1 00:00:00,680 --> 00:00:02,719 Speaker 1: Welcome to Good Game with Sarah Spain, where we think 2 00:00:02,759 --> 00:00:06,920 Speaker 1: asking chat GPT for playing tactics should be considered doping WATA. 3 00:00:07,240 --> 00:00:11,080 Speaker 1: It's time step up. It's Wednesday, November fifth, and on 4 00:00:11,119 --> 00:00:13,000 Speaker 1: today's show, we're skipping the need to know and getting 5 00:00:13,039 --> 00:00:16,160 Speaker 1: straight to my conversation with Tamara Griffin, women's soccer writer 6 00:00:16,239 --> 00:00:18,720 Speaker 1: and podcast host for The Athletic. I caught up with 7 00:00:18,720 --> 00:00:21,760 Speaker 1: her on Monday to discuss all of the NWSL Decision 8 00:00:21,840 --> 00:00:26,239 Speaker 1: Day chaos, preview this weekend's quarterfinal matchups, and demand answers 9 00:00:26,280 --> 00:00:29,520 Speaker 1: to tough questions like which team's color is the cutest? 10 00:00:30,200 --> 00:00:40,479 Speaker 1: That conversation's coming up right after this, returning to the show. 11 00:00:40,520 --> 00:00:42,720 Speaker 1: She's the co host of Full Time with Meglenahan and 12 00:00:42,720 --> 00:00:45,400 Speaker 1: a full time women's soccer writer for The Athletic. She's 13 00:00:45,440 --> 00:00:47,320 Speaker 1: known not just for her soccer writing, but also her 14 00:00:47,320 --> 00:00:50,640 Speaker 1: coverage of the intersections of fashion, style, art and visual culture. 15 00:00:50,960 --> 00:00:53,400 Speaker 1: Her voice is so smooth she should do ASMR as 16 00:00:53,440 --> 00:00:55,920 Speaker 1: a side hustle. She's in the world to know the world. 17 00:00:55,960 --> 00:00:56,920 Speaker 1: It's Tamara Griffin. 18 00:00:57,320 --> 00:01:00,720 Speaker 2: Hi, Tamara, Hi, and thank you for it. An idea 19 00:01:00,760 --> 00:01:02,400 Speaker 2: of how I can start paying back my student loans 20 00:01:02,400 --> 00:01:03,080 Speaker 2: a little bit faster. 21 00:01:03,400 --> 00:01:06,840 Speaker 1: Yeah, read audio books. 22 00:01:07,240 --> 00:01:09,479 Speaker 2: Yes, I need to hit up like the calm app. 23 00:01:09,840 --> 00:01:11,120 Speaker 2: Maybe I have some openings. 24 00:01:11,280 --> 00:01:13,280 Speaker 3: I like that. Thank you for the free idea. 25 00:01:13,360 --> 00:01:16,880 Speaker 1: It's interesting when you work in an audio medium like this, 26 00:01:16,920 --> 00:01:19,880 Speaker 1: where I'm literally talking to new people almost every single day, 27 00:01:20,160 --> 00:01:22,880 Speaker 1: how much I notice when someone's voice is just very 28 00:01:22,920 --> 00:01:25,400 Speaker 1: pleasing to me. Thankfully, I haven't really had anyone where 29 00:01:25,400 --> 00:01:28,080 Speaker 1: I'm like, wow, yikes, this person, I've got to talk 30 00:01:28,080 --> 00:01:30,200 Speaker 1: to the But I do have certain people, and you're 31 00:01:30,280 --> 00:01:32,479 Speaker 1: one of them that it doesn't really matter what you're saying. 32 00:01:32,520 --> 00:01:35,040 Speaker 1: I just very much enjoy listening to your voice. Oh, 33 00:01:35,080 --> 00:01:37,880 Speaker 1: thank you. I feel like yeah, yeah, yeah, Sidehouse a 34 00:01:37,959 --> 00:01:38,960 Speaker 1: lot of that for sure. 35 00:01:39,280 --> 00:01:41,520 Speaker 3: Yeah, off season plans, Yeah. 36 00:01:41,360 --> 00:01:44,200 Speaker 1: Yeah, the voice sounds good. How's the body, specifically the 37 00:01:44,280 --> 00:01:47,520 Speaker 1: eyeballs after trying to take in all of the decision 38 00:01:47,560 --> 00:01:48,840 Speaker 1: day action at once. 39 00:01:48,960 --> 00:01:50,720 Speaker 2: You know, I feel like there is a little bit 40 00:01:50,720 --> 00:01:53,560 Speaker 2: of PTSD to like the height of COVID when we 41 00:01:53,560 --> 00:01:56,600 Speaker 2: were in total lockdown and our entire social lives were 42 00:01:56,880 --> 00:02:00,480 Speaker 2: reduced mostly to zoom hangs outside of of our in 43 00:02:00,520 --> 00:02:05,440 Speaker 2: person pods because the strain on the retina Sarah is 44 00:02:05,480 --> 00:02:08,560 Speaker 2: so real and we were just talking about that plus 45 00:02:08,639 --> 00:02:11,160 Speaker 2: daylight saving plus like everything else that we have to 46 00:02:11,240 --> 00:02:16,400 Speaker 2: keep up with. The body is doing her best. Yeah, 47 00:02:16,639 --> 00:02:20,520 Speaker 2: but I definitely have like book a ninety minute deep 48 00:02:20,560 --> 00:02:23,440 Speaker 2: tiss massage on my to do list, not even at 49 00:02:23,480 --> 00:02:25,240 Speaker 2: the end of the season, like I'm gonna mean one, 50 00:02:25,400 --> 00:02:29,960 Speaker 2: maybe two between the championship. Yes, but we're doing our 51 00:02:29,960 --> 00:02:30,560 Speaker 2: best out here. 52 00:02:30,639 --> 00:02:33,920 Speaker 1: Yeah. It wasn't as exciting of a decision day as 53 00:02:33,960 --> 00:02:36,360 Speaker 1: it could have been because most of who was in 54 00:02:36,560 --> 00:02:39,320 Speaker 1: was already decided, but we did have one spot to decide, 55 00:02:39,320 --> 00:02:42,080 Speaker 1: and Racing Louisville the big winner on Sunday. They slid 56 00:02:42,120 --> 00:02:44,800 Speaker 1: into the postseason with their win over BFC and they 57 00:02:44,840 --> 00:02:47,640 Speaker 1: finally break the ninth place curse. So for those who 58 00:02:47,720 --> 00:02:49,920 Speaker 1: don't know, can you share why it's such a big 59 00:02:49,960 --> 00:02:53,040 Speaker 1: deal for Racing to I mean, slide into any spot 60 00:02:53,040 --> 00:02:54,600 Speaker 1: they ended up in the seventh spot, but to just 61 00:02:54,680 --> 00:02:56,120 Speaker 1: get to prepare for the playoffs. 62 00:02:56,800 --> 00:02:57,040 Speaker 3: Yes. 63 00:02:57,360 --> 00:03:00,519 Speaker 2: So for the past four seasons leading up to this one, 64 00:03:00,600 --> 00:03:05,120 Speaker 2: Racing Level has somehow managed to finish their season in 65 00:03:05,280 --> 00:03:09,920 Speaker 2: ninth place every single year, which is impressive when you 66 00:03:10,000 --> 00:03:14,480 Speaker 2: consider the expansion factor, which means that even after we 67 00:03:14,560 --> 00:03:17,840 Speaker 2: got San Diego Wave, Angel City, the return of the 68 00:03:17,919 --> 00:03:22,480 Speaker 2: Utah Royals BFC. They still managed to finish in ninth place, 69 00:03:22,600 --> 00:03:25,839 Speaker 2: and last season this was especially devastating because it meant 70 00:03:25,880 --> 00:03:29,359 Speaker 2: that they were just outside of the playoff spot. And 71 00:03:30,080 --> 00:03:32,320 Speaker 2: I just think with the league as chaotic as the 72 00:03:32,400 --> 00:03:35,720 Speaker 2: NWSL is, with how many narratives we've seen with teams 73 00:03:35,760 --> 00:03:39,080 Speaker 2: like GOTHAMFC and their worst place to first place sort 74 00:03:39,120 --> 00:03:41,960 Speaker 2: of arc that ended with them being twenty twenty three 75 00:03:42,040 --> 00:03:45,120 Speaker 2: NWSL champions. We've seen this with Kansas City in previous seasons, 76 00:03:45,520 --> 00:03:48,120 Speaker 2: with all of the flip flopping that happens, it takes 77 00:03:48,280 --> 00:03:52,840 Speaker 2: a lot of something to remain that consistent. So for 78 00:03:52,920 --> 00:03:56,120 Speaker 2: them to finally break through that, I mean with all 79 00:03:56,160 --> 00:03:59,760 Speaker 2: of my journalistic objectivity, like I needed them to do 80 00:03:59,800 --> 00:04:01,440 Speaker 2: this thing, I needed them to do the thing and 81 00:04:01,680 --> 00:04:02,760 Speaker 2: the same thing they did it. 82 00:04:03,160 --> 00:04:04,800 Speaker 1: I was like, no, no real horse of the race, 83 00:04:04,840 --> 00:04:07,280 Speaker 1: but I was happy for them, And to your point, yeah, 84 00:04:07,320 --> 00:04:09,720 Speaker 1: that kind of consistency. A team would prefer to be 85 00:04:09,760 --> 00:04:14,279 Speaker 1: first every year or second even, but ninth was disappointing 86 00:04:14,360 --> 00:04:17,159 Speaker 1: and so their first time making it to the postseason. 87 00:04:17,400 --> 00:04:19,560 Speaker 1: This team has been through a lot this year, including 88 00:04:19,560 --> 00:04:22,440 Speaker 1: head coach Baviannas sharing that she'd suffered another miscarriage. She 89 00:04:22,520 --> 00:04:25,520 Speaker 1: was open about it both times. She will become the 90 00:04:25,520 --> 00:04:29,520 Speaker 1: first person to play in and coach in NWSL playoffs, 91 00:04:30,120 --> 00:04:32,600 Speaker 1: that very cool pipeline that we don't see much of. 92 00:04:32,680 --> 00:04:34,880 Speaker 1: So what does this mean both for Beavianas but also 93 00:04:34,960 --> 00:04:37,039 Speaker 1: just for the league to see someone be able to 94 00:04:37,080 --> 00:04:39,359 Speaker 1: go from participating in the league as a player to 95 00:04:39,400 --> 00:04:40,640 Speaker 1: becoming a successful coach. 