WEBVTT - Floating The Provo with Mandy McGlynn and Cloé Lacasse 0:00:01.520 --> 0:00:03.480 Welcome to Good Game with Sarah Spain, where we're going 0:00:03.520 --> 0:00:06.280 to spend all weekend looking for leaked picks from Taylor 0:00:06.320 --> 0:00:09.400 Swift's wedding and we're not even ashamed to admit it. 0:00:09.400 --> 0:00:12.240 It's Friday, July third, and on today's show, Utah Royals 0:00:12.240 --> 0:00:15.320 players Mandy McGlenn and Chloe Lacasse join us to discuss 0:00:15.400 --> 0:00:18.760 Utah's strong start to the season. The team's focus heading 0:00:18.760 --> 0:00:21.840 out of the NWSL's nearly month long break and playing 0:00:21.840 --> 0:00:25.000 for their respective national teams, plus a long wait is 0:00:25.040 --> 0:00:28.280 nearly over, getting their start in Chicago and backflipping into 0:00:28.320 --> 0:00:30.720 the Good Game Hall of Fame. It's all coming up 0:00:30.880 --> 0:00:42.680 right after this. Welcome Backslaics, Happy Friday. Here's what you 0:00:42.720 --> 0:00:43.519 need to know today. 0:00:45.680 --> 0:00:46.800 Let's start with soccer. 0:00:46.840 --> 0:00:50.640 Because the NWSL regular season resumes tonight after a four 0:00:50.640 --> 0:00:53.880 week break to accommodate a women's FIFA window and scheduling 0:00:53.920 --> 0:00:56.880 conflicts with the men's World Cup. All sixteen teams are 0:00:56.920 --> 0:01:00.319 back in action this weekend. That includes three matches to night, 0:01:00.400 --> 0:01:03.040 beginning with the Washington Spirit hosting the Houston Dash. 0:01:03.400 --> 0:01:05.119 The Spirit are unbeaten. 0:01:04.720 --> 0:01:07.360 In their last six meetings against the Dash and will 0:01:07.360 --> 0:01:10.240 be looking to make it seven. Also tonight, the Denver 0:01:10.280 --> 0:01:13.000 Summit hosts the Kansas City Current. But for those of 0:01:13.040 --> 0:01:15.600 you on Lindsay Heap's watch, even though she's back on 0:01:15.680 --> 0:01:18.400 American soil, she actually isn't eligible to suit up for 0:01:18.440 --> 0:01:22.160 the Summit until the transfer window officially opens on July fourteenth. 0:01:22.440 --> 0:01:24.959 Same goes for Austin national Sam Kerr, who signed with 0:01:25.000 --> 0:01:28.160 Gotham during the break. Other storylines to watch for this 0:01:28.200 --> 0:01:31.360 weekend include Ali sent Nor making her Angel City debut 0:01:31.360 --> 0:01:34.839 against the Orlando Pride tonight, and on Sunday, Lily Reel 0:01:34.880 --> 0:01:35.800 making her debut at. 0:01:35.720 --> 0:01:36.640 The Boston Legacy. 0:01:37.000 --> 0:01:39.320 And our eyes will be on the Portland Thorns, who 0:01:39.360 --> 0:01:42.160 will look to continue their home unbeaten season when they 0:01:42.160 --> 0:01:44.800 host Racing Louisville, and will keep an eye on the 0:01:44.840 --> 0:01:47.760 Portland Thorns, who will look to continue their home unbeaten 0:01:47.800 --> 0:01:52.480 season when they host Racing Louisville. More soccer, It's playoff 0:01:52.560 --> 0:01:55.720 time for show side the Minnesota Aurora FC. Now you 0:01:55.760 --> 0:01:58.240 remember season one of Good Game. We encouraged a bunch 0:01:58.240 --> 0:02:01.680 of slices to support the community owned Aurora by grabbing 0:02:01.760 --> 0:02:05.000 a slice of the squad. Well our investment continues to 0:02:05.040 --> 0:02:08.120 pay off. After a twelve oh to oh regular season 0:02:08.160 --> 0:02:11.680 and a fifth straight Heartland Division title, our squad secured 0:02:11.720 --> 0:02:13.679 the number one seed in the Central Conference for the 0:02:13.720 --> 0:02:17.120 twenty twenty six USLW League playoffs. Aurora is going to 0:02:17.120 --> 0:02:20.679 take on Union Macombe today in the Central Conference Semifinals, 0:02:20.840 --> 0:02:23.200 a three point thirty eastern start at Hi Mark Stadium 0:02:23.240 --> 0:02:25.799 in Pittsburgh. If they win, they're off to the Central 0:02:25.840 --> 0:02:28.320 Conference Championship on Sunday, where a birth. 