:20:47.760 --> 0:20:50.160
<v Speaker 1>a difference between that and someone who creates an environment

0:20:50.240 --> 0:20:52.480
<v Speaker 1>or sustains an environment that is harmful to the health

0:20:52.480 --> 0:20:55.280
<v Speaker 1>of people, and that as expectations that go beyond what's

0:20:55.359 --> 0:21:00.119
<v Speaker 1>professional or otherwise. Finding that balance is hard anywhere. It

0:21:00.160 --> 0:21:02.760
<v Speaker 1>is particularly hard in sport. And to your point, our

0:21:02.800 --> 0:21:04.840
<v Speaker 1>idea of what we thought was like quote unquote, a

0:21:04.880 --> 0:21:07.200
<v Speaker 1>good coach used to be pretty much dude.

0:21:07.040 --> 0:21:10.000
<v Speaker 2>Who yells a lot. Yeah, and we know that's not

0:21:10.040 --> 0:21:12.240
<v Speaker 2>what gets the best out of people as a wiser,

0:21:12.400 --> 0:21:13.680
<v Speaker 2>and we're so.

0:21:13.480 --> 0:21:18.280
<v Speaker 1>Beholden to that that we're so I can try to

0:21:18.320 --> 0:21:21.760
<v Speaker 1>hold grace for people who are struggling with a workplace

0:21:21.760 --> 0:21:23.679
<v Speaker 1>that they feel like is quote unquote too sensitive.

0:21:23.720 --> 0:21:25.200
<v Speaker 2>I can try to hear them out.

0:21:25.720 --> 0:21:27.760
<v Speaker 1>But I also want to say that because when you're

0:21:28.080 --> 0:21:30.800
<v Speaker 1>so airing on the wrong side for so long, to

0:21:30.960 --> 0:21:36.240
<v Speaker 1>instantly be frustrated by centering the players for a while

0:21:36.280 --> 0:21:38.439
<v Speaker 1>and seeing how that goes is a reflection of the

0:21:38.440 --> 0:21:39.160
<v Speaker 1>power dynamic.

0:21:39.440 --> 0:21:41.679
<v Speaker 4>Yeah, I think what I hear in that is like

0:21:42.040 --> 0:21:44.480
<v Speaker 4>you have put people in positions of power that don't

0:21:44.480 --> 0:21:46.320
<v Speaker 4>know how to build a blueprint, how to be a

0:21:46.320 --> 0:21:48.719
<v Speaker 4>good lead, not that the players you've brought in are

0:21:48.760 --> 0:21:53.640
<v Speaker 4>the problems or staff exactly. And so I think if

0:21:54.560 --> 0:22:01.520
<v Speaker 4>women are felt that they are seen, supported and and celebrated,

0:22:02.480 --> 0:22:06.080
<v Speaker 4>you will get a lot out of them. They will

0:22:06.119 --> 0:22:07.960
<v Speaker 4>push and they will play for you, and they will

0:22:07.960 --> 0:22:09.960
<v Speaker 4>believe in and they will buy in, and they will

0:22:09.960 --> 0:22:14.520
<v Speaker 4>buy in more so in like, maybe more so than

0:22:14.640 --> 0:22:16.840
<v Speaker 4>like what we believe.

0:22:16.600 --> 0:22:18.080
<v Speaker 2>Is buy in on the male side.

0:22:18.200 --> 0:22:22.480
<v Speaker 4>And so I think women's sport in general is in

0:22:22.520 --> 0:22:26.640
<v Speaker 4>this evolution process of taking what we believe blueprints were

0:22:26.680 --> 0:22:29.680
<v Speaker 4>from men's sport and copying and pasting them here.

0:22:30.000 --> 0:22:34.320
<v Speaker 2>And it doesn't work. It doesn't work for so many reasons.

0:22:34.359 --> 0:22:37.560
<v Speaker 4>One that the money that was being able to be

0:22:37.600 --> 0:22:41.160
<v Speaker 4>made in one area, it's not being made here. The

0:22:41.200 --> 0:22:44.679
<v Speaker 4>way in which people or audiences engage in it, the

0:22:44.680 --> 0:22:48.480
<v Speaker 4>way which coaches coach in it, it doesn't suit women.

0:22:49.160 --> 0:22:54.520
<v Speaker 4>And so you have to be willing to find and

0:22:54.760 --> 0:23:00.120
<v Speaker 4>be curious about ways that you provide a safe environ

0:23:00.560 --> 0:23:03.480
<v Speaker 4>that sets a standard that is rooted in excellence.

0:23:04.240 --> 0:23:06.360
<v Speaker 2>And for me and the.

0:23:06.320 --> 0:23:09.800
<v Speaker 4>Women that I'm around, you don't go out to practice

0:23:09.840 --> 0:23:14.480
<v Speaker 4>and not want to get better. You know, there's always questions,

0:23:14.520 --> 0:23:17.080
<v Speaker 4>they want to ask, they want to be held accountable.

0:23:17.080 --> 0:23:19.280
<v Speaker 4>And I think if that standard is set from the

0:23:19.320 --> 0:23:22.240
<v Speaker 4>beginning and it's done in a way that is like.

0:23:22.840 --> 0:23:25.600
<v Speaker 2>Hey, that's not great, here's how you can get better.

0:23:25.680 --> 0:23:30.400
<v Speaker 4>This is what this that conversation is, it becomes more conversational.

0:23:30.520 --> 0:23:32.200
<v Speaker 2>I think in a lot.

0:23:32.040 --> 0:23:37.359
<v Speaker 4>Of instances there is coaches have a very difficult time

0:23:37.400 --> 0:23:41.440
<v Speaker 4>of having difficult conversation and that is what in turn

0:23:41.560 --> 0:23:45.800
<v Speaker 4>creates a what you could quote unquote say is a

0:23:45.840 --> 0:23:49.520
<v Speaker 4>toxic environment. Or environment that loses buying or by an

0:23:49.680 --> 0:23:54.680
<v Speaker 4>environment that's petty or not supportive. And I think if

0:23:54.800 --> 0:23:59.119
<v Speaker 4>you set that standard of like, because I can be

0:23:59.200 --> 0:24:02.800
<v Speaker 4>consistent and what I'm asking you and consistent in what

0:24:02.880 --> 0:24:05.400
<v Speaker 4>I'm asking of the team and explain why and explain

0:24:05.480 --> 0:24:10.040
<v Speaker 4>why and not have a I think what I dislike

0:24:10.119 --> 0:24:15.720
<v Speaker 4>the most and have traditionally felt is problematic in our league,

0:24:15.920 --> 0:24:17.440
<v Speaker 4>and I can only speak on it because I haven't

0:24:17.520 --> 0:24:23.520
<v Speaker 4>played elsewhere, is that there is an idea for whatever reason.

