Podcast Summary: BFFR with Sydney Leroux & Ali Riley

Episode: Sarah Gorden Talks $8,000 NWSL Rookie Salary, Motherhood & Proving Everyone Wrong
Hosts: Ali Riley (Sydney Leroux is on break)
Guest: Sarah Gorden
Release Date: October 27, 2025

Overview

In this episode, Ali Riley sits down with teammate and Angel City defender Sarah Gorden for an open, honest conversation about the realities of professional women’s soccer, motherhood, the evolution of the NWSL, fashion, and personal resilience. With warmth and humor, the two discuss team dynamics, the emotional toll of change, experiences of being a mom-athlete, and how far the league has come since Sarah’s rookie year salary of just $8,000.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Angel City’s Season: Leadership and Resilience

Time: 04:38 – 08:49

• Sarah reflects on a much-needed win against Houston, emphasizing the season’s emotional fatigue and hope:

  “Of all the games this season, the best that I've felt as far as keeping a lead...the odds may be low but we have a chance at this thing, and we gotta go for it.” – Sarah Gorden (04:38)

• She describes the difficulties of managing constant changes—new players, coaches, front office, medical staff—and the loss of comforting consistency:

  “It has been really difficult...consistency brings comfort...I am a little bit emotionally mentally fatigued but overall really positive.” – Sarah Gorden (06:33)

• On the impact of positive momentum and building team chemistry:

  “Actually building something that leads to a result has felt really good this week.” – Sarah Gorden (08:19)

2. Life Beyond the Season & Motherhood

Time: 08:49 – 13:25

• Sarah looks forward to relief and decompression after the season:

  "I get some relief. Just like the pressure is gone, the edge is gone...just take some time off." – Sarah Gorden (08:49)

• On balancing soccer, family, and wedding planning:

  “I just get so wrapped up in the season and I forget that, like life exists outside of it.” – Sarah Gorden (09:51)

• The landscape for mothers in soccer has improved drastically, but Sarah’s journey was filled with isolation:

  “There was just so much...disappointment and shame...dealt with a lot of those feelings and some depression, anxiety.” – Sarah Gorden (11:02) “I have to grieve a little bit because of what I went through...it was so difficult for me at the time.” – Sarah Gorden (11:50)

• The new era of support for moms is celebrated, but Sarah acknowledges her pain from the past.

3. Sarah as Soccer Mom & Parenting Philosophy

Time: 13:27 – 17:44

• Sarah’s son Kaden is a fixture at Angel City and loves soccer, but forged his own path:

  “All of Kaden's opinions are his own...He watches all the games in the league, probably more than...most people on the team.” – Sarah Gorden (13:59) “He is a true Angel City kid...He just loves being a part of it.” – Sarah Gorden (14:05)

• Kaden’s favorite players include Trinity Rodman, Naomi Girma (“she was his home screen for a month!” – 16:23), and Gisele Thompson.

4. Evolution of the NWSL: From $8k to Living Wage

Time: 19:02 – 19:55

• Sarah recalls her rookie salary:

  “When I was drafted, I mean, I made $8,000 a year. And then with a kid.” – Sarah Gorden (19:02)

• Dramatic change in facilities, salaries, and support for mothers:

  "We make a living wage now...facilities have come a really long way as well...now there is much more support for moms and expecting moms." – Sarah Gorden (19:02)

5. Injury, Trade, and Finding Herself in LA

Time: 21:31 – 25:10

• Sarah was devastated by her ACL injury her first week with Angel City:

  “I had never been injured before, not even like a muscle injury...it did feel really devastating.” – Sarah Gorden (22:06)

• On leaving Chicago:

  “I requested the trade...I had a crazy experience there in some years, it was really bad...I was like, I kind of want to see what's going on in LA.” – Sarah Gorden (23:18)

• Moving to LA is described as a journey of personal growth and finding peace:

  “I quit drinking here and I feel like that made me have a deeper relationship with myself...I love the peace that LA brings.” – Sarah Gorden (24:11)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

"Consistency brings comfort...even from a medical perspective, having a staff member who knows you, little things like that.”
— Sarah Gorden (06:35)

“What it was like for me was...so much like, disappointment and shame that I felt...I was very disassociated from my body. So I was just like a person trying to survive this situation.”
— Sarah Gorden (11:02)

“All of Kaden's opinions are his own...He watches all the games in the league, probably more than...most people on the team.”
— Sarah Gorden (13:59)

“When I was drafted, I mean, I made $8,000 a year. And then with a kid.”
— Sarah Gorden (19:02)

“It did feel really devastating at the time. And now it's one of those things...looking back, it was good for me to take a step back to see what was important to me.”
— Sarah Gorden (22:06)

Fashion and Self-Expression

Time: 28:59 – 41:17

• Sarah discusses her style inspirations and how fashion is linked to her identity:

  “I just love the form of self expression that it brings. It's like walking art...growing up and being adopted, I always felt kind of different...clothes was one of the first ways that I could appropriately express that.” – Sarah Gorden (29:53, 31:21)

• Fun segment rating head coach Alex’s evolving post-game fits – “This is not his best look...I'm giving this a five. Sorry, Alex.” (36:45)
• Sarah’s take on comfortable yet stylish shoes for those who can’t wear heels:

  “I love boots. So there are boots that don't have a heel on them and they can definitely be worn...what about like a 1 inch heel?” – Sarah Gorden (33:38)

• Rapid fashion “this or that”: picks gold jewelry, leather, and neutrals; prefers Savage by Fenty for fashion/beauty lines.

Memorable Fashion Quote

"If you put on sweatpants and a sweatshirt, you're telling people a story about how you feel that day too."
— Sarah Gorden (30:28)

Astrology, Reflections, and Farewells

Time: 43:24 – 47:52

• Sarah’s love-hate relationship with astrology and how it helps her process change:

  “I think I probably got into astrology because of my need for control...this week I've been like, astrology is bullshit.” – Sarah Gorden (43:47)

• Tender, personal sign-off about Ali’s upcoming retirement:

  "This week has been really sad...it's just more changes. Like, it just feels sad to see you guys go and two huge personalities that have meant so much to all of us." — Sarah Gorden (47:04)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 04:38 | Team’s end-of-season momentum and mental fatigue
• 08:49 | Offseason plans and motherhood
• 11:02 | The difficulty and stigma Sarah faced as a pregnant athlete
• 13:59 | Parenting Kaden and his role at Angel City
• 19:02 | From $8,000 rookie salary to a living wage
• 21:31 | The impact of her ACL injury and trade from Chicago
• 29:37 | Fashion as self-expression and personal history
• 36:45 | Rating coach Alex’s fits – a playful “5 out of 10” moment
• 43:47 | Astrology and managing uncertainty
• 47:04 | Reflections on Ali Riley’s retirement and emotional farewells

Final Takeaways

This episode provides a powerful look into Sarah Gorden’s journey as a professional athlete, a mother, a leader, and a style icon—unfiltered and “for real.” It explores issues of league progress (notably, the dramatic shift in player welfare and salaries), personal resilience through motherhood and injury, and the creative joy of fashion. The genuine camaraderie and vulnerability between Ali and Sarah make this conversation both informative and deeply engaging for any listener, whether a soccer fan or not.