Stay ConnectedFull Time is The Athletic’s dedicated podcast for the U.S. women’s national team, the National Women’s Soccer League, and the larger world of international women’s soccer. Three times a week, join Meg Linehan, Tamerra Griffin and Jillian Sakovits as they tackle the culture, context, and conversations about the sport here in America and beyond, with help from fellow writers, guests and insiders from all corners of the game.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Copyright: © 2020 - The Athletic
For the first time, the Full Time podcast hosted a live event at the 2025 NWSL Championship in San Jose, CA, where U.S. women's national team legends Briana Scurry and Aly Wagner discussedhow the past can shape the future in women's soccer.
Hosted by The Athletic's Meg Linehan and Tamerra Griffin, the conversation touched on the rise and fall of the Women's United Soccer Association, off the back of the hosting and winning the 1999 World Cup, as well as the nuances of why major investors are now entering women's soccer like never before.
We hope you enjoy this first live event podcast recording, which was recorded at The Preserve in downtown San Jose, the morning of the 2025 NWSL Championship final, on November 22, 2025.
Thank you to all who attended and helped to make it happen.
______________
HOSTS: Tamerra Griffin, Meg Linehan
GUESTS: Briana Scurry, Aly Wagner
PRODUCER: Theo Lloyd-Hughes
VIDEO PRODUCER: Lia Griffin
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER: Emily Olsen
_______________
Get in touch: fulltime@theathletic.com
Follow on Instagram and TikTok: @tafulltime
Subscribe to the Full Time newsletter here
Visit the Yahoo Women's Sports hub here
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
It's a blockbuster episode of Full Time, loaded with special guests and legends of women's soccer.
Recorded live from the San Jose Civic in the days leading up to the 2025 NWSL Championship, hosts Tamerra Griffin and Meg Linehan conducted four wide-ranging interviews touching on all parts of the game.
Joining the Full Time pod are former Orlando Pride general manager Haley Carter, 2013 NWSL MVP and 2015 World Cup winner Lauren Holliday, alongside 2025 NWSL Impact Award winner Sam Hiatt, Bay FC co-founder Danielle Slaton, and two-time NWSL MVP Temwa Chawinga.
From how to manage a winning team to why community drives the NWSL, from what makes the Bay Area the U.S. hub for women's sports to what drives an MVP to keep winning, this episode has it all.
_____________
Referenced on the show
Lauren Holiday reacts to NWSL naming community impact award after her, emphasizes community
Orlando Pride VP Haley Carter stepping down after 3 seasons
Current forward Temwa Chawinga wins second consecutive NWSL MVP
What makes a great women’s sports city? We ranked the top 10 in the U.S.
______________
HOSTS: Tamerra Griffin, Meg Linehan
GUESTS: Haley Carter, Lauren Holiday, Sam Hiatt, Danielle Slaton, Temwa Chawinga
PRODUCER: Theo Lloyd-Hughes
VIDEO PRODUCER: Lia Griffin
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER: Emily Olsen
_______________
Get in touch: fulltime@theathletic.com
Follow on Instagram and TikTok: @tafulltime
Subscribe to the Full Time newsletter here
Visit the Yahoo Women's Sports hub here
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
NJ/NY Gotham FC are the 2025 NWSL Champions. Seemingly, against all odds, the lowest-ever seeded champions just kept on showing up. And now, with two NWSL titles and a Concacaf title across three seasons, is it time to debate if this Gotham team is turning into a dynasty?
On a special episode of Full Time Review, recorded at PayPal Park in San Jose, Meg Linehan, and Tamerra Griffin analyze all the big talking points from Saturday's dramatic NWSL Championship final that finished Gotham 1-0 Washington Spirit. How did Rose Lavelle step up to the big occasion to win her first NWSL Championship? Why did Adrian Gonzalez wait so long to take out an injured Hal Hershfelt? What's next for Trinity Rodman after her season ends with injury woes and a final defeat for the second consecutive year? Why did Juan Carlos Amoros tinker with his team, and how did he mastermind bringing on Bruninha?