0:02:28.000 --> 0:02:30.440 In the National Semifinals would be on the line. 0:02:31.000 --> 0:02:33.840 Those semifinals will be Friday July tenth, followed by the 0:02:33.919 --> 0:02:38.040 USLW League Championship on Friday July seventeenth. 0:02:38.360 --> 0:02:40.760 Here's to a deep run for our team. 0:02:40.919 --> 0:02:43.200 And while we're on the topic of the Aurora, friend 0:02:43.240 --> 0:02:45.079 of the show Frankie de la Cretaw wrote a nice 0:02:45.120 --> 0:02:48.559 piece about the team and other show fave, the Portland Cherrybombs, 0:02:48.840 --> 0:02:51.880 sharing how both teams are leaning into inclusive values to 0:02:51.919 --> 0:02:54.760 attract fans. We're so proud to be a part of 0:02:54.760 --> 0:02:57.160 what the Aurora stand for. We'll link to the story 0:02:57.200 --> 0:03:00.399 in the show notes to the WNBA, where all Star 0:03:00.480 --> 0:03:04.720 game starters have been announced. Paige Beckers, Asia Wilson, Brianna Stewart, 0:03:04.760 --> 0:03:07.399 Olivia Miles, and Caitlin Clark lead the list of ten 0:03:07.440 --> 0:03:12.160 players selected by fans, current WNBA players, and media. Stewart 0:03:12.200 --> 0:03:15.120 and Wilson are both eight time All Stars, while Miles, 0:03:15.240 --> 0:03:18.639 Kelsey Mitchell, Jessica Shephard, and Gabby Williams are all first 0:03:18.680 --> 0:03:22.640 time All Star Starters also voted as starters Aliah Boston 0:03:22.760 --> 0:03:26.160 and Natasha Howard. The twelve reserves will be announced next 0:03:26.240 --> 0:03:30.520 Tuesday as part of the league's thirtieth season celebration. WNBA 0:03:30.600 --> 0:03:34.800 legends Cynthia Cooper and Teresa Weatherspoon will be honorary gms 0:03:34.840 --> 0:03:37.480 and will draft their respective rosters from the pool of 0:03:37.520 --> 0:03:41.280 twenty two All Stars now. Interestingly, the WNBA press release 0:03:41.360 --> 0:03:44.640 about these starters also includes a voting breakdown of how 0:03:44.640 --> 0:03:47.440 each player was ranked by the fans, media, and their 0:03:47.440 --> 0:03:50.840 fellow players. Among the guards, Beckers was voted first by 0:03:50.880 --> 0:03:53.760 the fans and first by her fellow players, and second 0:03:53.800 --> 0:03:56.240 by the media, but the most disparate ranking went to 0:03:56.320 --> 0:03:59.360 Caitlin Clark. She was ranked second among guards by fans, 0:03:59.480 --> 0:04:03.400 third by the media, and eleventh by her fellow players. Meantime, 0:04:03.440 --> 0:04:06.400 Asia Wilson was the highest ranked front court player, receiving 0:04:06.480 --> 0:04:08.800 the most votes from players and second. 0:04:08.440 --> 0:04:11.600 Most from fans and media. More WNBA. 0:04:11.880 --> 0:04:14.720 This weekend's slate of contest begins tonight with the newly 0:04:14.760 --> 0:04:17.800 crowned Commissioner Cup champions, the New York Liberty hosting the 0:04:17.880 --> 0:04:21.320 league leading Minnesota Lynx. There's no official word on the 0:04:21.360 --> 0:04:24.480 status of Nefisi Callier and Dorky Juhas, who both returned 0:04:24.480 --> 0:04:26.400 to practice this week for the Links after missing the 0:04:26.400 --> 0:04:29.000 start of the season to injuries, but it's still likely 0:04:29.040 --> 0:04:30.960 too early for either of them to make a return 0:04:31.000 --> 0:04:34.880 to competition. On Saturday, an Independence Day matchup between the 0:04:34.920 --> 0:04:37.760 Atlanta dream and the Golden State Valkyries in a Town. 0:04:38.200 --> 0:04:40.720 The Dreams stumbled into their Thursday night matchup with the 0:04:40.760 --> 0:04:43.400 Mystics on a three game skid, including losing back to 0:04:43.480 --> 0:04:46.400 back contests to that Golden State team on June twenty 0:04:46.440 --> 0:04:48.840 fourth and twenty sixth, so can the Vals hand them 0:04:48.880 --> 0:04:52.480 a