96 00:04:41,160 --> 00:04:44,120 Speaker 2: I mean beginning with some of the personal challenges that 97 00:04:44,200 --> 00:04:46,760 Speaker 2: she has been very transparent about having faced, not just 98 00:04:46,760 --> 00:04:49,960 Speaker 2: the season but last season. As you said, I'm thinking 99 00:04:49,960 --> 00:04:52,400 Speaker 2: about what it means for her personally and her family. 100 00:04:53,440 --> 00:04:57,440 Speaker 2: My colleague, Meglenahan, reported on the miscarriage that she had 101 00:04:57,520 --> 00:05:01,480 Speaker 2: last year, and I actually reread that story after Racing 102 00:05:01,640 --> 00:05:04,000 Speaker 2: made it into the playoffs, and she talked even then 103 00:05:04,080 --> 00:05:07,440 Speaker 2: about how, yes, she was excited about being pregnant. She 104 00:05:07,680 --> 00:05:10,680 Speaker 2: was balancing you know, doctor's visits with still traveling with 105 00:05:10,720 --> 00:05:13,080 Speaker 2: the team so that she could coach them. And so 106 00:05:13,120 --> 00:05:16,800 Speaker 2: she is someone who has already demonstrated her dedication to 107 00:05:16,960 --> 00:05:21,400 Speaker 2: doing both being a parent, being a family person, and 108 00:05:21,480 --> 00:05:23,799 Speaker 2: being a coach. And so I think to be able 109 00:05:23,839 --> 00:05:27,280 Speaker 2: to have accomplished this feat even with everything that she's 110 00:05:27,320 --> 00:05:30,839 Speaker 2: gone through. I can only imagine how gratifying and healing 111 00:05:30,880 --> 00:05:33,760 Speaker 2: that must be, and then to have been in this 112 00:05:33,920 --> 00:05:38,119 Speaker 2: long term project with Racing Louisville, you know, pushing them through. 113 00:05:38,279 --> 00:05:39,080 Speaker 3: I mean I can. 114 00:05:39,560 --> 00:05:41,520 Speaker 2: Like I said, it takes a lot to remain that 115 00:05:41,600 --> 00:05:44,400 Speaker 2: consistent and consistent obviously not in the ways that they wanted, 116 00:05:45,240 --> 00:05:47,280 Speaker 2: but it's got to be a proof of concept as well. 117 00:05:47,320 --> 00:05:49,599 Speaker 2: And I am also thinking to pan out even further 118 00:05:49,680 --> 00:05:51,839 Speaker 2: about what this means for the growth of the league, 119 00:05:52,120 --> 00:05:55,800 Speaker 2: where we're now seeing players who are retiring and occupying 120 00:05:55,839 --> 00:05:59,440 Speaker 2: these positions in front offices as general managers, as managers 121 00:05:59,800 --> 00:06:02,520 Speaker 2: of teams as Bev is, and to be able to 122 00:06:02,600 --> 00:06:05,200 Speaker 2: take them into the postseason. I've talked to so many 123 00:06:05,240 --> 00:06:08,039 Speaker 2: former players who are still involved in the league about 124 00:06:08,080 --> 00:06:09,919 Speaker 2: how much it means to them to be able to 125 00:06:10,200 --> 00:06:13,440 Speaker 2: still contribute to the game, just in different ways. And 126 00:06:13,520 --> 00:06:16,320 Speaker 2: so from a representational standpoint, I think this means a 127 00:06:16,360 --> 00:06:19,600 Speaker 2: lot for current players who might be wanting to fashion 128 00:06:19,720 --> 00:06:24,359 Speaker 2: careers after they retire. Similar to Bev's it's like ripple 129 00:06:24,400 --> 00:06:27,960 Speaker 2: effects of success, I think, an accomplishment and I can 130 00:06:28,000 --> 00:06:29,880 Speaker 2: only imagine, like I said, how healing this must be, 131 00:06:29,920 --> 00:06:31,800 Speaker 2: both for BEV and the whole team, because, like you said, 132 00:06:31,800 --> 00:06:32,520 Speaker 2: they've been through a lot. 133 00:06:33,080 --> 00:06:35,040 Speaker 1: Yeah. Yeah, And this is a team that from the 134 00:06:35,120 --> 00:06:38,320 Speaker 1: beginning of the season people kind of had circled and said, huh, 135 00:06:38,440 --> 00:06:40,320 Speaker 1: there's a lot going on there that I think could 136 00:06:40,560 --> 00:06:42,960 Speaker 1: pay off. And what we saw across the course of 137 00:06:42,960 --> 00:06:46,200 Speaker 1: the season was very physical team, a lot of red cards. 138 00:06:47,120 --> 00:06:49,000 Speaker 1: Do you think that helps them at all in the postseason. 139 00:06:49,040 --> 00:06:50,800 Speaker 1: I'm not really sure if games tend to be called 140 00:06:50,839 --> 00:06:53,440 Speaker 1: tighter or looser in this league come playoff time. 141 00:06:54,080 --> 00:06:58,680 Speaker 2: Yeah, I mean officiating talking about consistency. The officiating in 142 00:06:58,720 --> 00:07:02,840 Speaker 2: this league, as we know, has been consistently chaotic, we'll say, unpredictable. 143 00:07:04,440 --> 00:07:06,640 Speaker 2: So I'm not even going to try to project what 144 00:07:06,680 --> 00:07:08,560 Speaker 2: that's going to be like, I think it honestly is 145 00:07:08,600 --> 00:07:11,840 Speaker 2: going to come down to the individual assignments for those 146 00:07:11,880 --> 00:07:13,600 Speaker 2: games and what they had to do the day before, 147 00:07:13,640 --> 00:07:15,560 Speaker 2: maybe what they might have to do after because the 148 00:07:15,600 --> 00:07:19,000 Speaker 2: refs be going through it. But I do think I mean, 149 00:07:19,080 --> 00:07:21,680 Speaker 2: I think it might have been on this very show 150 00:07:21,800 --> 00:07:23,720 Speaker 2: that I may have said something to the effect of, 151 00:07:23,760 --> 00:07:27,720 Speaker 2: like racing Louisville. Sometimes their physicality is giving a little 152 00:07:27,720 --> 00:07:31,000 Speaker 2: bit of like cry for help, but I do think 153 00:07:31,120 --> 00:07:32,960 Speaker 2: I mean, pulling a player's hair. 154 00:07:33,360 --> 00:07:36,600 Speaker 1: Is crying for help. But yeah, yeah, they're all to 155 00:07:36,640 --> 00:07:37,160 Speaker 1: cry for help. 156 00:07:37,960 --> 00:07:41,920 Speaker 2: But I do think that they've become a bit more refined, 157 00:07:42,000 --> 00:07:45,320 Speaker 2: and I wonder if once they became aware of how 158 00:07:45,360 --> 00:07:48,200 Speaker 2: close they were, maybe how much closer they've ever been 159 00:07:48,520 --> 00:07:50,520 Speaker 2: for those who've been with the club for several seasons 160 00:07:50,520 --> 00:07:53,240 Speaker 2: to actually making it into the postseason, they just started 161 00:07:53,280 --> 00:07:56,320 Speaker 2: to button up a little bit, not to the point 162 00:07:56,360 --> 00:07:59,240 Speaker 2: where they've lost that identity as a gritty, super physical 163 00:07:59,360 --> 00:08:02,080 Speaker 2: high pressing because that's very much their style. And I 164 00:08:02,120 --> 00:08:05,280 Speaker 2: actually think the ways that they've harnessed that and sort 165 00:08:05,280 --> 00:08:07,880 Speaker 2: of come into games on the front foot, forcing other 166 00:08:07,920 --> 00:08:10,200 Speaker 2: teams to respond to their style rather than the other 167 00:08:10,240 --> 00:08:12,320 Speaker 2: way around, which is how I think it's been in 168 00:08:12,360 --> 00:08:14,960 Speaker 2: previous seasons, has been one of the keys to their success. 169 00:08:15,760 --> 00:08:17,720 Speaker 2: I do think that they are going to continue to 170 00:08:17,760 --> 00:08:20,920 Speaker 2: manage games. They're going to be playing the Washington Spirit, 171 00:08:20,960 --> 00:08:22,720 Speaker 2: which is not going to be a cakewalk, even though 172 00:08:22,760 --> 00:08:24,520 Speaker 2: it's not quite the Kansas City current as I think 173 00:08:24,560 --> 00:08:28,160 Speaker 2: a lot of people were expecting it. To me, so 174 00:08:28,680 --> 00:08:30,600 Speaker 2: I think that they're going to keep the I hope 175 00:08:30,720 --> 00:08:33,720 Speaker 2: actually that they keep the best parts of their sort 176 00:08:33,720 --> 00:08:37,960 Speaker 2: of physical gritty identity with the refinement and honestly like 177 00:08:38,120 --> 00:08:42,240 Speaker 2: conservative nature that you tend to get when you reach knockout. 178 00:08:41,880 --> 00:08:44,720 Speaker 1: Stage right right right. You mentioned it, so I'll bring 179 00:08:44,760 --> 00:08:50,440 Speaker 1: it up the Gotham decision to rest players. Ultimately, they 180 00:08:50,520 --> 00:08:53,400 Speaker 1: lost to the North Carolina Courage. They dropped into the 181 00:08:53,480 --> 00:08:56,160 Speaker 1: eighth seed, so they will face Kansas City in the 182 00:08:56,160 --> 00:08:59,240 Speaker 1: first round, with Racing actually getting up to seventh place 183 00:08:59,240 --> 00:09:02,160 Speaker 1: and being able to that buzz Saw in the first round, 184 00:09:02,200 --> 00:09:04,880 Speaker 1: So let's talk about it. Do you think that was 185 00:09:04,920 --> 00:09:06,880 Speaker 1: a bad move from a Gotham FC team. 186 00:09:07,760 --> 00:09:12,679 Speaker 2: Yeah, I mean, Gotham have had a really interesting season. 