1 00:00:00,440 --> 00:00:02,640 Speaker 1: Welcome to Good Game with Sarah Spain, where we're just 2 00:00:02,759 --> 00:00:05,600 Speaker 1: starting to feel like a real person after WNBA All 3 00:00:05,600 --> 00:00:08,440 Speaker 1: Star weekend. But don't come near us with a whoop 4 00:00:08,560 --> 00:00:10,319 Speaker 1: or a fit bit, because I don't want to actually 5 00:00:10,360 --> 00:00:13,440 Speaker 1: see what these numbers are still looking like. It's Wednesday, 6 00:00:13,520 --> 00:00:15,680 Speaker 1: July twenty ninth, and on today's show, we're skipping the 7 00:00:15,680 --> 00:00:17,639 Speaker 1: need to know and bringing you the second installment of 8 00:00:17,680 --> 00:00:20,680 Speaker 1: our new Good Game series, Built by Women, the story 9 00:00:20,720 --> 00:00:23,400 Speaker 1: of soccer in the US. Over the next couple weeks, 10 00:00:23,400 --> 00:00:25,640 Speaker 1: we're continuing to trace the roots of the beautiful game 11 00:00:25,680 --> 00:00:27,760 Speaker 1: here in the US and looking ahead to the FIFA 12 00:00:27,760 --> 00:00:31,400 Speaker 1: Women's World Cup next year and LA twenty eight. Last week, 13 00:00:31,400 --> 00:00:34,080 Speaker 1: we spoke with play on author Heidi Smith, who helped 14 00:00:34,120 --> 00:00:36,920 Speaker 1: us understand where and how women started to play across 15 00:00:36,920 --> 00:00:40,239 Speaker 1: the Pond, the bands that slowed their progress, and how 16 00:00:40,240 --> 00:00:43,320 Speaker 1: the sport reached the States and was elevated and accelerated 17 00:00:43,360 --> 00:00:44,519 Speaker 1: by American players. 18 00:00:44,840 --> 00:00:46,680 Speaker 2: We'll put a link in the show notes if you didn't. 19 00:00:46,479 --> 00:00:49,040 Speaker 1: Catch that first episode, we do recommend you listen to it, 20 00:00:49,080 --> 00:00:51,640 Speaker 1: but it's not necessary in order to understand and enjoy 21 00:00:51,680 --> 00:00:52,280 Speaker 1: today's show. 22 00:00:52,880 --> 00:00:54,360 Speaker 2: For the second installment of the series. 23 00:00:54,440 --> 00:00:57,720 Speaker 1: Vice President of Sporting for the NWSL, Sarah Gregorius makes 24 00:00:57,760 --> 00:01:00,720 Speaker 1: a return visit, this time to discuss the finding path 25 00:01:00,800 --> 00:01:03,560 Speaker 1: of professional women's soccer leagues in the US, how leagues 26 00:01:03,640 --> 00:01:06,839 Speaker 1: outside the States are competing with the NWSL for top talent, 27 00:01:07,160 --> 00:01:09,680 Speaker 1: and where we're seeing more opportunities for folks to stay 28 00:01:09,720 --> 00:01:12,720 Speaker 1: in the sport after they hang up their cleats. She's 29 00:01:12,760 --> 00:01:15,640 Speaker 1: a fascinating and super educated voice on global soccer, So 30 00:01:15,840 --> 00:01:18,200 Speaker 1: you're going to dig this convo. It's coming up right 31 00:01:18,280 --> 00:01:27,360 Speaker 1: after this back for a repeat performance. She's the vice 32 00:01:27,360 --> 00:01:30,039 Speaker 1: President of Sporting for the NWSL and a former player 33 00:01:30,040 --> 00:01:32,559 Speaker 1: for the New Zealand national team, earning one hundred caps 34 00:01:32,600 --> 00:01:34,960 Speaker 1: and suiting up for the Football Ferns in three World 35 00:01:35,000 --> 00:01:37,960 Speaker 1: Cups and two Olympics. She worked in global strategy and 36 00:01:38,000 --> 00:01:41,520 Speaker 1: policy leadership roles at fIF pro, the worldwide representative organization 37 00:01:41,560 --> 00:01:44,720 Speaker 1: for over sixty five thousand professional soccer players, before joining 38 00:01:44,720 --> 00:01:47,880 Speaker 1: the NWSL in twenty twenty four. Her thirtieth birthday party 39 00:01:47,960 --> 00:01:50,280 Speaker 1: was Hollywood Zombie Apocalypse themed. 40 00:01:50,680 --> 00:01:54,040 Speaker 2: Whatever will she do for forty? It's Sarah Gregorius. 41 00:01:54,160 --> 00:01:56,760 Speaker 3: Hi, Sarah, My fortieth is not going to be anywhere 42 00:01:56,760 --> 00:01:59,200 Speaker 3: as interesting as my thirtieth and I have no idea 43 00:01:59,200 --> 00:02:00,000 Speaker 3: how you found that out. 44 00:02:00,720 --> 00:02:03,400 Speaker 1: Well, I'm a good sleuth and you have a year 45 00:02:03,520 --> 00:02:05,720 Speaker 1: and one month to figure it out based. 46 00:02:05,480 --> 00:02:06,200 Speaker 2: On my sleuthing. 47 00:02:06,480 --> 00:02:08,239 Speaker 3: So I do, I really do. 48 00:02:08,440 --> 00:02:09,320 Speaker 2: I'll give you some ideas. 49 00:02:09,320 --> 00:02:12,720 Speaker 1: I've thrown some pretty epic parties, so I'll send some 50 00:02:12,760 --> 00:02:14,840 Speaker 1: of your way. Thanks so much for coming back to 51 00:02:14,880 --> 00:02:17,600 Speaker 1: the show, Thanks for being part of this series built 52 00:02:17,600 --> 00:02:20,960 Speaker 1: by women, the story of soccer in the US. I 53 00:02:21,000 --> 00:02:22,680 Speaker 1: want you to pick up sort of where we stopped 54 00:02:22,720 --> 00:02:25,040 Speaker 1: in episode one. So we had author Heidi Smith on 55 00:02:25,120 --> 00:02:27,640 Speaker 1: and she helped us understand where and how women started 56 00:02:27,639 --> 00:02:30,040 Speaker 1: to play and make their mark in soccer around the globe, 57 00:02:30,200 --> 00:02:33,119 Speaker 1: how the sport reached America and was elevated and accelerated 58 00:02:33,120 --> 00:02:35,799 Speaker 1: by American players. And I want to pick up kind 59 00:02:35,800 --> 00:02:37,160 Speaker 1: of where we left off there and have you help 60 00:02:37,200 --> 00:02:39,240 Speaker 1: us at the stage for where America sits in the 61 00:02:39,240 --> 00:02:42,240 Speaker 1: global conversation now in a little bit moving forward. 62 00:02:42,360 --> 00:02:44,120 Speaker 2: So I first want a quick. 63 00:02:43,960 --> 00:02:47,000 Speaker 1: Look at how we ended up with something like the NWSL, 64 00:02:47,080 --> 00:02:50,160 Speaker 1: which that's such a standard around the world. First, there 65 00:02:50,200 --> 00:02:54,440 Speaker 1: was the Women's United Soccer Association WUSA, first women's soccer 66 00:02:54,480 --> 00:02:56,040 Speaker 1: league in the world in which all the players were 67 00:02:56,080 --> 00:02:59,640 Speaker 1: paid as professionals folded after three seasons. About a six 68 00:02:59,720 --> 00:03:02,560 Speaker 1: years later we got the Women's Professional Soccer WPS that 69 00:03:02,639 --> 00:03:06,680 Speaker 1: started up ran from nine to twenty twelve folded as well. 70 00:03:07,000 --> 00:03:11,080 Speaker 2: Why do you think those leagues didn't work? In your opinion, perhaps. 71 00:03:10,760 --> 00:03:12,400 Speaker 3: They were just a little bit ahead of the game. 72 00:03:13,680 --> 00:03:17,240 Speaker 3: Women's football as an industry, women's professional football was in 73 00:03:17,280 --> 00:03:21,760 Speaker 3: a vastly different space when those organizations and those competitions 74 00:03:21,800 --> 00:03:23,600 Speaker 3: were looking to get off the ground, So perhaps they 75 00:03:23,600 --> 00:03:25,680 Speaker 3: were just a little ahead of the curve. I think 76 00:03:25,720 --> 00:03:28,840 Speaker 3: as well, like you need several ingredients in order to 77 00:03:28,880 --> 00:03:31,799 Speaker 3: make a league viable and successful, and perhaps not all 78 00:03:31,800 --> 00:03:33,560 Speaker 3: of the ingredients were there. I mean, there's been a 79 00:03:33,600 --> 00:03:36,320 Speaker 3: lot that was shared about, like the ownership back then 80 00:03:36,400 --> 00:03:38,800 Speaker 3: and the type of financial backing that they had, and 81 00:03:38,840 --> 00:03:42,960 Speaker 3: some of the intentions also the global playing population, like 82 00:03:43,000 --> 00:03:45,520 Speaker 3: the talent pool. Was it a little bit early in 83 00:03:45,520 --> 00:03:47,240 Speaker 3: the piece? Did it come ahead of some of those 84 00:03:47,280 --> 00:03:51,320 Speaker 3: more foundational development pillars that needed to be in place 85 00:03:51,360 --> 00:03:54,160 Speaker 3: in order to support and sustain it. Alongside that, Did 86 00:03:54,160 --> 00:03:56,640 Speaker 3: we have the infrastructure, the facilities, Did we have the 87 00:03:56,960 --> 00:03:59,640 Speaker 3: coaching and the technical staff? There are so many different 88 00:03:59,640 --> 00:04:02,920 Speaker 3: things that go into building a successful league full of 89 00:04:03,960 --> 00:04:07,160 Speaker 3: motivated and purposeful clubs, and perhaps not all of those 90 00:04:07,240 --> 00:04:09,360 Speaker 3: ingredients were there back then, but I can certainly say 91 00:04:09,360 --> 00:04:12,040 Speaker 3: that the industry has come a long way since those 92 00:04:12,080 --> 00:04:16,120 Speaker 3: early days. And I mean it'll tell you. The industry 93 00:04:16,120 --> 00:04:17,960 Speaker 3: itself will tell you now with what is going on, 94 00:04:18,040 --> 00:04:20,559 Speaker 3: and it is much more robust and resilient and able 95 00:04:20,640 --> 00:04:24,360 Speaker 3: to not only have professional leagues here in the US 96 00:04:24,400 --> 00:04:26,159 Speaker 3: and around the world, but also for them to be 97 00:04:26,960 --> 00:04:27,880 Speaker 3: really sustainable. 