third straight l in less than two weeks to Tennis, 0:04:52.520 --> 0:04:55.000 the third round of the Wimbledon Women's singles tournament gets 0:04:55.080 --> 0:04:58.560 underway today with Coco Goff, Jessica Bagoula, and Naomio Osaka 0:04:58.600 --> 0:05:01.039 all on the schedule, so we mentioned yesterday that the 0:05:01.040 --> 0:05:03.880 first round doubles match featuring Serena and Venus Williams was 0:05:03.880 --> 0:05:06.640 in doubt after Serena tweaked Tornee playing in the singles 0:05:06.640 --> 0:05:10.600 tournament on Tuesday, while that doubles match, initially scheduled for Thursday, 0:05:10.720 --> 0:05:13.440 was actually moved to today, but as of this recording 0:05:13.680 --> 0:05:16.839 still unclear if Serena will take the court. More tennis, 0:05:16.880 --> 0:05:20.200 the WTA announced on Wednesday that this year's WTA Finals 0:05:20.240 --> 0:05:24.000 will be moving from Riod, Saudi Arabia to Indian Wells, California. 0:05:24.200 --> 0:05:26.520 Riod has been the host of the WTA Finals for 0:05:26.560 --> 0:05:29.520 the last two years, a partnership that drew criticism due 0:05:29.520 --> 0:05:32.680 to Saudi Arabia's human rights record, and Riod was initially 0:05:32.680 --> 0:05:34.760 supposed to host again this year, but in a statement 0:05:34.760 --> 0:05:38.080 issued on Wednesday, the WTA said the organization requested to 0:05:38.080 --> 0:05:40.800 move the tournament before the end of the three year deal. 0:05:41.240 --> 0:05:45.000 Per the statement, the WTA and Saudi Tennis Federation mutually 0:05:45.040 --> 0:05:48.200 agreed on the change. In a separate release, the WTA 0:05:48.240 --> 0:05:51.200 announced that Indian Wells, which already hosts the WTA one 0:05:51.200 --> 0:05:54.039 thousand tournament, every March will be used for this year's 0:05:54.040 --> 0:05:58.440 finals competition. Finally, Slace's Team Good Game is about to 0:05:58.480 --> 0:06:01.800 start our annual summer hiatus ahead of the launch of season. 0:06:01.480 --> 0:06:03.280 Three on Monday, July twentieth. 0:06:03.560 --> 0:06:05.480 While we still have a bunch of episodes coming your 0:06:05.480 --> 0:06:07.640 way over the next two weeks, they won't include The 0:06:07.680 --> 0:06:10.000 Need to Know, So here are a few more events 0:06:10.040 --> 0:06:14.279 to keep tabs on in our absence. The Amundi Avion Championship, 0:06:14.360 --> 0:06:16.839 one of the five LPGA Majors, tease off at the 0:06:16.839 --> 0:06:19.719 Avon Resort Golf Club and Avon Lea, Band France on 0:06:19.839 --> 0:06:22.840 July ninth, with a nine point one million dollar. 0:06:22.680 --> 0:06:24.000 Perse on the line. 0:06:24.120 --> 0:06:28.320 The Athletes Unlimited Softball League regular season continues through July twentieth, 0:06:28.360 --> 0:06:31.040 with the postseason schedule to get underwan July twenty third, 0:06:31.360 --> 0:06:33.479 and the top three teams will make those playoffs, with 0:06:33.560 --> 0:06:37.600 the Talons, Cascade, and Blaze currently holding those spots. Women's 0:06:37.640 --> 0:06:40.160 Elite rugby is also in full swing, with the regular 0:06:40.200 --> 0:06:42.159 season running through July twenty sixth. 0:06:42.640 --> 0:06:43.320 There are also a. 0:06:43.240 --> 0:06:45.880 Few women's the Cross League games on the schedule, including 0:06:45.880 --> 0:06:48.560 this Sunday's All Star Game, as well as games hosted 0:06:48.560 --> 0:06:52.039 in Chicago next weekend and Fairfield, Connecticut, the following weekend. 0:06:52.680 --> 0:06:55.239 As always got to send our thanks to incredible super 0:06:55.240 --> 0:06:59.039 Slice Joey Maldonado for his excellent women's sports schedule, which 0:06:59.040 --> 0:07:01.000 will help you keep up with everything going on while 0:07:01.000 --> 0:07:01.640 we're on break. 0:07:01.800 --> 0:07:03.320 We'll link to it in the show notes. 