187 00:09:12,840 --> 00:09:14,760 Speaker 2: It's been a bit of a roller coaster. They've had 188 00:09:14,800 --> 00:09:18,000 Speaker 2: these patches of success that I personally thought they were 189 00:09:18,000 --> 00:09:20,920 Speaker 2: going to sort of end their regular season on, but 190 00:09:21,000 --> 00:09:23,679 Speaker 2: to drop points on the road to North Carolina, who 191 00:09:23,679 --> 00:09:26,000 Speaker 2: themselves were in a must win situation that unfortunately didn't 192 00:09:26,040 --> 00:09:30,600 Speaker 2: work out for them because Racing Louisville won. But I think, honestly, 193 00:09:30,640 --> 00:09:32,520 Speaker 2: more than that, more than the result of that game, 194 00:09:32,559 --> 00:09:37,880 Speaker 2: they just didn't look good. They looked listless, they looked tired, honestly, 195 00:09:37,920 --> 00:09:40,760 Speaker 2: and considering how many international players they had who are 196 00:09:40,800 --> 00:09:43,480 Speaker 2: just coming back from break, it's very understandable. I was 197 00:09:43,480 --> 00:09:46,160 Speaker 2: surprised to see how many minutes Rose level played given 198 00:09:46,200 --> 00:09:48,760 Speaker 2: how active she was with the US women's national team 199 00:09:48,800 --> 00:09:52,880 Speaker 2: literally a week ago. It was a tricky one and 200 00:09:53,240 --> 00:09:56,960 Speaker 2: I do rate Wan Carlos Amorros, the head coach of 201 00:09:56,960 --> 00:09:59,240 Speaker 2: Gotham FC. He knows what he's doing. He's won a 202 00:09:59,320 --> 00:10:02,240 Speaker 2: championship of for Gotham have been the eighth seed going 203 00:10:02,240 --> 00:10:04,000 Speaker 2: into a postseason, and it was the season that they 204 00:10:04,040 --> 00:10:05,160 Speaker 2: took on the championships. 205 00:10:05,200 --> 00:10:07,760 Speaker 3: So I want to give them the benefit of the doubt. 206 00:10:08,679 --> 00:10:12,360 Speaker 2: But the way that it looked was it doesn't give 207 00:10:12,400 --> 00:10:14,079 Speaker 2: you much to sort of hang your hat. 208 00:10:13,920 --> 00:10:16,680 Speaker 1: On, right, And it's a Gotham team that at any 209 00:10:16,800 --> 00:10:19,080 Speaker 1: point when they take the field, I say, there's so 210 00:10:19,160 --> 00:10:22,480 Speaker 1: much talent, anything can happen. But having seen the way 211 00:10:22,480 --> 00:10:24,280 Speaker 1: they can look this year, you also think you don't 212 00:10:24,280 --> 00:10:27,280 Speaker 1: want to set yourself up to face Kansas City. Let's 213 00:10:27,320 --> 00:10:29,440 Speaker 1: talk about the courage. They did their part with a win, 214 00:10:29,679 --> 00:10:32,440 Speaker 1: but they still missed the cut because of that racing victory. 215 00:10:32,720 --> 00:10:35,200 Speaker 1: They set an attendance record in the loss, which was 216 00:10:35,240 --> 00:10:38,480 Speaker 1: sort of a good support for the idea of Decision Day. 217 00:10:38,520 --> 00:10:41,080 Speaker 1: You had nearly twelve thousand folks show up believing and 218 00:10:41,120 --> 00:10:43,800 Speaker 1: hoping that it would mean something. And we were gifted 219 00:10:43,800 --> 00:10:47,640 Speaker 1: a poem from interim coach Nathan Thuckery because he was, 220 00:10:47,920 --> 00:10:49,560 Speaker 1: you know, in the moment to step up and have 221 00:10:49,640 --> 00:10:51,880 Speaker 1: and have it mean something. How do you think North 222 00:10:51,880 --> 00:10:54,640 Speaker 1: Carolina should feel about this season? This is a team 223 00:10:54,640 --> 00:10:56,800 Speaker 1: that historically has been in the playoffs and has won 224 00:10:56,880 --> 00:10:57,439 Speaker 1: a few times. 225 00:10:57,480 --> 00:11:01,760 Speaker 2: So you know, the first thing that I thought when 226 00:11:01,760 --> 00:11:05,440 Speaker 2: that game ended was, oh, what could have been? Because 227 00:11:05,880 --> 00:11:09,080 Speaker 2: as it feels like it was forever ago. But North 228 00:11:09,120 --> 00:11:13,120 Speaker 2: Carolina courage had a very abrupt firing of former head 229 00:11:13,120 --> 00:11:17,199 Speaker 2: coach Sean Nehus late summer, and there were a lot 230 00:11:17,240 --> 00:11:19,920 Speaker 2: of questions, a lot of concern about what may have happened. 231 00:11:19,960 --> 00:11:23,520 Speaker 2: They've been very tight lipped about that. Maybe we'll get 232 00:11:23,520 --> 00:11:25,320 Speaker 2: a little bit more on the off season. But when 233 00:11:25,400 --> 00:11:27,320 Speaker 2: Nathan Thackeray came in again, there were a lot of 234 00:11:27,400 --> 00:11:31,600 Speaker 2: questions and I personally was a bit surprised by how 235 00:11:31,960 --> 00:11:34,240 Speaker 2: fluidly he sort of I mean, he'd been with the team, 236 00:11:34,400 --> 00:11:37,199 Speaker 2: so there wasn't much of a transition in that sense, 237 00:11:37,280 --> 00:11:40,319 Speaker 2: but the team looked great. Let's not forget also, though, 238 00:11:40,320 --> 00:11:43,040 Speaker 2: that they lost Jayden Shaw right after that, so I 239 00:11:43,080 --> 00:11:45,880 Speaker 2: think there was not that much expectation about their ability 240 00:11:45,920 --> 00:11:47,840 Speaker 2: to bounce back the way that they did. 241 00:11:48,040 --> 00:11:51,280 Speaker 3: And I am so big. 242 00:11:51,240 --> 00:11:57,560 Speaker 2: On the Japanese forward attacking midfielder Manaka Matsukubo. She reached, 243 00:11:57,760 --> 00:12:00,480 Speaker 2: she shifted into a second gear, I think, and maybe 244 00:12:00,520 --> 00:12:04,480 Speaker 2: the final third of the season did if we didn't 245 00:12:04,520 --> 00:12:06,760 Speaker 2: have to worry about the force that is Timewa Shawinga. 246 00:12:07,040 --> 00:12:09,559 Speaker 2: She is at the top of my MVP list. I 247 00:12:09,600 --> 00:12:12,199 Speaker 2: think she is stellar and she's only twenty one. She 248 00:12:12,280 --> 00:12:19,240 Speaker 2: scores the most disgusting, devastating, humiliating goals that just I mean, 249 00:12:19,240 --> 00:12:21,840 Speaker 2: I'm getting goosebumps just thinking about the one that she scored. 250 00:12:21,559 --> 00:12:24,680 Speaker 3: On Adam kettrup Berger and got them in the pouring rain. 251 00:12:24,920 --> 00:12:25,000 Speaker 1: Like. 252 00:12:25,520 --> 00:12:27,200 Speaker 3: She's such an exciting player. 253 00:12:27,200 --> 00:12:30,600 Speaker 1: No less than last year's goalkeeper of the year exactly. 254 00:12:30,720 --> 00:12:32,440 Speaker 3: She just doesn't care. She does not care. 255 00:12:32,720 --> 00:12:34,760 Speaker 1: She's so fun to watch and that's exciting for them 256 00:12:34,800 --> 00:12:37,880 Speaker 1: to look ahead to next season. You know you mentioned 257 00:12:37,880 --> 00:12:40,120 Speaker 1: Shawn Nee Hoss any more news or rumors out there 258 00:12:40,120 --> 00:12:42,720 Speaker 1: in the world about that, because I am frustrated on 259 00:12:42,760 --> 00:12:45,440 Speaker 1: two accounts. One, if there is a good reason for 260 00:12:45,480 --> 00:12:48,679 Speaker 1: the sudden firing and the sort of spiciness of the 261 00:12:48,720 --> 00:12:51,040 Speaker 1: way they did it, then I want to know, because 262 00:12:51,160 --> 00:12:52,680 Speaker 1: he shouldn't be out there in the world without us 263 00:12:52,720 --> 00:12:55,000 Speaker 1: understanding what the problem was in case he gets hired again. 264 00:12:55,200 --> 00:12:57,960 Speaker 1: And if there wasn't, then I'm angry on behalf of 265 00:12:57,960 --> 00:13:00,400 Speaker 1: Shawn Nee Hoss that they left us all one if 266 00:13:00,400 --> 00:13:01,800 Speaker 1: there was more to the story. 267 00:13:01,640 --> 00:13:03,440 Speaker 2: And to even add a third to that. Well, to 268 00:13:03,480 --> 00:13:05,560 Speaker 2: first answer to your question, I don't have any further 269 00:13:05,640 --> 00:13:08,160 Speaker 2: information on that. I do think that we'll probably get 270 00:13:08,200 --> 00:13:11,400 Speaker 2: a little bit more in the off season. It makes 271 00:13:11,400 --> 00:13:14,960 Speaker 2: me wonder, given how well the team did after his departure, 272 00:13:15,000 --> 00:13:18,160 Speaker 2: that there may have been this desire to let the 273 00:13:18,200 --> 00:13:20,240 Speaker 2: team sort of go as far as they could without 274 00:13:20,240 --> 00:13:22,800 Speaker 2: having to deal with that factor. Maybe, but I know 275 00:13:22,840 --> 00:13:24,920 Speaker 2: you were on that press conference and it was it 276 00:13:24,960 --> 00:13:25,760 Speaker 2: was a mess. 277 00:13:25,920 --> 00:13:30,000 Speaker 1: A mess multitude of factors. How many times you heard that. 278 00:13:31,400 --> 00:13:35,240 Speaker 2: But my thing is now that we've seen how like 279 00:13:35,360 --> 00:13:37,440 Speaker 2: what the potential of this team is even without the 280 00:13:37,480 --> 00:13:40,360 Speaker 2: presence of Jaden Shaw. Part of me is like, and 281 00:13:40,400 --> 00:13:42,480 Speaker 2: I'm sorry if this sounds harsh, but why didn't it 282 00:13:42,520 --> 00:13:43,160 Speaker 2: happen sooner? 