0:24:23.720 --> 0:24:27.240
<v Speaker 4>One in the earlier days, it's that we had no

0:24:27.320 --> 0:24:30.640
<v Speaker 4>power as players, right, so you were treated as if

0:24:30.680 --> 0:24:34.199
<v Speaker 4>you were It was an extension of club soccer or

0:24:34.280 --> 0:24:37.240
<v Speaker 4>college soccer, and at some point there is a very

0:24:37.520 --> 0:24:40.119
<v Speaker 4>vast difference of how a professional athlete is going to

0:24:40.119 --> 0:24:44.440
<v Speaker 4>be treated in the way a adolescent in college or

0:24:44.560 --> 0:24:48.199
<v Speaker 4>club is going to be treated. And there is a

0:24:48.240 --> 0:24:53.520
<v Speaker 4>responsibility and a duty for coaching staff and upper management

0:24:53.640 --> 0:24:57.240
<v Speaker 4>to create guidelines around as you bring in younger women

0:24:57.320 --> 0:24:59.600
<v Speaker 4>to play in this league. Yes there is going to

0:24:59.640 --> 0:25:03.840
<v Speaker 4>be and need a different pathway for them in different conversations,

0:25:04.119 --> 0:25:06.679
<v Speaker 4>but that blanket does not have to lay across the

0:25:06.800 --> 0:25:07.399
<v Speaker 4>entire team.

0:25:07.640 --> 0:25:10.480
<v Speaker 2>Because you now have such a wide range of players.

0:25:10.560 --> 0:25:12.760
<v Speaker 4>You have a thirty four year old player and an

0:25:12.840 --> 0:25:18.120
<v Speaker 4>eighteen year old player. All of those conversations and what

0:25:18.280 --> 0:25:21.760
<v Speaker 4>is needed in the support and growth and all of

0:25:21.800 --> 0:25:22.679
<v Speaker 4>that looks stressed.

0:25:22.800 --> 0:25:23.919
<v Speaker 2>And that's what being a coach is.

0:25:24.119 --> 0:25:25.679
<v Speaker 1>It's how do I get the most out of all

0:25:25.760 --> 0:25:28.360
<v Speaker 1>the different people with all sharing one goal.

0:25:28.480 --> 0:25:31.880
<v Speaker 4>And so you have like the need for that, and

0:25:31.920 --> 0:25:38.240
<v Speaker 4>I think with in that you create systems that look

0:25:38.320 --> 0:25:41.360
<v Speaker 4>a bit more on like this is a punishment and

0:25:41.440 --> 0:25:44.040
<v Speaker 4>this is to help hold you accountable.

0:25:44.040 --> 0:25:45.720
<v Speaker 2>We're going to have like a punishment system.

0:25:45.760 --> 0:25:48.920
<v Speaker 4>I'm like, that is just not that is not going

0:25:48.960 --> 0:25:51.439
<v Speaker 4>to carry the way that you want it to carry.

0:25:51.920 --> 0:25:55.480
<v Speaker 4>If there is a like this environment should be created

0:25:55.520 --> 0:25:58.080
<v Speaker 4>to support the player. It should be created that they

0:25:58.119 --> 0:25:59.960
<v Speaker 4>are on the pedestal. Whether you like it or not,

0:26:00.520 --> 0:26:03.160
<v Speaker 4>these players are on the pedestal. So when they are

0:26:03.480 --> 0:26:07.840
<v Speaker 4>falling short, then it's a conversation. If there is something

0:26:07.880 --> 0:26:12.119
<v Speaker 4>that they missed or did not do, it's the responsibility

0:26:12.200 --> 0:26:15.159
<v Speaker 4>the staff and the people around them to support them

0:26:15.240 --> 0:26:18.200
<v Speaker 4>be like, hey, you need to do this and like pick.

0:26:18.040 --> 0:26:18.960
<v Speaker 2>Up those pieces.

0:26:20.200 --> 0:26:24.440
<v Speaker 4>I think sometimes we tend to, especially in the women's game,

0:26:24.560 --> 0:26:27.840
<v Speaker 4>leading to this way of being like, well, we're going

0:26:27.960 --> 0:26:32.800
<v Speaker 4>to have like a punishment because there isn't a bit

0:26:32.960 --> 0:26:36.760
<v Speaker 4>the ability to like find players and all this stuff.

0:26:36.800 --> 0:26:39.840
<v Speaker 4>So this like kind of ability to be held accountable

0:26:40.000 --> 0:26:42.960
<v Speaker 4>looks a bit rudimentary and it's act and it feels

0:26:43.000 --> 0:26:45.920
<v Speaker 4>like a bit of a punishment system.

0:26:45.600 --> 0:26:48.119
<v Speaker 2>That it's like, I'm not a child, she is not

0:26:48.200 --> 0:26:48.600
<v Speaker 2>a child.

0:26:49.080 --> 0:26:52.400
<v Speaker 4>This is a job, and so I think it is

0:26:52.480 --> 0:26:57.000
<v Speaker 4>it's relearning what things are going to make people engage with,

0:26:57.160 --> 0:26:59.120
<v Speaker 4>wanting to be the best that they can be within

0:26:59.160 --> 0:27:00.240
<v Speaker 4>the environment.

0:27:00.080 --> 0:27:02.720
<v Speaker 1>And just being creative and thoughtful about how it should

0:27:02.720 --> 0:27:05.200
<v Speaker 1>look different with women than men, and that being cool

0:27:05.320 --> 0:27:07.919
<v Speaker 1>and interesting and a challenge and fun to do as

0:27:07.920 --> 0:27:11.040
<v Speaker 1>opposed to as opposed to a frustration.

0:27:11.520 --> 0:27:13.440
<v Speaker 2>Yeah, because there's so many ways.

0:27:13.160 --> 0:27:15.800
<v Speaker 1>To do things a little bit differently and improve upon

0:27:15.880 --> 0:27:18.160
<v Speaker 1>the model that we've just accepted for such a long time.

0:27:19.400 --> 0:27:24.560
<v Speaker 1>You mentioned that earlier that you really were working toward

0:27:24.600 --> 0:27:28.040
<v Speaker 1>that two hundred regular season cap. You are one of

0:27:28.119 --> 0:27:32.520
<v Speaker 1>few NWSL players to get over fourteen thousand minutes played.

0:27:33.400 --> 0:27:35.760
<v Speaker 4>Could you imagine how many I would have gotten if

0:27:35.760 --> 0:27:36.560
<v Speaker 4>I didn't get injured?

0:27:36.640 --> 0:27:37.480
<v Speaker 2>Right right?

0:27:38.040 --> 0:27:40.960
<v Speaker 1>But you were reaching for that number and obviously there's

0:27:41.000 --> 0:27:44.560
<v Speaker 1>disappointment and coming up short. It is very hard in sport,

0:27:44.720 --> 0:27:48.080
<v Speaker 1>especially not to assign a lot of meaning to numbers,

0:27:48.600 --> 0:27:52.119
<v Speaker 1>very specific things. My final shot was a miss versus

0:27:52.119 --> 0:27:54.119
<v Speaker 1>my final shot was a make. My final game was

0:27:54.160 --> 0:27:57.159
<v Speaker 1>a loss versus a win or a number like two hundred.