0:07:05.600 --> 0:07:07.520 All right, sliceas want to give a big shout out 0:07:07.520 --> 0:07:09.760 to friend of the show and fellow Love San Francisco 0:07:09.840 --> 0:07:13.360 owner Alicia Montano. It was confirmed last week that Montano 0:07:13.440 --> 0:07:16.040 will officially be awarded an Olympic bronze medal in the 0:07:16.040 --> 0:07:20.200 eight hundred meter track event from the twenty twelve London Games. 0:07:20.960 --> 0:07:24.200 In the fourteen years since that Olympic final, three athletes, 0:07:24.320 --> 0:07:27.520 all from Russia, including the original gold and bronze medalist, 0:07:27.840 --> 0:07:30.920 have been stripped of their results due to anti doping violations. 0:07:31.280 --> 0:07:34.720 South Africa's Castor Semenya was upgraded from silver to gold 0:07:34.760 --> 0:07:37.240 all the way back in twenty seventeen, but it took 0:07:37.280 --> 0:07:40.120 far longer for the case involving the original bronze medalist 0:07:40.120 --> 0:07:43.000 to be charged and then it was appealed. In a 0:07:43.000 --> 0:07:45.680 post on Instagram, Montano said she will receive her long 0:07:45.720 --> 0:07:48.080 awaited medal during a ceremony at the twenty twenty eight 0:07:48.120 --> 0:07:51.080 Los Angeles Olympics, writing quote, more work to be done 0:07:51.160 --> 0:07:54.000 to ensure it's done right, but for now, we celebrate 0:07:54.040 --> 0:07:55.119 one victory at a time. 0:07:55.480 --> 0:07:56.200 End quote. 0:07:56.440 --> 0:07:59.120 We hate how long you've had to wait for this moment, Alicia, 0:07:59.440 --> 0:08:01.160 and we hate that you still mourn the fact that 0:08:01.200 --> 0:08:03.920 your one hundred year old grandmother, who watched your race 0:08:03.960 --> 0:08:07.040 from the hospital, never got to see your finish upgraded. 0:08:07.560 --> 0:08:10.040 But we're still so excited to finally see you receive 0:08:10.080 --> 0:08:11.760 your medal in front of the rest of your family 0:08:11.760 --> 0:08:12.600 and friends. 0:08:13.240 --> 0:08:14.440 All Right, we got to take. 0:08:14.280 --> 0:08:17.240 A break when we come back. Floating the Provo River 0:08:17.400 --> 0:08:29.160 with the Utah Royals. Mandy McGlenn and Chloe Lacasse joining 0:08:29.200 --> 0:08:31.320 us now. She's a goalkeeper for the Utah Royals of 0:08:31.320 --> 0:08:34.120 the NWSL and the US women's national team. She previously 0:08:34.120 --> 0:08:36.160 played for Gotham FC, helping the team to the twenty 0:08:36.200 --> 0:08:39.520 twenty three NWSL title. A Jacksonville, Florida native, she played 0:08:39.520 --> 0:08:41.640 her college soccer for Virginia Tech, where she was a 0:08:41.640 --> 0:08:44.320 back to back All acc first teamer. In her first 0:08:44.320 --> 0:08:46.160 season with the Royals in twenty twenty four, she earned 0:08:46.200 --> 0:08:49.280 a nomination for NWSL Goalkeeper of the Year. She got 0:08:49.280 --> 0:08:51.760 her first senior national team call up October twenty fifth 0:08:51.800 --> 0:08:54.240 of twenty twenty four and her first cap October thirtieth, 0:08:54.520 --> 0:08:57.440 a clean sheet against Argentina. She forces her family to 0:08:57.440 --> 0:08:59.439 watch her learn how to play guitar on FaceTime. 0:08:59.520 --> 0:09:03.120 It's man McGlynn. Hi, Mandy, Hi, thanks for joining. 0:09:03.640 --> 0:09:06.920 At the end there no, it sounds like a joy 0:09:07.040 --> 0:09:10.120 to watch you play. Here comes the Sun fifteen straight times, 0:09:10.160 --> 0:09:11.280 missing with the notes. 