98 00:04:28,440 --> 00:04:32,480 Speaker 1: Yeah, it's a really three sixty view required to understand. 99 00:04:33,200 --> 00:04:36,040 Speaker 2: Is the talent there? Is there enough money being invested? 100 00:04:36,200 --> 00:04:39,080 Speaker 1: Is there enough media coverage for it to be something 101 00:04:39,160 --> 00:04:41,240 Speaker 1: fans are aware of and interested in? What is the 102 00:04:41,240 --> 00:04:44,440 Speaker 1: game experience like like an all contributes to a space 103 00:04:44,480 --> 00:04:47,599 Speaker 1: being ready and if one of those is missing, and 104 00:04:47,720 --> 00:04:50,320 Speaker 1: usually for women's sports, it's a combination of the investment 105 00:04:50,360 --> 00:04:52,719 Speaker 1: and the coverage. There is often a lot of talent 106 00:04:52,760 --> 00:04:55,360 Speaker 1: and a lot of passion from fans, but the value 107 00:04:55,400 --> 00:04:57,600 Speaker 1: isn't placed into it. So that brings us to the 108 00:04:57,720 --> 00:04:59,960 Speaker 1: end of Yourself, which was founded on the heels of 109 00:05:00,120 --> 00:05:02,280 Speaker 1: WPS ending beginning play in twenty. 110 00:05:02,080 --> 00:05:05,160 Speaker 2: Thirteen, what did the rest of the world look like. 111 00:05:05,160 --> 00:05:07,760 Speaker 1: In twenty thirteen When it comes to high level professional 112 00:05:07,760 --> 00:05:10,800 Speaker 1: opportunities for women, what was the NWSL competing with. 113 00:05:11,560 --> 00:05:14,040 Speaker 3: I mean, back then, the NWSL wasn't competing with much 114 00:05:14,080 --> 00:05:17,800 Speaker 3: at all. I think you had professional opportunities available in 115 00:05:17,839 --> 00:05:20,359 Speaker 3: other parts of the world. Germany springs to mind, and 116 00:05:20,400 --> 00:05:25,640 Speaker 3: the Froun Bundesliga. Certainly some clubs in England were starting 117 00:05:25,680 --> 00:05:28,600 Speaker 3: to pay salaries. But we've all heard the famous stories 118 00:05:28,600 --> 00:05:31,120 Speaker 3: from the likes of Alex Scott who trained with the 119 00:05:31,200 --> 00:05:34,080 Speaker 3: Arsenal Women's or Arsenal Ladies back then first team, but 120 00:05:34,120 --> 00:05:37,080 Speaker 3: did the washing of the men's first team for the club, 121 00:05:37,560 --> 00:05:38,040 Speaker 3: you know, so. 122 00:05:38,040 --> 00:05:40,760 Speaker 1: Two on those really like any other job, maybe would 123 00:05:40,800 --> 00:05:42,960 Speaker 1: have been a little less offensive than doing the laundry. 124 00:05:43,480 --> 00:05:46,680 Speaker 3: But I think it shows you that yes, there were 125 00:05:46,680 --> 00:05:50,800 Speaker 3: opportunities to play, opportunities to play at a high level, 126 00:05:51,080 --> 00:05:54,360 Speaker 3: perhaps even be a professional. But in terms of having 127 00:05:54,400 --> 00:05:57,560 Speaker 3: an entire league where you can make a living wage, 128 00:05:57,760 --> 00:05:59,720 Speaker 3: every player can make a living wage, I think that 129 00:05:59,720 --> 00:06:02,520 Speaker 3: that there was no competition. There was like nothing back then, 130 00:06:02,600 --> 00:06:04,160 Speaker 3: and I think you could argue if you look back 131 00:06:04,160 --> 00:06:06,680 Speaker 3: at some of the salaries that were offered early days 132 00:06:06,680 --> 00:06:09,760 Speaker 3: of the NWSLF. Probably not a living wage either, But 133 00:06:09,800 --> 00:06:12,680 Speaker 3: there was really like where the game was back then, 134 00:06:12,800 --> 00:06:15,559 Speaker 3: and I was playing back in twenty thirteen, which tells 135 00:06:15,600 --> 00:06:19,640 Speaker 3: you a lot about the situation. So I lived through 136 00:06:19,680 --> 00:06:22,960 Speaker 3: some of those experiences and received some of those salaries 137 00:06:23,000 --> 00:06:25,920 Speaker 3: and just wasn't viable. And it certainly wasn't viable from 138 00:06:25,920 --> 00:06:30,880 Speaker 3: a collective perspective. I think definitely some individuals could do enough, 139 00:06:30,920 --> 00:06:33,839 Speaker 3: It could do well enough within the game, but there 140 00:06:33,880 --> 00:06:37,080 Speaker 3: wasn't like a platform for sustained professionalism. It was a 141 00:06:37,200 --> 00:06:42,480 Speaker 3: very fragmented and precarious, really precarious landscape back then, where 142 00:06:43,200 --> 00:06:45,760 Speaker 3: you know, these were still days where a club could 143 00:06:45,800 --> 00:06:49,440 Speaker 3: exist one year and be very successful and be completely 144 00:06:49,480 --> 00:06:52,520 Speaker 3: bankrupt and no longer existing the following season. So I 145 00:06:52,520 --> 00:06:54,240 Speaker 3: think the best way I would describe it would be 146 00:06:54,320 --> 00:06:59,000 Speaker 3: like very fragmented from like a professional professionalism perspective, and 147 00:06:59,200 --> 00:07:02,240 Speaker 3: then even when that there was an opportunity to be professional, 148 00:07:02,320 --> 00:07:03,279 Speaker 3: was precarious work. 149 00:07:03,520 --> 00:07:06,200 Speaker 1: Yeah, do you have any stories from your playing days, 150 00:07:06,240 --> 00:07:09,039 Speaker 1: either personally or folks that you knew back then about 151 00:07:09,080 --> 00:07:12,640 Speaker 1: some of those sacrifices being made, about some of the 152 00:07:12,680 --> 00:07:16,880 Speaker 1: balances between maybe another job and than training and competing. 153 00:07:18,080 --> 00:07:20,840 Speaker 3: I certainly have my own experience as I can draw on. 154 00:07:21,400 --> 00:07:23,960 Speaker 3: In twenty eleven, I was part of the New Zealand 155 00:07:23,960 --> 00:07:26,000 Speaker 3: women's national team. We went to Germany to play in 156 00:07:26,040 --> 00:07:28,600 Speaker 3: the Women's World Cup. I had a job back then. 157 00:07:29,000 --> 00:07:32,840 Speaker 3: I was working as a marketing coordinator for a local 158 00:07:32,880 --> 00:07:36,840 Speaker 3: tourism organization in New Zealand And so I was balancing 159 00:07:37,040 --> 00:07:40,320 Speaker 3: training and playing with that job. When I got back 160 00:07:40,360 --> 00:07:43,160 Speaker 3: from the Women's World Cup, I had an offer an 161 00:07:43,200 --> 00:07:46,400 Speaker 3: opportunity to play professionally in Germany and the froun Bundesliga. 162 00:07:47,000 --> 00:07:49,960 Speaker 3: I left my job, which was a steady and stable 163 00:07:50,000 --> 00:07:52,320 Speaker 3: income in New Zealand. I got on the plane without 164 00:07:52,320 --> 00:07:54,240 Speaker 3: actually knowing how much I was going to get paid. 165 00:07:54,640 --> 00:07:57,040 Speaker 3: But I was just that hungry for the opportunity to 166 00:07:57,080 --> 00:07:59,960 Speaker 3: be a professional player, to call myself a professional player 167 00:08:00,080 --> 00:08:02,760 Speaker 3: for the first time in my career. So like it 168 00:08:03,360 --> 00:08:06,080 Speaker 3: tells you a little bit of the backwards logic. Firstly, 169 00:08:06,120 --> 00:08:08,080 Speaker 3: like I went to a World Cup before I was 170 00:08:08,080 --> 00:08:12,000 Speaker 3: a professional player. And secondly, I left a stable income. 171 00:08:12,480 --> 00:08:16,520 Speaker 1: Well as a professional to be a professional. 172 00:08:15,600 --> 00:08:18,520 Speaker 3: To be a professional and a completely different country with 173 00:08:18,600 --> 00:08:21,840 Speaker 3: like a ton of uncertainty around the opportunity still, so 174 00:08:22,000 --> 00:08:25,320 Speaker 3: think like what was also keeping the industry afloat back 175 00:08:25,360 --> 00:08:28,120 Speaker 3: then were people like me, Players like me who are 176 00:08:28,160 --> 00:08:33,800 Speaker 3: willing to sacrifice and I suppose invest so much of 177 00:08:33,840 --> 00:08:37,160 Speaker 3: themselves into the opportunity of being a professional player. And 178 00:08:37,160 --> 00:08:38,839 Speaker 3: that's really how it started. And I think a lot 179 00:08:38,840 --> 00:08:43,160 Speaker 3: of players of that generation, of my generation would say 180 00:08:43,160 --> 00:08:45,680 Speaker 3: that they sort of carried the industry before the industry 181 00:08:45,760 --> 00:08:48,000 Speaker 3: was able to carry them, if that makes sense as an. 182 00:08:47,880 --> 00:08:49,559 Speaker 2: Example, Yeah, one thousand percent. 