1 00:00:01,040 --> 00:00:03,960 Speaker 1: I packed my car. I packed my car it'sad to 2 00:00:04,040 --> 00:00:05,159 Speaker 1: God and grabbed. 3 00:00:04,840 --> 00:00:09,319 Speaker 2: My dunks coffee. Able to get this, I packed my CA. 4 00:00:11,800 --> 00:00:13,600 Speaker 2: I apologize to everyone. 5 00:00:16,239 --> 00:00:18,279 Speaker 1: Welcome to good game with Sarah Spain, where a bunch 6 00:00:18,280 --> 00:00:21,400 Speaker 1: of massholes have already claimed the Connecticut's son as their team. 7 00:00:22,160 --> 00:00:23,280 Speaker 2: I can hear them now. 8 00:00:23,600 --> 00:00:26,520 Speaker 1: I packed my CA outside the garden, grabbed my Dunk's 9 00:00:26,560 --> 00:00:30,120 Speaker 1: coffee to watch the squad wicked time. Okay, that was 10 00:00:31,000 --> 00:00:34,080 Speaker 1: deeply embarrassing and I'm sorry to understand why I never 11 00:00:34,120 --> 00:00:34,920 Speaker 1: made it to SNL. 12 00:00:35,680 --> 00:00:37,239 Speaker 2: I promise I have better accents than that. 13 00:00:37,280 --> 00:00:42,280 Speaker 1: One helped me Affles and others either way, bad accent 14 00:00:42,400 --> 00:00:44,400 Speaker 1: or not very cool scene to see that sold out 15 00:00:44,440 --> 00:00:46,880 Speaker 1: game at TEDD Garden. On today's show, we're going to 16 00:00:46,920 --> 00:00:49,280 Speaker 1: talk with Athletic staff writer Steph Young about whether the 17 00:00:49,400 --> 00:00:52,480 Speaker 1: NWSL is doing too much and what she's learning about 18 00:00:52,479 --> 00:00:56,080 Speaker 1: the San Diego Wave hiring Landon Donovan, Plus a roller 19 00:00:56,080 --> 00:00:58,480 Speaker 1: coaster of a ride for a US Women's national team legend, 20 00:00:58,720 --> 00:01:00,920 Speaker 1: and a blockbuster nw USL trade. 21 00:01:01,000 --> 00:01:02,680 Speaker 2: But first, here's what you need to know. 22 00:01:02,720 --> 00:01:08,600 Speaker 1: Today in NWSL soccer, some big player moves. The Seattle 23 00:01:08,680 --> 00:01:12,440 Speaker 1: Rain have acquired midfielder Jalen Howell and fifty thousand dollars 24 00:01:12,440 --> 00:01:15,720 Speaker 1: in allocation money from Racing Louisville in exchange for Ford 25 00:01:15,800 --> 00:01:18,720 Speaker 1: Bethany Balser. Howell was the number two overall pick in 26 00:01:18,760 --> 00:01:21,200 Speaker 1: the twenty twenty two draft, and she's served as Louisville's 27 00:01:21,200 --> 00:01:22,399 Speaker 1: captain since last year. 28 00:01:22,840 --> 00:01:24,640 Speaker 2: Bethany Bosser's trajectory a little different. 29 00:01:24,640 --> 00:01:26,880 Speaker 1: After going undrafted in twenty nineteen, she signed with the 30 00:01:26,959 --> 00:01:29,000 Speaker 1: Rain and went on to win Rookie of the Year 31 00:01:29,000 --> 00:01:32,520 Speaker 1: in her debut season. She went to Spring Arbor University 32 00:01:32,560 --> 00:01:35,280 Speaker 1: and is the first ever Naia player to compete in 33 00:01:35,319 --> 00:01:37,800 Speaker 1: the NWSL, and she's developed into a good one, one 34 00:01:37,840 --> 00:01:40,680 Speaker 1: of the Rain's most consistent contributors. Her thirty three goals 35 00:01:40,720 --> 00:01:43,560 Speaker 1: are third most in club history. She's also known for 36 00:01:43,680 --> 00:01:46,200 Speaker 1: calling out the bs that she sees. Back in twenty 37 00:01:46,200 --> 00:01:49,600 Speaker 1: twenty one, back before the NWSL had a CBA, she 38 00:01:49,640 --> 00:01:52,680 Speaker 1: wrote on Twitter quote, why is equal pay important? I 39 00:01:52,720 --> 00:01:55,120 Speaker 1: got a fifty dollars gift card to Chipotle for winning 40 00:01:55,160 --> 00:01:58,639 Speaker 1: Rookie of the Year in twenty nineteen. Thankfully, these days 41 00:01:58,800 --> 00:02:01,200 Speaker 1: they do have a CBA and the NWSL's Rookie of 42 00:02:01,200 --> 00:02:03,240 Speaker 1: the Year is guaranteed at least five thousand dollars in 43 00:02:03,280 --> 00:02:06,240 Speaker 1: bonus money, which is certainly better than three burritos and 44 00:02:06,280 --> 00:02:09,160 Speaker 1: Asida guac. This is good news for Racing in that 45 00:02:09,240 --> 00:02:12,120 Speaker 1: they need scoring help and Bethany Baltzer can give it 46 00:02:12,160 --> 00:02:14,320 Speaker 1: to them, but it's tough to tell how the players 47 00:02:14,360 --> 00:02:16,440 Speaker 1: are feeling about it. After the trade was announced, both 48 00:02:16,480 --> 00:02:19,840 Speaker 1: players posted on social media. Howell said she's quote shocked 49 00:02:19,840 --> 00:02:22,760 Speaker 1: to say the least, but added she's quote so incredibly 50 00:02:22,800 --> 00:02:23,959 Speaker 1: excited to join the Rain. 51 00:02:24,639 --> 00:02:26,520 Speaker 2: Meanwhile, Bolster was a little more cryptic. 52 00:02:26,600 --> 00:02:29,240 Speaker 1: She wrote quote people will write the narrative they want 53 00:02:29,280 --> 00:02:31,960 Speaker 1: to write, but the truth will always come to light 54 00:02:32,320 --> 00:02:35,480 Speaker 1: end quote. In a separate post, she shouted out Louisville, saying, quote, 55 00:02:35,520 --> 00:02:37,440 Speaker 1: I will do everything in my power to help push 56 00:02:37,520 --> 00:02:41,120 Speaker 1: this team forward. Some other Racing Louisville news as Jack 57 00:02:41,240 --> 00:02:43,919 Speaker 1: Harlowe joins the club's ownership group. In case you don't 58 00:02:43,960 --> 00:02:47,080 Speaker 1: know who he is, looking at you, producer Alex. He's 59 00:02:47,080 --> 00:02:49,639 Speaker 1: a rapper, singer and Louisville native. I really can't believe 60 00:02:49,680 --> 00:02:52,560 Speaker 1: you don't know who that is. Alex Catchy Catchy songs. 61 00:02:52,960 --> 00:02:56,320 Speaker 1: Also in the NWSL, GOTHAMAFC fans were dealt a rollercoaster 62 00:02:56,360 --> 00:02:59,000 Speaker 1: of emotions after the club announced it did sign US 63 00:02:59,000 --> 00:03:01,880 Speaker 1: women's national team led Heather O'Reilly to a one day 64 00:03:01,960 --> 00:03:05,480 Speaker 1: contract as an injury replacement player to play in the 65 00:03:05,480 --> 00:03:08,960 Speaker 1: club's Monday night friendly match against women's Super League side Chelsea. 66 00:03:09,080 --> 00:03:11,400 Speaker 1: If you remember, O'Reilly spent a year playing for Arsenal, 67 00:03:11,800 --> 00:03:14,280 Speaker 1: the Cross London rival of Chelsea, which made this an 68 00:03:14,360 --> 00:03:16,960 Speaker 1: extra fun signing. Actually, just in case you didn't already 69 00:03:16,960 --> 00:03:19,160 Speaker 1: know that, let's do a quick refresher on the legendary 70 00:03:19,200 --> 00:03:21,839 Speaker 1: career of the woman known as Hao. All you young 71 00:03:21,960 --> 00:03:24,520 Speaker 1: is out there, start googling, because she's one of our faves. 