283 00:13:43,440 --> 00:13:45,800 Speaker 1: Right? And it might just be that it wasn't good 284 00:13:45,840 --> 00:13:47,559 Speaker 1: coaching and he wasn't getting the best out of them, 285 00:13:47,600 --> 00:13:50,679 Speaker 1: and that's fine, But then also it felt very disrespectful 286 00:13:51,520 --> 00:13:53,160 Speaker 1: to say goodbye to him in the way that they 287 00:13:53,200 --> 00:13:55,480 Speaker 1: did without an explanation, because it did leave us in 288 00:13:55,520 --> 00:13:58,760 Speaker 1: a league like this wondering what more there was. 289 00:13:58,720 --> 00:14:01,000 Speaker 2: To be said, especially give the things that have happened 290 00:14:01,040 --> 00:14:03,760 Speaker 2: with that team within that club in the past, that 291 00:14:03,800 --> 00:14:07,400 Speaker 2: team in particular. Yeah, it was not handled well, separate 292 00:14:07,440 --> 00:14:10,160 Speaker 2: of course from the team's performances, but it was such 293 00:14:10,160 --> 00:14:13,559 Speaker 2: a weird moment. But I do hope that we get 294 00:14:13,600 --> 00:14:15,480 Speaker 2: some more information out of that, because in some ways 295 00:14:15,520 --> 00:14:18,800 Speaker 2: that will help us sort of set our expectations for 296 00:14:18,840 --> 00:14:21,359 Speaker 2: what this team is going to do in future seasons. 297 00:14:21,800 --> 00:14:24,640 Speaker 1: Did you have a third aspect of the angry on 298 00:14:24,720 --> 00:14:26,120 Speaker 1: behalf of that you wanted to add? 299 00:14:26,560 --> 00:14:29,200 Speaker 2: Oh, it was mostly that they should have parted ways 300 00:14:29,240 --> 00:14:32,640 Speaker 2: with him sooner if the reason was performance based, because 301 00:14:32,680 --> 00:14:35,120 Speaker 2: I think Nate Thackeray has actually done a really good 302 00:14:35,200 --> 00:14:39,040 Speaker 2: job sort of to my own surprise and my like 303 00:14:39,080 --> 00:14:41,800 Speaker 2: the bittersweet heartbreak. Like if I had to choose between 304 00:14:41,880 --> 00:14:45,040 Speaker 2: Racing Louisville and North Carolina Courage for this season, my 305 00:14:45,160 --> 00:14:48,360 Speaker 2: heart is with Racing, but I would not have been 306 00:14:48,440 --> 00:14:52,040 Speaker 2: upset to continue watching North Carolina in the postseason, mostly 307 00:14:52,080 --> 00:14:55,280 Speaker 2: for Monoca. I'm not gonna lie, but my frustration is 308 00:14:55,320 --> 00:14:57,560 Speaker 2: why didn't this happen sooner? And what could this team 309 00:14:57,560 --> 00:14:58,840 Speaker 2: have accomplished if it had. 310 00:15:00,280 --> 00:15:03,360 Speaker 1: Let's talk about the Washington Spirit, another team that, like Gotham, 311 00:15:03,400 --> 00:15:05,720 Speaker 1: adjusted for the final week of play. They traveled a 312 00:15:05,840 --> 00:15:09,080 Speaker 1: very small roster to Utah. They took the l didn't matter, 313 00:15:09,160 --> 00:15:11,240 Speaker 1: didn't affect their seating. They're still the number two seat. 314 00:15:11,240 --> 00:15:13,720 Speaker 1: They still get a home advantage. Do you care about 315 00:15:13,760 --> 00:15:17,200 Speaker 1: a team laying off the gas at the end like that? 316 00:15:17,360 --> 00:15:19,160 Speaker 1: Do you think it sets them up for any more 317 00:15:19,280 --> 00:15:20,720 Speaker 1: or less success come postseason? 318 00:15:21,200 --> 00:15:23,920 Speaker 2: I'm kind of here for it. It was really interesting 319 00:15:24,000 --> 00:15:29,640 Speaker 2: to see between Kansas City Current Washington Spirit how differently 320 00:15:29,800 --> 00:15:33,640 Speaker 2: the teams approached this last game. I was thinking about 321 00:15:33,720 --> 00:15:35,600 Speaker 2: Kansas City Current. They're playing at home. There is no 322 00:15:35,720 --> 00:15:39,080 Speaker 2: way that when they have gone a full season unbeaten 323 00:15:39,120 --> 00:15:40,960 Speaker 2: at home, that they are going to do what Washington 324 00:15:41,040 --> 00:15:43,000 Speaker 2: Spirit did on the road with Utah, Like there's just 325 00:15:43,000 --> 00:15:46,040 Speaker 2: no way they got to protect the house Washington. I'm 326 00:15:46,080 --> 00:15:50,840 Speaker 2: reminded of last year's championship that team flew in like 327 00:15:50,920 --> 00:15:55,120 Speaker 2: on the day of media Day. They something changes when 328 00:15:55,160 --> 00:15:58,040 Speaker 2: they approach the postseason, when they're in the postseason where 329 00:15:58,440 --> 00:16:00,680 Speaker 2: they really start to think about what it means to 330 00:16:00,720 --> 00:16:04,320 Speaker 2: reserve energy. They have a team full of international players 331 00:16:04,320 --> 00:16:07,000 Speaker 2: who again are coming back from international duty, most of 332 00:16:07,000 --> 00:16:09,240 Speaker 2: them in Europe or in Africa, and I'm thinking about 333 00:16:09,240 --> 00:16:11,760 Speaker 2: what it means to make that flight and then another 334 00:16:11,800 --> 00:16:15,360 Speaker 2: cross country one to high altitude Utah like that is 335 00:16:15,400 --> 00:16:19,280 Speaker 2: a huge strain on the body, possibility of injuries, which 336 00:16:19,360 --> 00:16:21,200 Speaker 2: we saw a little bit of a cross decision day. 337 00:16:21,640 --> 00:16:24,440 Speaker 2: I think it was a smart decision. At the end 338 00:16:24,440 --> 00:16:26,480 Speaker 2: of the day, You're giving minutes to some players that 339 00:16:26,520 --> 00:16:29,760 Speaker 2: you may need in the postseason where depth is paramount. 340 00:16:30,800 --> 00:16:33,560 Speaker 2: And it seems that Washington is in a comfortable enough 341 00:16:33,600 --> 00:16:35,800 Speaker 2: place and honestly, in my opinion, still with the high 342 00:16:35,880 --> 00:16:38,960 Speaker 2: enough ceiling as they head into the postseason, even though 343 00:16:39,000 --> 00:16:40,880 Speaker 2: they might have to do it without Trinity Rodman, that 344 00:16:41,200 --> 00:16:44,160 Speaker 2: they were able to take that risk and I respect 345 00:16:44,440 --> 00:16:47,280 Speaker 2: when teams make gambles like that, so I wasn't too 346 00:16:47,320 --> 00:16:47,920 Speaker 2: bothered by it. 347 00:16:48,360 --> 00:16:50,160 Speaker 1: Well, and it wasn't really a gamble so much for 348 00:16:50,200 --> 00:16:53,360 Speaker 1: them because their decision day involved nothing being decided, So 349 00:16:53,400 --> 00:16:55,200 Speaker 1: the only decision they had was do we try our 350 00:16:55,200 --> 00:16:57,400 Speaker 1: hardest ronat whereas you look at Gotam where there were 351 00:16:57,440 --> 00:16:59,480 Speaker 1: things to be decided, it didn't work out for them 352 00:16:59,640 --> 00:17:02,040 Speaker 1: to may hold back a little, Kansas City didn't have 353 00:17:02,080 --> 00:17:04,720 Speaker 1: anything to play for either. They won anyway, and they 354 00:17:04,720 --> 00:17:08,080 Speaker 1: did it without Tamoshewinga. Does that give them extra confidence 355 00:17:08,119 --> 00:17:09,600 Speaker 1: for the postseason if she's not able to go? And 356 00:17:09,680 --> 00:17:12,639 Speaker 1: is it even possible to have more confidence than Casey 357 00:17:12,680 --> 00:17:15,359 Speaker 1: should already have after a regular season like this one? 358 00:17:15,600 --> 00:17:19,040 Speaker 2: Honestly, yes, This to me might have been the most 359 00:17:19,040 --> 00:17:21,760 Speaker 2: important win that Kansas City Current have had this season, 360 00:17:21,880 --> 00:17:25,000 Speaker 2: because Wow, they did it without Tamla. And I think 361 00:17:25,040 --> 00:17:26,960 Speaker 2: back to the last game that they played before the 362 00:17:26,960 --> 00:17:30,600 Speaker 2: international break where Temwa picked up that hip apductor injury 363 00:17:30,600 --> 00:17:34,960 Speaker 2: against the Houston Dash to whom they lost away, and 364 00:17:35,280 --> 00:17:37,560 Speaker 2: in that game they had to figure out in real 365 00:17:37,600 --> 00:17:40,440 Speaker 2: time how to play without her. Flatco and Anofsky head 366 00:17:40,440 --> 00:17:42,359 Speaker 2: coach of the Kansas City Current had said leading up 367 00:17:42,400 --> 00:17:44,879 Speaker 2: to that game that as they approached the postseason, the 368 00:17:44,880 --> 00:17:46,920 Speaker 2: one thing that he wanted the team to be able 369 00:17:46,960 --> 00:17:47,680 Speaker 2: to learn was. 370 00:17:47,600 --> 00:17:49,240 