Podcast
Full Time: A show about women's soccer
Hosted by The Athletic · EN
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.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
79episodes
Episodes
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Alex Scott talks Champions League and marking Marta | What it means for Cat Macario to join San Diego Wave FC?
Mar 1800:47:32Tap to summarizeWhat is it like to score the winning goal in a European final for your girlhood club, when you have been marking Marta all through the match?On this episode of the Full Time podcast, Alex Scott joins the show for a special interview to reflect on exactly that, when she conquered the continent with Arsenal in 2007, and where dreams became a reality for the Londoner. Scott is now an ESPN presenter for the UEFA Women’s Champions League (UWCL) on Disney+, which will air all matches, including the quarterfinals on 24 & 25 March and 1 & 2 April, in the competition live, and also talks about her post-playing career in broadcasting, what has changed in the women’s game over the last 20 years, and why she thinks Emma Hayes is perfect for the U.S. women’s national team (USWNT). PLUS: Host Jillian Sakovits unpacks Cat Macario’s reported transfer to the San Diego Wave with The Athletic’s Tamerra Griffin, and what it means for Chelsea, the Wave, the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL), the USWNT, and the new era of big-money contracts in global women’s soccer. And, if all that wasn’t enough, the podcast also gives its thoughts on NJ/NY Gotham FC announcing its first official NWSL match in New York City._______________HOSTS: Jillian Sakovits, Tamerra GriffinGUEST: Alex ScottPRODUCER: Theo Lloyd-HughesVIDEO PRODUCER: Lia GriffinEXECUTIVE PRODUCER: Emily Olsen_______________Referenced on the show:Gotham FC to host Washington Spirit at Citi Field in first NWSL match in New York CityUSWNT’s Catarina Macario set to join San Diego Wave from Chelsea_______________Get in touch: fulltime@theathletic.comFollow on Instagram and TikTok: @tafulltimeSubscribe to our Youtube channel: hereSubscribe to the Full Time newsletter hereVisit the Yahoo Women's Sports hub hereJoin the Full Time fantasy league: hereLeague Code: UOBDVD Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Portland Thorns stun Washington Spirit, Boston Legacy’s big entrance & what does League Cup title mean for Chelsea?
Mar 1600:42:48Tap to summarizeThe NWSL is back! To kick off the 2026 season, we saw 19 goals, two red cards and not a single tie in the first-ever 16-team and eight-match opening weekend.On this episode of Full Time Review, host Jillian Sakovits is joined by Melanie Anzidei, fresh from criss-crossing the East Coast as she covered two games in-person in less than 24 hours, and Producer Theo to unpack all the top storylines from opening weekend.Have we underestimated a Portland Thorns team that can silence Audi Field? How much does the Washington Spirit miss Croix Bethune? How were the vibes at Boston Legacy’s first-ever match? What does it mean to have Savy King, Sophia Wilson and Barbra Banda all back on the pitch again?After that, Jillian is joined by The Athletic’s Megan Feringa to analyze Sunday’s English Women’s League Cup final, which ended with Chelsea winning 2-0 over Manchester United. Can a trophy snap Chelsea out of their crisis? How important is Lauren James? What can Manchester United do to become elite? _______________HOST: Jillian SakovitsGUESTS: Melanie Anzidei, Megan FeringaPRODUCER: Theo Lloyd-HughesVIDEO PRODUCER: Lia GriffinEXECUTIVE PRODUCER: Emily Olsen_______________Referenced on the show:NWSL 2026 opening weekend: Big comebacks, red cards and packed stadiumsFor Manchester United, the riddle remains: how do you beat Chelsea in a cup final?NWSL storylines to follow for the 2026 season: Rule changes, World Cup moves and seven new coachesAngel City defender Savy King returns 10 months after collapsing during cardiac eventThe pieces are falling into place for Portland Thorns after a preseason of uncertainty_______________Get in touch: fulltime@theathletic.comFollow on Instagram and TikTok: @tafulltimeSubscribe to our Youtube channel: hereSubscribe to the Full Time newsletter hereVisit the Yahoo Women's Sports hub hereJoin the Full Time fantasy league: hereLeague Code: UOBDVD Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Transcribe →2026 NWSL season preview, predictions & talking points
