Full 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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This is a Washington Spirit podcast, so we're gonna talk about the Spirit! Host Jason Anderson of Black and Red United covers team culture, interviews with players and coaches, tactics, game previews, and everything in between.
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How comebacks and revenge reignited the NWSL in Week 6
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28:27Just as the NWSL was flirting with predictability, Week 6 delivered one of the most entertaining and dramatic weekends in the league's recent memory. On this week's Full Time Review, Theo Lloyd-Hughes and Melanie Anzidei break down what was behind the extraordinary comebacks in Week 6 of the NWSL, as well as what is helping to organically evolve th…
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Sean Nahas interview: Inside the North Carolina Courage's process
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30:11On this week's Full Time Focus, host Jilian Sakovits sits down with North Carolina Courage head coach Sean Nahas. The two talk candidly about the Courage's challenging start to the season and the importance of trusting the process, especially when things aren't going your way. Nahas opens up about how the Courage can get the best out of Jaedyn Shaw…
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The NWSL has always prided itself on chaos. A league where anyone can beat anyone. But five weeks into the 2025 season, things are looking awfully similar to 2024. Four teams (Kansas City Current, Orlando Pride, Washington Spirit, and NJ/NY Gotham FC) are breaking away at the top of the standings, sweeping the other 10 teams in their path. This wee…
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How a depleted Washington Spirit finally beat the Orlando Pride
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23:20The Orlando Pride looked unbeatable through four weeks of the NWSL. Then, a depleted Washington Spirit, missing 11 players including Trinity Rodman, came along. On this week's Full Time Review, host Jillian Sakovits discusses how the Spirit pulled off the biggest result of the 2025 season so far, as well as the other top stories from the NWSL weeke…
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Angel City FC has hired a new head coach. On June 1, Alexander Straus will leave Bayern Munich for Los Angeles and the NWSL. But what was it about Straus that got him the job? What was ACFC's search and interview process like? How will the coach and the club match their visions? On this week's Full Time Focus, host Tamerra Griffin discusses the Str…
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Does the NWSL know what soccer fans want?
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43:16The NWSL is coveting new eyeballs and growth. But, after an announcement that the league would be establishing a "league supporter's group" as a sponsorship collaboration with an energy drink named Unwell, many are wondering if the NWSL actually understands soccer fans. This week, Full Time hosts Tamerra Griffin and Meg Linehan discuss tension in t…
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What does Midge Purce's return mean for Gotham?
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28:30After 385 days, Midge Purce is back. On Sunday, the USWNT forward made her NWSL return from an ACL injury. But what does Purce's return mean for Gotham FC? A club On this week's Full Time Review, staff writer at The Athletic Asli Pelit hosts a discussion of the weekend's NWSL action. Starting with the scene in New Jersey to witness Purce's comeback…
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How Billie Jean King hopes to unlock the next generation
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26:16Women's sports may be booming, but establishing a bright future might rely on understanding the past. On this week's Full Time Focus, host Jilian Sakovits is joined by Meg Linehan, who last week sat down for a one-on-one interview with sports icon Billie Jean King in Los Angeles to talk all things women's sports. With clips from that conversation i…
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Who is Emma Hayes building the USWNT around?
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54:21The USWNT's April window is over. A California double-header against Brazil resulted in one win and one defeat. So, what have we learned from these two matches? As Emma Hayes continues her year of discovery, who is at the core of her roster? Who is she building the future USWNT around? This week, Full Time hosts Tamerra Griffin and Meg Linehan are …
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Why Alyssa Thompson was the USWNT's star at SoFi
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24:19On this week's Full Time Review, host Jillian Sakovits is joined by staff writer at The Athletic Tamerra Griffin to discuss the USWNT's 2-0 win over Brazil at SoFi Stadium. How did SoFi Stadium handle its first-ever women's sports event? How important was Trinity Rodman on her return? Did Los Angeles local Alyssa Thompson have her best internationa…
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Reacting to the United States' 2031 Women's World Cup bid
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26:13The USA is all but confirmed to co-host the 2031 Women's World Cup. The news is not official just yet but comes after FIFA president Gianni Infantino said in an address that the Americans were part of a lone bid for 2031, while the UK was the sole bidder for 2035. On this week's Full Time Focus, host Jilian Sakovits and the newest member of The Ath…
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Lily Yohannes interview: How the teenage USWNT star is meeting the moment
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46:49Ajax and USWNT midfielder Lily Yohannes joins the Full Time podcast for a special interview this week. The teenager talks about her extraordinary rise, her focus on living in the moment, her relationship with Emma Hayes, her life in Amsterdam, and her experience developing in the European academy system. Hosts Tamerra Griffin and Meg Linehan also s…
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Who is the best team in the NWSL after Week 3?