183 00:08:49,600 --> 00:08:53,160 Speaker 1: And it's the passion and desire to play at any 184 00:08:53,200 --> 00:08:56,280 Speaker 1: cost that allowed a lot of these leagues to get 185 00:08:56,320 --> 00:08:59,080 Speaker 1: going early on when players knew they weren't making what 186 00:08:59,120 --> 00:09:03,040 Speaker 1: they deserved or sh get, but also understood how fragile 187 00:09:03,080 --> 00:09:06,280 Speaker 1: and precarious things were. So since the start of the 188 00:09:06,360 --> 00:09:09,040 Speaker 1: NWSL beginning play in twenty thirteen, what leagues around the 189 00:09:09,080 --> 00:09:12,199 Speaker 1: world have popped up to challenge in terms of quality 190 00:09:12,200 --> 00:09:15,040 Speaker 1: of play, competition resources? 191 00:09:15,559 --> 00:09:18,400 Speaker 3: You could almost go category by category to say, like 192 00:09:18,440 --> 00:09:20,960 Speaker 3: where the competition is. I think certainly you look at 193 00:09:20,960 --> 00:09:24,880 Speaker 3: the Women's Super League in England as you know, popping 194 00:09:24,960 --> 00:09:28,880 Speaker 3: up certainly in that timeframe as challenger to the NWSL's 195 00:09:28,920 --> 00:09:31,400 Speaker 3: position is the best league, if not one of the 196 00:09:31,440 --> 00:09:34,720 Speaker 3: best leagues in the world. I think their move, also 197 00:09:34,760 --> 00:09:38,319 Speaker 3: from a governance perspective towards independence has been hugely helpful 198 00:09:38,360 --> 00:09:42,280 Speaker 3: in their regard coming out of the Football Association in 199 00:09:42,520 --> 00:09:44,280 Speaker 3: as direct a way as it was in the past 200 00:09:44,440 --> 00:09:46,439 Speaker 3: into being an independent league. 201 00:09:46,480 --> 00:09:48,559 Speaker 1: So you're saying a lot of those teams individually now 202 00:09:48,600 --> 00:09:51,400 Speaker 1: are either separating from their male counterpart, or the league 203 00:09:51,440 --> 00:09:55,440 Speaker 1: overall is separating from the FA in order to create 204 00:09:55,480 --> 00:09:57,800 Speaker 1: something that isn't under the thumb of the people who 205 00:09:57,880 --> 00:09:59,079 Speaker 1: have been running the men's side. 206 00:10:00,000 --> 00:10:02,760 Speaker 3: The league itself is coming out of the Football Association, 207 00:10:02,920 --> 00:10:06,320 Speaker 3: and that's really significant because it means that people are 208 00:10:06,320 --> 00:10:10,880 Speaker 3: waking up every day fully focused on the promotion, protection, 209 00:10:11,520 --> 00:10:15,880 Speaker 3: the exploitation, for want of a better word, of like 210 00:10:15,960 --> 00:10:18,320 Speaker 3: the Women's Super League, rather than thinking about it as 211 00:10:18,320 --> 00:10:20,960 Speaker 3: like a sub section or like a sub department of 212 00:10:21,000 --> 00:10:22,040 Speaker 3: the Football Association. 213 00:10:22,200 --> 00:10:24,560 Speaker 1: And there's of course a storied history of the FA 214 00:10:24,640 --> 00:10:27,040 Speaker 1: and the band on women's football for so long, and 215 00:10:27,040 --> 00:10:29,120 Speaker 1: we talked a lot to Heidi Smith, the author about 216 00:10:29,120 --> 00:10:32,479 Speaker 1: that in episode one of this series, like it's hard 217 00:10:32,600 --> 00:10:35,760 Speaker 1: even if progress has been made and that's in the past. 218 00:10:36,120 --> 00:10:37,960 Speaker 1: There's still a feeling of like, what would we be 219 00:10:38,000 --> 00:10:40,240 Speaker 1: doing differently if we're running this ourselves instead of you 220 00:10:40,280 --> 00:10:42,480 Speaker 1: thinking us as a secondary to the men that are 221 00:10:42,480 --> 00:10:43,520 Speaker 1: the priority. 222 00:10:43,360 --> 00:10:46,880 Speaker 3: Totally, And that's true in England. It's also true in 223 00:10:47,000 --> 00:10:50,160 Speaker 3: other parts of the world like that is obviously the 224 00:10:50,160 --> 00:10:53,320 Speaker 3: most famous example, but there are certainly countries elsewhere in 225 00:10:53,360 --> 00:10:57,199 Speaker 3: the world where football women's football has been suppressed banned 226 00:10:58,240 --> 00:11:00,480 Speaker 3: for a number of years, and it's still coming out 227 00:11:00,480 --> 00:11:03,920 Speaker 3: of that history and looking back and wondering like what if, 228 00:11:04,320 --> 00:11:06,120 Speaker 3: what if that wasn't the case, if we were just 229 00:11:06,200 --> 00:11:09,000 Speaker 3: able to progress and develop along the course that we 230 00:11:09,000 --> 00:11:11,200 Speaker 3: were at, sort of like before the ban or before 231 00:11:11,200 --> 00:11:14,520 Speaker 3: the limitations placed on us. So I think that the 232 00:11:14,520 --> 00:11:16,840 Speaker 3: Women's super League is a really obvious one, like the 233 00:11:16,840 --> 00:11:19,600 Speaker 3: fraun Bundesliga in Germany has actually been around for a 234 00:11:19,720 --> 00:11:23,440 Speaker 3: very very long time. It also was the home of 235 00:11:23,679 --> 00:11:26,720 Speaker 3: professional women's soccer for quite some time, but also the 236 00:11:26,800 --> 00:11:29,280 Speaker 3: German women's national team had had a ton of success 237 00:11:29,320 --> 00:11:33,240 Speaker 3: at European and at international level not that long ago. 238 00:11:33,280 --> 00:11:36,480 Speaker 3: The place to be for professional women's football as well 239 00:11:36,559 --> 00:11:40,240 Speaker 3: was Sweden and the Dimaldsvenskin. That also has you look 240 00:11:40,280 --> 00:11:42,440 Speaker 3: at the players that have played for some of the 241 00:11:42,480 --> 00:11:46,480 Speaker 3: big clubs in Sweden. You've had Kristen press Ali, Riley, 242 00:11:47,280 --> 00:11:50,280 Speaker 3: lot of Shalon, like so many players that have played 243 00:11:50,280 --> 00:11:53,000 Speaker 3: a significant amount of time. Like in Sweden that was 244 00:11:53,040 --> 00:11:54,680 Speaker 3: also sort of the place to be and they were 245 00:11:54,720 --> 00:11:57,240 Speaker 3: in and around, sort of like the Women's Champions League 246 00:11:57,640 --> 00:11:59,880 Speaker 3: sort of knock out knocking on the door of a 247 00:12:00,040 --> 00:12:04,760 Speaker 3: winning championships as well. I think you also have these days. 248 00:12:04,800 --> 00:12:07,240 Speaker 3: I think we have to look south a little bit 249 00:12:07,280 --> 00:12:12,000 Speaker 3: into legat MX Fimitina and Mexico really doing a huge amount. 250 00:12:12,040 --> 00:12:15,600 Speaker 3: They also have an interesting structure in the sense that 251 00:12:15,640 --> 00:12:18,520 Speaker 3: they are fully integrated with the men's But part of 252 00:12:18,559 --> 00:12:20,760 Speaker 3: the club licensing system is you have to have a 253 00:12:20,800 --> 00:12:23,440 Speaker 3: women's club if you're playing in the top division in 254 00:12:23,480 --> 00:12:26,440 Speaker 3: the Mexican men's league, and that's actually done wonders for 255 00:12:26,480 --> 00:12:29,000 Speaker 3: the development of the game over there. It depends if 256 00:12:29,040 --> 00:12:31,240 Speaker 3: you're looking at entire competitions or if you're looking at 257 00:12:31,280 --> 00:12:34,800 Speaker 3: clubs that are really competing now in the women's game. 258 00:12:34,840 --> 00:12:39,360 Speaker 3: You certainly have the likes of ol and A. In France, 259 00:12:39,440 --> 00:12:44,640 Speaker 3: you have Barcelona, Real, Madrid, Atletico Madrid and Spain where 260 00:12:44,679 --> 00:12:47,120 Speaker 3: you sort of like, okay, as the league propping up 261 00:12:47,160 --> 00:12:49,040 Speaker 3: the success there or all those clubs sort of like 262 00:12:49,120 --> 00:12:52,640 Speaker 3: dragging everybody along. I think what I would sort of 263 00:12:52,640 --> 00:12:56,520 Speaker 3: summarize it as though, like if I was that you know, 264 00:12:56,960 --> 00:13:00,560 Speaker 3: younger woman talking about myself, sort of like on an 265 00:13:00,559 --> 00:13:03,840 Speaker 3: adventure from New Zealand for my first professional contract. I 266 00:13:03,880 --> 00:13:06,480 Speaker 3: have many options. I don't have one or two options. 267 00:13:06,559 --> 00:13:08,320 Speaker 3: I can go to a club in Mexico, a club 268 00:13:08,320 --> 00:13:11,559 Speaker 3: in Spain, a club in France, a club in Sweden, Germany, England, 269 00:13:11,720 --> 00:13:14,600 Speaker 3: and the USA obviously, so that there is just a 270 00:13:14,640 --> 00:13:17,959 Speaker 3: ton more choice. And I think that is actually the 271 00:13:17,960 --> 00:13:23,160 Speaker 3: main sort of like summary of everything is there is 272 00:13:23,240 --> 00:13:25,920 Speaker 3: a ton of choice. It's really hard to nail down 273 00:13:25,960 --> 00:13:28,640 Speaker 3: a direct competitor. I think many people would say NWSL 274 00:13:28,720 --> 00:13:32,319 Speaker 3: and WSLA are really the ones at a collective level 275 00:13:32,320 --> 00:13:34,679 Speaker 3: that are really pushing and going for it. But there 276 00:13:34,679 --> 00:13:36,560 Speaker 3: are opportunities all over the globe. 