72 00:03:24,560 --> 00:03:26,840 Speaker 1: During her fourteen year tenure with the national team, she 73 00:03:26,880 --> 00:03:29,560 Speaker 1: won three gold medals, competed at three World Cups, took 74 00:03:29,560 --> 00:03:32,600 Speaker 1: home trophy in twenty fifteen, retired from professional soccer in 75 00:03:32,680 --> 00:03:35,400 Speaker 1: twenty nineteen, but in twenty twenty two, the first year 76 00:03:35,440 --> 00:03:37,640 Speaker 1: she was eligible to be inducted into the National Soccer 77 00:03:37,640 --> 00:03:39,960 Speaker 1: Hall of Fame, she was on the player ballot for voting, 78 00:03:40,040 --> 00:03:43,040 Speaker 1: and that same day she unretired in order to join 79 00:03:43,080 --> 00:03:46,560 Speaker 1: Irish club Shelbourne FC, and only retired players are eligible 80 00:03:46,600 --> 00:03:48,200 Speaker 1: for the Hall. Of fame, so the organization had to 81 00:03:48,200 --> 00:03:50,680 Speaker 1: retract her name for the ballot, at least for now. 82 00:03:51,040 --> 00:03:53,200 Speaker 1: All that to say, we were really excited to see 83 00:03:53,240 --> 00:03:55,600 Speaker 1: O'Reilly back out on the field, and Gotham fans and 84 00:03:55,640 --> 00:03:58,360 Speaker 1: players were super psyched to see her play. Chelsea players 85 00:03:58,400 --> 00:04:01,640 Speaker 1: maybe less psyched. Less than an hour before kickoff, Gotham 86 00:04:01,640 --> 00:04:04,200 Speaker 1: announced that she was no longer available for selection, and 87 00:04:04,240 --> 00:04:06,960 Speaker 1: a few minutes later Hather O'Reilly posted that she didn't 88 00:04:07,040 --> 00:04:10,160 Speaker 1: pass her physical. She wrote, quote, my heart is too big. 89 00:04:10,320 --> 00:04:14,480 Speaker 1: The machine couldn't handle it. End quote, ultimate bummer. Chelsea 90 00:04:14,560 --> 00:04:16,960 Speaker 1: went on to win the friendly three to one. Finally, 91 00:04:17,000 --> 00:04:19,679 Speaker 1: before we leave the pitch, an update on Angel City 92 00:04:19,680 --> 00:04:23,080 Speaker 1: defender and New Zealand national Ali Riley. Earlier this summer, 93 00:04:23,160 --> 00:04:25,120 Speaker 1: Riley was ruled out of the Paris Olympics due to 94 00:04:25,160 --> 00:04:27,640 Speaker 1: an ongoing nerve injury, and during a Q and A 95 00:04:27,680 --> 00:04:30,480 Speaker 1: with a local girls' sports organization, the thirty six year 96 00:04:30,520 --> 00:04:33,440 Speaker 1: old said she's not sure if she'll ever be able 97 00:04:33,480 --> 00:04:35,680 Speaker 1: to play again. She later took to social media to 98 00:04:35,720 --> 00:04:37,880 Speaker 1: clarify she's not saying goodbye to soccer without a fight, 99 00:04:38,000 --> 00:04:41,080 Speaker 1: writing quote, I'm not giving up and I'm not going anywhere. 100 00:04:41,200 --> 00:04:43,480 Speaker 1: My goal is to play for my club and country again, 101 00:04:43,520 --> 00:04:45,000 Speaker 1: and I will think about that as I do my 102 00:04:45,080 --> 00:04:48,200 Speaker 1: rehab every day for as long as it takes. In 103 00:04:48,240 --> 00:04:51,680 Speaker 1: basketball news, yesterday, the WNBA Seattle Storm announced that free 104 00:04:51,720 --> 00:04:54,720 Speaker 1: agent forward Gabby Williams signed a rest of season contract. 105 00:04:54,960 --> 00:04:57,719 Speaker 1: Williams was the one who gave USA Basketball fits in 106 00:04:57,760 --> 00:04:59,680 Speaker 1: the gold medal game at the Olympics, en route to 107 00:04:59,680 --> 00:05:02,599 Speaker 1: a metal for herself and team France. She was also 108 00:05:02,680 --> 00:05:04,880 Speaker 1: named Best Defensive Player of the tournament and selected to 109 00:05:04,880 --> 00:05:07,240 Speaker 1: the All Star Five. She'll join the team back in 110 00:05:07,320 --> 00:05:10,440 Speaker 1: Seattle next week. With France hosting this year's Olympics, she 111 00:05:10,480 --> 00:05:12,520 Speaker 1: opted to set out the first portion of the WNBA 112 00:05:12,560 --> 00:05:15,000 Speaker 1: schedule to prepare with her national team, and she'll now 113 00:05:15,040 --> 00:05:17,599 Speaker 1: rejoin the Storm after playing for Seattle in twenty twenty 114 00:05:17,600 --> 00:05:20,479 Speaker 1: two and a portion of twenty twenty three. Seattle's currently 115 00:05:20,480 --> 00:05:22,839 Speaker 1: in the WNBA playoff picture, teetering on the edge of 116 00:05:22,839 --> 00:05:25,000 Speaker 1: the top four in the standings. Williams will be a 117 00:05:25,040 --> 00:05:28,000 Speaker 1: welcome addition to the veteran corps that includes Jewel Lloyd, Skyler, 118 00:05:28,080 --> 00:05:30,640 Speaker 1: nigg And Smith and neck Ogo McKay. All Right, So 119 00:05:30,640 --> 00:05:32,400 Speaker 1: I mentioned at the top when I was doing that 120 00:05:32,520 --> 00:05:35,600 Speaker 1: terrible accent that the Connecticut Sun Los Angeles Sparks game 121 00:05:35,839 --> 00:05:39,320 Speaker 1: a sellout at TD Garden and producer Alex was actually 122 00:05:39,440 --> 00:05:40,200 Speaker 1: at the game. 123 00:05:40,480 --> 00:05:42,039 Speaker 2: Alex, what do we miss? 124 00:05:42,880 --> 00:05:45,440 Speaker 3: All right, y'all? So I am recording this from my 125 00:05:45,520 --> 00:05:49,960 Speaker 3: car after the game, and Wow, that was just such 126 00:05:49,960 --> 00:05:52,359 Speaker 3: an electric environment. As a kid that grew up in 127 00:05:52,360 --> 00:05:55,360 Speaker 3: New Hampshire watching sports at the Garden, it was wild 128 00:05:55,400 --> 00:05:58,200 Speaker 3: to realize that this was the first time in my 129 00:05:58,320 --> 00:06:00,799 Speaker 3: life that I was able to travel to that venue 130 00:06:01,240 --> 00:06:04,440 Speaker 3: and watch women's sports, and more than nineteen thousand people 131 00:06:04,480 --> 00:06:06,880 Speaker 3: were there with me too. One of the first things 132 00:06:06,920 --> 00:06:09,760 Speaker 3: I noticed was that the Connecticut Sun traveled with their 133 00:06:09,800 --> 00:06:14,719 Speaker 3: own floor, like literal home court advantage. Pretty cool to 134 00:06:14,760 --> 00:06:16,599 Speaker 3: see that they were in a different state, in a 135 00:06:16,600 --> 00:06:20,000 Speaker 3: different venue and still playing on their own court. I 136 00:06:20,040 --> 00:06:22,880 Speaker 3: actually asked head coach Stephanie White about that after the game, 137 00:06:22,920 --> 00:06:25,120 Speaker 3: and she shouted out the team staff for pulling off 138 00:06:25,160 --> 00:06:29,000 Speaker 3: such a logistically challenging event. As for the game itself, 139 00:06:29,120 --> 00:06:33,800 Speaker 3: listen seeing Dowana Bonner deny someone in person, it's different. 140 00:06:33,880 --> 00:06:36,520 Speaker 3: Shout out to Emily Adams at the Hartford Current who 141 00:06:36,520 --> 00:06:39,080 Speaker 3: did the math on this. But this was actually the 142 00:06:39,120 --> 00:06:41,320 Speaker 3: first game in her five years with the Sun that 143 00:06:41,400 --> 00:06:44,680 Speaker 3: Dowanna came off the bench. Emily asked White about that 144 00:06:44,720 --> 00:06:46,640 Speaker 3: after the game, and I'm gonna roll that clip because 145 00:06:46,640 --> 00:06:47,360 Speaker 3: it's a good one. 146 00:06:47,720 --> 00:06:50,480 Speaker 2: Deb volunteered on how to come off the bench. 147 00:06:50,560 --> 00:06:55,760 Speaker 4: No, she understands that it's about winning, and she also 148 00:06:55,880 --> 00:06:58,440 Speaker 4: understands that there's a motion involved when it. 149 00:06:58,400 --> 00:07:00,040 Speaker 2: Comes to starting or not star. 150 00:07:01,520 --> 00:07:03,720 Speaker 4: And so she came to us and talked to us 151 00:07:03,720 --> 00:07:05,240 Speaker 4: and she's like, look, I don't mind coming off the bench. 152 00:07:05,279 --> 00:07:06,480 Speaker 4: I just want to win. I want to figure out 153 00:07:06,480 --> 00:07:09,400 Speaker 4: what our best lineup is, our best rotation is, and 154 00:07:09,440 --> 00:07:11,680 Speaker 4: I'll be ready to go no matter what. And so 155 00:07:12,400 --> 00:07:17,119 Speaker 4: that's leadership, right, that's sacrifice, that's putting the team above 156 00:07:17,200 --> 00:07:20,960 Speaker 4: everything else. And so I'm thankful to her for that moment. 157 00:07:21,120 --> 00:07:23,800 Speaker 4: I don't know if I still like it right, you know, 158 00:07:23,880 --> 00:07:25,960 Speaker 4: I think we're still trying to find out, like what 159 00:07:26,120 --> 00:07:27,160 Speaker 4: is the right combination. 