0:27:57.400 --> 0:28:00.200
<v Speaker 1>But you said you're feeling a little bit better about

0:28:00.240 --> 0:28:03.000
<v Speaker 1>understanding that you will be at one ninety six one

0:28:04.080 --> 0:28:07.199
<v Speaker 1>ninety six. How can you put one ninety six in

0:28:07.240 --> 0:28:10.840
<v Speaker 1>its proper place, which is a huge, gigantic, impressive number,

0:28:11.240 --> 0:28:13.240
<v Speaker 1>instead of it needing to be this round number of

0:28:13.240 --> 0:28:13.800
<v Speaker 1>two hundred.

0:28:14.440 --> 0:28:18.680
<v Speaker 4>Yeah, I think it is flipping that conversation on its

0:28:18.680 --> 0:28:21.840
<v Speaker 4>head and not it being like these are the four

0:28:21.880 --> 0:28:26.880
<v Speaker 4>appearances I didn't make, and instead leaning into like these

0:28:26.920 --> 0:28:29.080
<v Speaker 4>are the one hundred and ninety six that I did,

0:28:29.960 --> 0:28:33.960
<v Speaker 4>and all one hundred and ninety six had meaning, And

0:28:34.359 --> 0:28:38.120
<v Speaker 4>I do not recall like one appearance that I didn't

0:28:38.120 --> 0:28:40.680
<v Speaker 4>step on the field and wasn't proud of what I did.

0:28:41.560 --> 0:28:45.800
<v Speaker 4>And so having that rhetoric and having that outlook on it,

0:28:46.400 --> 0:28:48.200
<v Speaker 4>I think it will always have a bit of a

0:28:48.240 --> 0:28:48.840
<v Speaker 4>bite to it.

0:28:48.920 --> 0:28:52.600
<v Speaker 2>I'm an I grew up in this. I strive for greatness.

0:28:52.680 --> 0:28:57.240
<v Speaker 4>I have been a perfectionist my entire life, a recovering perfectionist,

0:28:57.360 --> 0:29:00.920
<v Speaker 4>now you know, and while you have and I have

0:29:01.120 --> 0:29:04.000
<v Speaker 4>put in a lot of work into my own healing,

0:29:04.400 --> 0:29:07.120
<v Speaker 4>there is a part of me that's like, it is

0:29:07.200 --> 0:29:09.840
<v Speaker 4>hard to just take the competitor out of you, out

0:29:09.920 --> 0:29:11.000
<v Speaker 4>of every situation.

0:29:12.080 --> 0:29:16.200
<v Speaker 2>But I think I know and can recognize and can sit.

0:29:16.080 --> 0:29:19.640
<v Speaker 4>In that to have done what I've done for the

0:29:19.800 --> 0:29:22.000
<v Speaker 4>period of time that I did it, to the level

0:29:22.040 --> 0:29:25.600
<v Speaker 4>of which I did it, that for me is greatness,

0:29:25.680 --> 0:29:27.440
<v Speaker 4>and that's my definition of greatness.

0:29:27.480 --> 0:29:31.200
<v Speaker 2>So I get to own that, and that is really special.

0:29:32.760 --> 0:29:34.880
<v Speaker 2>I loved your interview with Meglenahan.

0:29:35.480 --> 0:29:37.120
<v Speaker 1>She talked about in her pod, but she also wrote

0:29:37.160 --> 0:29:39.040
<v Speaker 1>a great story that people can read in The Athletic

0:29:39.680 --> 0:29:42.479
<v Speaker 1>and you guys talked about worthiness as a player, how

0:29:42.560 --> 0:29:46.680
<v Speaker 1>much worthiness needs to be found outside of just the

0:29:46.760 --> 0:29:49.840
<v Speaker 1>US Women's National team caps and appearances and gold medals.

0:29:50.120 --> 0:29:52.800
<v Speaker 1>And you told her that you've struggled in moments, particularly

0:29:52.840 --> 0:29:55.960
<v Speaker 1>in the moment of playing in the NWSL, to understand

0:29:56.000 --> 0:29:58.560
<v Speaker 1>how you've played this important role in women's soccer because

0:29:58.560 --> 0:30:02.000
<v Speaker 1>you haven't had those many US Women's National team caps

0:30:02.040 --> 0:30:02.880
<v Speaker 1>and those things.

0:30:02.640 --> 0:30:03.920
<v Speaker 2>You dreamed of when you were younger.

0:30:05.320 --> 0:30:07.680
<v Speaker 1>If you're always striving for something bigger than the thing

0:30:07.720 --> 0:30:10.600
<v Speaker 1>you're in in the moment, that's fine, that's ambition, right.

0:30:11.360 --> 0:30:15.000
<v Speaker 1>But I do think we need to respect an NWSL

0:30:15.080 --> 0:30:16.880
<v Speaker 1>career in its own right. And I think we've come

0:30:16.920 --> 0:30:19.959
<v Speaker 1>far enough with this league, and we've seen players like

0:30:20.000 --> 0:30:21.680
<v Speaker 1>you take this league.

0:30:21.920 --> 0:30:26.480
<v Speaker 2>From no commas to what we see now. And without you,

0:30:26.520 --> 0:30:27.280
<v Speaker 2>it doesn't happen.

0:30:27.560 --> 0:30:30.280
<v Speaker 1>Without players of your caliber that are there for one

0:30:30.360 --> 0:30:32.680
<v Speaker 1>hundred and ninety six games, we don't get to a

0:30:32.720 --> 0:30:36.560
<v Speaker 1>place where people will see an NWSL career as incredible

0:30:36.600 --> 0:30:38.680
<v Speaker 1>in its own right. Yeah, maybe we're not quite there

0:30:38.760 --> 0:30:42.160
<v Speaker 1>yet because we still elevate the national team.

0:30:43.240 --> 0:30:44.920
<v Speaker 2>Can you talk more about that process.

0:30:45.280 --> 0:30:47.400
<v Speaker 1>Is there a point at any point in the last

0:30:47.400 --> 0:30:49.880
<v Speaker 1>couple of years where you sort of were able to

0:30:50.000 --> 0:30:53.280
<v Speaker 1>let go of that national team part and say I'm

0:30:53.320 --> 0:30:55.800
<v Speaker 1>rooted in this thing I am doing and there's worth

0:30:55.840 --> 0:30:56.040
<v Speaker 1>in that.

0:30:56.480 --> 0:30:56.760
<v Speaker 2>Yeah.

0:30:56.760 --> 0:30:59.480
<v Speaker 4>Well, I want to thank you for all those kind words.

0:30:59.520 --> 0:31:04.000
<v Speaker 4>I greatly appreciate them. I would say that that type

0:31:04.080 --> 0:31:07.720
<v Speaker 4>of untethering to who I am and what I do

0:31:07.880 --> 0:31:12.160
<v Speaker 4>started in like twenty nineteen and I tore my ACL

0:31:13.080 --> 0:31:17.840
<v Speaker 4>and for a long time, soccer was that very like

0:31:18.000 --> 0:31:20.719
<v Speaker 4>fraying thread that was wrapped around my life that like

0:31:20.800 --> 0:31:23.440
<v Speaker 4>this is going well, so like everything else is okay.