277 00:13:37,200 --> 00:13:38,920 Speaker 1: I want to get to that and some of the 278 00:13:38,920 --> 00:13:41,079 Speaker 1: other ones that might be surprising to folks, but really 279 00:13:41,160 --> 00:13:44,160 Speaker 1: quickly I'm wondering how the Mexican League, if you know, 280 00:13:44,400 --> 00:13:46,800 Speaker 1: came to decide on that approach of requiring a women's 281 00:13:46,800 --> 00:13:47,920 Speaker 1: club if you have a men's club. 282 00:13:48,920 --> 00:13:51,600 Speaker 3: I actually think it was and I may be wrong, 283 00:13:51,840 --> 00:13:54,040 Speaker 3: and you'll get attacked in the comments rather than me 284 00:13:54,520 --> 00:13:57,360 Speaker 3: why I'm wrong. I actually think it was a decision 285 00:13:57,400 --> 00:14:00,520 Speaker 3: by the Mexican Federation. I mean this was the case 286 00:14:00,520 --> 00:14:02,240 Speaker 3: in the US as well, for doing a bit of 287 00:14:02,240 --> 00:14:05,000 Speaker 3: a history lesson, like a lot of the impetus and 288 00:14:05,080 --> 00:14:09,760 Speaker 3: motivation for launching a professional league, or addressing like the 289 00:14:09,800 --> 00:14:12,920 Speaker 3: first division women's competition, and a country is linked to 290 00:14:12,960 --> 00:14:15,720 Speaker 3: the national team and wanting the women's national team to 291 00:14:15,720 --> 00:14:18,120 Speaker 3: be more successful. So from what I understand, it was 292 00:14:18,160 --> 00:14:21,400 Speaker 3: the Mexican Federation sort of looking at the Mexican women's 293 00:14:21,480 --> 00:14:23,600 Speaker 3: national team and thinking, Okay, how do we prop up 294 00:14:23,600 --> 00:14:27,760 Speaker 3: and support their ongoing success, And all of the evidence 295 00:14:27,800 --> 00:14:29,800 Speaker 3: would say that one way to unlock that is to 296 00:14:29,800 --> 00:14:34,840 Speaker 3: have a really strong and sustainable professional competition in your country. 297 00:14:35,240 --> 00:14:38,000 Speaker 3: So from what I understand, that's how that came about. 298 00:14:38,720 --> 00:14:43,680 Speaker 3: And I know that they are always looking at different mechanisms, policies, 299 00:14:43,760 --> 00:14:47,120 Speaker 3: regulations to continue the development, like for example, they put 300 00:14:47,160 --> 00:14:49,120 Speaker 3: a limit on the amount of foreign players that can 301 00:14:49,160 --> 00:14:51,360 Speaker 3: play in the league, which again would tell you that 302 00:14:51,440 --> 00:14:54,120 Speaker 3: they are trying to support that domestic talent development. 303 00:14:54,400 --> 00:14:56,560 Speaker 1: We're seeing that in the NSL to the Northern Super 304 00:14:56,640 --> 00:14:58,880 Speaker 1: League in Canada. They do have limits on how many 305 00:14:58,880 --> 00:15:00,760 Speaker 1: people can be outside Canada because they want to make 306 00:15:00,760 --> 00:15:03,240 Speaker 1: sure that they have an opportunity for their homegrown players 307 00:15:03,240 --> 00:15:05,760 Speaker 1: to learn and get better. Are there any countries that 308 00:15:06,080 --> 00:15:09,320 Speaker 1: America might be surprised to learn are starting up some 309 00:15:09,360 --> 00:15:12,120 Speaker 1: competitive leagues, Maybe ones you're keeping an eye on that 310 00:15:12,200 --> 00:15:15,160 Speaker 1: might start to be a good destination. 311 00:15:15,360 --> 00:15:16,880 Speaker 3: A good destination for players. 312 00:15:17,160 --> 00:15:19,560 Speaker 1: Yeah, like somewhere that isn't quite yet on the level 313 00:15:19,600 --> 00:15:21,880 Speaker 1: of the ones you've named, but you're watching and saying, oh, 314 00:15:21,880 --> 00:15:24,280 Speaker 1: there's a little seed there that's growing in a place 315 00:15:24,280 --> 00:15:25,480 Speaker 1: that maybe hadn't done it before. 316 00:15:25,960 --> 00:15:28,160 Speaker 3: I'm not sure if in women's football you can say 317 00:15:28,160 --> 00:15:31,200 Speaker 3: that Japan is under the radar. Yeah, but the WI 318 00:15:31,400 --> 00:15:35,360 Speaker 3: League in Japan is really really interesting. I played there. 319 00:15:35,440 --> 00:15:38,480 Speaker 3: This was prior to the establishment of the Wei League 320 00:15:38,480 --> 00:15:42,840 Speaker 3: that is there right now. But they're interesting for a 321 00:15:42,880 --> 00:15:45,120 Speaker 3: couple of different perspectives. I do think the way that 322 00:15:45,200 --> 00:15:48,400 Speaker 3: they play and the way that they train is fascinating. 323 00:15:48,480 --> 00:15:51,640 Speaker 3: It's very very different. But also they're becoming like a 324 00:15:51,680 --> 00:15:54,600 Speaker 3: real production line of talent that is ending up in 325 00:15:54,680 --> 00:15:57,080 Speaker 3: some of the top leagues around the world too, So 326 00:15:57,160 --> 00:16:00,840 Speaker 3: I think it would be remiss to sleep on Japan 327 00:16:01,040 --> 00:16:03,200 Speaker 3: just from like the pure amount of talent that they 328 00:16:03,280 --> 00:16:07,000 Speaker 3: managed to churn and then present to the rest of 329 00:16:07,000 --> 00:16:10,640 Speaker 3: the world. And you can see it with their national 330 00:16:10,680 --> 00:16:13,160 Speaker 3: team and youth national teams, like how strong and consistent 331 00:16:13,200 --> 00:16:15,520 Speaker 3: the performances are there. So I don't know if that's 332 00:16:15,560 --> 00:16:19,240 Speaker 3: necessarily surprising, but it's not a league, a league that 333 00:16:19,360 --> 00:16:21,360 Speaker 3: really gets a lot of coverage, But I do think 334 00:16:21,360 --> 00:16:22,760 Speaker 3: there's a lot of interesting. 335 00:16:22,360 --> 00:16:25,400 Speaker 1: Things right The national team does, of course from competing well. 336 00:16:25,400 --> 00:16:27,400 Speaker 1: And then we had Bevianez on the show and she 337 00:16:27,480 --> 00:16:30,280 Speaker 1: talked about going over there kind of on a whim, 338 00:16:30,440 --> 00:16:32,680 Speaker 1: even after her contract had ended, but she went anyway 339 00:16:32,720 --> 00:16:35,200 Speaker 1: and then fell in love with how they taught the 340 00:16:35,240 --> 00:16:37,960 Speaker 1: game and the fundamentals that she learned from her experience 341 00:16:38,000 --> 00:16:40,920 Speaker 1: there and brought back to coaching. You know, in recent years, 342 00:16:41,040 --> 00:16:43,320 Speaker 1: we've seen some high profile American players choose to go 343 00:16:43,360 --> 00:16:45,360 Speaker 1: abroad to play in the Women's Super League in England, 344 00:16:45,480 --> 00:16:48,480 Speaker 1: a few other going to top level European leagues. In 345 00:16:48,520 --> 00:16:52,360 Speaker 1: what ways are WSL teams or some other top clubs 346 00:16:52,400 --> 00:16:56,000 Speaker 1: there like Owal Leon or Paris s ager Man competitive 347 00:16:56,000 --> 00:16:58,360 Speaker 1: with or better than the NWSL, and then we'll get 348 00:16:58,360 --> 00:16:59,560 Speaker 1: to ways that they're lacking. 349 00:17:00,440 --> 00:17:02,120 Speaker 3: There's a couple of different ways to look at it. 350 00:17:02,320 --> 00:17:06,280 Speaker 3: Some of the prestige to going and playing in Europe 351 00:17:06,320 --> 00:17:09,119 Speaker 3: for some of these clubs is in the badge itself, 352 00:17:09,280 --> 00:17:12,639 Speaker 3: right like they I think we still have a generation 353 00:17:12,840 --> 00:17:18,520 Speaker 3: of players who grew up idolizing certain clubs, whether it's 354 00:17:18,760 --> 00:17:21,880 Speaker 3: an Arsenal or a Chelsea or a Barcelona or a 355 00:17:21,920 --> 00:17:23,400 Speaker 3: Bayern Munich. For example. 356 00:17:23,720 --> 00:17:26,159 Speaker 1: I have a Manchester United shotglass from when I went 357 00:17:26,160 --> 00:17:28,439 Speaker 1: to England, and I have zero interest in men's footy. 