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17:41Another NWSL weekend, another win for the Orlando Pride and the Kansas City Current. But which team is leading the way? On this week's Full Time Review, host Jillian Sakovits debates which of the league's perfect two frontrunners looks more impressive heading into the international break. Jillian also has a look back on the weekend's action. From T…
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Meet the new NWSLPA President, and how Chelsea bounced back in the UWCL
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25:41Recently elected as the new President of the NWSL Players Association, Kansas City Current forward Haley Hopkins joins Full Time Focus to talk about her vision for the role. Also on the podcast, host Jillian Sakovitz gets you ready for Week 3 in the NWSL by looking back on the historic rivalry between the Portland Thorns and the North Carolina Cour…
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USWNT roster breakdown and strategy for Brazil friendlies
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52:42On this week's Full Time, Tamerra Griffin and Meg Linehan analyze Emma Hayes' latest U.S. women's national team roster for the upcoming friendlies against Brazil. Who are the new faces and the notable absentees? With no major tournament on the horizon, how important is talent identification versus relationship building? And, what sort of reaction w…
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Latest on Trinity Rodman's contract, and youth shines in NWSL Week 2
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20:26Welcome to the new Full Time Review hosted by Jillian Sakovits. Your Monday morning rundown, looking back at the weekend’s action on the pitch and the top stories from the NWSL and beyond. All in under 20 minutes. On the show this week, Jillian looks at the Orlando Pride and the KC Current's perfection at the top of the standings and some simply st…
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How Manchester City beat Chelsea in the UWCL quarterfinal first leg
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21:26Welcome to another Full Time Focus, the new Friday podcast hosted by Jillian Sakovits that gets you ready for the weekend’s action while also catching you up on the key women’s soccer news that developed during the week. On the show this week: Jillian has the latest to get you ready for the NWSL weekend, where the league's top-four teams from 2024 …
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On this week's Full Time, the podcast is asking what is the state of the NWSL in 2025? Where is the league right now, and where does it want to be? To help discuss the state of the league, Meg Linehan is joined by staff writer at Just Women's Sports Claire Watkins, and women's basketball staff writer and co-host of the No Offseason podcast at The A…
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NWSL is back, RIP BOS Nation, and Chelsea wins League Cup
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14:45Welcome to the new Full Time Review hosted by Jillian Sakovits. Your Monday morning rundown, looking back at the weekend’s action on the pitch and the top stories from the NWSL and beyond. All in under 20 minutes. On the show this week, Jillian talks about the biggest storylines from the opening weekend of the new NWSL season. Barbra Banda and Temw…
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NWSL players to watch, and what's going on at Manchester City
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26:58Welcome to the first edition of Full Time Focus, a new Friday podcast hosted by Jillian Sakovits that gets you ready for the weekend’s action while also catching you up on the key women’s soccer news that developed during the week. On the show this week: Jillian has the latest on Mal Swanson and some NWSL opening day history, then Jeff Rueter joins…
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2025 NWSL Season Preview Part Two: Who will improve in the West?
