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.
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Copyright: © 2020 - The Athletic
The Utah Royals have been one of the biggest surprises of the 2026 NWSL season, and defender Janni Thomsen has been in the middle of it all.
Thomsen joins host Jillian Sakovits for a conversation looking back at growing up in a small Danish town and playing on boys’ youth teams despite ridicule from other families. They also discuss how Thomsen found her way to Utah in 2025 after her partner, Norwegian international Elise Thorsnes, played there several years earlier, as well as how the Scandinavian couple is preparing to welcome their first child. Then, Jillian breaks down what to expect from the UEFA Women’s Champions League final between FC Barcelona and OL Lyonnes on Saturday.
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HOST: Jillian Sakovits
GUEST: Janni Thomsen
This podcast was produced by The Athletic.
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Referenced on the show:
Is Barcelona versus OL Lyonnes the UEFA Women’s Champions League’s greatest rivalry?
Utah Royals are on a seven-match unbeaten streak. Are they the NWSL’s new protagonists?
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Get in touch: fulltime@theathletic.com
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Visit the Yahoo Women's Sports hub here
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With a third of the NWSL season gone, which teams need to hit the reset (or panic) button heading into a crucial summer?
On this episode of Full Time, host Jillian Sakovits is joined The Athletic’s Tamerra Griffin to talk about the NWSL teams towards the bottom of the table, specifically Bay FC, Seattle Reign, Angel City, Houston Dash, Racing Louisville and the Chicago Stars. Giving out a ranking on the scale of “cause for concern” to “you're in danger”, the duo explores what’s going right and wrong for each team. They also praise Boston Legacy, who is on a five-match unbeaten streak.
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HOST: Jillian Sakovits
GUEST: Tamerra Griffin
This podcast was produced by The Athletic.
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Get in touch: fulltime@theathletic.com
Follow on Instagram and TikTok: @tafulltime
Subscribe to our Youtube channel: here
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Visit the Yahoo Women's Sports hub here
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It was a weekend marked by returns in the NWSL and farewells in the WSL.
Host Jillian Sakovits is joined by The Athletic’s Asli Pelit to discuss Mallory Swanson’s first appearance for the Chicago Stars since becoming a new mom and Temwa Chawinga’s continued scoring binge for the Kansas City Current. They also break down the Utah Royals’ eight-match unbeaten streak and what might explain their success. Then, The Athletic’s Cerys Jones joins Jillian to look back at the final matchday for the WSL. They review Sam Kerr’s record-tying goal for Chelsea, whether Khadija “Bunny” Shaw might still find a home at Manchester City and what’s next for Manchester United after finishing fourth in the league table.
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HOST: Jillian Sakovits
GUESTS: Asli Pelit, Cerys Jones
This podcast was produced by The Athletic.
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Referenced on the show:
Mallory Swanson makes long-awaited return to Chicago Stars after 554 days away
Man United have been close to the top for so long. Is their current approach enough to change that?
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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
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Is Gotham FC headed to the city of bright lights?
On this episode of Full Time Focus, host Jillian Sakovits sits down with The Athletic's Melanie Anzidei for a conversation about the reports that 2025 NWSL champions could move into New York City FC's Etihad Park in Queens. The duo chats about what this move could mean for Gotham's aspirations to break into the New York market, what the new stadium looks like and why this is overall a good move if it happens. The pair close the conversation with a discussion about potential changes to the High Impact Player rule in NWSL.
Plus, Washington Spirit head coach Adrián González joins the show to talk about his team's current unbeaten run, the return of Andi Sullivan and, of course, Jose the lucky coyote.
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HOST: Jillian Sakovits
GUEST: Tamerra Griffin, Melanie Anzidei, Adrián González
This podcast was produced by The Athletic.
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Referenced on the show:
Washington Spirit cruise beyond Kansas City Current to maintain José the Coyote’s lucky streak
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Get in touch: fulltime@theathletic.com
Follow on Instagram and TikTok: @tafulltime
Subscribe to our Youtube channel: here
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Visit the Yahoo Women's Sports hub here
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What is the link between Beth Mead, Khadija 'Bunny' Shaw and Sam Kerr's transfers?
Host Jillian Sakovits is joined by The Athletic’s Tamerra Griffin and Melanie Anzidei to discuss the art of a "fine wine" transfer, players who have proven themselves successful and still have time left in their careers to be leaders on any team. The trio breaks down the latest on Kerr's future with Chelsea, Shaw's impact and movement this summer and Mead's recent announcement that she will leave Arsenal this summer.
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HOST: Jillian Sakovits
GUEST: Tamerra Griffin, Melanie Anzidei
This podcast was produced by The Athletic.
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Referenced on the show:
Chelsea Women don’t just need a striker. They need to resurrect their winning culture
Arsenal confirm Beth Mead will leave club as a free agent this summer
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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
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The Women's FA Cup final is set with Manchester City and Brighton & Hove Albion advancing after comeback wins.