358 00:17:28,720 --> 00:17:31,520 Speaker 1: I just recognized the name and the crest and however 359 00:17:31,560 --> 00:17:33,080 Speaker 1: many twenty years ago thought it was cool. 360 00:17:33,359 --> 00:17:37,439 Speaker 3: But exactly there's a sense of inherited prestige. And for 361 00:17:37,520 --> 00:17:40,920 Speaker 3: those players growing up, there wasn't a Gotham FC, there 362 00:17:40,920 --> 00:17:43,439 Speaker 3: wasn't a Washington Spirit, there wasn't an Angel City for 363 00:17:43,480 --> 00:17:45,760 Speaker 3: them to fall in love with a football club that 364 00:17:45,920 --> 00:17:47,680 Speaker 3: was sort of like based here in the US. So 365 00:17:47,720 --> 00:17:49,960 Speaker 3: I think there's a little bit of that prestige of 366 00:17:50,080 --> 00:17:53,280 Speaker 3: going overseas and playing for these global brands and in 367 00:17:53,320 --> 00:17:56,719 Speaker 3: these global competitions, like there is a huge draw in 368 00:17:56,760 --> 00:17:58,760 Speaker 3: the Women's Champions League, just like there is in the 369 00:17:58,800 --> 00:18:02,080 Speaker 3: men's Champions League, and play in those competitions, and if 370 00:18:02,119 --> 00:18:05,679 Speaker 3: you have a career that spans five to eight years, 371 00:18:06,119 --> 00:18:08,359 Speaker 3: you're probably going to want to spend a period of 372 00:18:08,400 --> 00:18:11,640 Speaker 3: time like playing in every single competition that you possibly can, 373 00:18:11,720 --> 00:18:14,080 Speaker 3: particularly if you're a player of the caliber who has 374 00:18:14,119 --> 00:18:16,639 Speaker 3: the ability to do so. And it goes a little 375 00:18:16,640 --> 00:18:18,480 Speaker 3: bit back to what I was saying about the ability 376 00:18:18,520 --> 00:18:21,760 Speaker 3: to choose and the luxury of choice these days. If 377 00:18:21,800 --> 00:18:24,600 Speaker 3: you are a young person and you have the opportunity 378 00:18:24,640 --> 00:18:28,399 Speaker 3: to live abroad and have new experiences and immerse yourself 379 00:18:28,440 --> 00:18:31,480 Speaker 3: in a different culture, not only can that do wonders 380 00:18:31,880 --> 00:18:34,399 Speaker 3: from a footballing perspective, but it can also do that 381 00:18:34,440 --> 00:18:38,160 Speaker 3: from a life perspective. You just spoke about Bev going 382 00:18:38,200 --> 00:18:40,040 Speaker 3: and playing in Japan. I did the same thing. I 383 00:18:40,080 --> 00:18:41,760 Speaker 3: was only meant to be there for like four months. 384 00:18:41,760 --> 00:18:43,520 Speaker 3: I stayed for two and a half years because of 385 00:18:43,560 --> 00:18:45,840 Speaker 3: everything that it was doing for me on and off 386 00:18:45,840 --> 00:18:48,240 Speaker 3: the field. And so I do think that playing in 387 00:18:48,280 --> 00:18:52,119 Speaker 3: different leagues against different opposition and being coached by different 388 00:18:52,160 --> 00:18:56,720 Speaker 3: coaches has a complimentary element to a player's overall career. 389 00:18:57,200 --> 00:19:00,760 Speaker 1: And what's interesting about footy as opposed to something like basketball, 390 00:19:00,800 --> 00:19:03,560 Speaker 1: where American players had to go abroad to make money 391 00:19:03,600 --> 00:19:06,840 Speaker 1: in the off season, is that winning in America and 392 00:19:06,960 --> 00:19:09,560 Speaker 1: establishing a brand in America for basketball is still the 393 00:19:09,640 --> 00:19:13,240 Speaker 1: number one thing, whereas with footy, there is so much 394 00:19:13,280 --> 00:19:17,160 Speaker 1: cultural capital to playing in England or somewhere that's the 395 00:19:17,160 --> 00:19:19,560 Speaker 1: home of the sport, as opposed to in America, where 396 00:19:19,600 --> 00:19:21,639 Speaker 1: we're falling in love with it more and more every day, 397 00:19:21,680 --> 00:19:24,120 Speaker 1: but it doesn't have the same cachet. And so there's 398 00:19:24,119 --> 00:19:26,679 Speaker 1: a real value to going abroad both in terms of 399 00:19:26,720 --> 00:19:30,760 Speaker 1: life growth but also the actual sport as opposed to basketball, 400 00:19:30,760 --> 00:19:32,480 Speaker 1: where hey, cool, I got to go to another country 401 00:19:32,480 --> 00:19:34,600 Speaker 1: and learn stuff. But also no one in America knows 402 00:19:34,640 --> 00:19:37,600 Speaker 1: how I did in you know, this Russian league that 403 00:19:37,640 --> 00:19:40,240 Speaker 1: I played in or wherever else. So that's an interesting angle. 404 00:19:40,440 --> 00:19:41,680 Speaker 1: What are some of the ways that you think those 405 00:19:41,720 --> 00:19:46,199 Speaker 1: leagues are lacking WSL in particular when compared with the NWSL. 406 00:19:46,359 --> 00:19:49,800 Speaker 3: I think the match day experience in the NWSL's unrivaled. 407 00:19:50,040 --> 00:19:53,439 Speaker 3: I do think, obviously you have opportunities to get like 408 00:19:54,160 --> 00:19:57,879 Speaker 3: big crowds to play in quote unquote big stadiums like 409 00:19:57,920 --> 00:20:00,800 Speaker 3: in the WSL and other parts of Europe, it happens 410 00:20:00,920 --> 00:20:04,560 Speaker 3: much more consistently. Like in the NWSL. I think we've 411 00:20:05,040 --> 00:20:07,560 Speaker 3: and now the world's experienced it through the Men's World 412 00:20:07,560 --> 00:20:10,360 Speaker 3: Cup as well. There is some incredible stadiums over here, 413 00:20:10,359 --> 00:20:15,120 Speaker 3: like incredible infrastructure, and that's not really the case consistently 414 00:20:15,280 --> 00:20:18,560 Speaker 3: in other leagues, particularly the WSL. To go back to 415 00:20:18,640 --> 00:20:22,480 Speaker 3: the more direct comparison there, so I think that for one, 416 00:20:22,640 --> 00:20:25,359 Speaker 3: I do think if I look at we have nine 417 00:20:25,440 --> 00:20:28,399 Speaker 3: clubs at the moment roughly in the NWSL who are 418 00:20:28,400 --> 00:20:32,479 Speaker 3: building brand new training facilities too, I think you are 419 00:20:32,560 --> 00:20:35,880 Speaker 3: limited in some parts of England and in some parts 420 00:20:35,920 --> 00:20:39,199 Speaker 3: of Europe just in terms of space, which there is 421 00:20:39,240 --> 00:20:41,240 Speaker 3: a lot of in the US. Like so you can 422 00:20:41,359 --> 00:20:45,240 Speaker 3: build these incredible purpose built facilities which I think are 423 00:20:45,280 --> 00:20:47,680 Speaker 3: going to Like you want to talk about being able 424 00:20:47,680 --> 00:20:50,879 Speaker 3: to maximize the performance ceilings, like your built environment around 425 00:20:50,920 --> 00:20:54,000 Speaker 3: a player, and how that is like supercharged to be 426 00:20:54,840 --> 00:20:58,879 Speaker 3: all about a female player, it's going to push the 427 00:20:58,880 --> 00:21:02,240 Speaker 3: ceiling even further. So I think that's another opportunity here. 428 00:21:02,359 --> 00:21:06,680 Speaker 3: I do think We have an incredible roster of coaches 429 00:21:06,760 --> 00:21:10,000 Speaker 3: in the NWSL too, So that's really important not just 430 00:21:10,080 --> 00:21:13,119 Speaker 3: from the perspective of how do I develop and how 431 00:21:13,119 --> 00:21:15,560 Speaker 3: am I being trained within my team, but I'm going 432 00:21:15,640 --> 00:21:19,680 Speaker 3: up against coaches from coaching teams and they are from 433 00:21:19,720 --> 00:21:23,400 Speaker 3: all over the world, right, so like coaches from Portugal 434 00:21:23,520 --> 00:21:28,120 Speaker 3: and Sweden and England, and they're all coming to the NWSL, 435 00:21:28,160 --> 00:21:32,200 Speaker 3: and they're putting their philosophies and their tactics and identities 436 00:21:32,200 --> 00:21:34,760 Speaker 3: like into the game here and it's creating like different 437 00:21:34,840 --> 00:21:38,639 Speaker 3: challenges I think for players here too. So that's another 438 00:21:38,720 --> 00:21:41,280 Speaker 3: massive one where I think like we as we continue 439 00:21:41,320 --> 00:21:44,720 Speaker 3: to sort of like become even more global than we 440 00:21:44,800 --> 00:21:48,520 Speaker 3: already are, Like those are huge positives and differentiators for 441 00:21:48,920 --> 00:21:52,359 Speaker 3: the NWSL, and you sort of already talked about it. 442 00:21:52,400 --> 00:21:58,160 Speaker 3: But like the visibility over here is massive. We don't 443 00:21:58,200 --> 00:22:02,119 Speaker 3: live in the shadow of the Premier League, or we 444 00:22:02,160 --> 00:22:04,280 Speaker 3: certainly we're not in the shadow of the MLS sort 445 00:22:04,280 --> 00:22:06,800 Speaker 3: of disrespect to them, Like our women's national team is 446 00:22:06,840 --> 00:22:08,679 Speaker 3: not in the shadow of the men's national team. Like 447 00:22:09,240 --> 00:22:14,560 Speaker 3: there you are basking in a less obstructed sunlight. Yea, 448 00:22:15,960 --> 00:22:19,600 Speaker 3: And I think that's what I've loved personally. That's what 449 00:22:19,640 --> 00:22:21,720 Speaker 3: I've really loved about coming to work like at the 450 00:22:21,800 --> 00:22:26,679 Speaker 3: NWSL in the US is there's just nothing like it. 451 00:22:26,720 --> 00:22:31,480 Speaker 3: Like we are unapologetically independent that plays out in so 452 00:22:31,600 --> 00:22:35,000 Speaker 3: many sort of micro and macro ways, and I do 453 00:22:35,080 --> 00:22:37,560 Speaker 3: think it is just such a huge advantage for the 454 00:22:37,600 --> 00:22:41,880 Speaker 3: ecosystem over here, And having spoken to like players coming 455 00:22:41,920 --> 00:22:44,800 Speaker 3: into this league from other leagues, I definitely think that 456 00:22:44,800 --> 00:22:47,240 Speaker 3: that has felt so on top of everything else that 457 00:22:47,280 --> 00:22:50,840 Speaker 3: I've mentioned, I think the spotlight on the game over 458 00:22:50,880 --> 00:22:52,959 Speaker 3: here is actually like unrivaled. 