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59:13This week's Full Time is the second episode in a two-part 2025 NWSL Season Preview. Co-hosts Meg Linehan and Tamerra Griffin are back together and joined by Evan Davis, of the Expected Own Goals podcast and Equalizer Soccer, to preview the seven teams in what the podcast is calling the 'NWSL West'. How are Angel City FC, Bay FC, Houston Dash, Portl…
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Washington Spirit's Challenge Cup redemption and the NWSL's formal review of Bay FC coaching culture
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19:15Welcome to the new Full Time Review hosted by Jillian Sakovits. Your Monday morning rundown, looking back at the weekend’s action on the pitch and the top stories from the NWSL and beyond. All in under 20 minutes. On the show this week, Jillian unpacks Friday’s penalty shootout drama in the NWSL Challenge Cup between the Orlando Pride and the Washi…
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2025 NWSL Season Preview Part One: Who is chasing a title in the East?
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58:22This week's Full Time is the first in a two-part 2025 NWSL Season Preview. Meg Linehan is joined by former NWSL player-turned-broadcaster Jill Loydon and staff writer at USA Today's Pro Soccer Wire Jason Anderson to analyze the seven teams in what the podcast is calling the 'NWSL East'. How are Orlando Pride, Washington Spirit, NJ/NY Gotham FC, KC …
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In August 2023, on the pitch in Sydney, Australia, Spanish forward Jenni Hermoso's life changed. But not in the way it should have.In a moment that became more widely known as "The Kiss" former Spanish Football Federation President Luis Rubiales, grabbed Hermoso's face and planted a kiss on her lips. It became front page news around the world.In Fe…
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Don't panic over the USWNT's loss to Japan, plus Mark Parsons' Angel City vision
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1:05:05This week on Full Time, Meg Linehan and Jeff Rueter break down the USWNT's SheBelieves Cup performance, including the 2-1 defeat to Japan. Is it time to push the panic button? Or do we need to lean into Emma Hayes' call for patience and development? In addition to picking the bones on the first defeat for the USA under Hayes, Meg and Jeff give thei…
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USWNT roster analysis and big picture questions for Brazil friendlies
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46:42
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46:42Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesBy The Athletic
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Talking USWNT and SheBelieves Cup with former captain Becky Sauerbrunn
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47:25
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47:25Special guest Becky Sauerbrunn joins host Meg Linehan to talk all things USWNT, the SheBelieves Cup, and her post-career transition to broadcasting with TNT Sports, as well as her podcasting with Sam Mewis. The conversation also dips into being on the other side of the media divide, USWNT leadership, and what Sauerbrunn's latest books and TV recomm…
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The "WNT" Way: Explaining Emma Hayes' aim to revolutionize U.S. Soccer
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53:15Emma Hayes has a new strategic vision for the U.S. women's national team, called 'The WNT Way'. Host Meg Linehan is joined by The Athletic's Jeff Rueter to discuss how the new blueprint is attempting to revolutionize the existing approach to women's soccer in terms of anatomy, psychology, coaching and tactics. The duo also break down the latest USW…
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Why NWSL is paying players $5 million in restitution over past abuse scandal
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52:31This week Full Time unpacks the outcome of a joint investigation by the attorneys general of the District of Columbia, Illinois, and New York into systemic abuse within the National Women's Soccer League from 2013 until 2021. As a result, the NWSL must create a $5 million player compensation fund as part of a settlement regarding its role in widesp…
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How Denver won the bid to become NWSL’s 16th team
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55:46Denver has officially been announced as the NWSL's 16th expansion team. But how did this ownership group win the bid? This week on Full Time, Meg Linehan and Theo Lloyd-Hughes focus on understanding what made Denver special. To help do that, NWSL commissioner Jess Berman joins the show to give the inside scoop on how the league evaluated the bids. …
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What Naomi Girma’s record $1.1 million transfer to Chelsea means for NWSL