0:31:24.480 --> 0:31:28.000
<v Speaker 4>It was not true. I had a lot of work

0:31:28.000 --> 0:31:30.000
<v Speaker 4>to do. I had some things that happened within my

0:31:30.160 --> 0:31:33.640
<v Speaker 4>family that like I got to a point where I'm

0:31:33.640 --> 0:31:36.480
<v Speaker 4>like I do not have the tools or the capability

0:31:36.520 --> 0:31:40.080
<v Speaker 4>of like holding this, carrying it or figuring it out.

0:31:40.280 --> 0:31:43.640
<v Speaker 4>And so I started therapy.

0:31:44.040 --> 0:31:48.000
<v Speaker 2>I will thank my therapist till the day that I

0:31:48.080 --> 0:31:50.320
<v Speaker 2>die for what she was able to help me with.

0:31:50.520 --> 0:31:55.720
<v Speaker 4>And so within that it became this process of just

0:31:56.960 --> 0:31:59.920
<v Speaker 4>to what I said earlier, like defining what I believe

0:32:00.160 --> 0:32:04.640
<v Speaker 4>success was and was I successful if I didn't reach

0:32:04.720 --> 0:32:05.160
<v Speaker 4>this thing?

0:32:05.320 --> 0:32:08.240
<v Speaker 2>And I think I was.

0:32:08.600 --> 0:32:10.840
<v Speaker 4>I grew up in a generation a player where like

0:32:11.000 --> 0:32:14.560
<v Speaker 4>we didn't have a professional league.

0:32:14.800 --> 0:32:16.440
<v Speaker 2>It was the national team or nothing.

0:32:16.520 --> 0:32:19.640
<v Speaker 4>It was a World Cup where you weren't good, you know,

0:32:19.800 --> 0:32:23.080
<v Speaker 4>like you were either representing the crest or like what

0:32:23.160 --> 0:32:29.440
<v Speaker 4>were you doing? And that narrative stayed really strong, and

0:32:29.480 --> 0:32:32.560
<v Speaker 4>because I sat like so close to that for so

0:32:32.680 --> 0:32:35.400
<v Speaker 4>much of my life and believed that like that was

0:32:35.480 --> 0:32:39.600
<v Speaker 4>going to happen, and when it didn't, and when everything

0:32:39.760 --> 0:32:43.520
<v Speaker 4>kind of like flipped on its head and my injury

0:32:43.640 --> 0:32:46.840
<v Speaker 4>was like very ill timed, it kept me out of camps.

0:32:47.000 --> 0:32:49.800
<v Speaker 2>It kind of COVID happens, and.

0:32:49.800 --> 0:32:53.120
<v Speaker 4>I am set with this like whole new landscape of

0:32:54.200 --> 0:32:57.040
<v Speaker 4>what the fuck am I going to do now? And

0:32:57.160 --> 0:33:00.120
<v Speaker 4>like what if I don't not necessarily don't come back,

0:33:00.160 --> 0:33:02.120
<v Speaker 4>but what if I never gained that momentum again.

0:33:02.520 --> 0:33:04.080
<v Speaker 2>And in a lot of ways I didn't.

0:33:04.160 --> 0:33:06.360
<v Speaker 4>I didn't gain the momentum to get back into camp

0:33:06.760 --> 0:33:09.280
<v Speaker 4>and to represent this country in the way that I

0:33:09.320 --> 0:33:13.640
<v Speaker 4>wanted to. And within that time it was the thing

0:33:13.680 --> 0:33:16.920
<v Speaker 4>that I'm like I had to reflect back on all

0:33:16.960 --> 0:33:19.480
<v Speaker 4>the things that I'd done in the success that I had,

0:33:19.600 --> 0:33:23.880
<v Speaker 4>and I think also just recognizing, like the players in

0:33:23.920 --> 0:33:26.480
<v Speaker 4>which I have played with and that I have spent

0:33:26.600 --> 0:33:30.400
<v Speaker 4>time starting and playing significant minutes with, you don't do

0:33:30.560 --> 0:33:32.240
<v Speaker 4>that unless you are.

0:33:32.600 --> 0:33:34.960
<v Speaker 2>Great at what you do, Yeah, And.

0:33:34.840 --> 0:33:37.720
<v Speaker 4>So recognizing that whether someone was going to choose me

0:33:37.800 --> 0:33:39.160
<v Speaker 4>or not, it was out of my control.

0:33:39.240 --> 0:33:41.160
<v Speaker 2>But I knew when I stepped on the field.

0:33:41.000 --> 0:33:43.120
<v Speaker 4>Or the environment that I that I was going to

0:33:43.280 --> 0:33:46.320
<v Speaker 4>inherently change it and make it better. And I think

0:33:46.360 --> 0:33:50.320
<v Speaker 4>I've been one of those players that on the field,

0:33:50.360 --> 0:33:52.360
<v Speaker 4>I will always give myself credit. But I think when

0:33:52.440 --> 0:33:56.560
<v Speaker 4>I leave like organizations, like my absence is felt.

0:33:56.800 --> 0:34:00.000
<v Speaker 2>Yes, the way people talk about you makes that very clear.

0:34:00.160 --> 0:34:04.960
<v Speaker 4>And like that matters, And so I believe in this,

0:34:05.480 --> 0:34:07.800
<v Speaker 4>in like the process of coming to terms with my

0:34:07.840 --> 0:34:10.880
<v Speaker 4>retirement and the ability for me to allow myself to

0:34:10.920 --> 0:34:14.600
<v Speaker 4>be celebrated, to be seen and to have those moments

0:34:14.640 --> 0:34:16.080
<v Speaker 4>of like what if you announce this and no one

0:34:16.120 --> 0:34:19.719
<v Speaker 4>cares because you kind of always have as much as

0:34:19.719 --> 0:34:23.400
<v Speaker 4>you can work through. Like I mean, the self critic

0:34:23.440 --> 0:34:25.600
<v Speaker 4>that used to be in my head was constant and

0:34:25.640 --> 0:34:29.440
<v Speaker 4>like the chat never shut the fuck up, And now

0:34:29.640 --> 0:34:32.120
<v Speaker 4>it has its moments and I'm able to like settle

0:34:32.160 --> 0:34:36.160
<v Speaker 4>it and turn towards it and be like I understand

0:34:36.239 --> 0:34:39.600
<v Speaker 4>but like probably not going to be what we experience,

0:34:40.239 --> 0:34:44.759
<v Speaker 4>and yeah, to give myself that opportunity. It has been

0:34:44.800 --> 0:34:48.279
<v Speaker 4>really hard to even comprehend the amount of love and

0:34:48.320 --> 0:34:51.960
<v Speaker 4>admiration I've received of the past like months or like

0:34:52.120 --> 0:34:53.080
<v Speaker 4>weeks of like my.

0:34:53.120 --> 0:34:57.080
<v Speaker 2>Retirement, and to sit and stand in that and be

0:34:57.160 --> 0:34:57.759
<v Speaker 2>open to that.