160 00:07:27,840 --> 00:07:30,640 Speaker 3: Also, this quote from Djna Carrington, who led the Sun 161 00:07:30,720 --> 00:07:32,440 Speaker 3: with nineteen points, is going to stick with me for 162 00:07:32,480 --> 00:07:35,160 Speaker 3: a long time. Asked after the game about the environment, 163 00:07:35,240 --> 00:07:38,840 Speaker 3: she said, quote, it felt great. It felt like what 164 00:07:38,920 --> 00:07:42,520 Speaker 3: every night should feel like and so wal Tonight was 165 00:07:42,760 --> 00:07:46,840 Speaker 3: the Garden's first WWNBA game. It's pretty obvious it is 166 00:07:47,000 --> 00:07:48,560 Speaker 3: most certainly not going to be the. 167 00:07:48,560 --> 00:07:52,760 Speaker 2: Last awesome stuff. Alex. I'm glad you made it. There 168 00:07:52,760 --> 00:07:54,320 Speaker 2: are two w NBA games today. 169 00:07:54,320 --> 00:07:56,720 Speaker 1: The Phoenix Mercury are traveling to Atlanta, while Las Vegas 170 00:07:56,800 --> 00:07:58,120 Speaker 1: is hosting the Minnesota Links. 171 00:07:58,320 --> 00:07:59,080 Speaker 2: That should be a good one. 172 00:07:59,080 --> 00:08:01,520 Speaker 1: Minnesota and Vegas are currently battling to secure home court 173 00:08:01,520 --> 00:08:03,400 Speaker 1: advantage in the playoffs, two of the best teams in 174 00:08:03,440 --> 00:08:03,880 Speaker 1: the league. 175 00:08:04,120 --> 00:08:04,800 Speaker 2: Check that one out. 176 00:08:07,000 --> 00:08:09,720 Speaker 1: Besides the Storm signing Gabby Williams yesterday, it was relatively 177 00:08:09,760 --> 00:08:12,360 Speaker 1: quiet day in WNBA trade news, while we told you 178 00:08:12,400 --> 00:08:15,520 Speaker 1: about a blockbuster trade in the NWSL, which might have 179 00:08:15,640 --> 00:08:19,000 Speaker 1: you wondering which league's trade deadline came and went. So 180 00:08:19,200 --> 00:08:23,800 Speaker 1: it's time for another installment of no Dumb Question. 181 00:08:27,520 --> 00:08:29,960 Speaker 5: Was yesterday the NWSL trade deadline? 182 00:08:30,160 --> 00:08:33,760 Speaker 2: No, it was actually the WNBA trade deadline. Weird. 183 00:08:34,080 --> 00:08:37,080 Speaker 5: I haven't seen any WNBA superstars on the move, but 184 00:08:37,160 --> 00:08:39,880 Speaker 5: there were a couple NWSL trades this past. 185 00:08:39,600 --> 00:08:41,640 Speaker 2: Week, right, I get your confusion. Now. 186 00:08:41,880 --> 00:08:44,400 Speaker 1: There was indeed a lot more NWSL trade action this 187 00:08:44,440 --> 00:08:47,199 Speaker 1: week than in the WNBA, and not just Balter and Howell. 188 00:08:47,240 --> 00:08:49,640 Speaker 1: We also saw Carson Pika traded to Orlando from Racing 189 00:08:49,640 --> 00:08:52,800 Speaker 1: Louisville and Alexa Spanstra sent to Portland from Kansas City. 190 00:08:53,280 --> 00:08:55,480 Speaker 2: Meanwhile, pretty quiet on the hoops front. 191 00:08:55,800 --> 00:08:58,559 Speaker 1: That's not all that surprising, though, because big WNBA in 192 00:08:58,640 --> 00:09:00,680 Speaker 1: season trades are pretty rare to pull off. 193 00:09:00,880 --> 00:09:02,480 Speaker 2: Why because it's something. 194 00:09:02,320 --> 00:09:04,920 Speaker 1: Called a salary cap that's the max total salary of 195 00:09:04,960 --> 00:09:07,400 Speaker 1: all players that a team has on the books. For example, 196 00:09:07,440 --> 00:09:09,360 Speaker 1: let's say you've got five players and one hundred dollars 197 00:09:09,360 --> 00:09:12,000 Speaker 1: salary cap. Each player can only get an average of 198 00:09:12,040 --> 00:09:14,560 Speaker 1: twenty dollars. Of course, you pay some players more than others, 199 00:09:14,720 --> 00:09:16,720 Speaker 1: but it all has to end up at one hundred dollars. 200 00:09:17,000 --> 00:09:19,160 Speaker 1: Lots of other professional sports leagues have what are called 201 00:09:19,200 --> 00:09:22,400 Speaker 1: soft caps that allows teams to exceed the allotted amount 202 00:09:22,480 --> 00:09:24,600 Speaker 1: for a bunch of different reasons, and if they exceed 203 00:09:24,640 --> 00:09:26,920 Speaker 1: a certain amount, they could pay what's called a luxury tax, 204 00:09:27,040 --> 00:09:31,000 Speaker 1: basically a penalty for each dollar that they're over the softcap. Meanwhile, 205 00:09:31,000 --> 00:09:34,000 Speaker 1: the WNBA has a hard cap. It's one million, four 206 00:09:34,080 --> 00:09:37,560 Speaker 1: hundred and sixty three, two hundred dollars. The only reason 207 00:09:37,760 --> 00:09:39,920 Speaker 1: w teams can exceed that cap is if the league 208 00:09:39,960 --> 00:09:44,439 Speaker 1: grants them hardship or emergency hardship exceptions. Other than those allowances, 209 00:09:44,600 --> 00:09:47,680 Speaker 1: they can't go over for any reason, even a dollar over. 210 00:09:48,000 --> 00:09:50,400 Speaker 1: That makes it pretty tough to find complimentary salaries for 211 00:09:50,440 --> 00:09:52,680 Speaker 1: a swap. So if you remember before the All Star Game, 212 00:09:52,679 --> 00:09:54,640 Speaker 1: we had the Sky sending Marina Maybrey to the Sun 213 00:09:54,720 --> 00:09:57,400 Speaker 1: for Rachel bannonm and Mariah Jefferson. That was a pretty 214 00:09:57,480 --> 00:10:00,400 Speaker 1: rare trade for a player with a bigger contract remakes 215 00:10:00,400 --> 00:10:03,280 Speaker 1: over two hundred k. That trade resulted both from Maybury 216 00:10:03,400 --> 00:10:06,080 Speaker 1: asking out and also the Sun being able to send 217 00:10:06,080 --> 00:10:07,240 Speaker 1: over two players in return. 218 00:10:07,679 --> 00:10:11,120 Speaker 5: So why do NWSL teams have more freedom to spend? 219 00:10:11,600 --> 00:10:14,920 Speaker 2: Well, the NWSL has this thing called allocation money. Well 220 00:10:14,920 --> 00:10:16,280 Speaker 2: what is allocation money? 221 00:10:16,440 --> 00:10:18,440 Speaker 1: Yeah, that's a great question, And like I said, there 222 00:10:18,440 --> 00:10:20,680 Speaker 1: are no dumb questions, But there are especially no dumb 223 00:10:20,800 --> 00:10:24,080 Speaker 1: questions about the NWSL's allocation money because even the smartest people. 224 00:10:23,840 --> 00:10:25,079 Speaker 2: In the room still struggle with that one. 225 00:10:25,080 --> 00:10:27,720 Speaker 1: It's pretty tricky, but basically, it's an extra sum of 226 00:10:27,760 --> 00:10:30,360 Speaker 1: cash that doesn't count towards the salary cap, and it 227 00:10:30,400 --> 00:10:33,559 Speaker 1: can go towards paying high level players that meet certain criteria. 228 00:10:33,920 --> 00:10:35,920 Speaker 1: This includes players that have had say, more than three 229 00:10:35,920 --> 00:10:38,400 Speaker 1: appearances for their national team in the previous two years, 230 00:10:38,520 --> 00:10:41,360 Speaker 1: or domestic players who have completed at least five seasons 231 00:10:41,360 --> 00:10:44,320 Speaker 1: in the NWSL. The league's actually in the process of 232 00:10:44,400 --> 00:10:47,240 Speaker 1: phasing allocation money out, but teams still have the option 233 00:10:47,360 --> 00:10:49,559 Speaker 1: to use what they have left until December of twenty 234 00:10:49,600 --> 00:10:52,640 Speaker 1: twenty six. Allocation money's also historically been in the way 235 00:10:52,760 --> 00:10:56,640 Speaker 1: NWSL teams have paid international transfer fees. That's when they 236 00:10:56,640 --> 00:10:59,480 Speaker 1: pay money to an international club to bring their top 237 00:10:59,520 --> 00:11:01,880 Speaker 1: talent to the States to play for their team, and 238 00:11:02,040 --> 00:11:05,120 Speaker 1: teams can simply trade allocation money to other teams instead 239 00:11:05,120 --> 00:11:07,320 Speaker 1: of players to sweeten or even out deals. 240 00:11:07,880 --> 00:11:11,840 Speaker 5: That makes sense, But wait, I'm still a little confused 241 00:11:11,880 --> 00:11:14,000 Speaker 5: about why the WNBA doesn't have a lot of trades 242 00:11:14,040 --> 00:11:14,840 Speaker 5: at the deadline. 