_______________
HOSTS: Tamerra Griffin, Meg Linehan
PRODUCER: Theo Lloyd-Hughes
VIDEO PRODUCER: Lia Griffin
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER: Emily Olsen
_______________
Referenced on the show:
Gotham FC wins NWSL championship on 80th-minute Rose Lavelle goal vs. Spirit
‘Eight years in one’: Spirit and Gotham meet in NWSL Championship after long, packed season
Trinity Rodman receives contract from Super League team larger than NWSL can match: Sources
_______________
Get in touch: fulltime@theathletic.com
Follow on Instagram and TikTok: @tafulltime
Subscribe to our Youtube channel: here
Subscribe to the Full Time newsletter here
Visit the Yahoo Women's Sports hub here
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Live from the San Jose Civic, it's a very special episode of the Full Time podcast building up to the 2025 NWSL Championship Final in the Bay Area.
Hosts Tamerra Griffin and Meg Linehan take you inside NWSL Awards and Media Day, from the opening two days of events in San Jose, and then dig into commissioner Jess Berman's league address, and the ongoing debates around the salary cap and whether Trinity Rodman will stay in the NWSL.
Then, Gotham FC forward Midge Purce stops by to talk about her journey back to the NWSL Championship and the unrelenting belief her team has. After that, it's time for Washington Spirit midfielder Croix Bethune to open up about what it means for her to play in her first final and the joy she finds in her team's style of play.
_______________
Referenced on the show
Trinity Rodman focuses on NWSL Championship, says ‘and then we’ll see’ about future with Spirit
NWSL commissioner Jessica Berman talks salary cap, calendar changes and transgender inclusion
How Jessica Berman, the NWSL’s influential commissioner, faces her toughest tests
USWNT’s Emma Hayes weighs in on Trinity Rodman’s future, NWSL salary cap
______________
HOSTS: Tamerra Griffin, Meg Linehan
PRODUCER: Theo Lloyd-Hughes
VIDEO PRODUCER: Lia Griffin
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER: Emily Olsen
_______________
Get in touch: fulltime@theathletic.com
Follow on Instagram and TikTok: @tafulltime
Subscribe to the Full Time newsletter here
Visit the Yahoo Women's Sports hub here
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
NJ/NY Gotham FC and the Washington Spirit are heading to the NWSL Championship Final.
On this week's Full Time Review, Jillian Sakovits is joined by Meg Linehan, and Melanie Anzidei to break down the weekend's dramatic NWSL semifinals. The pod discusses Jaedyn Shaw's buzzer-beater in Orlando and how the 8th-seeded Gotham continued their unlikely journey at the expense of the defending champions, the Orlando Pride. And, whether the Washington Spirit just put in their best performance of the season as they breezed past the Portland Thorns at a sold-out Audi Field.
PLUS: What is the latest on Trinity Rodman's contract? After The Athletic reported ongoing interest from Europe, will we see the NWSL change the existing salary cap rules to keep the U.S. women's national team star at the Spirit?
_______________
HOST: Jillian Sakovits
GUESTS: Meg Linehan, Melanie Anzidei
PRODUCER: Theo Lloyd-Hughes
VIDEO PRODUCER: Lia Griffin
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER: Emily Olsen
_______________
Referenced on the show:
Marta won’t exit quietly from NWSL playoffs after Orlando Pride loss: ‘It should not end like this’
Jaedyn Shaw free kick sends No. 8 Gotham FC to NWSL championship with win over Pride
NWSL can’t keep Trinity Rodman and its current salary cap. It’s up to the league to choose
Trinity Rodman negotiations reach NWSL commissioner as English teams express interest in U.S. star
Washington Spirit advance to NWSL Championship with 2-0 win over Portland Thorns
_______________
Get in touch: fulltime@theathletic.com
Follow on Instagram and TikTok: @tafulltime
Subscribe to our Youtube channel: here
Subscribe to the Full Time newsletter here
Visit the Yahoo Women's Sports hub here
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The NWSL is coming to Atlanta. Following The Athletic's Asli Pelit's report on Sunday, on Tuesday, it was officially announced that the capital of Georgia will be home to the 17th NWSL team in 2028.