0:34:58.160 --> 0:35:01.560
<v Speaker 4>I don't believe with out being able to define what

0:35:01.680 --> 0:35:04.520
<v Speaker 4>success was for me, I would be able to sit

0:35:04.560 --> 0:35:06.600
<v Speaker 4>here today and hold it right.

0:35:06.719 --> 0:35:09.279
<v Speaker 1>There'd be bitterness there instead of the joy that you

0:35:09.320 --> 0:35:11.600
<v Speaker 1>feel in the way people are talking about you and what.

0:35:11.560 --> 0:35:13.759
<v Speaker 2>You did for them. I mean, it's not just your

0:35:13.800 --> 0:35:14.440
<v Speaker 2>soccer playing.

0:35:14.680 --> 0:35:17.640
<v Speaker 1>It's your personality, it's your sense of humor, it's all

0:35:17.640 --> 0:35:19.840
<v Speaker 1>those things you bring, and then it's the work you

0:35:19.880 --> 0:35:21.960
<v Speaker 1>put in for yourself and for other players. You were

0:35:21.960 --> 0:35:25.400
<v Speaker 1>on the bargaining committee for the first NWSLCBA. Friend of

0:35:25.400 --> 0:35:28.440
<v Speaker 1>the Show PA director Megan Burke told Madame meg Linahan,

0:35:28.800 --> 0:35:30.640
<v Speaker 1>if anyone was asking me for real advice on how

0:35:30.680 --> 0:35:33.480
<v Speaker 1>to organize a union, I tell them to find their merit. Matthiah,

0:35:33.600 --> 0:35:37.320
<v Speaker 1>She's the definition of ride or Die. Are you able

0:35:37.360 --> 0:35:40.560
<v Speaker 1>to recognize your role in creating that CBA and defining

0:35:40.560 --> 0:35:42.200
<v Speaker 1>what the league looks like even in the years to

0:35:42.200 --> 0:35:43.239
<v Speaker 1>come that you're not playing in it.

0:35:44.520 --> 0:35:47.880
<v Speaker 4>Yes, I want like hearing that quote from Megan, like

0:35:47.960 --> 0:35:51.719
<v Speaker 4>oh well forever, like touch my heart. And so if

0:35:51.760 --> 0:35:53.759
<v Speaker 4>we did not have Megan Burke, I don't know where

0:35:53.760 --> 0:35:54.839
<v Speaker 4>are speaking to ride or die?

0:35:55.000 --> 0:35:56.200
<v Speaker 2>Speaking Ride or Die.

0:35:56.680 --> 0:35:59.880
<v Speaker 4>She is a true champion of what this league should

0:36:00.080 --> 0:36:03.520
<v Speaker 4>and can be, and she is an absolute writer die

0:36:03.600 --> 0:36:06.320
<v Speaker 4>for players and it has been incredible to work.

0:36:06.160 --> 0:36:09.520
<v Speaker 2>With her and be alongside her and have.

0:36:09.400 --> 0:36:12.759
<v Speaker 4>Her love and support and her belief in me and

0:36:12.880 --> 0:36:19.120
<v Speaker 4>her willingness to allow me to say what I'm thinking,

0:36:19.400 --> 0:36:24.640
<v Speaker 4>to ask for more, to demand things that like maybe

0:36:24.840 --> 0:36:27.040
<v Speaker 4>it's too far off, but if we don't ask, like

0:36:27.160 --> 0:36:29.560
<v Speaker 4>we'll never know the answer, We'll never at least be

0:36:29.640 --> 0:36:31.920
<v Speaker 4>able to like dwindle it down to something we actually

0:36:32.000 --> 0:36:36.040
<v Speaker 4>are okay with having. And so I think for me

0:36:36.360 --> 0:36:40.160
<v Speaker 4>that when I look at my career, I think if

0:36:40.200 --> 0:36:44.080
<v Speaker 4>I would have just played, I would have been like cool,

0:36:45.040 --> 0:36:48.520
<v Speaker 4>had a great career. I was successful, I had these championships,

0:36:48.520 --> 0:36:53.040
<v Speaker 4>I played with incredible people, was able to be coached

0:36:53.040 --> 0:36:55.880
<v Speaker 4>by some of the best coaches in this league. But

0:36:56.080 --> 0:36:58.200
<v Speaker 4>it is the work that I've done with the PA

0:36:58.520 --> 0:37:03.840
<v Speaker 4>that has really like brought like such a holistic.

0:37:03.680 --> 0:37:07.800
<v Speaker 2>View to my career. It's around like very much rounded

0:37:07.840 --> 0:37:08.239
<v Speaker 2>that out.

0:37:09.080 --> 0:37:12.320
<v Speaker 4>And with that work, I think I realized like how

0:37:12.440 --> 0:37:17.320
<v Speaker 4>passionate I am about that side, about what it looks

0:37:17.440 --> 0:37:20.000
<v Speaker 4>like to be in rooms that are making decisions, what

0:37:20.040 --> 0:37:22.800
<v Speaker 4>it looks like to ask for things or re envision

0:37:23.280 --> 0:37:27.720
<v Speaker 4>what is possible. And I think that doing that work

0:37:27.760 --> 0:37:30.920
<v Speaker 4>has given me the foundation for what I will do

0:37:31.000 --> 0:37:34.520
<v Speaker 4>next and the way in which I will be very

0:37:34.560 --> 0:37:37.560
<v Speaker 4>similar to the player that I have been in the

0:37:37.600 --> 0:37:40.279
<v Speaker 4>work that I will do in my afterlife.

0:37:40.320 --> 0:37:40.959
<v Speaker 2>I love it.

0:37:41.840 --> 0:37:44.759
<v Speaker 4>But yeah, I think that I talked to Sue about

0:37:44.800 --> 0:37:47.160
<v Speaker 4>this a long time ago when she was, you know,

0:37:47.400 --> 0:37:51.960
<v Speaker 4>on the WNBAPA and going through their conversations, and she's like,

0:37:52.000 --> 0:37:54.399
<v Speaker 4>you do get to this point where like you're sitting

0:37:54.440 --> 0:37:55.800
<v Speaker 4>at these tables and you're like, wow, I'm one of

0:37:55.800 --> 0:37:59.879
<v Speaker 4>the smartest people in this room. Yes, and you do

0:38:00.200 --> 0:38:04.239
<v Speaker 4>like you do have this like this like reinvention of

0:38:04.239 --> 0:38:06.200
<v Speaker 4>self where you're like, wait a second, I can actually

0:38:06.200 --> 0:38:08.239
<v Speaker 4>speak to this, and I can speak to it with

0:38:08.320 --> 0:38:11.200
<v Speaker 4>a firmness that like this is right and this.

0:38:11.080 --> 0:38:13.879
<v Speaker 2>Is wrong, and this is how we get to.

0:38:13.920 --> 0:38:18.040
<v Speaker 4>Be better, And like gaining that confidence is really something.

0:38:17.800 --> 0:38:19.080
<v Speaker 2>That I'm like been proud of.