Host Jillian Sakovits is joined by The Athletic’s Megan Feringa and Charlotte Harpur who were at the semifinals. The trio breaks down what happened and what we can expect from the final at Wembley Stadium. For Manchester City, it was striker Khadija 'Bunny' Shaw who mounted the team's comeback against Chelsea, a club that recently offered the striker a reported £1 million a year deal to join their side. Meanwhile, Brighton continues to show their ambition with a 3-2 comeback win against Liverpool, which prompted a clear warning from Liverpool head coach Gareth Taylor about what will happen to teams that don't invest.
The crew also discusses the recent news that Arsenal forward Beth Mead will leave the club at the end of the season. Is her next destination the WSL titleholders, City?
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HOST: Jillian Sakovits
GUEST: Megan Feringa, Charlotte Harpur
This podcast was produced by The Athletic.
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Referenced on the show:
Khadija Shaw is women’s football most coveted player. Her Women’s FA Cup display showed why
Chelsea Women don’t just need a striker. They need to resurrect their winning culture
Brighton reach Women’s FA Cup final and set ambitions high: ‘We want to be historic’
Brighton Women’s new stadium: A statement of intent to the WSL and the rest of the world
Arsenal confirm Beth Mead will leave club as a free agent this summer
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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
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On this episode of Full Time Focus, host Jillian Sakovits sits down with Canadian international and Boston Legacy forward Nichelle Prince for a one-on-one interview. The duo chats about the Legacy's first win of the season, which came thanks, in part, to a goal from Prince. They also talk about her decision to "bet on" herself with her offseason move from the NWSL Shield-winning Kansas City Current. Plus, hear about Prince’s favorite things about playing for Boston and where she got her name.
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HOST: Jillian Sakovits
GUEST: Nichelle Prince
PRODUCER: Theo Lloyd-Hughes
VIDEO PRODUCER: Lia Griffin
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER: Emily Olsen
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Referenced on the show:
Manchester City win first Women’s Super League title in a decade after Arsenal drop points
How these three leaders turned Manchester City into Women’s Super League champions
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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
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Over the last few weeks, U.S. women's national team head coach Emma Hayes has toured the NWSL, attending matches, playing the drums and holding babies. While it's not out of the ordinary for coaches to do such scouting trips, the central role Hayes is taking is certainly a different approach. With the 2027 Women's World Cup more than a year away, are these trips relationship-building, marketing-driven, or football-driven? Or a combination of all three.
On this episode of Full Time, hosts Jillian Sakovits and Tamerra Griffin were joined by former U.S. international and current analyst Lori Lindsey to discuss what it's like to have your national team coach watch you perform for your club, especially as a player hoping to jump up the depth chart. The group also takes a look at Hayes' approach and ponders her role as the face of the U.S. women's national team. They also review what she might have seen from certain players along the way and preview her final stop, Saturday's Gotham FC vs. Boston Legacy match.
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HOSTS: Jillian Sakovits, Tamerra Griffin
GUEST: Lori Lindsey
PRODUCER: Theo Lloyd-Hughes
VIDEO PRODUCER: Lia Griffin
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER: Emily Olsen
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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.
Gird your loins because the UEFA Women's Champions League final is set between rivals FC Barcelona and OL Lyonnes and the only word to describe it is cinematic. But how did we get here?
Host Jillian Sakovits is joined by The Athletic’s Tamerra Griffin to break down the semifinal results. Our experts on the ground also chime in. Megan Feringa is talking all things Lyon, and our resident Spanish expert Laia Cervelló Herrero explains the uncertainty that remains despite Barcelona's dominance. Will this year's European final be Alexia Putellas' last with the Spanish giants? Meanwhile, Megan discusses why Michele Kang's vision is going exactly as planned in France.
PLUS: Jill and Tamerra discuss Boston Legacy's first NWSL victory and a pair of legends inducted into the National Soccer Hall of Fame.
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HOST: Jillian Sakovits, Tamerra Griffin
GUEST: Megan Feringa, Laia Cervelló Herrero
PRODUCER: Theo Lloyd-Hughes
VIDEO PRODUCER: Lia Griffin
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER: Emily Olsen
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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.
On this episode of Full Time Focus, host Jillian Sakovits and The Athletic's UK soccer writer Cerys Jones discuss Chelsea defender Millie Bright's retirement. Bright has been a key figure in women's soccer, especially in England, across a period of great evolution. The duo discusses the former England and Women's Super League defender's legacy and what yet another departure means for Chelsea as the club continues to navigate a period of transition.
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HOST: Jillian Sakovits
GUEST: Cerys Jones
PRODUCER: Theo Lloyd-Hughes
VIDEO PRODUCER: Lia Griffin
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER: Emily Olsen
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Referenced on the show:
Chelsea’s Millie Bright retires with immediate effect: How she’ll be remembered
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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.
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