Speaker 3: How to bounce back. Now. 371 00:17:49,359 --> 00:17:53,480 Speaker 2: He obviously wasn't thinking about bouncing back without their best 372 00:17:53,520 --> 00:17:56,840 Speaker 2: player and likely MVP of the season. But I am 373 00:17:56,880 --> 00:18:00,280 Speaker 2: someone who is so pro like, let's get bring all 374 00:18:00,359 --> 00:18:03,560 Speaker 2: the adversity now when the stakes are relatively low, so 375 00:18:03,600 --> 00:18:06,880 Speaker 2: that when they're high, we have the muscle memory. And 376 00:18:06,960 --> 00:18:10,040 Speaker 2: to me, that game against the San Diego Wave, who 377 00:18:10,040 --> 00:18:14,040 Speaker 2: came out strong, they scored first, Kansas City conceded a 378 00:18:14,080 --> 00:18:16,639 Speaker 2: goal at home early in the game, and I'm just thinking, 379 00:18:17,160 --> 00:18:20,600 Speaker 2: what better scenario to work through for your last regular 380 00:18:20,640 --> 00:18:23,400 Speaker 2: season game. I mean, it called on players like Debina 381 00:18:23,480 --> 00:18:27,399 Speaker 2: who had that gorgeous again goosebumps inducing free kick that 382 00:18:27,480 --> 00:18:30,320 Speaker 2: sent them ahead. I mean Nachelle Prince coming off the 383 00:18:30,320 --> 00:18:33,480 Speaker 2: bench scoring the game winner, sorry that was the game winner. 384 00:18:34,320 --> 00:18:36,720 Speaker 2: Those are huge moments that I think when you get 385 00:18:36,720 --> 00:18:40,040 Speaker 2: into the postseason and the margins actually turn out to 386 00:18:40,040 --> 00:18:44,000 Speaker 2: be huge for individual players, I think that's a huge 387 00:18:44,280 --> 00:18:48,160 Speaker 2: restoration of confidence, I think collectively, to know that you're 388 00:18:48,280 --> 00:18:51,120 Speaker 2: capable of still being successful on the field even when 389 00:18:51,160 --> 00:18:54,520 Speaker 2: you don't have your talisman is huge. So to me, 390 00:18:54,960 --> 00:18:58,560 Speaker 2: recency bias, Yes, most important game for them for sure. 391 00:18:58,920 --> 00:19:01,000 Speaker 1: Yeah. I mentioned now this show so that I thought 392 00:19:01,119 --> 00:19:03,720 Speaker 1: Nachelle print scoring was huge for them because they were 393 00:19:03,800 --> 00:19:05,920 Speaker 1: figuring out who do we have and what can they 394 00:19:05,960 --> 00:19:07,720 Speaker 1: do even if we don't have TEMWL. But I think 395 00:19:07,720 --> 00:19:10,520 Speaker 1: your point about falling behind and coming back is yet 396 00:19:10,560 --> 00:19:13,040 Speaker 1: another element of adversity for them to say we know 397 00:19:13,080 --> 00:19:15,639 Speaker 1: how to do this in a way they haven't had 398 00:19:15,640 --> 00:19:16,280 Speaker 1: to do much this. 399 00:19:16,359 --> 00:19:19,320 Speaker 3: Year, right, They've been points too. 400 00:19:19,400 --> 00:19:22,879 Speaker 2: It's like, even if they dropped a game before now, 401 00:19:23,240 --> 00:19:25,400 Speaker 2: like you said, it wouldn't have really mattered, but this 402 00:19:25,480 --> 00:19:28,280 Speaker 2: one mattered a little bit more and I think it 403 00:19:28,320 --> 00:19:29,840 Speaker 2: was important for them to work through that. 404 00:19:30,440 --> 00:19:32,320 Speaker 1: Okay, we're going to talk about the current and other 405 00:19:32,359 --> 00:19:34,159 Speaker 1: teams in the postseason, but before we talk about the 406 00:19:34,160 --> 00:19:36,840 Speaker 1: playoff matchups, a quick moment for the teams that didn't advance. 407 00:19:37,200 --> 00:19:41,760 Speaker 1: North Carolina, Houston, Angel City, Utah, BFC Chicago. Do any 408 00:19:41,800 --> 00:19:46,199 Speaker 1: of those teams inspire enthusiasm or optimism about next season 409 00:19:46,560 --> 00:19:49,159 Speaker 1: as opposed to considering the off season a time to 410 00:19:49,280 --> 00:19:51,320 Speaker 1: reboot and rethink what didn't work. 411 00:19:53,280 --> 00:19:57,240 Speaker 2: Out of those, I'm probably most excited from a sporting 412 00:19:57,320 --> 00:20:01,200 Speaker 2: side about Utah. Yeah, they had a similarly sort of 413 00:20:01,320 --> 00:20:05,199 Speaker 2: high end to last season that unfortunately they were not 414 00:20:05,280 --> 00:20:07,439 Speaker 2: able to sort of carry into the start of this season. 415 00:20:07,480 --> 00:20:10,240 Speaker 2: They had so many injuries you couldn't even really get 416 00:20:10,240 --> 00:20:12,240 Speaker 2: a sense of who the team was until they started 417 00:20:12,240 --> 00:20:15,800 Speaker 2: getting players back. But then they did and they started clicking, 418 00:20:15,840 --> 00:20:18,360 Speaker 2: and I think they play some of the most beautiful football, 419 00:20:18,640 --> 00:20:20,679 Speaker 2: certainly from like the bottom half of the table, but 420 00:20:20,760 --> 00:20:24,000 Speaker 2: I would say like top three is most aesthetically pleasing 421 00:20:24,000 --> 00:20:27,879 Speaker 2: teams when they're when they're like on it. They didn't 422 00:20:27,880 --> 00:20:32,119 Speaker 2: even make that many adjustments to their roster. They brought 423 00:20:32,160 --> 00:20:34,840 Speaker 2: in one player I'm blanking on her name, Prasnakar, I'm 424 00:20:34,840 --> 00:20:37,440 Speaker 2: blanking on her first name, who's sort of still been 425 00:20:37,480 --> 00:20:41,000 Speaker 2: working her way into the squad building minutes. But I 426 00:20:41,040 --> 00:20:43,080 Speaker 2: think that all of these players are super bought in, 427 00:20:43,280 --> 00:20:46,280 Speaker 2: and it makes sense because I imagine Utah is not 428 00:20:46,480 --> 00:20:49,400 Speaker 2: the easiest sell when you're trying to recruit international players 429 00:20:49,480 --> 00:20:51,480 Speaker 2: or those who you know want to be on the coasts. 430 00:20:52,000 --> 00:20:54,640 Speaker 2: So if a player arrives, they're they're there to get 431 00:20:54,680 --> 00:20:57,159 Speaker 2: to work. And I think that that's been showing. So 432 00:20:57,280 --> 00:20:59,439 Speaker 2: my hope for Utah is that they're able to just 433 00:21:00,119 --> 00:21:02,879 Speaker 2: keep it going into the start of next season. 434 00:21:03,080 --> 00:21:05,960 Speaker 1: Yeah. I have to admit, when Ali Sednor got traded 435 00:21:06,640 --> 00:21:09,600 Speaker 1: and the team was struggling so much, I thought, what's 436 00:21:09,680 --> 00:21:12,840 Speaker 1: the plan here? This is your future and you're not 437 00:21:12,920 --> 00:21:16,000 Speaker 1: playing for right now. I'm still a little bit unsure 438 00:21:16,040 --> 00:21:19,400 Speaker 1: of whether that was a force out situation, that Ali's 439 00:21:19,480 --> 00:21:22,320 Speaker 1: not publicly telling us that she was demanding out, but 440 00:21:23,320 --> 00:21:25,439 Speaker 1: I think it was really incredible to see how the 441 00:21:25,480 --> 00:21:28,720 Speaker 1: team after that trade got much better. Maybe it was 442 00:21:28,760 --> 00:21:31,120 Speaker 1: a fit issue, Maybe it was a you know, too 443 00:21:31,160 --> 00:21:33,879 Speaker 1: much focus on one player that everyone's playing around instead 444 00:21:33,920 --> 00:21:36,200 Speaker 1: of with. I don't know, but I was really surprised 445 00:21:36,200 --> 00:21:38,520 Speaker 1: to see how they played after that moment. 446 00:21:39,119 --> 00:21:40,679 Speaker 2: I think so too, And I wonder if it's a 447 00:21:40,680 --> 00:21:43,399 Speaker 2: matter of playing styles. Some styles are better suited to 448 00:21:43,480 --> 00:21:48,400 Speaker 2: be built around a player, and Jimmy Conrat's the head 449 00:21:48,400 --> 00:21:51,200 Speaker 2: coach of Utah, I think that he is more about 450 00:21:51,440 --> 00:21:54,760 Speaker 2: an even distribution of responsibility would sort of be my guest, 451 00:21:54,800 --> 00:21:57,600 Speaker 2: and so it might have been a style mismatch or 452 00:21:57,680 --> 00:22:02,040 Speaker 2: a misfit of style, but Alie sent Nor such an 453 00:22:02,040 --> 00:22:04,880 Speaker 2: interesting story because she's now with the Kansas City Current, 454 00:22:04,920 --> 00:22:08,320 Speaker 2: who are stacked, have a super deep bench, and it 455 00:22:08,440 --> 00:22:10,840 Speaker 2: feels like this is was not going to be the 456 00:22:10,840 --> 00:22:12,919 Speaker 2: season that she was going to immediately come over and 457 00:22:13,080 --> 00:22:16,800 Speaker 2: be starting every game, playing full nineties. She's definitely gonna 458 00:22:16,800 --> 00:22:20,280 Speaker 2: be a long term project for that team, but she's 459 00:22:20,320 --> 00:22:21,639 Speaker 2: in the postseason in Utah is. 460 00:22:22,320 --> 00:22:24,119 Speaker 1: And she might learn a lot in that position for 461 00:22:24,160 --> 00:22:26,760 Speaker 1: as young as she is, totally and playing under black 462 00:22:26,760 --> 00:22:30,600 Speaker 1: co and alongside players like lo La Banta Right right, 463 00:22:31,600 --> 00:22:33,639 Speaker 1: we got to take a quick break more with Tamara 464 00:22:33,640 --> 00:22:44,640 Speaker 1: Griffin right after this for those teams that didn't advance 465 00:22:45,080 --> 00:22:47,359 Speaker 1: any storyline to will be watching this off season for 466 00:22:47,400 --> 00:22:49,600 Speaker 1: those squads, positive, negative or otherwise. 