243 00:11:15,040 --> 00:11:16,800 Speaker 2: Can you explain it to me? Like I'm five? 244 00:11:17,559 --> 00:11:20,679 Speaker 1: Yeah, long story short, it's hard to trade big name, 245 00:11:20,800 --> 00:11:23,480 Speaker 1: highly paid players in the WNBA and have the salary 246 00:11:23,520 --> 00:11:25,560 Speaker 1: numbers match up to avoid one of the teams in 247 00:11:25,600 --> 00:11:28,920 Speaker 1: the trade exceeding that hard cap. That's why most trades 248 00:11:28,960 --> 00:11:32,360 Speaker 1: involve bench players with similar lower salaries, and that's why 249 00:11:32,400 --> 00:11:34,599 Speaker 1: we just don't see that much movement in the WNBA 250 00:11:34,880 --> 00:11:35,760 Speaker 1: during the season. 251 00:11:35,520 --> 00:11:37,560 Speaker 2: At all, with trades and especially at the trade deadline. 252 00:11:37,679 --> 00:11:40,559 Speaker 2: Got it good. We're gonna take a quick break. 253 00:11:40,600 --> 00:11:42,439 Speaker 1: When we come back, We're gonna talk soccer and a 254 00:11:42,520 --> 00:11:44,760 Speaker 1: side of Battlestar Galactica with The Athletic. 255 00:11:44,800 --> 00:11:51,199 Speaker 2: Step Young joining us now. 256 00:11:51,240 --> 00:11:53,880 Speaker 1: She's a staff writer for The Athletic covering professional women's 257 00:11:53,880 --> 00:11:56,520 Speaker 1: soccer and the US women's national team, and a regular 258 00:11:56,520 --> 00:11:59,440 Speaker 1: contributor to the Full Time with Meg Lenihan podcast. She 259 00:11:59,480 --> 00:12:02,040 Speaker 1: played soccer at MIT. She's a fan of Fried Okra, 260 00:12:02,160 --> 00:12:04,800 Speaker 1: and last week she narrowly avoided death when she almost 261 00:12:04,880 --> 00:12:06,480 Speaker 1: washed down her meal with a giant's wig from a 262 00:12:06,480 --> 00:12:08,960 Speaker 1: bottle of hot sauce. Fun fact, She's got her law 263 00:12:09,000 --> 00:12:12,679 Speaker 1: degree from Boston College, which makes her Steph Young esquire. 264 00:12:13,559 --> 00:12:15,920 Speaker 2: Steph, thanks for coming on, Thank you. 265 00:12:16,200 --> 00:12:20,240 Speaker 6: I need to make a point. I have not passed 266 00:12:20,240 --> 00:12:22,840 Speaker 6: the bar in Massachusetts. I cannot represent you. Don't ask 267 00:12:22,840 --> 00:12:23,920 Speaker 6: me for legal opinions. 268 00:12:24,400 --> 00:12:26,839 Speaker 1: I had no idea that that was your background. First 269 00:12:26,880 --> 00:12:31,000 Speaker 1: of all MIT, and then like super impressive, I mean, 270 00:12:31,480 --> 00:12:34,560 Speaker 1: and then here you are covering soccer, which a lot 271 00:12:34,559 --> 00:12:36,640 Speaker 1: of recovering lawyers actually go into sports. 272 00:12:36,679 --> 00:12:37,680 Speaker 2: So I guess that checks out. 273 00:12:38,280 --> 00:12:41,440 Speaker 6: Yeah, there's a lot of disgruntled ex lawyers in sports writing, 274 00:12:41,480 --> 00:12:44,160 Speaker 6: like you'd be shocked by. It's very disproportionate compared to 275 00:12:44,200 --> 00:12:46,440 Speaker 6: like the population. So something's happening there. 276 00:12:46,679 --> 00:12:50,120 Speaker 1: Yeah, good readers, good writers, and get sick of going 277 00:12:50,120 --> 00:12:52,199 Speaker 1: to court and or arguing things and decide to argue 278 00:12:52,240 --> 00:12:52,959 Speaker 1: sports instead. 279 00:12:54,000 --> 00:12:55,040 Speaker 2: Okay, important questions. 280 00:12:55,040 --> 00:12:57,679 Speaker 1: First, your name on social has always confused all of us. 281 00:12:57,720 --> 00:12:59,480 Speaker 2: What is thrace? Is it a brace? 282 00:12:59,559 --> 00:13:02,960 Speaker 6: But fore no, it's embarrassing. It's a reference to a 283 00:13:02,960 --> 00:13:06,079 Speaker 6: Battlestar Galactica character, but it's also a name of historical 284 00:13:06,160 --> 00:13:08,720 Speaker 6: region in ancient Greece, So take your pick. 285 00:13:09,200 --> 00:13:11,760 Speaker 2: Okay, but the Battlestar Galactica one is what you were 286 00:13:11,800 --> 00:13:13,040 Speaker 2: going for. Yeah. 287 00:13:13,200 --> 00:13:16,000 Speaker 6: Yeah, And then I started writing under the name Freelance, 288 00:13:16,080 --> 00:13:18,600 Speaker 6: and then it's such a hassle to kind of change 289 00:13:18,600 --> 00:13:20,840 Speaker 6: all the associations with the name when you built some steam 290 00:13:21,400 --> 00:13:23,520 Speaker 6: and you know, it was the same reason why I 291 00:13:23,520 --> 00:13:25,640 Speaker 6: didn't change my name when I got married. It's like, 292 00:13:25,960 --> 00:13:27,760 Speaker 6: also it would be a little weird because my wife 293 00:13:27,800 --> 00:13:30,400 Speaker 6: is Waldeman Freed, and I don't think Steph Waldman Freed 294 00:13:30,480 --> 00:13:31,160 Speaker 6: really suits me. 295 00:13:31,800 --> 00:13:35,960 Speaker 1: But it sounds like a professor. Okay, so it's just 296 00:13:36,000 --> 00:13:39,559 Speaker 1: it's you and Dwight Schrute. Bears beats Battlestar Galactica. 297 00:13:39,640 --> 00:13:43,120 Speaker 6: Bears beats Battlestar Galactica. 298 00:13:43,440 --> 00:13:47,120 Speaker 2: Yes, that's how we'll remember it. And then also, why 299 00:13:47,160 --> 00:13:48,880 Speaker 2: exactly are you a horrible soccer goose? 300 00:13:49,280 --> 00:13:52,080 Speaker 6: Oh that's just a reference to geese kind of being 301 00:13:52,120 --> 00:13:57,320 Speaker 6: anarchists in general. And the header of my Twitter it's 302 00:13:57,360 --> 00:14:00,360 Speaker 6: from a It's a game called untitled Goose game, where 303 00:14:00,400 --> 00:14:02,560 Speaker 6: you are a goose who goes around annoying people. This 304 00:14:02,679 --> 00:14:07,960 Speaker 6: goose is holding glasses hostage. And it's usually a reference 305 00:14:08,000 --> 00:14:09,920 Speaker 6: to my partner in crime at the Athletic Midlin, a 306 00:14:09,960 --> 00:14:13,199 Speaker 6: hand who I annoy and delight in equal measure. 307 00:14:13,240 --> 00:14:14,960 Speaker 2: I'm sure, perfect, perfect. 308 00:14:15,040 --> 00:14:17,800 Speaker 1: So many of our long standing questions have been answered already, 309 00:14:17,960 --> 00:14:20,680 Speaker 1: let's get to some new questions. We are very much 310 00:14:20,680 --> 00:14:23,120 Speaker 1: still riding an Olympic high. US women's national team went 311 00:14:23,160 --> 00:14:26,480 Speaker 1: from their lowest ever fee for ranking pregames to right 312 00:14:26,560 --> 00:14:28,680 Speaker 1: back up where they feel most comfortable, number one in 313 00:14:28,720 --> 00:14:31,320 Speaker 1: the world. Should the team actually be the favorite for 314 00:14:31,400 --> 00:14:33,960 Speaker 1: every international tournament going forward until something changes? 315 00:14:34,520 --> 00:14:39,360 Speaker 6: No, absolutely not anything can change between any tournament. I 316 00:14:39,440 --> 00:14:42,760 Speaker 6: mean for any team you go from the World Cup 317 00:14:42,800 --> 00:14:46,680 Speaker 6: to now huge swing. I look at stuff like Mexico 318 00:14:46,840 --> 00:14:51,240 Speaker 6: not qualifying during the last CONCA CAFF qualifiers and then 319 00:14:51,320 --> 00:14:53,880 Speaker 6: having a friendly and beating the United States. It's not 320 00:14:53,960 --> 00:14:55,880 Speaker 6: quite the same, but you know what I'm talking about. 321 00:14:56,120 --> 00:14:59,520 Speaker 6: Anything can happen the investment. The margins are so small now. 322 00:15:00,240 --> 00:15:01,840 Speaker 6: Hate the term like the world has caught up. The 323 00:15:01,840 --> 00:15:04,520 Speaker 6: world's been caught up for a while, like you need 324 00:15:04,520 --> 00:15:06,720 Speaker 6: to catch up to where we are already are in 325 00:15:06,720 --> 00:15:09,760 Speaker 6: the narrative, So like it really is going to come 326 00:15:09,800 --> 00:15:14,280 Speaker 6: down to like much finer margins than at least amongst 327 00:15:14,360 --> 00:15:18,200 Speaker 6: probably the top ten fifteen twenty teams, rather than like 328 00:15:18,240 --> 00:15:20,600 Speaker 6: who can invest the most. Now it's a lot more 329 00:15:20,600 --> 00:15:21,440 Speaker 6: complicated than that. 330 00:15:21,880 --> 00:15:23,960 Speaker 1: In Spain is still a very good side that we 331 00:15:24,880 --> 00:15:26,320 Speaker 1: thought in advance of the Olympics. 