0:09:11.800 --> 0:09:14.600 They hate it every time, but it's fun for me. 0:09:15.120 --> 0:09:17.440 Yep also joining us. She's a forward for the Utah 0:09:17.520 --> 0:09:20.920 Royals and the Canadian national team. A Sudbury, Ontario native, 0:09:20.960 --> 0:09:23.120 she started playing soccer at age five. Played her college 0:09:23.120 --> 0:09:25.439 footy for Iowa, where she was the school's top score 0:09:25.559 --> 0:09:28.080 during all four seasons there and finished tied for the 0:09:28.080 --> 0:09:30.120 school record with one hundred and twelve points, second all 0:09:30.120 --> 0:09:32.160 time with forty three goals, tied for first and shots, 0:09:32.160 --> 0:09:34.880 and second in game winning goals and assists. After playing 0:09:34.880 --> 0:09:37.360 in Toronto, Iceland and Portugal, she signed with Arsenal of 0:09:37.400 --> 0:09:39.160 the Women Super League and then joined the Royals in 0:09:39.160 --> 0:09:41.480 twenty twenty four. She made her debut for the Canada 0:09:41.520 --> 0:09:44.719 national team in twenty twenty one, but also has Icelandic citizenship. 0:09:44.960 --> 0:09:49.360 She's a black belt in taekwondo. It's Chloe Lacasa. Hi, Chloe, Hi, 0:09:49.800 --> 0:09:50.320 how's it going? 0:09:50.360 --> 0:09:51.199 Thanks for having me? 0:09:52.400 --> 0:09:53.720 Are you a black belt forever? 0:09:54.559 --> 0:09:56.640 Like? Yeah, I'm got in a while, David still count 0:09:57.440 --> 0:09:58.640 I like to think that it does. 0:09:58.720 --> 0:10:02.240 Yes, okay, good, I love that. Let's talk about the 0:10:02.280 --> 0:10:04.000 FIFA break because y'all are just coming off of it. 0:10:04.040 --> 0:10:05.760 What was the highlight of your time off, Mandy. 0:10:06.200 --> 0:10:09.800 I went to Spain with my whole family and we 0:10:09.880 --> 0:10:12.920 visited my partner's family, so that was really amazing. 0:10:14.720 --> 0:10:16.880 And yeah, that was probably my highlight. I saw Harry 0:10:16.920 --> 0:10:21.440 Styles twice, so that was sick, big, big, big fan. 0:10:22.760 --> 0:10:24.160 I have a friend who went to his show in 0:10:24.200 --> 0:10:26.720 London and said it was a literal life changing experience 0:10:26.720 --> 0:10:29.840 for her, Like before and after before those Styles. 0:10:30.040 --> 0:10:32.160 It was really great. I would have to agree. 0:10:32.400 --> 0:10:34.280 I need to go, Chloe. What was the highlight for you? 0:10:36.160 --> 0:10:39.760 Definitely chill time with the fam. I was planning on 0:10:39.840 --> 0:10:42.960 just painting a room and it became demolition zone. But 0:10:43.960 --> 0:10:45.800 we did renovate the room and we're good to go. 0:10:47.080 --> 0:10:49.120 You did it yourself with hammers and everything. 0:10:49.720 --> 0:10:53.240 Well, my partner was involved, and unfortunately he's the reason 0:10:53.280 --> 0:10:54.000 for the demolition. 0:10:54.200 --> 0:10:56.480 It was just supposed to be painting. But we're working 0:10:56.480 --> 0:10:57.960 on her handyman skills right now. 0:10:59.040 --> 0:11:00.640 Hilarious. Oh my god. 0:11:00.760 --> 0:11:04.199 Okay, Well, we're returning to play in such an excellent 0:11:04.200 --> 0:11:06.160 spot second on the NWSL table. 0:11:06.200 --> 0:11:07.640 This is a surprise for many. 0:11:08.040 --> 0:11:09.720 Mandy, you had to owe and two start to the 0:11:09.760 --> 0:11:13.679 season and then ten game unbeaten streaks. So were there 0:11:13.720 --> 0:11:15.800 just regular growing pains to start the season or was 0:11:15.800 --> 0:11:19.000 there some sort of come to Jesus moment revelation that 0:11:19.120 --> 0:11:21.560 happened after game two that really got you going. 0:11:22.200 --> 0:11:24.320 I think we just needed to stick to what we 0:11:24.360 --> 0:11:26.440 wanted to do and accomplish. And yeah, it was just 0:11:26.440 --> 0:11:29.160 getting the feel for the first couple games. You know, 0:11:29.240 --> 0:11:31.040 we had some injuries to start with as well, so 0:11:31.679 --> 0:11:34.319 I think once we the whole squad got healthy and 0:11:34.559 --> 0:11:38.640 we started, you know, really knocking out the game plan consecutively, 0:11:38.800 --> 0:11:41.240 like that's when you saw us reach our flow state. 0:11:41.920 --> 0:11:43.520 And it's been. 0:11:43.360 --> 0:11:47.560 Really really fun to play in witness review and learn from. 0:11:47.640 --> 0:11:50.000 So that's kind of the point that we're at right now. 0:11:50.480 --> 0:11:50.959 It's funny. 