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53:26It's an emergency episode of Full Time. On Sunday, Chelsea officially announced the transfer of U.S. women's national team defender Naomi Girma from the San Diego Wave for a record fee of $1.1 million. Hosts Tamerra Griffin and Meg Linehan break down the deal, from the timeline of Girma's transfer request to the chain reaction around the globe. Jes…
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How rookies navigate a world without an NWSL draft
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1:00:18This week on Full Time, Tamerra Griffin and Meg Linehan take a deep dive into the new world of NCAA rookie free agency. Since the NWSLPA inked a new CBA with the league in 2024, which abolished the draft, what has it been like to navigate turning pro in this historic offseason? To help with the discussion, Tamerra and Meg spoke to rookies out of UC…
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Casey Stoney explains her masterplan for Canada
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52:35This week on Full Time, Casey Stoney joins the podcast to talk about her brand new job as the head coach of the Canadian women's national team. Sitting down with Tamerra Griffin and Meg Linehan, the former Manchester United and San Diego Wave boss reveals her thoughts on why she was the perfect fit, the importance of building trust with players, th…
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Making sense of Gotham FC's 2025 offseason moves
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53:49Happy 2025! It's a new year and a new season of Full Time with Meg Linehan! As the NWSL offseason heats up, one of the biggest talking points has been: What has been going on at NJ/NY Gotham FC? Well, to help answer that question, Gotham general manager Yael Averbuch West joins the podcast to talk about the transfers out of Lynn Williams and Yazmee…
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Best of 2024 Part II: The USWNT, Olympic gold and goodbyes
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50:40Welcome to the second podcast of our two-part 'Best Of' series, highlighting our favorite moments and episodes from Full Time with Meg Linehan in 2024. In Part II, Meg Linehan traces a stunning year for the U.S. women's national team. From Emma Hayes's landmark as the new head coach to the 'redeem team' winning a gold medal at the Paris Olympics. I…
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Best of 2024 Part I: A year of NWSL record breakers
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48:09A legendary 2024 is drawing to a close. So Full Time has compiled a two-part 'Best Of' series to highlight our favorite moments and episodes from this past season. In Part I, Tamerra Griffin guides you through the year's best NWSL interviews and discussions. Re-live a conversation with Brianna Pinto, taking you inside the game-changing new collecti…
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End of year mailbag, and honoring Becky Sauerbrunn
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1:03:13On this week's podcast, Tamerra Griffin and Meg Linehan answer an array of listener questions. Those brilliant queries ranged from how to fix the USA midfield to whether the NWSL's elite teams will stay on top in 2025 and even what's your favorite charcuterie cheese. In addition to opening up the mailbag, Tamerra and Meg also take a moment to pay t…
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Has Spanish women's soccer changed since the 2023 World Cup?
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1:01:09This week on Full Time, Meg Linehan is joined by The Athletic's Barcelona-based Spanish soccer writer Laia Cervello to discuss the state of the country's women's national team. On November 1, Netflix released a documentary titled 'It's All Over: The Kiss That Changed Spanish Football' about Spain's 2023 World Cup triumph and the aftermath that brou…
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USWNT lessons from London and The Hague, plus the importance of supporting Barbra Banda
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59:30This week on Full Time, Tamerra Griffin and Meg Linehan unpack the USWNT's eventful final matches of 2024 against England and the Netherlands. To help do that, The Athletic's Charlotte Harpur and Megan Feringa pop in to offer their perspective from being at those friendlies in London and The Hague. Which players stood out, and which struggled? How …
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Unpacking Michele Kang's donation, and the final USWNT roster of 2024
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55:50On this episode of Full Time, Tamerra Griffin and Meg Linehan get the listener caught up on everything U.S. women's national team ahead of the final matches of 2024. After all, it has been rather a busy week at the federation. Tamerra and Meg break down what Michelle Kang's $30m donation to U.S. Soccer really means, analyze Emma Hayes' final roster…
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Orlando Pride are champions, and talking NWSL growth with Melissa Etheridge and Lo LaBonta