332 00:15:26,320 --> 00:15:27,600 Speaker 2: It's very difficult for teams. 333 00:15:27,640 --> 00:15:29,680 Speaker 1: Teams have never won both a World Cup at an 334 00:15:29,680 --> 00:15:33,200 Speaker 1: Olympic in the same back to back years, so I 335 00:15:33,280 --> 00:15:34,960 Speaker 1: think there are some people who still might see them 336 00:15:34,960 --> 00:15:38,280 Speaker 1: as a better team if they were to go head 337 00:15:38,280 --> 00:15:41,040 Speaker 1: to head, although like you said, it really is dependent 338 00:15:41,080 --> 00:15:43,400 Speaker 1: on every single tournament who's available for each team who's 339 00:15:43,400 --> 00:15:46,280 Speaker 1: healthy and all of that. Obviously, the Triple Espresso front 340 00:15:46,280 --> 00:15:48,560 Speaker 1: three of Trinity, Rodman, Mouse, Swanson and so Smith are 341 00:15:48,600 --> 00:15:51,880 Speaker 1: major faces of this team, alongside another youngster in Naomi Germa. 342 00:15:52,000 --> 00:15:54,520 Speaker 1: Those feel like the leaders going forward. I was listening 343 00:15:54,600 --> 00:15:57,760 Speaker 1: to an episode of Full Time with Meglenahan and almost 344 00:15:57,760 --> 00:16:01,520 Speaker 1: cried when you admitted that we might not be seeing 345 00:16:01,520 --> 00:16:03,280 Speaker 1: Alyssa they or the next time we come around to 346 00:16:03,320 --> 00:16:05,960 Speaker 1: a major international tournament, because even though she's incredible, she 347 00:16:06,000 --> 00:16:08,160 Speaker 1: would be thirty nine for the next World Cup, which 348 00:16:08,240 --> 00:16:10,160 Speaker 1: is a lot of pressure to put on a body 349 00:16:10,320 --> 00:16:14,760 Speaker 1: at that age to be your main keeper. But who 350 00:16:14,800 --> 00:16:18,280 Speaker 1: are then the true leaders of this team, not just 351 00:16:18,320 --> 00:16:20,520 Speaker 1: in play, but in voice and everything else going forward? 352 00:16:20,520 --> 00:16:23,920 Speaker 2: If we start to lose some of those standbys. 353 00:16:23,600 --> 00:16:27,080 Speaker 6: I actually don't feel pretty, you know, any trepidation from 354 00:16:27,080 --> 00:16:29,720 Speaker 6: a leadership standpoint. It's pretty clear by now that there's 355 00:16:29,760 --> 00:16:32,480 Speaker 6: the next generation of leadership, not just on the way 356 00:16:32,520 --> 00:16:34,720 Speaker 6: but kind of in place. We see it with Naomi Gherma, 357 00:16:34,760 --> 00:16:39,800 Speaker 6: who's like the obvious number one, like armband candidate, she's 358 00:16:39,800 --> 00:16:43,760 Speaker 6: worn it before. I think Tiana Davidson quiet leader. I 359 00:16:43,760 --> 00:16:46,080 Speaker 6: think we might still have roosevel in there. She is 360 00:16:46,120 --> 00:16:48,040 Speaker 6: twenty nine and she does tend to get beat up 361 00:16:48,080 --> 00:16:52,080 Speaker 6: in that midfield, but she still be here. You know, 362 00:16:52,120 --> 00:16:54,640 Speaker 6: I think Trini Rodman kind of underrated. 363 00:16:54,200 --> 00:16:55,160 Speaker 2: Leader up there. 364 00:16:55,560 --> 00:16:58,440 Speaker 6: You need to have that balance between someone who's maybe 365 00:16:58,440 --> 00:17:01,440 Speaker 6: in the more quiet HEADSPACEAOMI or a Tyrna, and the 366 00:17:01,560 --> 00:17:04,720 Speaker 6: someone who's there to just be like take the energy 367 00:17:04,760 --> 00:17:06,720 Speaker 6: to one hundred and ten percent, And that feels like 368 00:17:06,840 --> 00:17:07,800 Speaker 6: a Trinity Rodman. 369 00:17:08,160 --> 00:17:08,760 Speaker 2: Yeah. 370 00:17:08,960 --> 00:17:10,800 Speaker 6: Yeah, I think there's leadership all over the field, So 371 00:17:10,840 --> 00:17:12,800 Speaker 6: in that aspect, I'm actually not worried at all. 372 00:17:13,200 --> 00:17:14,000 Speaker 2: Yeah. 373 00:17:14,040 --> 00:17:16,119 Speaker 1: Do you expect this iteration of the team in the 374 00:17:16,160 --> 00:17:18,000 Speaker 1: next couple of years to be as involved in social 375 00:17:18,000 --> 00:17:20,679 Speaker 1: and political stances. We have an election coming up, We 376 00:17:20,760 --> 00:17:25,120 Speaker 1: will have all those conversations around Corbin Albert or other 377 00:17:25,160 --> 00:17:27,399 Speaker 1: intersections with this team, And it feels like in the 378 00:17:27,440 --> 00:17:29,919 Speaker 1: past it was very clear that they were going to 379 00:17:30,040 --> 00:17:32,760 Speaker 1: lead not just their own team, but the world sort 380 00:17:32,800 --> 00:17:35,080 Speaker 1: of in making sure there was equal pay and all 381 00:17:35,119 --> 00:17:38,119 Speaker 1: sorts of other major issues that intersect with women's sports. 382 00:17:38,320 --> 00:17:40,719 Speaker 2: Do you see those representatives on this squad? 383 00:17:42,560 --> 00:17:45,320 Speaker 6: Maybe maybe not as much. I spoke to Tuna Davidson 384 00:17:45,359 --> 00:17:48,879 Speaker 6: about this before the Olympics, where you know, she didn't 385 00:17:48,880 --> 00:17:51,240 Speaker 6: say this, but it was implied. The personal is political, right, 386 00:17:51,240 --> 00:17:53,080 Speaker 6: That's kind of the base adage that you learn in 387 00:17:53,160 --> 00:17:56,080 Speaker 6: like poly PSI. And she was talking about how there's 388 00:17:56,119 --> 00:17:59,600 Speaker 6: not as many out queer athletes on the team at 389 00:17:59,600 --> 00:18:01,919 Speaker 6: the moment and how that could kind of affect the 390 00:18:01,960 --> 00:18:04,840 Speaker 6: calculus of who's going to speak out on what, and 391 00:18:04,880 --> 00:18:07,439 Speaker 6: it could be the same for any other issue. And 392 00:18:07,520 --> 00:18:10,560 Speaker 6: I do think that this team will always have some 393 00:18:10,840 --> 00:18:14,880 Speaker 6: politicization around it, just because the nature of how we 394 00:18:14,960 --> 00:18:18,840 Speaker 6: treat women women in athletics, roles sports, the role of 395 00:18:18,840 --> 00:18:21,040 Speaker 6: women's sports in our world. They're going to make it 396 00:18:21,080 --> 00:18:22,760 Speaker 6: a political topic whether we like. 397 00:18:22,720 --> 00:18:23,159 Speaker 1: It or not. 398 00:18:23,520 --> 00:18:25,960 Speaker 6: In terms of the team taking the lead and speaking 399 00:18:26,000 --> 00:18:30,280 Speaker 6: out on those political issues. Yeah, I do think we are, like, 400 00:18:30,359 --> 00:18:32,560 Speaker 6: let's see what happens over the next two or three years, 401 00:18:32,560 --> 00:18:34,440 Speaker 6: and then in the next big news cycle around the 402 00:18:34,440 --> 00:18:37,160 Speaker 6: World Cup, who knows who's got what to say? 403 00:18:38,280 --> 00:18:41,680 Speaker 1: Yeah, and there's always the awful possibility of a man 404 00:18:41,720 --> 00:18:43,560 Speaker 1: being at the top of US soccer again and then 405 00:18:43,600 --> 00:18:45,600 Speaker 1: having to start fighting for things all over again. It 406 00:18:45,720 --> 00:18:48,359 Speaker 1: is notable that the biggest changes in how this women's 407 00:18:48,400 --> 00:18:52,160 Speaker 1: team were treated were in part due to finally having 408 00:18:52,480 --> 00:18:53,960 Speaker 1: a woman on top. 409 00:18:54,119 --> 00:18:56,359 Speaker 2: So fingers crossed that. 410 00:18:56,280 --> 00:18:59,600 Speaker 1: We will continue to see positive leadership over there. 