0:38:19.360 --> 0:38:23.080
<v Speaker 4>And the initial CBA I will always hold close to

0:38:23.120 --> 0:38:25.400
<v Speaker 4>my heart because it was the thing that just started

0:38:25.400 --> 0:38:30.080
<v Speaker 4>to put this league on a much different trajectory. But

0:38:30.239 --> 0:38:33.799
<v Speaker 4>our second CBA really meant something to me because I

0:38:33.840 --> 0:38:36.520
<v Speaker 4>was like, I think I knew I wouldn't be around

0:38:37.640 --> 0:38:40.360
<v Speaker 4>for what the length, Well, I knew I wouldn't be

0:38:40.400 --> 0:38:42.520
<v Speaker 4>around for like the length of the CBA. But I

0:38:42.560 --> 0:38:45.680
<v Speaker 4>think I knew that I like wouldn't even enter it

0:38:45.719 --> 0:38:48.960
<v Speaker 4>into like the next year, right, And to sit on

0:38:49.040 --> 0:38:53.000
<v Speaker 4>those calls and to be like asking or pushing for

0:38:53.080 --> 0:38:55.880
<v Speaker 4>something that you know is not gonna you are not

0:38:55.920 --> 0:38:59.799
<v Speaker 4>going to benefit from, you get to be kind of

0:39:00.680 --> 0:39:04.120
<v Speaker 4>more ruthless in your ask, you know, like because you

0:39:04.160 --> 0:39:04.600
<v Speaker 4>know you're.

0:39:04.440 --> 0:39:05.280
<v Speaker 2>Not being selfish.

0:39:05.360 --> 0:39:07.560
<v Speaker 1>Yeah, you're saying, I know and feel that this is right,

0:39:07.719 --> 0:39:09.319
<v Speaker 1>not because I want it for me, but because I

0:39:09.400 --> 0:39:11.120
<v Speaker 1>know that it's what's right for everybody else.

0:39:11.360 --> 0:39:14.480
<v Speaker 4>Yeah, And what the standard should be, yeah, and what

0:39:14.800 --> 0:39:17.239
<v Speaker 4>players should have and what they should have for a

0:39:17.360 --> 0:39:21.520
<v Speaker 4>long time. And if you don't get you know, if

0:39:21.560 --> 0:39:24.399
<v Speaker 4>you don't raise that level, if there isn't like enough

0:39:24.440 --> 0:39:27.120
<v Speaker 4>of a raise, then like when the next CBA comes around,

0:39:27.920 --> 0:39:30.320
<v Speaker 4>that jump off points too low. So you never reached

0:39:30.360 --> 0:39:33.960
<v Speaker 4>to where you should be. And so I think, Yeah,

0:39:34.120 --> 0:39:36.560
<v Speaker 4>that work has been incredibly fulfilling.

0:39:36.800 --> 0:39:39.040
<v Speaker 2>It has opened my eyes to a lot of things.

0:39:39.160 --> 0:39:42.359
<v Speaker 4>Is open my eyes to a lot of conversations, and

0:39:42.400 --> 0:39:47.080
<v Speaker 4>it's opened it's open a lot of discussion around what

0:39:47.440 --> 0:39:51.120
<v Speaker 4>is needed in this league for it to be to

0:39:51.200 --> 0:39:54.360
<v Speaker 4>reach the level of success that it deserves, that the

0:39:54.400 --> 0:39:56.880
<v Speaker 4>women in it deserve, because we're no longer in this

0:39:56.920 --> 0:39:58.360
<v Speaker 4>position that it's like where.

0:39:58.200 --> 0:39:59.960
<v Speaker 2>They're going to have a league or we're not right.

0:40:00.800 --> 0:40:02.839
<v Speaker 4>We are in the position now, which I think is

0:40:02.840 --> 0:40:06.600
<v Speaker 4>a lot more tedious of we will be successful.

0:40:07.080 --> 0:40:09.839
<v Speaker 2>But what is the height of that? How big can

0:40:09.880 --> 0:40:11.000
<v Speaker 2>we go? How big can you go?

0:40:11.440 --> 0:40:15.480
<v Speaker 4>To my previous point, I think the more that women

0:40:16.360 --> 0:40:18.279
<v Speaker 4>of this league step into positions to.

0:40:20.040 --> 0:40:22.000
<v Speaker 2>Shape that, the better off this league.

0:40:22.000 --> 0:40:23.960
<v Speaker 1>I completely agree, and I love that you said in

0:40:23.960 --> 0:40:26.080
<v Speaker 1>those meetings you earned the confidence of knowing you were

0:40:26.400 --> 0:40:28.560
<v Speaker 1>one of the smarter people there and someone who knew

0:40:28.960 --> 0:40:32.240
<v Speaker 1>what was required, and your lived experience came into play.

0:40:32.440 --> 0:40:35.080
<v Speaker 1>I have to say, like one of the limited positive

0:40:35.080 --> 0:40:37.480
<v Speaker 1>experiences I had in my ownership role with the Red

0:40:37.480 --> 0:40:39.719
<v Speaker 1>Stars for a couple of years was that I was

0:40:39.760 --> 0:40:42.440
<v Speaker 1>in meetings where I would have sold myself short as like, oh,

0:40:42.480 --> 0:40:45.440
<v Speaker 1>I'm just a sports reporter, I'm just whatever, and instead

0:40:45.480 --> 0:40:47.360
<v Speaker 1>realized I knew it was right for the players, I

0:40:47.440 --> 0:40:49.319
<v Speaker 1>knew what the right choices were, I knew when people

0:40:49.320 --> 0:40:51.719
<v Speaker 1>were doing the wrong thing or making the wrong choice,

0:40:51.800 --> 0:40:53.440
<v Speaker 1>and I was confident enough to say it.

0:40:53.480 --> 0:40:56.520
<v Speaker 2>I didn't have the power or the money to change things, which.

0:40:56.360 --> 0:41:00.480
<v Speaker 1>Was in incredibly frustrating and made me see the world.

0:41:00.680 --> 0:41:02.600
<v Speaker 1>I never have cared much about power and money, and

0:41:02.640 --> 0:41:04.560
<v Speaker 1>now I'm like, well, shit, there's only so much you

0:41:04.600 --> 0:41:07.279
<v Speaker 1>can do. But I did leave there being like I

0:41:07.280 --> 0:41:09.640
<v Speaker 1>will feel confident in every room I walking, and I

0:41:09.680 --> 0:41:12.279
<v Speaker 1>know Dominique Foxworth has said that about being in the

0:41:12.400 --> 0:41:15.640
<v Speaker 1>NFL and then going into meetings with owners and being like, shit,

0:41:15.960 --> 0:41:18.360
<v Speaker 1>these billionaires aren't smarter than me, they don't know better

0:41:18.400 --> 0:41:18.640
<v Speaker 1>than me.

0:41:18.960 --> 0:41:21.640
<v Speaker 2>So I'm glad you learned that because Merritt Matthiah is

0:41:21.680 --> 0:41:23.680
<v Speaker 2>off the field and in other places, whether it's.