0:11:51.000 --> 0:11:52.840 Flow State has been a through line all week with 0:11:52.920 --> 0:11:55.160 so many of our guests, and it is a feeling 0:11:55.280 --> 0:11:56.079 that you get in. 0:11:56.240 --> 0:11:57.800 Yeah. 0:11:57.840 --> 0:11:59.840 I love that that's how you described it, because it 0:11:59.880 --> 0:12:01.880 is different than just oh, things are kind of clicking 0:12:01.880 --> 0:12:04.880 for us. It's like, oh, we're all moving as kind 0:12:04.920 --> 0:12:06.880 of a unit, which is really fun to see. 0:12:06.880 --> 0:12:09.559 What's gone right in your opinion, Chloe. 0:12:09.720 --> 0:12:11.800 Yeah, Mandy definitely covered the bases. 0:12:11.840 --> 0:12:13.920 But I think the togetherness of the group has been 0:12:14.160 --> 0:12:16.720 our strength, truthfully, and I think we're really figuring out 0:12:16.720 --> 0:12:19.320 what we want as individuals and kind of playing off 0:12:19.360 --> 0:12:22.000 each other's strengths in that way. And yeah, and we've 0:12:22.040 --> 0:12:25.120 just simplified the game and we're strong group and we're 0:12:25.200 --> 0:12:28.280 highlighting individuals, but it also it's the collective that's been 0:12:28.320 --> 0:12:30.360 our real superpower I think this season. 0:12:31.440 --> 0:12:34.200 Speaking of individual goals, you are tied for the team 0:12:34.280 --> 0:12:36.960 lead with four goals, also ties your career high in Utah. 0:12:37.200 --> 0:12:39.600 You also have a career high three assists through twelve matches. 0:12:39.640 --> 0:12:42.800 So where's the chemistry working for you in terms of 0:12:42.840 --> 0:12:45.520 the team success, but also you managing to keep showing up. 0:12:45.679 --> 0:12:46.400 In the box score. 0:12:47.320 --> 0:12:49.600 Yeah, I mean kind of what I said previously. I 0:12:49.600 --> 0:12:51.920 think we've just done a great job of working the collective, 0:12:51.920 --> 0:12:54.040 and we have I think we mentioned that this week 0:12:54.040 --> 0:12:56.800 we have eight different goal scorers, which I mean, it's 0:12:56.800 --> 0:12:58.480 hard to defend when you really don't know who it's 0:12:58.480 --> 0:12:59.839 going to be right at the end of the day. 0:13:00.080 --> 0:13:02.640 So we're highlighting individual strengths. But like I said, the 0:13:02.679 --> 0:13:05.360 collective has been a priority, and we've been really showcasing 0:13:05.400 --> 0:13:06.600 that each and every match. 0:13:06.640 --> 0:13:07.160 I think. 0:13:08.559 --> 0:13:10.560 The league is gonna look a little different after this 0:13:10.640 --> 0:13:13.600 month long break. Among the many moves, Alli's sent Noor 0:13:13.760 --> 0:13:16.360 now with Angel City, Lily Reel is in Boston, Sam 0:13:16.440 --> 0:13:18.920 Kurr is back when the NWSL with got them, Lindsay 0:13:18.960 --> 0:13:21.520 Heaps is in with the Summit. This second half is 0:13:21.520 --> 0:13:23.800 going to be a whole new BALLGAMEU pun intended. So 0:13:23.840 --> 0:13:26.599 how do you keep momentum going after your great start. 0:13:26.360 --> 0:13:29.800 Mandy, Yeah, the focus is always going to be on us. 0:13:30.480 --> 0:13:34.080 We always, you know, work out our processes for the 0:13:34.080 --> 0:13:36.760 week and how we can work on you know, utah, 0:13:36.920 --> 0:13:40.199 and we're not going to focus on you know, outward 0:13:40.320 --> 0:13:44.839 things right the noise around us, just executing our process goals. 0:13:44.880 --> 0:13:47.480 One step at a time has been so important for 0:13:47.559 --> 0:13:50.439 this team and just putting one foot in front of 0:13:50.440 --> 0:13:50.760 the other. 0:13:50.880 --> 0:13:53.640 So yeah, bring on Lindsay, bring on Curve. Well, we're 0:13:53.640 --> 0:13:55.880 going to focus on Utah Royals. 