467 00:22:50,080 --> 00:22:52,879 Speaker 2: You know, I'm a Nora Cal girl, so BFC is 468 00:22:53,400 --> 00:22:58,359 Speaker 2: close to my heart, my head, my pen like I'm 469 00:22:58,440 --> 00:23:01,160 Speaker 2: keeping a very close eye on them. This has been 470 00:23:01,280 --> 00:23:03,399 Speaker 2: I think even calling it a sophomore slump at this 471 00:23:03,480 --> 00:23:07,000 Speaker 2: point is probably being a little bit too nice. A 472 00:23:07,040 --> 00:23:10,760 Speaker 2: lot of questions within that team the coaching fit did 473 00:23:10,800 --> 00:23:13,480 Speaker 2: not end up working out, which was even more disappointing 474 00:23:13,560 --> 00:23:15,879 Speaker 2: given that they actually made it into the postseason and 475 00:23:15,920 --> 00:23:19,600 Speaker 2: their expansion year last year, so there were high expectations there. 476 00:23:20,280 --> 00:23:21,840 Speaker 2: I've been to a bunch of the games. The body 477 00:23:21,880 --> 00:23:25,040 Speaker 2: language of the players sort of reflects where they're at 478 00:23:25,119 --> 00:23:29,119 Speaker 2: right now. They're definitely transitioning. I'm very curious to see 479 00:23:29,160 --> 00:23:32,280 Speaker 2: what the CEO of the Bay collective that sort of 480 00:23:32,320 --> 00:23:34,879 Speaker 2: oversees BFC as a club and will eventually be a 481 00:23:34,960 --> 00:23:38,120 Speaker 2: multi club model. It's headed up by Kay Cosington, who 482 00:23:38,240 --> 00:23:42,560 Speaker 2: spent twenty years with the English Football Association so knows 483 00:23:42,600 --> 00:23:47,200 Speaker 2: her shit and I just am expecting her to sort 484 00:23:47,200 --> 00:23:50,800 Speaker 2: of be tapping into her past experiences and to sort 485 00:23:50,800 --> 00:23:52,639 Speaker 2: of bring that over to Bay. But changes need to 486 00:23:52,680 --> 00:23:55,120 Speaker 2: be made, and I would be surprised if they haven't 487 00:23:55,119 --> 00:23:57,440 Speaker 2: already been made and just haven't fully been announced yet. 488 00:23:57,440 --> 00:24:00,760 Speaker 2: But some healing needs to happen. To borrow words from 489 00:24:00,800 --> 00:24:04,000 Speaker 2: the Red Table talk with BFC, and I'm ready for it. 490 00:24:04,080 --> 00:24:06,360 Speaker 2: I know the fans are ready for it. They've got 491 00:24:06,359 --> 00:24:10,439 Speaker 2: the foundation to build a long term, successful club. But 492 00:24:10,560 --> 00:24:12,840 Speaker 2: there's been a mismatch, which you know we've seen with 493 00:24:12,920 --> 00:24:15,639 Speaker 2: clubs like Angel City, who I'm also very curious about. 494 00:24:16,520 --> 00:24:19,320 Speaker 2: They had a lot of departures this year and for them, 495 00:24:19,400 --> 00:24:22,840 Speaker 2: I'm sort of looking for a fresh start because they've 496 00:24:22,840 --> 00:24:25,280 Speaker 2: brought in a lot of young players with high ceilings 497 00:24:25,720 --> 00:24:28,440 Speaker 2: that play exciting football. Alex Strauss came in mid season, 498 00:24:28,480 --> 00:24:31,439 Speaker 2: you know, twenty twenty six will be his first to 499 00:24:31,600 --> 00:24:34,240 Speaker 2: you know, start from the beginning and actually recruit players 500 00:24:34,320 --> 00:24:37,240 Speaker 2: in earnest. So those are teams that I'm going to 501 00:24:37,280 --> 00:24:39,600 Speaker 2: be keeping my eye on. I'm also excited to see 502 00:24:39,600 --> 00:24:41,600 Speaker 2: what Chicago's able to do now that they're going to 503 00:24:41,600 --> 00:24:46,960 Speaker 2: be playing closer to Chicago. That one game against Orlando Pride, 504 00:24:46,960 --> 00:24:50,320 Speaker 2: which was crazy, now that I think about it, I 505 00:24:50,359 --> 00:24:52,240 Speaker 2: think is the beginning of something that can be really 506 00:24:52,240 --> 00:24:55,440 Speaker 2: special for that So I'm feeling optimistic honestly about the 507 00:24:55,440 --> 00:24:57,159 Speaker 2: bottom table teams as. 508 00:24:57,040 --> 00:25:00,239 Speaker 1: Long as that a whole listen they or kristen us 509 00:25:00,320 --> 00:25:03,560 Speaker 1: embrace and the Chicago neutral colored stars wearing alissen Air 510 00:25:03,560 --> 00:25:07,280 Speaker 1: shirts doesn't mean that we've seen the end of Alyssenair. 511 00:25:07,359 --> 00:25:09,439 Speaker 1: I know it's her time to decide she's given us 512 00:25:09,480 --> 00:25:11,600 Speaker 1: more than enough, but I want to see her go out. 513 00:25:11,760 --> 00:25:13,320 Speaker 1: I know they won, but I still want to see 514 00:25:13,320 --> 00:25:14,879 Speaker 1: her go out and style a little bit more with 515 00:25:14,880 --> 00:25:18,240 Speaker 1: a team that does something more to play for she deserves. Okay, 516 00:25:18,440 --> 00:25:21,480 Speaker 1: regular season wrapped quick look ahead to the playoff matchups. 517 00:25:21,760 --> 00:25:24,119 Speaker 1: I don't need a full breakdown, but just your first 518 00:25:24,119 --> 00:25:27,959 Speaker 1: thought on each of them. Kansas City got them. 519 00:25:27,960 --> 00:25:30,240 Speaker 2: It depends on which Gotham shows up. To be completely 520 00:25:30,240 --> 00:25:33,520 Speaker 2: honest with you, Kansas City have in the past two games, 521 00:25:33,600 --> 00:25:36,600 Speaker 2: even though they beat the San Diego Wave, they are 522 00:25:36,760 --> 00:25:39,639 Speaker 2: probably more vulnerable than they've been all seasons. So they 523 00:25:39,880 --> 00:25:43,719 Speaker 2: can they're the most beatable that they've been. But it's 524 00:25:43,760 --> 00:25:46,080 Speaker 2: going to depend on which Gotham side shows up. Honestly, 525 00:25:46,119 --> 00:25:51,000 Speaker 2: if it's the one that played North Carolina courage. 526 00:25:49,840 --> 00:25:51,000 Speaker 3: That might be the end of their season. 527 00:25:52,240 --> 00:25:56,000 Speaker 1: Washington Louisville, we of course don't know Trinity Rodman's status. 528 00:25:56,040 --> 00:25:58,760 Speaker 1: It doesn't feel like something that she'll be able to 529 00:25:58,800 --> 00:26:00,639 Speaker 1: pop into in this opening round. Though we don't know 530 00:26:01,359 --> 00:26:03,400 Speaker 1: first reaction to that one. 531 00:26:03,520 --> 00:26:06,280 Speaker 2: Washington is still the stronger team. I think that they 532 00:26:06,320 --> 00:26:09,159 Speaker 2: have what it takes to go a full ninety and 533 00:26:09,280 --> 00:26:11,960 Speaker 2: to be dominant for a full ninety racing. Louisville have 534 00:26:12,440 --> 00:26:15,560 Speaker 2: so much to play for. They've already accomplished something that 535 00:26:15,600 --> 00:26:17,680 Speaker 2: has never been done for their club, and I think 536 00:26:17,720 --> 00:26:20,920 Speaker 2: there can be a added courage and freedom that comes 537 00:26:20,920 --> 00:26:26,400 Speaker 2: with that. But I think playing in DC, playing at 538 00:26:26,560 --> 00:26:30,080 Speaker 2: rowdy Audi, especially in the postseason, we saw how that 539 00:26:30,119 --> 00:26:33,480 Speaker 2: went last year, and I think, if nothing else, that's 540 00:26:33,480 --> 00:26:35,520 Speaker 2: going to be the margin that gives Washington. 541 00:26:35,119 --> 00:26:39,199 Speaker 1: The edge Portland San Diego. This is an interesting one. 542 00:26:39,680 --> 00:26:44,480 Speaker 2: Honestly, the most the highest quotient for drama, I think 543 00:26:44,840 --> 00:26:48,200 Speaker 2: because both teams have been very inconsistent all respect to Portland, 544 00:26:48,200 --> 00:26:50,600 Speaker 2: but the fact that they ended the regular season as 545 00:26:50,600 --> 00:26:53,360 Speaker 2: a number three seed, my brain is not like four 546 00:26:53,440 --> 00:26:57,359 Speaker 2: or four error in with that. They've been dealing with 547 00:26:57,400 --> 00:27:00,440 Speaker 2: a lot of injuries, even against the Use and Dash. 548 00:27:00,480 --> 00:27:03,840 Speaker 2: There were some last minute withdrawals from the availability list, 549 00:27:05,400 --> 00:27:09,280 Speaker 2: but again they're playing at Providence Park and that's their 550 00:27:09,480 --> 00:27:12,399 Speaker 2: favorite place to be. San Diego, on the other hand, 551 00:27:12,560 --> 00:27:15,000 Speaker 2: have been on a bit of an upward swing. They 552 00:27:15,080 --> 00:27:18,640 Speaker 2: have a nineteen year old superstar, Jugenia, who arrived maybe 553 00:27:18,720 --> 00:27:23,639 Speaker 2: a month ago and made immediate impact. I'm really excited 554 00:27:23,640 --> 00:27:24,359 Speaker 2: to see her play. 555 00:27:24,600 --> 00:27:26,760 Speaker 1: This is a wild thing about football, by the way. 556 00:27:26,800 --> 00:27:29,600 Speaker 1: It's just wild how often it's just this season, someone 557 00:27:29,640 --> 00:27:32,080 Speaker 1: will just show up, whether it's a coach or a player, 558 00:27:32,440 --> 00:27:34,359 Speaker 1: like teams can look so different at the end of 559 00:27:34,400 --> 00:27:35,280 Speaker 1: the season at the beginning. 