459 00:22:53,520 --> 00:22:56,160 Speaker 1: Yeah, there's so much cachet that comes with being aligned 460 00:22:56,160 --> 00:22:58,920 Speaker 1: with a historic men's team, but there's also a conflict 461 00:22:58,920 --> 00:23:03,000 Speaker 1: in terms of resource. Is fan appreciation, investment, interest, all 462 00:23:03,000 --> 00:23:05,520 Speaker 1: the things if your secondary and not the main thing. 463 00:23:05,960 --> 00:23:08,239 Speaker 1: I also think, you know what we've seen to your 464 00:23:08,240 --> 00:23:11,320 Speaker 1: point about the consistency of fans, that's also the case 465 00:23:11,359 --> 00:23:14,760 Speaker 1: across quality of competition. The parity in the NWSL that 466 00:23:14,800 --> 00:23:18,320 Speaker 1: we often talk about means that you're always playing against 467 00:23:18,320 --> 00:23:20,159 Speaker 1: great teams that have the chance to beat you, whereas 468 00:23:20,160 --> 00:23:23,960 Speaker 1: we see in WSL that the very top is so 469 00:23:24,080 --> 00:23:26,919 Speaker 1: much better than the bottom. You're not getting quality of 470 00:23:26,960 --> 00:23:29,159 Speaker 1: competition and quality of game over and over again with 471 00:23:29,200 --> 00:23:32,200 Speaker 1: the consistency that you get here, which which is great. 472 00:23:33,080 --> 00:23:37,600 Speaker 1: You know, you just mentioned sort of unapologetically on our 473 00:23:37,640 --> 00:23:41,480 Speaker 1: own independent and the roots of American soccer coming so 474 00:23:41,600 --> 00:23:43,800 Speaker 1: much from the women in a way that is almost 475 00:23:43,880 --> 00:23:46,560 Speaker 1: unmatched across the globe and on the national team side, 476 00:23:46,560 --> 00:23:49,919 Speaker 1: the impact of the US has made the world of 477 00:23:49,960 --> 00:23:52,359 Speaker 1: women's soccer better. We've seen this in other sports, you know, 478 00:23:52,400 --> 00:23:55,159 Speaker 1: We've seen some truly game changing athletes eventually face the 479 00:23:55,240 --> 00:23:58,760 Speaker 1: impact of their own influence, like Serena Williams and Tiger 480 00:23:58,760 --> 00:24:01,040 Speaker 1: Woods who end up playing against athletes that they were 481 00:24:01,080 --> 00:24:03,639 Speaker 1: inspired to play, right, people who were like, I'm playing 482 00:24:03,680 --> 00:24:05,720 Speaker 1: because of you, and now I'm younger and stronger and 483 00:24:05,720 --> 00:24:09,280 Speaker 1: pastor and beating you. So how does Team USA's impact 484 00:24:09,400 --> 00:24:11,600 Speaker 1: on the field and in terms of their pay equity 485 00:24:11,640 --> 00:24:13,399 Speaker 1: fights shown up globally? 486 00:24:14,400 --> 00:24:17,600 Speaker 3: I didn't even really, like, I can't. This really actually 487 00:24:17,680 --> 00:24:20,840 Speaker 3: goes back to my previous job, and like what I 488 00:24:20,920 --> 00:24:24,399 Speaker 3: love about Americans and the women's national team and the 489 00:24:24,480 --> 00:24:27,960 Speaker 3: NWSL is when something is achieved, boy do they tell 490 00:24:28,000 --> 00:24:30,600 Speaker 3: you about it? You know, Like, and I'm not. 491 00:24:30,520 --> 00:24:31,800 Speaker 2: That's a braggy bunch. 492 00:24:32,240 --> 00:24:35,000 Speaker 3: Yeah, but it's it's brilliant because, like, what would happen 493 00:24:35,080 --> 00:24:38,000 Speaker 3: when I was working at fIF pro is you know, 494 00:24:38,119 --> 00:24:43,080 Speaker 3: the equal pay agreement, the groundbreaking CBA for the women's 495 00:24:43,160 --> 00:24:46,920 Speaker 3: national team and also for the NWSL. My phone would 496 00:24:47,000 --> 00:24:49,160 Speaker 3: just like pop off and i'dn't I'd like look at 497 00:24:49,280 --> 00:24:52,240 Speaker 3: the players the organizations that were messaging me and be like, Okay, 498 00:24:52,400 --> 00:24:54,879 Speaker 3: the US has done something like and then you know, 499 00:24:55,000 --> 00:24:57,879 Speaker 3: go through the process of you know, establishing exactly what 500 00:24:57,960 --> 00:25:00,879 Speaker 3: that is because it's it's so visible and it is 501 00:25:01,080 --> 00:25:04,800 Speaker 3: very inspirational, and I think it opens up the possibilities 502 00:25:05,880 --> 00:25:09,840 Speaker 3: that have maybe have not been previously imagined by groups 503 00:25:09,840 --> 00:25:12,120 Speaker 3: and other parts of the world who are more marginalized 504 00:25:12,200 --> 00:25:14,639 Speaker 3: and have had you know, you talked about like bands 505 00:25:14,680 --> 00:25:19,080 Speaker 3: and things like that, have had those institutional barriers like present, 506 00:25:19,359 --> 00:25:22,119 Speaker 3: very present, like in their experiences, and so all of 507 00:25:22,119 --> 00:25:26,199 Speaker 3: a sudden, you see what's possible. And the organizations, the 508 00:25:26,200 --> 00:25:29,440 Speaker 3: ones who are actively trying to limit progress are also 509 00:25:29,640 --> 00:25:32,760 Speaker 3: like shitting themselves because they're like, well, now I know 510 00:25:32,840 --> 00:25:35,280 Speaker 3: that this is possible. I've told this particular group that 511 00:25:35,320 --> 00:25:37,159 Speaker 3: they can't have this, they can't have that, and now 512 00:25:37,200 --> 00:25:40,200 Speaker 3: they're saying that their competitors are going to have X, 513 00:25:40,320 --> 00:25:43,439 Speaker 3: Y Z and they want the same, and we're actually saying, 514 00:25:44,000 --> 00:25:46,400 Speaker 3: we want you to compete with the women's national team 515 00:25:46,760 --> 00:25:48,800 Speaker 3: of the US, but we're going to provide you a 516 00:25:48,840 --> 00:25:52,840 Speaker 3: third of the resources. So it provided so much stimulation 517 00:25:52,960 --> 00:25:55,720 Speaker 3: of thought and ideas, but it was also a catalyst 518 00:25:55,800 --> 00:26:01,240 Speaker 3: for platforms to advocate and ask for things that would 519 00:26:01,359 --> 00:26:05,560 Speaker 3: ordinarily have been denied as well. So, like I say 520 00:26:05,600 --> 00:26:09,359 Speaker 3: this internally so much, I actually think it's underestimated a 521 00:26:09,400 --> 00:26:14,639 Speaker 3: little bit how the US, whether it's the women's national 522 00:26:14,680 --> 00:26:16,960 Speaker 3: team or with its clubs or with the league, has 523 00:26:16,960 --> 00:26:21,960 Speaker 3: actually dragged the game forwards sometimes like literally kicking and screaming. 524 00:26:22,480 --> 00:26:25,960 Speaker 3: It has not wanted to move into those spaces. Nobody 525 00:26:26,080 --> 00:26:30,040 Speaker 3: was interested in equal pay, nobody like that. It dragged 526 00:26:30,200 --> 00:26:35,359 Speaker 3: those conversations like into like the public forum simply because 527 00:26:35,400 --> 00:26:40,040 Speaker 3: it was happening here. And I think that everyone working 528 00:26:40,080 --> 00:26:43,600 Speaker 3: here in the US needs to bear that responsibility of 529 00:26:43,680 --> 00:26:46,320 Speaker 3: continuing to drag the game forwards because there is so 530 00:26:46,400 --> 00:26:48,919 Speaker 3: much opportunity to do so, because because it has all 531 00:26:48,960 --> 00:26:51,800 Speaker 3: of those ingredients that we talked about at the top 532 00:26:51,840 --> 00:26:55,120 Speaker 3: of the discussion that just have not been present historically 533 00:26:55,160 --> 00:26:57,720 Speaker 3: and is still not present in other parts of the world. 534 00:26:57,720 --> 00:27:00,840 Speaker 3: So now you're talking about things like athlete health, research 535 00:27:00,880 --> 00:27:03,960 Speaker 3: and innovation, another area where the US can certainly lead. 536 00:27:04,080 --> 00:27:07,240 Speaker 3: You're talking obviously about like performance ceilings, raising it up. 537 00:27:07,520 --> 00:27:11,639 Speaker 3: You're talking about infrastructure and facilities. You're talking about youth development, 538 00:27:11,720 --> 00:27:15,359 Speaker 3: like so many other things that could happen here in 539 00:27:15,400 --> 00:27:17,240 Speaker 3: the US. They will drag the game forwards. 540 00:27:17,280 --> 00:27:22,640 Speaker 1: Like once again, I think also expectation of athlete coach relationship, 541 00:27:22,760 --> 00:27:25,680 Speaker 1: expectation of respect and treatment. You know, we see one 542 00:27:25,720 --> 00:27:28,760 Speaker 1: of the programs that's competing with the US and right 543 00:27:28,760 --> 00:27:32,159 Speaker 1: now has surpassed it. Right Spain national team are currently 544 00:27:32,200 --> 00:27:34,960 Speaker 1: ranked number one in the world, above the US, and 545 00:27:35,160 --> 00:27:41,280 Speaker 1: they're the reigning World Cup champs, despite absolute harassment, mistreatment 546 00:27:41,359 --> 00:27:44,360 Speaker 1: and disrespect from their own federation and coaches and staff. 