0:41:23.600 --> 0:41:25.480
<v Speaker 1>A boardroom or at the front of a company or

0:41:25.520 --> 0:41:27.680
<v Speaker 1>as a GM or an owner, like I want to

0:41:27.680 --> 0:41:30.120
<v Speaker 1>see that. I'm excited to see that me too. You

0:41:30.280 --> 0:41:32.040
<v Speaker 1>made me think of a Brett Dennen song. He as

0:41:32.080 --> 0:41:35.360
<v Speaker 1>a lyric that says, now I'm planning trees I'll never climb,

0:41:35.840 --> 0:41:38.000
<v Speaker 1>which is a way of looking at your later years

0:41:38.040 --> 0:41:40.440
<v Speaker 1>of like, how am I making things matter that maybe

0:41:40.440 --> 0:41:43.440
<v Speaker 1>I don't get but everybody else gets it. It feels significant,

0:41:43.800 --> 0:41:45.880
<v Speaker 1>So we have to go. I'm not gonna have already taken.

0:41:45.640 --> 0:41:47.799
<v Speaker 2>Too much time. I'm not going to ask you what's next?

0:41:47.840 --> 0:41:49.480
<v Speaker 2>Not enough I know. I mean, I could talk to

0:41:49.480 --> 0:41:49.880
<v Speaker 2>you forever.

0:41:51.040 --> 0:41:52.640
<v Speaker 1>I'm not going to ask what's next in the long term,

0:41:52.640 --> 0:41:54.920
<v Speaker 1>because I've been told retiring athletes hate to hear that.

0:41:55.800 --> 0:41:58.360
<v Speaker 1>So I want to ask what's next in the short term,

0:41:58.400 --> 0:42:00.239
<v Speaker 1>like next couple of weeks, next couple of months. As

0:42:00.239 --> 0:42:02.920
<v Speaker 1>soon as that game on Friday ends and you're technically

0:42:02.960 --> 0:42:03.680
<v Speaker 1>no longer.

0:42:04.800 --> 0:42:05.560
<v Speaker 2>You know, you'll have.

0:42:05.440 --> 0:42:07.560
<v Speaker 1>All your exit interviews and all your other stuff, but like,

0:42:07.640 --> 0:42:08.880
<v Speaker 1>what's the first thing you're going to do.

0:42:10.080 --> 0:42:15.799
<v Speaker 4>I am very excited to just live in a moment

0:42:15.840 --> 0:42:19.239
<v Speaker 4>where I'm not having to worry about like working out

0:42:19.680 --> 0:42:23.560
<v Speaker 4>and being fit and yeah, to kind of just let

0:42:23.600 --> 0:42:27.920
<v Speaker 4>myself be and travel and do things that you just

0:42:28.000 --> 0:42:30.040
<v Speaker 4>don't get to do as a professional athlete. There's a

0:42:30.120 --> 0:42:33.799
<v Speaker 4>lot of sacrifice that comes with putting yourself first and

0:42:33.920 --> 0:42:36.160
<v Speaker 4>wanting to be great at something, and I have done

0:42:36.160 --> 0:42:37.600
<v Speaker 4>that for a.

0:42:37.719 --> 0:42:38.640
<v Speaker 2>Very long time.

0:42:38.960 --> 0:42:41.239
<v Speaker 4>So I look forward to spending like some quality time

0:42:41.280 --> 0:42:46.759
<v Speaker 4>with like friends and family and it not be not

0:42:47.040 --> 0:42:51.759
<v Speaker 4>be weighed down by like I have this to do

0:42:52.080 --> 0:42:54.040
<v Speaker 4>and I need to go do this, and I need

0:42:54.120 --> 0:42:56.239
<v Speaker 4>to find the gym that I can be in, and

0:42:56.280 --> 0:42:58.480
<v Speaker 4>I need to find the trainer that will help me

0:42:58.640 --> 0:43:03.200
<v Speaker 4>like do technical work and like all this stuff. So yeah,

0:43:03.600 --> 0:43:05.960
<v Speaker 4>to not have that part of my brain and that

0:43:06.080 --> 0:43:10.600
<v Speaker 4>consistent like conversation going on, I I don't.

0:43:10.360 --> 0:43:12.600
<v Speaker 2>Know if I'll know what to do with myself. There's

0:43:12.640 --> 0:43:13.200
<v Speaker 2>two paths.

0:43:13.320 --> 0:43:14.800
<v Speaker 1>How the people are like, oh my god, there's no

0:43:14.840 --> 0:43:16.160
<v Speaker 1>one telling me what to do every second.

0:43:16.239 --> 0:43:17.280
<v Speaker 2>I hate it, And everyone else.

0:43:17.200 --> 0:43:20.160
<v Speaker 1>Is like, oh my god, what a dream is to

0:43:20.320 --> 0:43:21.799
<v Speaker 1>just wake up and be like what do I want

0:43:21.840 --> 0:43:22.040
<v Speaker 1>to do?

0:43:22.160 --> 0:43:24.720
<v Speaker 2>I know, and I know, like in you know, whatever's next.

0:43:24.760 --> 0:43:27.160
<v Speaker 4>There is this part that like you do lose a

0:43:27.160 --> 0:43:29.799
<v Speaker 4>bit of autonomy when you start doing anything again. But

0:43:29.920 --> 0:43:32.759
<v Speaker 4>I think for me, like there is a part of me,

0:43:32.880 --> 0:43:37.040
<v Speaker 4>like within professional sport that in some of which I

0:43:37.120 --> 0:43:40.440
<v Speaker 4>was saying before, the way women are treated in this

0:43:41.040 --> 0:43:47.000
<v Speaker 4>we need to kind of evolutionize that and really be

0:43:47.200 --> 0:43:52.040
<v Speaker 4>able to expand how women in professional sport, especially in

0:43:52.040 --> 0:43:54.480
<v Speaker 4>the NWSL, are able to interact.

0:43:54.080 --> 0:43:58.640
<v Speaker 2>With life on the road, within environments, within markets.

0:43:58.920 --> 0:44:00.840
<v Speaker 4>And I think for me there was a part of

0:44:00.840 --> 0:44:04.680
<v Speaker 4>it where I'm like, oh my god, like the lack.

0:44:04.520 --> 0:44:06.840
<v Speaker 2>Of autonomy that I have like I'm too.

0:44:06.680 --> 0:44:09.400
<v Speaker 4>Self aware to like let it not be a thing anymore,

0:44:09.480 --> 0:44:11.680
<v Speaker 4>you know what I mean, Like I don't want to

0:44:11.680 --> 0:44:13.560
<v Speaker 4>wear that on a wait trip, and I don't want

0:44:13.560 --> 0:44:16.719
<v Speaker 4>to eat that, and I don't want to like be

0:44:16.880 --> 0:44:20.239
<v Speaker 4>here then right now and all these things. So I

0:44:20.280 --> 0:44:22.960
<v Speaker 4>think I'm going to lean into just having some time

0:44:23.560 --> 0:44:24.440
<v Speaker 4>to do whatever.

0:44:24.680 --> 0:44:28.920
<v Speaker 2>Yes, which will be really nice. I know, a.