0:13:56.640 --> 0:13:59.360 I have to start a second stat line for backflips 0:13:59.400 --> 0:14:01.560 in the league again, and we were without for so long. 0:14:01.920 --> 0:14:03.560 I think she still got it in her. I hope 0:14:03.559 --> 0:14:06.120 so not against y'all. Of course, we don't want any 0:14:06.120 --> 0:14:08.880 of those usually follow goals totally. We'll hope for that 0:14:08.960 --> 0:14:14.280 against other teams. Chloe, how long into this FIFA break 0:14:14.400 --> 0:14:17.559 did you start practicing again regularly and has it come 0:14:17.640 --> 0:14:20.040 up in any of those practices and game plans that 0:14:20.040 --> 0:14:22.280 there are these new strategic kind of things to look 0:14:22.280 --> 0:14:24.720 out for in terms of stars moving or arriving. 0:14:25.440 --> 0:14:25.680 Yeah. 0:14:25.680 --> 0:14:27.960 I think, like Mandy said, we're just focusing on us 0:14:28.040 --> 0:14:31.040 right now. I think the first half of the season 0:14:31.120 --> 0:14:33.480 we really kind of honed in on what we want 0:14:33.480 --> 0:14:35.800 to be and what our identity is going forward, and 0:14:35.840 --> 0:14:37.360 we're just going to kind of keep working on that 0:14:37.440 --> 0:14:38.200 and strengthening it. 0:14:39.120 --> 0:14:43.960 And that's I think we have. We focusing on us. 0:14:45.240 --> 0:14:48.080 However, mention on the five second throw ins and on 0:14:48.520 --> 0:14:51.640 those types of refereeing things that we have focused on. 0:14:52.640 --> 0:14:54.960 Okay, so we'll allow the refs to steal focused but 0:14:55.040 --> 0:14:58.360 maybe not stars from other teams. All right, Uh, Mandy, 0:14:58.480 --> 0:15:00.360 a finger injury sidelined you at the part of the 0:15:00.400 --> 0:15:03.280 season and you were out for a pretty long stretch there. 0:15:03.320 --> 0:15:05.840 How did you stay connected to the team and stay 0:15:05.880 --> 0:15:07.480 ready so that when you got back and you felt 0:15:07.480 --> 0:15:08.760 like you were part of that collective. 0:15:09.160 --> 0:15:12.000 Yeah, luckily with a finger injury, like, I can still 0:15:12.000 --> 0:15:15.200 be a soccer player, just not a goalkeeper. So staying 0:15:15.240 --> 0:15:18.400 on top of my footwork was a priority and that 0:15:18.440 --> 0:15:20.880 can be involved in a lot of drills with the team, 0:15:20.960 --> 0:15:22.240 So that connection came there. 0:15:22.280 --> 0:15:25.360 And just staying you know, uplifting. 0:15:24.880 --> 0:15:28.480 In the in the locker room before games, still having 0:15:28.560 --> 0:15:31.000 that like loud presence that goalkeepers have. 0:15:32.040 --> 0:15:33.480 So that was goalkeepers. 0:15:34.120 --> 0:15:36.280 Maybe y'all are kind of weird and off to yourself, 0:15:36.360 --> 0:15:37.800 so you're one of the ones that's. 0:15:37.640 --> 0:15:38.120 In the mix. 0:15:38.760 --> 0:15:40.160 I'm in the mix. I'm dancing. 0:15:40.240 --> 0:15:42.200 I mean, I think all of our goalkeepers here in 0:15:42.240 --> 0:15:46.200 the mix. So that's really fun. And yeah, so just 0:15:46.200 --> 0:15:49.720 staying connected in that way and just yeah, for being 0:15:49.800 --> 0:15:52.760 involved in all the meetings, asking a lot of questions 0:15:52.800 --> 0:15:54.800 and so it was just an easy transition for when 0:15:54.840 --> 0:15:55.400 I came back. 0:15:56.240 --> 0:15:57.840 Speaking of being out of the game, you are part 0:15:57.840 --> 0:16:02.560 of some very serious NWSL lore. Neelie Martin's championship game 0:16:02.600 --> 0:16:05.120 goalie stint for those who don't remember, in the twenty 0:16:05.160 --> 0:16:08.240 twenty three NWSL Championship, Mandy was sent off for handling 0:16:08.320 --> 0:16:11.160 the ball outside the penalty box in the seventh minute 0:16:11.200 --> 0:16:13.560 of second half stoppage time with the team up two 0:16:13.640 --> 0:16:15.880 to one trying to hang on for the title, and 0:16:16.000 --> 0:16:18.360 Neelie Martin had to go into net for the last 0:16:18.400 --> 0:16:20.440 moments of the game with the championship on the line. 0:16:20.480 --> 0:16:21.560 Take us back to that moment. 