So, on this week's Full Time Focus, host Jillian Sakovits gets into what it means for Atlanta to join the NWSL. Jill talks to Pelit about breaking the story and the business side of Atlanta's record-breaking bid, as well as the major investment promises made by the ownership. Then, Jill is joined by Atlanta soccer radio host and ATL United announcer Jason Longshore to dig further into what the expansion news means to the community and the rich women's soccer history that already connects the USWNT and professional women's soccer to Atlanta.
PLUS: Jill and Producer Theo break down the key things to watch for this weekend's NWSL Playoff Semifinals and give their picks on who will make the Championship Final in San Jose. Who will advance from the Washington Spirit vs. Portland Thorns, and the Orlando Pride vs. Gotham FC?
_______________
HOST: Jillian Sakovits
GUESTS: Asli Peli, Jason Longshore
PRODUCER: Theo Lloyd-Hughes
VIDEO PRODUCER: Lia Griffin
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER: Emily Olsen
_______________
Referenced on the show:
Atlanta’s NWSL team will debut in 2028, play at Mercedes-Benz Stadium
Atlanta lands NWSL expansion franchise backed by Arthur Blank for record $165 million: Sources
_______________
Get in touch: fulltime@theathletic.com
Follow on Instagram and TikTok: @tafulltime
Subscribe to our Youtube channel: here
Subscribe to the Full Time newsletter here
Visit the Yahoo Women's Sports hub here
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
How do you measure Most Valuable Player? Who deserves Coach of the Year? What sort of midfielder is worthy of Midfielder of the Year?
On this week's Full Time podcast, hosts Tamerra Griffin and Meg Linehan debate the 2025 NWSL Awards and Best XI. The duo unpacks every category, examining the league's shortlisted players, as well as what their own formulas are judging and voting. Also, they discuss the snubs from the shortlist and put forward the players that should have been nominated, and argue whether the playoffs should be taken into account.
PLUS: Tamerra and Meg wonder how much the absence of major stars on the pitch has affected the 2025 NWSL Playoffs, check in on the Full Time Bingo Card, and look ahead to the weekend's Semifinals.
_______________
Referenced on the show
Current’s overreliance on Temwa Chawinga makes her MVP argument even more compelling
Don’t call Gotham an ‘underdog.’
______________
HOSTS: Tamerra Griffin, Meg Linehan
PRODUCER: Theo Lloyd-Hughes
VIDEO PRODUCER: Lia Griffin
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER: Emily Olsen
_______________
Get in touch: fulltime@theathletic.com
Follow on Instagram and TikTok: @tafulltime
Subscribe to the Full Time newsletter here
Visit the Yahoo Women's Sports hub here
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
For the first time in NWSL history, a No.8 defeated the top seed in the playoffs. But this wasn't just any top seed. This was a record-breaking Kansas City Current team that hadn't lost at home for 490 days. So, did NJ/NY Gotham FC pull off the biggest upset in NWSL history?
On this week's Full Time Review, Jillian Sakovits is joined by Tamerra Griffin, who was in Kansas City, to break down that extraordinary road victory. What was Gotham's game plan, and how was it so effective? How much did the absences of Temwa Chawinga and Michelle Cooper affect the Current? Why does Jaedyn Shaw adamantly disagree with the "underdog" tag being given to Gotham?
PLUS: Analysis and reaction of every NWSL Playoff quarterfinal, including a check-in with Melanie Anzidei fresh from experiencing the Washington Spirit's shootout win over Racing Louisville, Marta and the emotion of Luana's brilliant penalty kick, and the emergence of Reilyn Turner as a Portland Thorns hero.