0:44:30.560 --> 0:44:33.640
<v Speaker 4>Like a thing of guacamole in Mexico hates to see

0:44:33.640 --> 0:44:36.399
<v Speaker 4>me coming because and maybe a pacifico.

0:44:36.480 --> 0:44:38.920
<v Speaker 2>So yes, Oh my gosh, I'm so happy for you.

0:44:39.680 --> 0:44:44.000
<v Speaker 1>Just splurge, get some full ass nachos, is a bunch

0:44:44.040 --> 0:44:44.560
<v Speaker 1>of beers.

0:44:44.800 --> 0:44:46.720
<v Speaker 2>Well, thank you so much for coming out so much.

0:44:46.920 --> 0:44:49.040
<v Speaker 2>This was so fun. We're just going to turn this

0:44:49.080 --> 0:44:50.800
<v Speaker 2>mic off of party. Yeah, let's do.

0:44:55.040 --> 0:44:57.160
<v Speaker 1>Thank you so much to Merrik for sitting down with

0:44:57.200 --> 0:44:59.400
<v Speaker 1>me in Ohi and for being so great and so

0:44:59.480 --> 0:45:00.399
<v Speaker 1>honest about her.

0:45:00.280 --> 0:45:01.080
<v Speaker 2>Time in the league.

0:45:01.080 --> 0:45:09.120
<v Speaker 1>We got to take another break stick around Welcome back slices.

0:45:09.280 --> 0:45:11.000
<v Speaker 1>We love that you're listening, but we want you to

0:45:11.000 --> 0:45:12.319
<v Speaker 1>get in the game every day too.

0:45:12.600 --> 0:45:14.319
<v Speaker 2>So here's our good gameplay of the day.

0:45:14.680 --> 0:45:18.560
<v Speaker 1>Keep sending us those Halloween costumes past and present, inspired

0:45:18.600 --> 0:45:22.000
<v Speaker 1>by women's sports yours, your friends, folks you've seen on

0:45:22.040 --> 0:45:24.600
<v Speaker 1>social you know, like the gal wearing the Asia Wilson

0:45:24.640 --> 0:45:26.280
<v Speaker 1>car costume from the carmaxad.

0:45:26.800 --> 0:45:28.040
<v Speaker 2>So many Ellie the.

0:45:28.000 --> 0:45:32.040
<v Speaker 1>Elephants, I've seen all the ray guns and people like

0:45:32.120 --> 0:45:35.160
<v Speaker 1>Misha who's saving time and money by going as White

0:45:35.239 --> 0:45:40.520
<v Speaker 1>Tea Asia Wilson. No judgment, mesh, okay, a little judgment.

0:45:41.440 --> 0:45:43.320
<v Speaker 1>I'm going to get you on the costume bend wagodbye.

0:45:43.320 --> 0:45:43.759
<v Speaker 2>Next year.

0:45:44.200 --> 0:45:45.759
<v Speaker 1>We want to see all the costume Send them to

0:45:45.840 --> 0:45:47.839
<v Speaker 1>us at Sarah Spain on Twitter at Spain two three

0:45:47.960 --> 0:45:50.320
<v Speaker 1>two three on Insta, or hit us up on email

0:45:50.360 --> 0:45:53.120
<v Speaker 1>Good Game at wondermedianetwork dot com, and don't forget. You

0:45:53.120 --> 0:45:55.480
<v Speaker 1>can always leave us a voicemail eight seven two two

0:45:55.480 --> 0:45:59.600
<v Speaker 1>o four fifty seventy with all your show thoughts and slices.

0:46:00.200 --> 0:46:02.760
<v Speaker 2>I've said it once, I've said it before. I'm saying

0:46:02.760 --> 0:46:03.160
<v Speaker 2>it again.

0:46:03.200 --> 0:46:06.600
<v Speaker 1>Don't forget to subscribe, rate and review Good Game with

0:46:06.640 --> 0:46:07.200
<v Speaker 1>Sarah Spain.

0:46:07.480 --> 0:46:08.240
<v Speaker 2>It's super easy.

0:46:08.280 --> 0:46:12.000
<v Speaker 1>Watch Aubrey Plaza's photo shoot with Ellie the Elephant rating

0:46:12.320 --> 0:46:13.120
<v Speaker 1>five out of five.

0:46:13.200 --> 0:46:14.800
<v Speaker 2>Split Jumps review.

0:46:14.920 --> 0:46:18.280
<v Speaker 1>We loved watching Ryder die Liberty fan Aubrey Plaza pretend

0:46:18.280 --> 0:46:21.120
<v Speaker 1>to read a book while courtside all season, flipping the

0:46:21.120 --> 0:46:24.799
<v Speaker 1>double bird to the JumboTron cam at games, just being

0:46:24.880 --> 0:46:28.520
<v Speaker 1>Aubrey Plaza, but seeing her pose prom style with Ellie

0:46:28.520 --> 0:46:31.759
<v Speaker 1>the Elephant earnestly and sweetly at the Wall Street Journal

0:46:31.800 --> 0:46:34.239
<v Speaker 1>Innovator Awards.

0:46:33.280 --> 0:46:34.800
<v Speaker 2>Perfect Chef's Kiss.

0:46:35.239 --> 0:46:37.920
<v Speaker 1>Also, I'm wondering, can you book Ellie to come to

0:46:38.000 --> 0:46:41.279
<v Speaker 1>events as your plus one? I have a couple producers

0:46:42.000 --> 0:46:44.960
<v Speaker 1>and myself who want to know all right, slices, Now

0:46:44.960 --> 0:46:46.200
<v Speaker 1>it's your turn, rate and review.

0:46:46.640 --> 0:46:49.280
<v Speaker 2>Thanks for listening, Happy Halloween, See you tomorrow.

0:46:49.600 --> 0:46:53.360
<v Speaker 1>Good Game, Merit, Good Game, women sports costumes, fuck you

0:46:53.520 --> 0:46:59.359
<v Speaker 1>Awards ceremonies that don't prioritize women. Good Game with Sarah

0:46:59.400 --> 0:47:02.080
<v Speaker 1>Spain is an iHeart women's sports production in partnership with

0:47:02.160 --> 0:47:04.560
<v Speaker 1>Deep Blue Sports and Entertainment. You can find us on

0:47:04.560 --> 0:47:08.040
<v Speaker 1>the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

0:47:08.200 --> 0:47:11.560
<v Speaker 1>Production by Wonder Media Network, our producers are Alex Azzie

0:47:11.560 --> 0:47:15.240
<v Speaker 1>and Misha Jones. Our executive producers are Christina Everett, Jesse Katz,

0:47:15.320 --> 0:47:18.560
<v Speaker 1>Jenny Kaplan, and Emily Rudder. Our editors are Emily Rudder.

0:47:18.600 --> 0:47:22.440
<v Speaker 1>Britney Martinez, Grace Lynch and Lindsay Cradowell. Production assistant from

0:47:22.520 --> 0:47:24.800
<v Speaker 1>Lucy Jones and I'm Your Host Sarah Spain.