411 00:18:59,640 --> 00:19:02,200 Speaker 2: That's helping even things out a little bit more. 412 00:19:02,800 --> 00:19:05,760 Speaker 1: Speaking of leadership, let's switch to some NWSL topics. San 413 00:19:05,800 --> 00:19:09,639 Speaker 1: Diego Wave assigning Landon Donovan their interim head coach. This 414 00:19:09,800 --> 00:19:12,880 Speaker 1: is their second interim head coach after firing Casey Stony. 415 00:19:14,000 --> 00:19:16,440 Speaker 2: Not a lot of coaching experience and no coaching experience 416 00:19:16,560 --> 00:19:17,040 Speaker 2: with women. 417 00:19:17,119 --> 00:19:20,920 Speaker 1: You actually went to the presser, What did you learn, 418 00:19:21,119 --> 00:19:21,760 Speaker 1: what did you hear? 419 00:19:21,880 --> 00:19:22,880 Speaker 2: What do you think about the move? 420 00:19:24,359 --> 00:19:28,280 Speaker 6: Well, we are talking on a Monday, and that was 421 00:19:28,320 --> 00:19:32,200 Speaker 6: when the San Diego Wave had their first open media 422 00:19:32,200 --> 00:19:36,159 Speaker 6: availability with Landon Donovan and he basically confirmed that this 423 00:19:36,240 --> 00:19:38,680 Speaker 6: is an interim position, although he said that the door 424 00:19:38,680 --> 00:19:40,959 Speaker 6: could be open for more, but that's in the future. 425 00:19:41,160 --> 00:19:43,400 Speaker 6: Let's see how it goes and at the end they'll 426 00:19:43,800 --> 00:19:46,760 Speaker 6: talk if one side is like, wouldn't want to go forward, 427 00:19:46,840 --> 00:19:49,800 Speaker 6: no hard feelings. He talked a lot about wanting to 428 00:19:49,840 --> 00:19:53,680 Speaker 6: come in and stabilize the team, which a little bit 429 00:19:53,800 --> 00:19:58,119 Speaker 6: is like, well why is the team destabilized? And it's like, okay, 430 00:19:58,160 --> 00:20:00,640 Speaker 6: why did they fire Casey Stony at that point, and 431 00:20:00,680 --> 00:20:02,919 Speaker 6: why did they have, you know, an interim set up 432 00:20:02,920 --> 00:20:06,000 Speaker 6: through Paul Buckle, who was only committed through this time window, 433 00:20:06,080 --> 00:20:08,919 Speaker 6: and why is now the team on another Those are 434 00:20:08,920 --> 00:20:12,120 Speaker 6: all much bigger questions, but personal to Donovan, he talked 435 00:20:12,119 --> 00:20:14,960 Speaker 6: about wanting to form personal connections, get up to speed. 436 00:20:15,200 --> 00:20:19,000 Speaker 6: He did admit it was a steep learning curve. There's 437 00:20:19,119 --> 00:20:22,840 Speaker 6: pros and cons to that kind of admission, right, It's like, well, 438 00:20:23,320 --> 00:20:25,160 Speaker 6: if you know it's steep, then why did the team 439 00:20:25,280 --> 00:20:28,080 Speaker 6: not hire someone more knowledgeable at the same time for 440 00:20:28,160 --> 00:20:30,600 Speaker 6: an interim position? Who can you get who wants to 441 00:20:30,600 --> 00:20:33,480 Speaker 6: come to San Diego for three months for a tempt job? 442 00:20:33,760 --> 00:20:35,959 Speaker 6: You know? So a lot going on. 443 00:20:36,520 --> 00:20:39,400 Speaker 1: Yeah, Are there any updates on the Jill Ellis accusations 444 00:20:39,440 --> 00:20:42,920 Speaker 1: and whether the league plans on any further investigation, because 445 00:20:43,200 --> 00:20:45,840 Speaker 1: obviously she was involved in a part of the larger 446 00:20:45,880 --> 00:20:48,920 Speaker 1: investigation into all of the league in the last couple 447 00:20:48,880 --> 00:20:51,679 Speaker 1: of years, But then when those former employees went public 448 00:20:51,720 --> 00:20:53,560 Speaker 1: with it, it sort of felt like there was a 449 00:20:53,680 --> 00:20:57,000 Speaker 1: quick refusal from the team and from Elis herself. And 450 00:20:57,040 --> 00:20:59,200 Speaker 1: now it's sort of died down a little in terms 451 00:20:59,200 --> 00:21:01,480 Speaker 1: of whether there will be any falloup from that. 452 00:21:02,160 --> 00:21:07,639 Speaker 6: Last I heard, we were waiting on any reply from 453 00:21:07,840 --> 00:21:10,840 Speaker 6: the San Diego WYE former employee Britnell Elorado, her legal 454 00:21:10,880 --> 00:21:15,760 Speaker 6: team filing a response in court responding to Jill Ellis's 455 00:21:16,280 --> 00:21:20,959 Speaker 6: filing alleging defamation, and I think that's where we are. 456 00:21:21,000 --> 00:21:22,520 Speaker 6: We'll just have to see how they respond. 457 00:21:23,119 --> 00:21:26,320 Speaker 1: Yeah, NWSL and the Players Association of agreed to terms 458 00:21:26,359 --> 00:21:29,159 Speaker 1: on a new CBA that will reportedly run through twenty thirty. 459 00:21:29,400 --> 00:21:30,600 Speaker 2: It's just been reported. 460 00:21:30,600 --> 00:21:33,000 Speaker 1: In fact, the players union posted a cryptic message on 461 00:21:33,080 --> 00:21:35,399 Speaker 1: social media saying, you know, any news concerning the players' 462 00:21:35,440 --> 00:21:36,359 Speaker 1: lives will be shared by. 463 00:21:36,240 --> 00:21:37,840 Speaker 2: Them, And we're all like, what what does that mean? 464 00:21:37,880 --> 00:21:39,760 Speaker 1: And it was like, Oh, they're just talking about the 465 00:21:39,840 --> 00:21:41,200 Speaker 1: league regarding the CBA. 466 00:21:41,240 --> 00:21:42,560 Speaker 2: What have you heard about the agreement? 467 00:21:42,680 --> 00:21:44,439 Speaker 1: And how important is it that they do have that 468 00:21:44,520 --> 00:21:47,080 Speaker 1: in place when they renegotiate TV rights again in a 469 00:21:47,080 --> 00:21:47,840 Speaker 1: few years. 470 00:21:48,760 --> 00:21:51,000 Speaker 6: I think it's going to be pretty important. I think 471 00:21:51,040 --> 00:21:54,640 Speaker 6: it's a good sign that they renegotiated early. First of all, 472 00:21:54,680 --> 00:21:59,240 Speaker 6: it's basically a mid season renegotiation, and it seems like 473 00:21:59,280 --> 00:22:02,480 Speaker 6: both sides were pretty willing to talk about it. The 474 00:22:02,520 --> 00:22:05,680 Speaker 6: actual negotiation probably was really hard and took a long time, 475 00:22:05,760 --> 00:22:08,360 Speaker 6: but it's a good sign that both sides were like, yeah, 476 00:22:08,440 --> 00:22:10,879 Speaker 6: we recognize that a lot of changes happened since twenty 477 00:22:10,880 --> 00:22:14,000 Speaker 6: twenty two when the last CBA was ratified. Things are 478 00:22:14,040 --> 00:22:16,120 Speaker 6: very different. There's a two hundred and forty million dollar 479 00:22:16,160 --> 00:22:19,080 Speaker 6: broadcast deal in place that was not in twenty twenty two, 480 00:22:19,160 --> 00:22:21,560 Speaker 6: so let's talk about what that means in terms of 481 00:22:21,560 --> 00:22:23,960 Speaker 6: benefiting the players. I'm sure the PA came to this 482 00:22:24,119 --> 00:22:27,920 Speaker 6: being like, we helped build this league. You're generating value 483 00:22:27,920 --> 00:22:29,919 Speaker 6: two hundred and forty million dollars of value off of 484 00:22:29,960 --> 00:22:32,000 Speaker 6: our work, so we deserve a cut of that rightly. 485 00:22:32,040 --> 00:22:34,960 Speaker 6: So I think we should probably expect to hear more 486 00:22:35,040 --> 00:22:37,600 Speaker 6: pretty soon. It seemed like in the PA's announcement they're like, 487 00:22:37,800 --> 00:22:40,560 Speaker 6: we'll announce that, you know, in a minute, and probably 488 00:22:40,560 --> 00:22:43,720 Speaker 6: waiting right waiting for like the Olympics to die down, 489 00:22:43,800 --> 00:22:44,359 Speaker 6: that sort of thing. 490 00:22:44,720 --> 00:22:47,720 Speaker 1: Yeah, but it does feel like having them aligned and 491 00:22:47,760 --> 00:22:50,720 Speaker 1: having them have an agreement in place when they do 492 00:22:51,119 --> 00:22:53,680 Speaker 1: renegotiate again is just huge because there won't. 493 00:22:53,440 --> 00:22:56,680 Speaker 2: Be any holding out from the players in those agreements. 