547 00:27:44,800 --> 00:27:47,639 Speaker 1: And so I think to be currently ranked number one 548 00:27:47,640 --> 00:27:49,480 Speaker 1: in the world despite all that tells you a lot 549 00:27:49,480 --> 00:27:52,080 Speaker 1: about what they potentially could do if they were actually 550 00:27:52,119 --> 00:27:55,560 Speaker 1: afforded in experience that they deserve. We look at the 551 00:27:55,600 --> 00:27:58,800 Speaker 1: way the US is the winningest in the history of 552 00:27:58,800 --> 00:28:02,719 Speaker 1: the Olympics and World Cup, are inspiring competition to catch up, 553 00:28:02,720 --> 00:28:04,960 Speaker 1: and I wonder who you see across the world that 554 00:28:05,040 --> 00:28:07,320 Speaker 1: seems to be investing enough and have the talent to 555 00:28:07,400 --> 00:28:10,000 Speaker 1: start to be true regular competitors for the top spot 556 00:28:10,040 --> 00:28:11,040 Speaker 1: outside of Spain. 557 00:28:11,359 --> 00:28:16,320 Speaker 3: I mean certainly England. They have the structures and they 558 00:28:16,400 --> 00:28:21,000 Speaker 3: have the legacy to be able to compete regularly, and 559 00:28:21,640 --> 00:28:24,240 Speaker 3: they are competing regularly. It's sort of at global events. 560 00:28:24,640 --> 00:28:27,119 Speaker 3: I think, what again, I've mentioned it. What Japan are 561 00:28:27,119 --> 00:28:30,440 Speaker 3: doing is fascinating. They give so many opportunities to young 562 00:28:30,440 --> 00:28:35,280 Speaker 3: players through like national team programming. Everything feels very, very connected, 563 00:28:35,320 --> 00:28:38,680 Speaker 3: and they're so deliberate about where and when they send 564 00:28:38,760 --> 00:28:42,000 Speaker 3: their talent overseas, to whether it's to the US or 565 00:28:42,080 --> 00:28:44,720 Speaker 3: to England or to Sweden, wherever it may be. So 566 00:28:44,960 --> 00:28:50,440 Speaker 3: they certainly are quite innovative, I think, and somehow ahead 567 00:28:50,440 --> 00:28:53,200 Speaker 3: of the curve, despite not perhaps being like you wouldn't 568 00:28:53,200 --> 00:28:56,240 Speaker 3: describe them as a global superpower in football generally, but 569 00:28:56,560 --> 00:28:59,480 Speaker 3: I think they're doing really interesting things. I think Australia 570 00:28:59,520 --> 00:29:03,200 Speaker 3: made some fascinating investments early on, and they're also a 571 00:29:03,240 --> 00:29:06,640 Speaker 3: country where you'd say as close to the US. If 572 00:29:06,720 --> 00:29:10,440 Speaker 3: people imagine greatness in football, they actually think about the 573 00:29:10,480 --> 00:29:14,640 Speaker 3: Matilda's and they think about the Sam Kurz and the 574 00:29:14,680 --> 00:29:17,320 Speaker 3: Steph Catley's of the world maybe before they think of 575 00:29:17,600 --> 00:29:20,000 Speaker 3: other players on the men's side. So I think Australia 576 00:29:20,120 --> 00:29:24,400 Speaker 3: are one I would not want to be playing Brazil 577 00:29:24,640 --> 00:29:27,520 Speaker 3: next year at the women's work. I think they have 578 00:29:28,280 --> 00:29:31,640 Speaker 3: an incredible talent, and you sort of think if they 579 00:29:31,680 --> 00:29:36,600 Speaker 3: could sort a few other foundational things out within that country, 580 00:29:36,600 --> 00:29:40,360 Speaker 3: that they would be a force, like almost an unstoppable 581 00:29:40,400 --> 00:29:42,520 Speaker 3: force in the game. So and then I just don't 582 00:29:42,560 --> 00:29:45,000 Speaker 3: think you can count out Germany. I don't think you 583 00:29:45,040 --> 00:29:47,480 Speaker 3: can count out Front. I don't think you can count 584 00:29:47,520 --> 00:29:53,160 Speaker 3: out Sweden as the US's frenemies as well competitively. So 585 00:29:53,240 --> 00:29:56,000 Speaker 3: I think what's so exciting about next year is I 586 00:29:56,040 --> 00:29:58,920 Speaker 3: reckon there are probably a good eight teams really in 587 00:29:58,960 --> 00:29:59,360 Speaker 3: the mix. 588 00:30:00,040 --> 00:30:01,840 Speaker 1: I would hate to see France if they could get 589 00:30:01,880 --> 00:30:04,120 Speaker 1: the fuck out of their own way, I really would. 590 00:30:04,200 --> 00:30:07,440 Speaker 3: We have been saying that for several. 591 00:30:07,120 --> 00:30:10,720 Speaker 1: Kinds now and they keep doing. 592 00:30:10,480 --> 00:30:12,200 Speaker 2: The same thing. But I don't want to see them 593 00:30:12,240 --> 00:30:13,280 Speaker 2: once they figured that out. 594 00:30:13,480 --> 00:30:16,080 Speaker 1: Yes, So we like to end each episode of this 595 00:30:16,160 --> 00:30:18,320 Speaker 1: series by learning about a few people who have played 596 00:30:18,360 --> 00:30:20,600 Speaker 1: a major role in making women's soccer in America what 597 00:30:20,640 --> 00:30:22,320 Speaker 1: it is. So I'm going to ask you for a builder, 598 00:30:22,440 --> 00:30:26,120 Speaker 1: a grower, and a future leader. So first, someone that 599 00:30:26,200 --> 00:30:28,680 Speaker 1: you give flowers for for being a builder of the 600 00:30:28,720 --> 00:30:29,800 Speaker 1: game here in America. 601 00:30:30,360 --> 00:30:34,600 Speaker 3: Oh, what a great question. The first name that sprung 602 00:30:34,640 --> 00:30:38,320 Speaker 3: to mind is April Heinrich. I think she was definitely 603 00:30:38,440 --> 00:30:42,240 Speaker 3: a builder of the game here and held some pretty 604 00:30:42,280 --> 00:30:45,360 Speaker 3: noteworthy positions and I think put a lot of the 605 00:30:45,400 --> 00:30:48,600 Speaker 3: foundations and structures in place that she's one of those 606 00:30:48,640 --> 00:30:51,080 Speaker 3: people you think, Okay, the process is that she left 607 00:30:51,160 --> 00:30:53,920 Speaker 3: sort of like in her wake, are probably still there 608 00:30:54,080 --> 00:30:55,280 Speaker 3: and have made a real impact. 609 00:30:55,680 --> 00:30:57,560 Speaker 2: April Heinrichs, tell me more about her. 610 00:30:57,920 --> 00:30:59,800 Speaker 3: I just remember back in the day, like she was 611 00:30:59,880 --> 00:31:02,320 Speaker 3: just someone that was sort of like really revered in 612 00:31:02,360 --> 00:31:06,040 Speaker 3: the sport and was, you know, sort of charging ahead 613 00:31:06,080 --> 00:31:09,520 Speaker 3: and putting things in place, like at a material level 614 00:31:09,560 --> 00:31:11,520 Speaker 3: that we're really going to to make a. 615 00:31:11,440 --> 00:31:15,560 Speaker 1: Different former technical director for the Soccer Federation and holding 616 00:31:15,600 --> 00:31:18,320 Speaker 1: some of those roles kind of early on as the 617 00:31:18,360 --> 00:31:20,920 Speaker 1: team was starting to really become more dominant. 618 00:31:20,640 --> 00:31:23,880 Speaker 3: Yes, exactly, and I think started to build some of 619 00:31:23,920 --> 00:31:25,760 Speaker 3: the infrastructure that is still in place today. 620 00:31:26,120 --> 00:31:29,360 Speaker 1: Okay, so now we need a grower so someone who's 621 00:31:29,400 --> 00:31:32,200 Speaker 1: played an outsize role in growing football here. 622 00:31:32,560 --> 00:31:35,440 Speaker 3: That the first name that springs to mind, because I 623 00:31:35,520 --> 00:31:39,040 Speaker 3: think she took the sport into another stratosphere is Alex Morgan. 624 00:31:39,920 --> 00:31:43,800 Speaker 3: Like she grew the game through sheer force of star 625 00:31:44,000 --> 00:31:48,560 Speaker 3: power backed up with ability and longevity on the field, 626 00:31:49,240 --> 00:31:53,520 Speaker 3: and it is difficult to imagine the game being where 627 00:31:53,520 --> 00:31:57,480 Speaker 3: it is now without Alex Morgan. And she just also 628 00:31:57,920 --> 00:32:00,640 Speaker 3: did so much off the field too. She she really 629 00:32:00,720 --> 00:32:04,520 Speaker 3: led the equal pay work. She also really led a 630 00:32:04,560 --> 00:32:08,560 Speaker 3: lot of the reforms that ended up taking place within 631 00:32:09,000 --> 00:32:12,239 Speaker 3: the NWSL, Like she was such a great ally in 632 00:32:12,280 --> 00:32:15,280 Speaker 3: that fight too. So I think she really grew the 633 00:32:15,320 --> 00:32:21,200 Speaker 3: game from one level of professionalism to another and brought 634 00:32:21,320 --> 00:32:24,400 Speaker 3: not only the star power, but she was walking the 635 00:32:24,480 --> 00:32:27,360 Speaker 3: walk in other parts of the game as well. And 636 00:32:27,680 --> 00:32:30,600 Speaker 3: you actually you mentioned it before. She was also someone 637 00:32:30,640 --> 00:32:34,320 Speaker 3: who reached out to fIF Pro to me when everything 638 00:32:34,400 --> 00:32:36,440 Speaker 3: was going down in twenty twenty three with the Spanish 639 00:32:36,480 --> 00:32:39,120 Speaker 3: women's national team as well, and she provided a lot 640 00:32:39,160 --> 00:32:43,120 Speaker 3: of allyship to those players too, So she's special amazing. 