560 00:27:35,520 --> 00:27:38,320 Speaker 2: Mm hmm, Yeah, that one's really hard to say. I 561 00:27:38,400 --> 00:27:40,919 Speaker 2: low key hope that one goes into extra time and 562 00:27:40,920 --> 00:27:44,040 Speaker 2: maybe penalties. I think that's gonna be the tightest one. 563 00:27:44,760 --> 00:27:48,360 Speaker 1: Okay, let's talk Orlando, Seattle, the Pride and the Rain 564 00:27:48,560 --> 00:27:50,359 Speaker 1: just played to a one to one draw in that 565 00:27:50,440 --> 00:27:52,520 Speaker 1: last game. On decision Day. They'll run it back in 566 00:27:52,560 --> 00:27:55,720 Speaker 1: the first round. Does either team enter with more confidence 567 00:27:55,800 --> 00:27:56,960 Speaker 1: because of that draw? 568 00:27:59,400 --> 00:28:00,000 Speaker 3: Probably? 569 00:28:01,240 --> 00:28:05,560 Speaker 2: I mean Orlando, what a season they've had. They've been 570 00:28:05,600 --> 00:28:07,840 Speaker 2: through a lot. They're gonna be again. Of course, without 571 00:28:07,920 --> 00:28:11,040 Speaker 2: Roberta Banda. They have had to learn, and I do 572 00:28:11,119 --> 00:28:13,280 Speaker 2: think that this is a somewhat of a benefit to 573 00:28:13,320 --> 00:28:15,359 Speaker 2: them relative to other teams like Kansas City, who are 574 00:28:15,480 --> 00:28:20,159 Speaker 2: very recently without Tamashuwinga. Orlando have had to learn for 575 00:28:20,240 --> 00:28:22,600 Speaker 2: the past several games now how to play without Banda, 576 00:28:22,640 --> 00:28:25,359 Speaker 2: and it looks like the pieces are starting to come together. 577 00:28:26,160 --> 00:28:28,960 Speaker 2: They're not scoring as much as they did in Seattle. 578 00:28:29,400 --> 00:28:32,399 Speaker 2: Loves a mid block. They love to sit back and 579 00:28:32,480 --> 00:28:34,800 Speaker 2: just let you hammered at them because they can handle it. 580 00:28:34,920 --> 00:28:37,359 Speaker 2: They got Claudia Dicky in the back, Jordan Bug who's 581 00:28:37,400 --> 00:28:42,960 Speaker 2: been phenomenal this season, her rookie season. This game, I 582 00:28:43,000 --> 00:28:44,800 Speaker 2: think is sort of like the inverse of what I'm 583 00:28:44,840 --> 00:28:47,840 Speaker 2: expecting from Portland San Diego, where I think it's going 584 00:28:47,920 --> 00:28:50,240 Speaker 2: to be a lot of sitting back, almost like playing 585 00:28:50,320 --> 00:28:53,440 Speaker 2: chicken with each other, And I think it's gonna probably 586 00:28:53,480 --> 00:28:55,000 Speaker 2: be one of those games that comes down to a 587 00:28:55,040 --> 00:28:58,360 Speaker 2: moment of individual brilliance that when I look at the rosters, 588 00:28:58,720 --> 00:29:01,280 Speaker 2: I feel inclined to see that that brilliance is going 589 00:29:01,360 --> 00:29:04,080 Speaker 2: to come from Orlando. They also benefit from not having 590 00:29:04,120 --> 00:29:06,520 Speaker 2: to travel playing at home. Seattle is going to stay 591 00:29:06,600 --> 00:29:08,680 Speaker 2: in Orlando just the whole week. 592 00:29:09,080 --> 00:29:09,360 Speaker 1: Wow. 593 00:29:09,720 --> 00:29:12,760 Speaker 2: Laura Harvey mentioned in the postgame interview that they're not moving, 594 00:29:12,840 --> 00:29:15,560 Speaker 2: which is an interesting choice that I think we'll be 595 00:29:15,560 --> 00:29:17,040 Speaker 2: able to glean a lot from based on how that 596 00:29:17,120 --> 00:29:19,720 Speaker 2: game goes. But I think slight tilt toward Orlando for me. 597 00:29:20,400 --> 00:29:22,840 Speaker 1: Yeah, And I think you might be hinting at it. 598 00:29:23,160 --> 00:29:24,800 Speaker 1: There's other players too, But I just feel like we've 599 00:29:24,840 --> 00:29:27,040 Speaker 1: seen enough from Marta in the last couple of years, 600 00:29:27,360 --> 00:29:30,520 Speaker 1: these moments when she is most needed and somehow she's 601 00:29:30,560 --> 00:29:32,440 Speaker 1: still doing it that you can see if it comes 602 00:29:32,520 --> 00:29:35,120 Speaker 1: down to one person and they're brilliance, it very much 603 00:29:35,280 --> 00:29:37,640 Speaker 1: could be her. You mentioned Laura Harvey. She made some 604 00:29:37,720 --> 00:29:41,280 Speaker 1: headlines for admitting to using chat GPT to make some 605 00:29:41,400 --> 00:29:44,520 Speaker 1: game plans earlier in the season. Big deal or no deal. 606 00:29:45,880 --> 00:29:49,480 Speaker 2: I mean, it's one of those things where if that 607 00:29:49,680 --> 00:29:52,800 Speaker 2: news had just stayed within the community either of like 608 00:29:52,920 --> 00:29:55,719 Speaker 2: women's soccer or even we can expand it to women's sports, 609 00:29:55,800 --> 00:29:57,720 Speaker 2: it's like, Okay, we're all adults here. 610 00:29:58,560 --> 00:30:01,080 Speaker 3: This is weird and and it gives I'm. 611 00:30:00,960 --> 00:30:03,160 Speaker 2: A little bit concerned about where the game might be headed, 612 00:30:03,280 --> 00:30:07,120 Speaker 2: but we can get through this. But because it went viral, 613 00:30:07,680 --> 00:30:10,560 Speaker 2: it's sort of like, Okay, now other people are aware. 614 00:30:10,720 --> 00:30:12,880 Speaker 2: People might not even know who Laura Harvey is, and 615 00:30:13,000 --> 00:30:15,360 Speaker 2: now there's like no context about how. 616 00:30:15,280 --> 00:30:16,320 Speaker 3: Long she's been with the league. 617 00:30:16,400 --> 00:30:16,560 Speaker 1: You know. 618 00:30:17,000 --> 00:30:19,280 Speaker 3: It was one of those kind of things like company 619 00:30:19,360 --> 00:30:19,640 Speaker 3: is over. 620 00:30:20,040 --> 00:30:21,760 Speaker 1: You know, right, That's what I was going to say. 621 00:30:21,800 --> 00:30:23,760 Speaker 1: It's like it's Laura Harvey, so everyone end up her 622 00:30:23,760 --> 00:30:26,440 Speaker 1: sells like that's kind of crazy, but whatever, it's probably 623 00:30:26,560 --> 00:30:30,800 Speaker 1: just like bored at this point. They outside my brain, 624 00:30:30,800 --> 00:30:33,520 Speaker 1: which already knows everything. Meanwhile, you get it out into 625 00:30:33,560 --> 00:30:36,040 Speaker 1: the world and it's kind of like the old like no, 626 00:30:36,280 --> 00:30:38,400 Speaker 1: we could say that about our family and friends. You 627 00:30:38,600 --> 00:30:41,080 Speaker 1: can't say that shit about our family and exact people 628 00:30:41,200 --> 00:30:43,920 Speaker 1: you don't know women's sports or Laura Harvey start talking shit. 629 00:30:43,960 --> 00:30:47,000 Speaker 1: You're like, no, no, no, it's not a big thing. Exactly. 630 00:30:48,040 --> 00:30:50,720 Speaker 2: That's exactly how I feel about it. And I sat 631 00:30:50,760 --> 00:30:54,480 Speaker 2: in on Seattle's postgame interview and Phoebe mcclarenan center back, 632 00:30:54,880 --> 00:30:56,880 Speaker 2: was asked about it, and she was sort of like, 633 00:30:57,080 --> 00:30:59,800 Speaker 2: it's a tool, and I think someone would be remiss 634 00:30:59,840 --> 00:31:01,760 Speaker 2: to not use tools available to them. 635 00:31:02,160 --> 00:31:04,760 Speaker 3: It sounds like the like within. 636 00:31:04,680 --> 00:31:07,680 Speaker 2: The camp they're kind of moved past it, and I mean, 637 00:31:07,760 --> 00:31:10,200 Speaker 2: it makes sense it's time to get into postseason mode. 638 00:31:10,320 --> 00:31:12,240 Speaker 2: But yeah, it was one of those sort of like 639 00:31:12,360 --> 00:31:15,080 Speaker 2: paradoxes of like, this is weird, and also, please let's 640 00:31:15,080 --> 00:31:17,120 Speaker 2: not make it a big thing before other people start looking. 641 00:31:17,800 --> 00:31:19,480 Speaker 1: Yeah, it's like a big deal and no deal at 642 00:31:19,520 --> 00:31:22,240 Speaker 1: the same time. Exactly. Okay, speed round. I'm gonna make 643 00:31:22,280 --> 00:31:24,600 Speaker 1: you make some predictions. Okay, which of the first round 644 00:31:24,640 --> 00:31:26,560 Speaker 1: matchups most likely to see an upset. 645 00:31:30,840 --> 00:31:31,920 Speaker 3: San Diego Portland? 