_______________
HOST: Jillian Sakovits
GUESTS: Tamerra Griffin, Melanie Anzidei
PRODUCER: Theo Lloyd-Hughes
VIDEO PRODUCER: Lia Griffin
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER: Emily Olsen
_______________
Referenced on the show:
Gotham FC upset No. 1 Current in NWSL quarterfinal — but don’t call them the ‘underdog’
Atlanta lands NWSL expansion franchise backed by Arthur Blank for record $165 million: Sources
Spirit’s mental preparation for the ‘unpredictable,’ helped secure another dramatic playoff win
The San Diego Wave are embracing the crests and troughs of their latest era in NWSL
NWSL commissioner on gender eligibility: ‘Our policy is our current practice’
Does home-field advantage matter in the NWSL playoffs?
18 months after cancer diagnosis, Luana scores late goal to help Pride advance to NWSL semifinals
_______________
Get in touch: fulltime@theathletic.com
Follow on Instagram and TikTok: @tafulltime
Subscribe to our Youtube channel: here
Subscribe to the Full Time newsletter here
Visit the Yahoo Women's Sports hub here
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The 2025 NWSL Playoffs are here, and they’re bigger than ever. And that means, on this episode of Full Time Focus, host Jillian Sakovits is joined by not one but two special guests preparing to kick off the postseason.
First up, Jill talks to NWSL veteran and Gotham FC co-captain Mandy Freeman. How is Gotham preparing for another underdog playoff run on the road? What does it mean to go play the No.1 seed Kansas City Current, who haven't lost a home game in 490 days? And, what is the secret behind Freeman's famous off-the-pitch fashion sense?
After that, Jill says bienvenue to Kenza Dali – the French San Diego Wave midfielder who has taken the league by storm in her first season in the NWSL. What's it like to be a European player in your first American-style playoffs? How does the English Women's Super League compare to the NWSL? Why did the Wave drop off in the second half of the 2025 regular season? And, Dali talks about the importance of playing entertaining soccer while winning.
_______________
HOST: Jillian Sakovits
GUESTS: Mandy Freeman, Kenza Dali
PRODUCER: Theo Lloyd-Hughes
VIDEO PRODUCER: Lia Griffin
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER: Emily Olsen
_______________
Referenced on the show:
NWSL playoff preview: How to watch, key matchups and bold predictions
San Diego Wave signs France midfielder Kenza Dali from Aston Villa
_______________
Get in touch: fulltime@theathletic.com
Follow on Instagram and TikTok: @tafulltime
Subscribe to our Youtube channel: here
Subscribe to the Full Time newsletter here
Visit the Yahoo Women's Sports hub here
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Leaves are falling, soup season is upon us, and the NWSL Playoffs are back!
On this week's Full Time podcast, hosts Tamerra Griffin and Meg Linehan break down the entire 2025 NWSL Playoffs, from the strengths and weaknesses of the eight teams left competing for the Championship, to how each quarterfinal is poised, and which teams will advance.
Who are the key players and matchups? Will we see any upsets from the lower seeds? Can you read too much into end-of-season form? If each quarterfinal match were a takeout order, what takeout order would it be? This podcast gives you everything you need to know about the 2025 NWSL Playoffs.
PLUS: Tamerra and Meg close out the show with their brackets and picks for who will make it all the way to the Championship Final in San Jose on November 22, as well as some final words and flowers for the six teams who will not be heading to the NWSL postseason.
_______________
Referenced on the show
Racing finished in ninth place the past four NWSL seasons. This year, they broke the curse
USWNT’s Olivia Moultrie agrees to contract extension with Portland Thorns through 2029
______________
HOSTS: Tamerra Griffin, Meg Linehan
PRODUCER: Theo Lloyd-Hughes
VIDEO PRODUCER: Lia Griffin
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER: Emily Olsen
_______________
Get in touch: fulltime@theathletic.com
Follow on Instagram and TikTok: @tafulltime
Subscribe to the Full Time newsletter here
Visit the Yahoo Women's Sports hub here
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Our TOPPODCAST Picks 