494 00:22:57,000 --> 00:22:59,280 Speaker 1: Speaking at twenty thirty, do you think Heather O'Reilly will 495 00:22:59,320 --> 00:23:02,159 Speaker 1: still be available as an entry replacement player that season. 496 00:23:02,720 --> 00:23:05,320 Speaker 6: I think Heather O'Riley will be available from her side, 497 00:23:05,440 --> 00:23:09,240 Speaker 6: She's probably always going to be available. Athlete Blaine like her. 498 00:23:09,720 --> 00:23:11,600 Speaker 6: I wonder if she just shoots up in the middle 499 00:23:11,600 --> 00:23:14,920 Speaker 6: of the night, thinking, like where else can I play? Right? 500 00:23:15,119 --> 00:23:18,560 Speaker 6: Just furiously practicing wallball at three am? 501 00:23:18,840 --> 00:23:22,760 Speaker 2: Case, just in case. Let's talk at NWSL scheduling. There 502 00:23:22,800 --> 00:23:24,159 Speaker 2: was a lengthy Olympic break this year. 503 00:23:24,200 --> 00:23:26,800 Speaker 1: They didn't have regular season games during the break, but 504 00:23:26,880 --> 00:23:30,600 Speaker 1: they still had games. So the NWSL teams played clubs 505 00:23:30,600 --> 00:23:33,200 Speaker 1: from LEGA, MXLF EMANIL is part of a new Summer Cup. 506 00:23:33,480 --> 00:23:35,960 Speaker 1: They're also going to have this CONCACAF w champions Cup 507 00:23:36,000 --> 00:23:39,240 Speaker 1: games between NWSL teams and clubs from North America, Central 508 00:23:39,280 --> 00:23:42,359 Speaker 1: America and the Caribbean. Is this the NWSL doing too 509 00:23:42,440 --> 00:23:43,960 Speaker 1: much or do you think it's wise for them to 510 00:23:44,040 --> 00:23:45,840 Speaker 1: keep players in action during that break. 511 00:23:47,280 --> 00:23:50,080 Speaker 6: Well, there's two parts to that, right. One is, as 512 00:23:50,160 --> 00:23:52,399 Speaker 6: you mentioned, an action during the break, So that's kind 513 00:23:52,440 --> 00:23:54,800 Speaker 6: of more of a training question, right, it's a loading 514 00:23:54,920 --> 00:23:58,080 Speaker 6: question where you actually don't want to have too long 515 00:23:58,119 --> 00:24:01,320 Speaker 6: of a break. You need some kind of regular like 516 00:24:01,400 --> 00:24:03,640 Speaker 6: to stay in the flow of thing so that you're 517 00:24:03,680 --> 00:24:05,679 Speaker 6: not out for two weeks then trying to rev back up. 518 00:24:06,720 --> 00:24:09,280 Speaker 6: So from that perspective, maybe you know, trying to load 519 00:24:09,320 --> 00:24:13,920 Speaker 6: these players could be fine. On the other side is 520 00:24:14,080 --> 00:24:16,040 Speaker 6: you know, it's been a huge topic this year and 521 00:24:16,119 --> 00:24:18,679 Speaker 6: last year fIF pros brought up a lot about you know, 522 00:24:18,800 --> 00:24:22,600 Speaker 6: a busy calendar and how the calendars are not built 523 00:24:22,680 --> 00:24:25,480 Speaker 6: player first and how they should actually be built around 524 00:24:25,640 --> 00:24:28,240 Speaker 6: you put in brakes for players first, and then you 525 00:24:28,280 --> 00:24:31,320 Speaker 6: add in fixtures instead of doing fixtures first, and then 526 00:24:31,320 --> 00:24:33,760 Speaker 6: where can we shoehorn in you know, a week goth 527 00:24:33,800 --> 00:24:38,240 Speaker 6: for people. Yeah, I think I take it that. I 528 00:24:38,280 --> 00:24:41,359 Speaker 6: think it was Bethany Baltzer actually who tweeted something about 529 00:24:41,359 --> 00:24:43,159 Speaker 6: like they're not getting extra compensation. 530 00:24:44,640 --> 00:24:45,880 Speaker 2: They did, yeah, yeah. 531 00:24:45,760 --> 00:24:48,719 Speaker 1: Yeah, but but it was clearly not enough for her 532 00:24:48,760 --> 00:24:52,240 Speaker 1: to even know that you were getting, right, extra compensation, And. 533 00:24:52,320 --> 00:24:54,639 Speaker 6: It speaks to like the organization around it, right, that 534 00:24:54,640 --> 00:24:57,439 Speaker 6: should have been communicated clearly to players about like this 535 00:24:57,480 --> 00:25:01,600 Speaker 6: is what you're going to get for your labor related 536 00:25:01,640 --> 00:25:03,440 Speaker 6: to you know, maybe a good thing. They have another 537 00:25:03,480 --> 00:25:04,640 Speaker 6: CBA coming out soon. 538 00:25:04,720 --> 00:25:05,920 Speaker 2: Yeah. 539 00:25:06,400 --> 00:25:08,760 Speaker 6: I do think it's interesting in terms of the increasing 540 00:25:08,760 --> 00:25:11,560 Speaker 6: globalization of women's football because we also had Arsenal and 541 00:25:11,640 --> 00:25:14,560 Speaker 6: Chelsea here with the Washington Spirit and then this Leiga 542 00:25:14,640 --> 00:25:18,400 Speaker 6: m AGAs partnership. I think we're going to only see 543 00:25:18,520 --> 00:25:21,080 Speaker 6: more of that. So it does behoo of the league 544 00:25:21,160 --> 00:25:23,920 Speaker 6: and the Players Association will certainly be watchdogs on this 545 00:25:24,040 --> 00:25:28,359 Speaker 6: in terms of balancing out the load brakes benefit the 546 00:25:28,400 --> 00:25:31,920 Speaker 6: players while also not drastically increasing injury risk. 547 00:25:32,359 --> 00:25:32,560 Speaker 2: Yeah. 548 00:25:32,600 --> 00:25:35,120 Speaker 1: I mean, if you look at that Olympic schedule being 549 00:25:35,160 --> 00:25:37,480 Speaker 1: packed so type, plenty of injuries there, including Grace Chanda, 550 00:25:37,520 --> 00:25:41,520 Speaker 1: who was supposed to join the Orlando Pride but unfortunate 551 00:25:41,600 --> 00:25:44,080 Speaker 1: was put on the season ending injury list. What do 552 00:25:44,119 --> 00:25:45,639 Speaker 1: you make of how that might affect the Pride the 553 00:25:45,640 --> 00:25:48,800 Speaker 1: second half. I mean, they're already top of the table, 554 00:25:49,640 --> 00:25:51,840 Speaker 1: best team all season, but that would have been a 555 00:25:51,840 --> 00:25:53,000 Speaker 1: pretty nice addition for them. 556 00:25:53,560 --> 00:25:55,680 Speaker 6: It would have been a nice addition. But I think 557 00:25:55,720 --> 00:25:59,080 Speaker 6: something people don't take into account with additions or changes 558 00:25:59,240 --> 00:26:02,800 Speaker 6: is that sometimes it's fine to just go with the 559 00:26:02,920 --> 00:26:05,560 Speaker 6: vibe that's been working. We saw this actually in the 560 00:26:05,560 --> 00:26:08,600 Speaker 6: Olympics where Marta was suspended for two games and then 561 00:26:08,640 --> 00:26:10,640 Speaker 6: she got to come back for the gold medal match. 562 00:26:10,680 --> 00:26:14,240 Speaker 6: But she didn't start, and I think part of that was, 563 00:26:14,320 --> 00:26:17,320 Speaker 6: you look at they got through it without her. They 564 00:26:17,359 --> 00:26:19,000 Speaker 6: made it that far. You don't want to kind of 565 00:26:19,040 --> 00:26:21,720 Speaker 6: mess with the equilibrium. Obviously, this is a club and 566 00:26:21,760 --> 00:26:24,000 Speaker 6: not a tournament, so the calculus is a little bit different. 567 00:26:24,520 --> 00:26:27,360 Speaker 6: But not having a player available who you didn't already 568 00:26:27,400 --> 00:26:30,640 Speaker 6: have in the first place, it sucks. You don't want 569 00:26:30,640 --> 00:26:33,520 Speaker 6: any player to be injured. But at the same time, you, 570 00:26:33,760 --> 00:26:35,560 Speaker 6: especially with the way the Pride have pinned this season, 571 00:26:35,560 --> 00:26:37,160 Speaker 6: you're kind of like, I think that'll be fine. 572 00:26:37,440 --> 00:26:41,119 Speaker 1: Yeah, so right now, top of the table, Pride, current Spirit, 573 00:26:41,160 --> 00:26:43,080 Speaker 1: Gotham kind of packed up there. Do you expect to 574 00:26:43,119 --> 00:26:45,040 Speaker 1: shake up or for any of those teams to drop 575 00:26:45,080 --> 00:26:47,240 Speaker 1: off as we get back into games? 