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1:05:27On a very special final podcast of the NWSL season, Tamerra Griffin and Meg Linehan react to the Orlando Pride winning the 2024 Championship live from CPKC Stadium in Kansas City. How did Barbra Banda deliver the match's championship-winning moment? Should the referee have intervened more? Were the defeated Washington Spirit unlucky not to find a g…
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Orlando Pride and Washington Spirit's roads to the NWSL Championship Final
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59:03It's NWSL championship week! It's team continuity vs. team chaos. To get ready for Saturday's final between the Orlando Pride and the Washington Spirit, Full Time is tracing each NWSL club's journey to the final at CPKC Stadium in Kansas City. Hosts Tamerra Griffin and Meg Linehan are joined by The Athletic's Steph Yang and Emily Olsen to get a dee…
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Hal Hershfelt interview, and NWSL awards debate
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1:12:57It's NWSL Playoff Semifinal week! So, on this episode of Full Time, Tamerra Griffin and Meg Linehan caught up with Washington Spirit and USWNT midfielder Hal Hershfelt ahead of her team's knockout match against Gotham FC. They talked about adjusting to life in the pros, the special home crowd at Audi Field, coffee stories from Paris, why she loves …
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Full Time Review: Top four seeds all advance to NWSL Playoff Semifinals
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10:38Welcome back to the Full Time Review! Your weekly recap of the NWSL weekend in nearly the same amount of time as a VAR review at Red Bull Arena. Tamerra Griffin breaks down all four NWSL Playoff Quarterfinals. Although we didn't see any upsets, there was plenty of drama, a comeback, extra time, and big goals from the league's MVP contenders Barbra …
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Will we see an upset in the NWSL Playoff quarterfinals?
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51:03The NWSL Playoffs are finally here. On this edition of Full Time, Tamerra Griffin and Meg Linehan analyze everything you need to know on all four of the opening weekend's quarterfinals. Former player turned broadcaster Lori Lindsey also joins the podcast to help out in the discussion. It's crunch time. Who are the favorites to advance to the semifi…
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Full Time Review: NWSL playoffs set, Christine Sinclair's Rose City goodbye, and San Diego's pitch debacle
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13:52Welcome back to the Full Time Review! Your weekly recap of the NWSL weekend & more in less time than a weather delay in Houston, Texas. Tamerra Griffin has the latest on Bay FC and Portland Thorns locking in the two remaining playoff spots, and what the full quarterfinal slate now looks like. Live from Providence Park, Steph Yang chimes in on the b…
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Build your own 2026 NWSL expansion club
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1:07:30On this edition of Full Time, Tamerra Griffin and Meg Linehan evaluate what we know about the five expansion bids to become the 16th team in the NWSL. What is the league looking for when it comes to bids? How important is location, an independently owned stadium, an enticing media market or deep pockets? While Tamerra and Meg try to answer that, th…
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Full Time Review: Alyssa Thompson and Emma Sears star in USWNT vs. Iceland friendlies, England stunned by Germany
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17:33Welcome back to the Full Time Review! This time, a FIFA international window edition. Tamerra Griffin and Meg Linehan recap the USWNT's two friendlies against Iceland, as well as analyze some of the best individual performances and most intriguing takeaways. Then, hear from The Athletic's Megan Feringa, who was at Wembley Stadium to watch England l…
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The NWSL & the USWNT's generational shift and goodbye Chicago Red Stars
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1:06:57Change is upon us. In the NWSL and on the U.S. women's national team. This week, on the Full Time podcast, Tamerra Griffin and Meg Linehan delve into what this means both on and off the pitch. Who will step into the spotlight? Who will be the new culture bearer? Who has that dawg in them? What should fans be looking out for as Emma Hayes utilizes a…
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Full Time Review: Racing Louisville and Bay FC keep playoff hunt alive, Temwa Chawinga completes record of scoring against every NWSL team
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16:11Welcome back to the Full Time Review! The Athletic's Monday morning podcast that brings you a recap of the weekend's NWSL action and more from the women's soccer world in under 15 minutes. This week, Tamerra Griffin set the scene as big wins for Racing Louisville and Bay FC meant that the final two NWSL playoff spots are still up for grabs. Would i…
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