646 00:31:32,320 --> 00:31:35,320 Speaker 1: Okay, Which team in the bottom half of the bracket 647 00:31:35,400 --> 00:31:40,080 Speaker 1: has the best shot to win it all? Gotham, yesn't 648 00:31:40,120 --> 00:31:42,560 Speaker 1: that wild. Yeah, just the highs and the lows as 649 00:31:42,640 --> 00:31:45,320 Speaker 1: chance the rapper has and the lows on which team 650 00:31:45,440 --> 00:31:47,440 Speaker 1: not named the Kansas City Current of any place in 651 00:31:47,480 --> 00:31:48,920 Speaker 1: the bracket has the best shot to win it all. 652 00:31:49,520 --> 00:31:52,760 Speaker 3: Washington Spirit Okay, okay, easy peasy. 653 00:31:52,840 --> 00:31:55,320 Speaker 1: Last question. We play a little game called good, good 654 00:31:55,400 --> 00:31:57,640 Speaker 1: or Goodest. It's like bench start cut, but you don't 655 00:31:57,640 --> 00:32:00,840 Speaker 1: have to cut anything. Something is just I love these roles. 656 00:32:01,000 --> 00:32:04,600 Speaker 1: Something is gooder and something is goodest. Okay, So starting 657 00:32:04,640 --> 00:32:09,920 Speaker 1: with good label these three things racing Louisville Lavender, Kansas 658 00:32:09,960 --> 00:32:14,000 Speaker 1: City Current, Teal, Angel City Soul Rosa, Pink. 659 00:32:15,120 --> 00:32:22,240 Speaker 2: Soul Rosa Pink, Good Lavender, Gooder, Teal, Goodest. 660 00:32:22,920 --> 00:32:24,640 Speaker 3: Yeah, tough one. 661 00:32:25,160 --> 00:32:26,760 Speaker 1: That's a tough one. The only reason I love the 662 00:32:26,800 --> 00:32:29,120 Speaker 1: Soul Rosa pink is because for such a long time 663 00:32:29,200 --> 00:32:32,640 Speaker 1: we just stayed away from pink because of the stereotypical associations. 664 00:32:32,920 --> 00:32:34,720 Speaker 1: And I love how we're just kind of like get 665 00:32:35,320 --> 00:32:38,320 Speaker 1: taking it back. When I feel that way about Valkyrie 666 00:32:38,440 --> 00:32:41,480 Speaker 1: violet and Louisville lavender and all these colors that are 667 00:32:41,520 --> 00:32:44,760 Speaker 1: sort of quote unquote girly, they're actually really badass and 668 00:32:44,880 --> 00:32:46,800 Speaker 1: they look amazing on a field. Or a pitch or 669 00:32:46,800 --> 00:32:48,760 Speaker 1: a court, and we're finally getting back to it, which 670 00:32:48,800 --> 00:32:52,280 Speaker 1: I love and I love talking to you, Tamara. Always 671 00:32:52,320 --> 00:32:54,680 Speaker 1: so great to get the insight on all things footy 672 00:32:54,720 --> 00:32:56,600 Speaker 1: from you. So thanks for coming on, especially on a 673 00:32:56,720 --> 00:32:58,320 Speaker 1: very busy post decision day day. 674 00:32:58,960 --> 00:32:59,680 Speaker 3: Thanks for having me. 675 00:32:59,880 --> 00:33:03,160 Speaker 2: I'm wishing you all of the deep tissue massages, ginger shots, 676 00:33:03,560 --> 00:33:07,040 Speaker 2: hydration calming things, because we're gonna thank you, thank you. 677 00:33:07,200 --> 00:33:09,680 Speaker 1: Probably at this point we're just in a full maintenance 678 00:33:09,720 --> 00:33:11,960 Speaker 1: phase for the rest of our lives. It's not even 679 00:33:12,000 --> 00:33:15,000 Speaker 1: ahead of big, big events or after big events. It's 680 00:33:15,040 --> 00:33:19,160 Speaker 1: true maintenance is required. And my apologies to Alex and 681 00:33:19,240 --> 00:33:22,080 Speaker 1: anyone editing for this. How many times my stomach grumbled 682 00:33:22,120 --> 00:33:25,360 Speaker 1: because that was audible to me the entire show, and 683 00:33:25,480 --> 00:33:27,040 Speaker 1: that also might be a hint to me for a 684 00:33:27,040 --> 00:33:30,000 Speaker 1: little better maintenance of myself and not waiting till four pm. 685 00:33:30,040 --> 00:33:34,640 Speaker 1: T Thanks again to Tamarra for taking the time. We 686 00:33:34,720 --> 00:33:36,760 Speaker 1: got to take another quick break when we come back. 687 00:33:37,120 --> 00:33:47,360 Speaker 1: You've got a friend in me. Welcome back, slices. We 688 00:33:47,440 --> 00:33:48,920 Speaker 1: love that you're listening, but we want you to get 689 00:33:48,920 --> 00:33:50,920 Speaker 1: in the game every day too. So here's our good 690 00:33:50,960 --> 00:33:53,720 Speaker 1: game play of the day. Follow Tamara on social media 691 00:33:53,920 --> 00:33:56,520 Speaker 1: and check out her recent stories for The Athletic. And 692 00:33:56,600 --> 00:33:58,920 Speaker 1: if you're not already listening to full time what you're doing, 693 00:33:59,440 --> 00:34:01,520 Speaker 1: we'll link to all of that in the show notes. 694 00:34:02,520 --> 00:34:04,000 Speaker 1: And we always love to hear from you, so hit 695 00:34:04,080 --> 00:34:07,040 Speaker 1: us up on email good game at wondermedianetwork dot com 696 00:34:07,400 --> 00:34:09,400 Speaker 1: or leave us a voicemail at eight seven two two 697 00:34:09,680 --> 00:34:13,440 Speaker 1: four fifty seventy and don't forget to subscribe rate and 698 00:34:13,520 --> 00:34:17,000 Speaker 1: review slices. Just scroll down, give us five stars and 699 00:34:17,080 --> 00:34:19,919 Speaker 1: say what you love about us. It's really easy. Watch 700 00:34:20,719 --> 00:34:24,520 Speaker 1: Kansas City current player Kristin Hamilton's former teammates surprising her 701 00:34:24,600 --> 00:34:28,080 Speaker 1: for her retirement game, rating three out of three best 702 00:34:28,120 --> 00:34:32,440 Speaker 1: friends that anyone could have review. Kansas City's Kristin Hamilton 703 00:34:32,560 --> 00:34:34,439 Speaker 1: is retiring at the end of the season, and while 704 00:34:34,440 --> 00:34:37,160 Speaker 1: a hip injury has kept her sidelined recently, she's still 705 00:34:37,200 --> 00:34:40,360 Speaker 1: got a very wholesome sendoff celebration as part of Kansas 706 00:34:40,400 --> 00:34:43,480 Speaker 1: City's last regular season game. Ahead of the match, Hamilton 707 00:34:43,600 --> 00:34:47,280 Speaker 1: was surprised by former longtime teammates Sam Ewis, now retired, 708 00:34:47,600 --> 00:34:50,600 Speaker 1: and Lynn Biandolo on maternity lea from the Seattle Rain 709 00:34:51,280 --> 00:34:54,879 Speaker 1: this trio has been together for a long time. First 710 00:34:54,960 --> 00:34:57,719 Speaker 1: as members of the Western New York Flash, they helped 711 00:34:57,760 --> 00:35:00,600 Speaker 1: that club win the NWSL title back in twenty sixteen. 712 00:35:01,200 --> 00:35:03,040 Speaker 1: Then they made the move to North Carolina when the 713 00:35:03,080 --> 00:35:06,280 Speaker 1: Flash was acquired and rebranded as the Courage in twenty seventeen, 714 00:35:06,719 --> 00:35:09,680 Speaker 1: winning back to back championships there in twenty eighteen and 715 00:35:09,760 --> 00:35:13,120 Speaker 1: twenty nineteen, and then all three also ended up making 716 00:35:13,160 --> 00:35:15,319 Speaker 1: the move to Kansas City via trades in twenty twenty 717 00:35:15,360 --> 00:35:19,080 Speaker 1: one and twenty twenty two. Needless to say, Hamilton, Mewis 718 00:35:19,120 --> 00:35:22,440 Speaker 1: and Biandolo have won a lot together and they've been 719 00:35:22,520 --> 00:35:24,879 Speaker 1: through a lot together, so it was really fun seeing 720 00:35:24,880 --> 00:35:27,759 Speaker 1: their reunion for Hamilton's final game. We'll link to the 721 00:35:27,840 --> 00:35:30,279 Speaker 1: video of that moment in the show notes. Now it's 722 00:35:30,360 --> 00:35:33,759 Speaker 1: your turn, rate and review, y'all. Thanks for listening, See 723 00:35:33,760 --> 00:35:36,759 Speaker 1: you tomorrow. Good game, Tamarra, good game, Sam, and Lynn 724 00:35:36,800 --> 00:35:40,200 Speaker 1: for showing up for a long time NWSL badass. You 725 00:35:40,640 --> 00:35:43,920 Speaker 1: outside people talking shit about women in sports, only we 726 00:35:44,120 --> 00:35:48,839 Speaker 1: get to talk shit about women in sports. Good Game 727 00:35:48,880 --> 00:35:51,440 Speaker 1: with Sarah Spain is an iHeart women's sports production in 728 00:35:51,520 --> 00:35:54,480 Speaker 1: partnership with Deep Blue Sports and Entertainment. You can find 729 00:35:54,560 --> 00:35:57,239 Speaker 1: us on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you 730 00:35:57,320 --> 00:36:00,800 Speaker 1: get your podcasts. Production by Wonder Media Network. Our producers 731 00:36:00,840 --> 00:36:04,440 Speaker 1: are alex Azzie, Grace Lynch, Taylor Williamson, and Lucy Jones. 732 00:36:04,760 --> 00:36:08,400 Speaker 1: Our executive producers are Christina Everett, Jesse Katz, Jenny Kaplan 733 00:36:08,440 --> 00:36:12,000 Speaker 1: and Emily Rutterer. Our editors are Emily Rudder, Britney Martinez 734 00:36:12,040 --> 00:36:15,879 Speaker 1: and Gianna Palmer. Production assistants from Avery Loftus and I'm 735 00:36:15,920 --> 00:36:17,200 Speaker 1: Your Host Sarah Spain