0:16:21.880 --> 0:16:24.560 What were you feeling and thinking and how grateful were 0:16:24.600 --> 0:16:26.320 you that maybe Neely didn't have to show. 0:16:26.120 --> 0:16:27.480 Off to watch of her keeping seals. 0:16:28.440 --> 0:16:31.160 Well, it's funny, is like she's my roommate, best friend, 0:16:31.360 --> 0:16:33.760 and like she always put on my gloves and I 0:16:33.800 --> 0:16:35.280 always hit the ball at her. So I was like, 0:16:35.400 --> 0:16:39.600 she's got this when the moment happened. But the moment 0:16:39.640 --> 0:16:41.640 in itself, I was like I have to do something 0:16:41.680 --> 0:16:44.400 here like and then after it happened, I was like, 0:16:44.440 --> 0:16:46.720 I need a practice heading the ball outside the box. 0:16:46.840 --> 0:16:51.240 Cause I can't do that anymore. But it was honestly 0:16:51.280 --> 0:16:53.280 the craziest experience. 0:16:52.760 --> 0:16:53.560 Of my life. 0:16:53.680 --> 0:16:56.920 I yeah, I'm so grateful. And Neelie didn't have to 0:16:56.920 --> 0:16:58.840 make a save. She went the right way though, So 0:16:59.080 --> 0:17:01.760 very proud of her. And I was in the locker 0:17:01.840 --> 0:17:04.520 room like by myself and just hearing tears. I had 0:17:04.600 --> 0:17:08.879 no idea if they had scored, if they tied, it like, 0:17:08.960 --> 0:17:12.640 no idea. So but it was finally my goalkeeper coach 0:17:12.720 --> 0:17:14.600 that came in. It was like, you want us a game, 0:17:14.640 --> 0:17:16.920 and I was like, I don't know about that. 0:17:15.960 --> 0:17:19.760 I put it in a little rocky situation. But so 0:17:19.880 --> 0:17:21.680 it was so crazy, really really fun. 0:17:22.040 --> 0:17:24.600 It's fun because you won, it's fun. 0:17:24.400 --> 0:17:26.000 Because of you want and now it's a good story 0:17:26.040 --> 0:17:26.440 to tell. 0:17:26.720 --> 0:17:29.119 Yeah, it's good trivia for you know. 0:17:29.400 --> 0:17:33.200 Gotham defender Neelye Martin was in goal for their NWSL 0:17:33.240 --> 0:17:37.119 title winning Yeah. Chloe, let's talk national team because you 0:17:37.160 --> 0:17:39.560 made your return to the Canada national team in February 0:17:39.600 --> 0:17:41.719 after missing some time to a torne acl How did 0:17:41.760 --> 0:17:44.520 it feel to have worked your way back to getting 0:17:44.520 --> 0:17:46.000 to wear that national team kid again? 0:17:46.880 --> 0:17:49.080 Yeah, it was definitely. It was a great moment. 0:17:49.560 --> 0:17:51.320 The national team did a great job though throughout my 0:17:51.359 --> 0:17:54.879 injury to stay connected. We had a coaching staff shift 0:17:54.920 --> 0:17:56.720 as well, so there was a lot of i'll say 0:17:56.760 --> 0:18:00.000 turbulence in there at that time. But yeah, the coaching staff, 0:18:00.000 --> 0:18:01.640 the new ones that they brought into a great job 0:18:01.680 --> 0:18:04.159 and keeping myself connected with the group and kind of 0:18:04.200 --> 0:18:07.159 seeing which direction that they want to take as well, right, 0:18:07.200 --> 0:18:09.879 because it was a complete shift in staff, So yeah, 0:18:09.960 --> 0:18:12.400 it was It's always a privilege to get to wear 0:18:12.400 --> 0:18:14.960 the badge, especially cause it's Canada Day today. Shout out 0:18:15.000 --> 0:18:19.280 to that, Yes, but yeah, I was happy to be 0:18:19.320 --> 0:18:19.680 back with. 0:18:19.680 --> 0:18:20.560 The girls as well. 0:18:21.440 --> 0:18:22.400 And so far, so good. 0:18:22.520 --> 0:18:24.480 We're on the right track and we got the qualifiers 0:18:24.480 --> 0:18:27.600 coming up. Mandy's going to be an enemy real soon. 0:18:27.880 --> 0:18:30.479 But yeah, no, the group is in a good place 0:18:30.560 --> 0:18:33.200