576 00:26:47,640 --> 00:26:51,560 Speaker 6: Ooh boy, what a question, especially in the Anything can 577 00:26:51,600 --> 00:26:56,120 Speaker 6: Happen League. Uh, yeah, that's a great question. I'm actually 578 00:26:56,720 --> 00:27:00,280 Speaker 6: really interested in kind of this seven through ten, Like 579 00:27:00,680 --> 00:27:04,399 Speaker 6: with the way, for example, there's quarterfinals this year for 580 00:27:04,440 --> 00:27:06,679 Speaker 6: the first time with end of BISEL playoffs, so you 581 00:27:06,800 --> 00:27:09,680 Speaker 6: just need to be in the top eight if you're 582 00:27:09,760 --> 00:27:12,600 Speaker 6: racing Louisville, your Bay, you're San Diego way, even Angel 583 00:27:12,640 --> 00:27:15,640 Speaker 6: City in eleventh. Like I'm kind of always more interested 584 00:27:15,640 --> 00:27:18,600 Speaker 6: in the bottom of that because the top four, I'm like, 585 00:27:18,720 --> 00:27:21,200 Speaker 6: you're fine, you're blowing people out of the water. 586 00:27:21,760 --> 00:27:23,680 Speaker 1: You can take care of yourself, so you're not worried about, 587 00:27:23,720 --> 00:27:25,639 Speaker 1: for instance, like a Gotham having a bunch of players 588 00:27:25,640 --> 00:27:28,280 Speaker 1: that had played through that very tough Olympic schedule and 589 00:27:28,280 --> 00:27:29,160 Speaker 1: are now coming back. 590 00:27:30,040 --> 00:27:33,199 Speaker 6: That's always yeah, we're coming back again to like a 591 00:27:33,240 --> 00:27:34,160 Speaker 6: loading issue. 592 00:27:34,359 --> 00:27:36,159 Speaker 2: Yeah, I don't know. 593 00:27:36,320 --> 00:27:39,199 Speaker 6: I think the players are having their break now. 594 00:27:40,200 --> 00:27:41,240 Speaker 2: Uh. 595 00:27:42,000 --> 00:27:45,720 Speaker 6: I could see that having an impact with them trying 596 00:27:45,760 --> 00:27:48,520 Speaker 6: to be you know, worked in carefully. You don't want 597 00:27:48,560 --> 00:27:51,359 Speaker 6: to drop them into ninety minutes right away depending on 598 00:27:51,400 --> 00:27:54,280 Speaker 6: where they are. But I think one Carlos Samuros is 599 00:27:54,359 --> 00:27:57,040 Speaker 6: a coach who has been cognizance. You don't hire all 600 00:27:57,040 --> 00:27:59,240 Speaker 6: these players, sign them for this season not knowing that 601 00:27:59,240 --> 00:27:59,879 Speaker 6: there's an Olympic. 602 00:28:00,040 --> 00:28:01,160 Speaker 2: Yeah, exactly. 603 00:28:01,560 --> 00:28:04,240 Speaker 1: So let's quickly talk about that final playoff spot. Right now, 604 00:28:04,240 --> 00:28:06,560 Speaker 1: BAFC are sitting in that eighth spot, but the Red Stars, 605 00:28:06,600 --> 00:28:08,679 Speaker 1: Wave and Angel City are just a couple points behind 606 00:28:08,680 --> 00:28:09,360 Speaker 1: but still in reach. 607 00:28:09,400 --> 00:28:10,280 Speaker 2: And you mentioned. 608 00:28:10,240 --> 00:28:13,920 Speaker 1: Racing even so you got to put one prediction out 609 00:28:13,960 --> 00:28:15,160 Speaker 1: there who ends. 610 00:28:14,960 --> 00:28:17,960 Speaker 2: The season in that eight spot. We you. 611 00:28:18,760 --> 00:28:25,160 Speaker 6: Oh boy, you know what, I will bank on continuity 612 00:28:25,480 --> 00:28:29,680 Speaker 6: over change, so I might boost angel City up there. 613 00:28:30,760 --> 00:28:34,880 Speaker 6: There bays at eighteen points, angel City's only at fifteen, 614 00:28:35,080 --> 00:28:38,960 Speaker 6: so four teams within all within like this three point range. 615 00:28:39,280 --> 00:28:43,440 Speaker 6: Angel City just got Kristin Press back, and I don't 616 00:28:43,480 --> 00:28:44,560 Speaker 6: want to bet against that. 617 00:28:45,600 --> 00:28:49,160 Speaker 2: Never bet against press. Predictions are uncomfortable. 618 00:28:49,160 --> 00:28:52,080 Speaker 1: We appreciate you despite that, putting one out there, Steph, 619 00:28:52,160 --> 00:28:53,360 Speaker 1: Thanks so much for the time. 620 00:28:53,560 --> 00:28:54,840 Speaker 2: Really appreciate talking to you. 621 00:28:55,400 --> 00:28:58,320 Speaker 6: Thanks for having me on and exposing my sordid lawyer past. 622 00:29:01,480 --> 00:29:03,360 Speaker 1: Thanks so much again to Steph for taking the time 623 00:29:03,400 --> 00:29:04,160 Speaker 1: to chat with us. 624 00:29:04,240 --> 00:29:05,120 Speaker 2: We got to pay the bills. 625 00:29:05,160 --> 00:29:12,120 Speaker 1: See on the flip side, welcome back here we are 626 00:29:12,520 --> 00:29:14,760 Speaker 1: on the flip side. We love that you're listening, but 627 00:29:14,800 --> 00:29:16,400 Speaker 1: we want you to get in the game every day too, 628 00:29:16,480 --> 00:29:19,000 Speaker 1: So here's our good game play of the day. Subscribe 629 00:29:19,040 --> 00:29:21,440 Speaker 1: to the Full Time with Megalina hand podcast, read all 630 00:29:21,440 --> 00:29:24,480 Speaker 1: the great women's soccer reporting on the Athletic and follow 631 00:29:24,520 --> 00:29:27,640 Speaker 1: at Thrace on Twitter, slash x whatever you call it, 632 00:29:27,920 --> 00:29:30,120 Speaker 1: especially now that you know why that's our Twitter handle. 633 00:29:30,600 --> 00:29:32,280 Speaker 2: We'd love to hear from you, so hit us up 634 00:29:32,280 --> 00:29:32,720 Speaker 2: on email. 635 00:29:32,800 --> 00:29:35,400 Speaker 1: Good game at wondermedianetwork dot com or leave us a 636 00:29:35,440 --> 00:29:38,160 Speaker 1: voicemail at eight seven two two four fifty seventy. 637 00:29:38,560 --> 00:29:41,800 Speaker 2: Don't forget to subscribe, rate and review. It's easy, y'all. 638 00:29:42,400 --> 00:29:47,960 Speaker 1: Watch Avocado Mash rating two out of five stars. Review 639 00:29:48,200 --> 00:29:53,040 Speaker 1: You're not fooling anybody, Avocado Mash. I asked for avocado, delightful, 640 00:29:53,400 --> 00:29:57,520 Speaker 1: slightly firm slices of joy, not mushy mash. That's part avocado, 641 00:29:57,560 --> 00:29:59,640 Speaker 1: part whatever else you put in there to take up space. 642 00:30:00,680 --> 00:30:02,360 Speaker 2: Listen. I'll take you. I'll take you over. 643 00:30:02,400 --> 00:30:06,360 Speaker 1: No avocado, but you're no slices mash and everybody knows. 644 00:30:06,360 --> 00:30:08,680 Speaker 2: I love my slices. Now it's your. 645 00:30:08,600 --> 00:30:12,360 Speaker 1: Turn, subscribe, rate and review. Thanks for listening, slices, See 646 00:30:12,400 --> 00:30:17,200 Speaker 1: you tomorrow. Good game, Steph, Good game, Heather, O'Reilly you 647 00:30:17,400 --> 00:30:19,560 Speaker 1: that super sad feeling you get when you get your 648 00:30:19,560 --> 00:30:21,880 Speaker 1: hopes of about something only for it not to happen. 649 00:30:22,680 --> 00:30:23,800 Speaker 2: Stupid physicals. 650 00:30:25,800 --> 00:30:28,320 Speaker 1: Good Game with Sarah Spain is an iHeart women's sports 651 00:30:28,360 --> 00:30:31,480 Speaker 1: production in partnership with Deep Blue Sports and Entertainment. You 652 00:30:31,480 --> 00:30:34,400 Speaker 1: can find us on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or 653 00:30:34,400 --> 00:30:38,080 Speaker 1: wherever you get your podcasts. Production by Wonder Media Network. 654 00:30:38,280 --> 00:30:41,640 Speaker 1: Our producers are Alex Azzi and Misha Jones. Our executive 655 00:30:41,680 --> 00:30:45,680 Speaker 1: producers are Christina Everett, Jesse Katz, Jenny Kaplan and Emily Rudder. 656 00:30:45,960 --> 00:30:49,440 Speaker 1: Our editors are Jenny Kaplan, Emily Rudder, Brittany Martinez and 657 00:30:49,520 --> 00:30:53,080 Speaker 1: Grace Lynch. Production assistants from Lucy Jones and I'm Your 658 00:30:53,080 --> 00:30:54,120 Speaker 1: Host Sarah Spain