641 00:32:43,280 --> 00:32:44,080 Speaker 2: I love to hear that. 642 00:32:44,760 --> 00:32:46,800 Speaker 1: Okay, finally someone you think will play a big role 643 00:32:46,800 --> 00:32:49,800 Speaker 1: for the future of women's soccer in the US, the. 644 00:32:49,760 --> 00:32:53,440 Speaker 3: Future of women's soccer in the US, I think if 645 00:32:53,440 --> 00:32:58,320 Speaker 3: she can tick the things off that she wants someone 646 00:32:58,440 --> 00:33:02,520 Speaker 3: like Emma Hayes, she is not only the success that 647 00:33:02,560 --> 00:33:05,920 Speaker 3: she is looking to bring to the national team program, 648 00:33:06,400 --> 00:33:11,720 Speaker 3: which obviously is around winning World Cups and winning Olympics. 649 00:33:12,480 --> 00:33:15,680 Speaker 3: She's also introduced an under twenty three program, which I 650 00:33:15,680 --> 00:33:18,680 Speaker 3: think will be transformative for the development of players like 651 00:33:18,720 --> 00:33:21,760 Speaker 3: moving forwards and is like an important step between U 652 00:33:21,880 --> 00:33:24,080 Speaker 3: twenties and the senior women's national team. So I think 653 00:33:24,080 --> 00:33:26,520 Speaker 3: that that's going to be really promising and you can 654 00:33:26,560 --> 00:33:29,080 Speaker 3: see how that's already starting to feed into the women's 655 00:33:29,160 --> 00:33:33,200 Speaker 3: national team program. I also think through like visibility and 656 00:33:33,720 --> 00:33:38,000 Speaker 3: sheer will of personality, she's also bringing in things around 657 00:33:38,080 --> 00:33:41,080 Speaker 3: like the female lens and that approach to the game too, 658 00:33:41,160 --> 00:33:43,720 Speaker 3: which I think a lot of people have been wanting 659 00:33:43,840 --> 00:33:46,560 Speaker 3: to come into the game, like very specific focus on 660 00:33:47,200 --> 00:33:50,160 Speaker 3: what do you need to compete and perform like as 661 00:33:50,240 --> 00:33:53,160 Speaker 3: women for women, But she's like just again provided a 662 00:33:53,160 --> 00:33:57,080 Speaker 3: different spotlight to it and is actually instituting it like 663 00:33:57,200 --> 00:33:59,680 Speaker 3: at an institutional level, which I think is key and 664 00:33:59,720 --> 00:34:03,120 Speaker 3: credit cool so for the future even though she's not American. 665 00:34:03,200 --> 00:34:05,160 Speaker 3: For the future of the game here in the US 666 00:34:05,680 --> 00:34:09,480 Speaker 3: actually in two thousand and thirty one, I'd be very 667 00:34:09,480 --> 00:34:12,640 Speaker 3: curious to see what her legacy ends up being, not 668 00:34:12,719 --> 00:34:14,799 Speaker 3: just in terms of success on the field and what 669 00:34:14,800 --> 00:34:16,640 Speaker 3: they will do for the sport, but I think some 670 00:34:16,680 --> 00:34:20,920 Speaker 3: of the legacy changes that she's looking to make and 671 00:34:21,000 --> 00:34:24,200 Speaker 3: what she calls sort of her life work, I think 672 00:34:24,200 --> 00:34:26,040 Speaker 3: that's going to be really powerful for the future of 673 00:34:26,080 --> 00:34:26,600 Speaker 3: the game too. 674 00:34:26,960 --> 00:34:30,200 Speaker 1: I agree all the way top down, rethinking everything through 675 00:34:30,200 --> 00:34:33,319 Speaker 1: the lens of women instead of repeating the patterns set 676 00:34:33,360 --> 00:34:35,680 Speaker 1: by men. But with women, it's going to be really 677 00:34:35,960 --> 00:34:39,680 Speaker 1: massive and I'm excited to watch. So nice to talk 678 00:34:39,680 --> 00:34:42,160 Speaker 1: to you, Sarah. Thanks for joining us, so insightful, I 679 00:34:42,239 --> 00:34:42,640 Speaker 1: learned a. 680 00:34:42,600 --> 00:34:45,320 Speaker 3: Ton great Thank you for having me great topic. 681 00:34:46,440 --> 00:34:48,719 Speaker 1: Thanks again to Sarah for taking the time and let 682 00:34:48,719 --> 00:34:51,120 Speaker 1: me know about that birthday party next year. I've already 683 00:34:51,160 --> 00:34:54,440 Speaker 1: got some ideas and slices don't forget. You can now 684 00:34:54,520 --> 00:34:57,400 Speaker 1: watch full length good Game interviews on the Iheartwomen's Sports 685 00:34:57,440 --> 00:35:00,520 Speaker 1: YouTube channel, so head on over and subscribe. We have 686 00:35:00,560 --> 00:35:03,920 Speaker 1: to take another break when we come back. Sorry, not sorry, 687 00:35:07,920 --> 00:35:10,160 Speaker 1: Welcome back, slices. We love that you're listing, but we 688 00:35:10,200 --> 00:35:11,600 Speaker 1: want you to get in the game every day too, 689 00:35:11,719 --> 00:35:13,319 Speaker 1: so here's our good game play of the day. 690 00:35:13,640 --> 00:35:15,759 Speaker 2: There are a couple w games on the calendar to 691 00:35:15,840 --> 00:35:16,200 Speaker 2: check out. 692 00:35:16,200 --> 00:35:19,360 Speaker 1: Tonight, We've got an eight Eastern Atlanta Dream Dallas Wings matchup. 693 00:35:19,600 --> 00:35:21,880 Speaker 1: Then stick around for the Golden State Valkyrie game against 694 00:35:21,880 --> 00:35:24,839 Speaker 1: the Phoenix Mercury at ten pm Eastern. We always love 695 00:35:24,880 --> 00:35:26,560 Speaker 1: to hear from you, so hit us up on email 696 00:35:26,760 --> 00:35:29,600 Speaker 1: good game at Wondermedia network dot com or leave us 697 00:35:29,600 --> 00:35:32,440 Speaker 1: a voicemail at eight seven two two o four fifty 698 00:35:32,560 --> 00:35:36,000 Speaker 1: seventy and don't forget to subscribe, rate and review, y'all. 699 00:35:36,120 --> 00:35:39,800 Speaker 1: It's easy watch sending me five emails a day. Because 700 00:35:39,840 --> 00:35:43,200 Speaker 1: I bought one pair of pants rating one out of 701 00:35:43,239 --> 00:35:48,680 Speaker 1: one unsubscribed button, I'm immediately clicking review. Okay, yeah, I 702 00:35:48,800 --> 00:35:51,520 Speaker 1: bought a pair of your pants, and I might be 703 00:35:51,560 --> 00:35:54,880 Speaker 1: interested in buying another pair, maybe even a shirt, git 704 00:35:54,920 --> 00:35:57,920 Speaker 1: a blazer. But I don't need five emails from you 705 00:35:58,120 --> 00:36:01,560 Speaker 1: every single day, you thirsty bitch of a store. I 706 00:36:01,560 --> 00:36:03,600 Speaker 1: don't want to be part of your store family. I 707 00:36:03,600 --> 00:36:05,560 Speaker 1: don't want to give you my phone number. I don't 708 00:36:05,560 --> 00:36:07,440 Speaker 1: want to tell my friends to buy their pants from 709 00:36:07,480 --> 00:36:10,399 Speaker 1: you for fifteen percent off my next purchase. I don't 710 00:36:10,480 --> 00:36:13,120 Speaker 1: actually believe it's possible for them to be breaking news 711 00:36:13,520 --> 00:36:16,719 Speaker 1: about pants. I didn't forget something. I decided not to 712 00:36:16,719 --> 00:36:18,480 Speaker 1: buy it and left it in the cart, so stop 713 00:36:18,560 --> 00:36:21,080 Speaker 1: stalking me. I don't want to celebrate Arbor Day with 714 00:36:21,200 --> 00:36:24,319 Speaker 1: half off nature inspired teas, and no, I don't think 715 00:36:24,360 --> 00:36:27,960 Speaker 1: mom would love those. I will accept two emails per 716 00:36:28,000 --> 00:36:30,239 Speaker 1: week to remind me that you exist and that you 717 00:36:30,320 --> 00:36:32,239 Speaker 1: might have some new things I would like. And I 718 00:36:32,280 --> 00:36:35,520 Speaker 1: will accept a birthday email, but only if it includes 719 00:36:35,560 --> 00:36:40,040 Speaker 1: a hefty discount code. We're not friends. I just bought 720 00:36:40,080 --> 00:36:44,800 Speaker 1: your pants. Now it's your turn, rate and review. Thanks 721 00:36:44,800 --> 00:36:48,319 Speaker 1: for listening, See you tomorrow. Good game, Sarah, Good game 722 00:36:48,400 --> 00:36:51,120 Speaker 1: everyone who bet on the NWSL and helped it get 723 00:36:51,200 --> 00:36:52,120 Speaker 1: where it is today. 724 00:36:53,000 --> 00:36:54,920 Speaker 2: You expecting world class. 725 00:36:54,640 --> 00:37:03,040 Speaker 1: Results while providing a fraction of the resources. Good Game 726 00:37:03,080 --> 00:37:05,600 Speaker 1: with Sarah Spain is an iHeart women's sports production in 727 00:37:05,640 --> 00:37:08,640 Speaker 1: partnership with Deep Blue Sports and Entertainment. You can find 728 00:37:08,719 --> 00:37:11,680 Speaker 1: us on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you 729 00:37:11,680 --> 00:37:15,400 Speaker 1: get your podcasts. Production by Wonder Media Network, our producers 730 00:37:15,400 --> 00:37:18,719 Speaker 1: are Alex Azzi and Bianca Hillier. Our executive producers are 731 00:37:18,800 --> 00:37:22,200 Speaker 1: Christina Everett, Jesse Katz, Jenny Kaplan and Emily Rudder. Our 732 00:37:22,280 --> 00:37:25,680 Speaker 1: editors are Emily Rutterer, Lucy Jones, Britney Martinez and Gianna Palmer. 733 00:37:25,880 --> 00:37:29,240 Speaker 1: Production assistants from Avery LOFTUS and I'm Your Host Sarah 734 00:37:29,280 --> 00:37:29,600 Speaker 1: Spain