Mar 1300:49:38Tap to summarizeWith the start of the NWSL season upon us, Theo Lloyd-Hughes and Tamerra Griffin join Jillian Sakovits to break down the biggest storylines on and off the pitch. They analyze the entrance of two new expansion teams in Denver FC and Boston Legacy, whether we'll see a repeat performance from the 2025 shield winners, KC Current, and if this is finally the year for the Washington Spirit.They also talk about NWSL attendance numbers and how the men's World Cup will affect the NWSL, the newly implemented HIP policy, and how the NWSL is approaching safety concerns and regulations heading into this season. Finally, they close out with a predictions game for the season ahead._______________HOST: Jillian Sakovits, Tamerra GriffinPRODUCER: Theo Lloyd-HughesVIDEO PRODUCER: Lia GriffinEXECUTIVE PRODUCER: Emily Olsen_______________Referenced on the show:NWSL 2026 season predictions: Champions, Triple Espresso’s return and an MVP three-peatNWSL doubled in size over the last decade. The 2026 season will be a pivotal ‘next chapter’Bev Yanez on her coaching journey & Racing Louisville's date with destinyMeet NWSL expansion team Denver Summit: Hometown talent, attendance records and a blank canvasMeet NWSL expansion team Boston Legacy: Reintroduction, European influence and a desire to win_______________Get in touch: fulltime@theathletic.comFollow on Instagram and TikTok: @tafulltimeSubscribe to our Youtube channel: hereSubscribe to the Full Time newsletter hereVisit the Yahoo Women's Sports hub here Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Transcribe →Meet the 2026 NWSL expansion teams: Boston Legacy & Denver Summit
Mar 1100:44:03Tap to summarizeThe first-ever 16-team NWSL season is almost here. But who are these new 2026 expansion teams, Boston Legacy and Denver Summit? On this special expansion-focused episode of Full Time, host Jillian Sakovits takes you inside the Legacy and the Summit, and their journeys to joining the NWSL. Hear one-on-one interviews with Legacy head coach Filipa Patão and Summit head coach Nick Cushing, breaking down their soccer philosophies, career paths and connections to their new homes.After that, Jillian is joined by The Athletic’s Melanie Anzidei to analyze both teams on-pitch and off-pitch team builds, the players to watch, and what success looks like for both teams. _______________HOST: Jillian Sakovits, Melanie AnzideiGUESTS: Nick Cushing, Filipa Patão, Melanie AnzideiPRODUCER: Theo Lloyd-HughesVIDEO PRODUCER: Lia GriffinEXECUTIVE PRODUCER: Emily Olsen_______________Referenced on the show:Meet NWSL expansion team Denver Summit: Hometown talent, attendance records and a blank canvasMeet NWSL expansion team Boston Legacy: Reintroduction, European influence and a desire to win_______________Get in touch: fulltime@theathletic.comFollow on Instagram and TikTok: @tafulltimeSubscribe to our Youtube channel: hereSubscribe to the Full Time newsletter hereVisit the Yahoo Women's Sports hub here Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Transcribe →USWNT 2027 World Cup roster predictions 2.0
Mar 900:39:06Tap to summarizeThe 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil, once a shimmering mirage, is now taking shape into something almost tangible.The Athletic made its first U.S. women’s national team roster prediction back in October 2025, and now, with six international windows to go until the tournament roster announcement, it is time to jump back into roster predictions with our 2.0 edition.On this episode of Full Time, host Jillian Sakovits is joined by Melanie Anzidei and Tamerra Griffin to break down their latest 23-player roster predictions. Where did Melanie and Tamerra agree and where did their picks clash? Which players are locks and which are not? Who is on the bubble with a chance to break in? What has changed since the last predictions in October?PLUS: The latest on a developing story out of the 2026 Women’s Asian Cup, where five players have defected from the Iran women’s soccer team and are being cared for in a safe house operated by the Australian Federal Police._______________HOSTS: Jillian Sakovits, Tamerra Griffin, Melanie AnzideiPRODUCER: Theo Lloyd-HughesVIDEO PRODUCER: Lia GriffinEXECUTIVE PRODUCER: Emily Olsen_______________Referenced on the show:A clear core group emerges as USWNT defeats Canada: ‘I love winning football matches like this’USWNT 2027 World Cup roster predictions 2.0: What changed with SheBelieves Cup win?Five Iran Women soccer players defect with help of police following Asian Cup in AustraliaFIFA, Australian government hold urgent talks over Iran women’s team’s future after Asian Cup exitEmma Hayes’ rebuild of the USWNT is taking shape – and already reaping rewards_______________Get in touch: fulltime@theathletic.comFollow on Instagram and TikTok: @tafulltimeSubscribe to our Youtube channel: hereSubscribe to the Full Time newsletter hereVisit the Yahoo Women's Sports hub here Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Transcribe →Has Emma Hayes found her core group for the USWNT?
Mar 500:39:18Tap to summarizeEmma Hayes called the U.S. women’s national team’s 1-0 win over Canada in the SheBelieves Cup on Wednesday night one of her “favorite performances” by the team. But why was the victory so impressive? Which players impressed? And do the selection decisions made by Hayes show us who the USWNT’s core group is?On this episode of Full Time, host Jillian Sakovits is joined by Melanie Anzidei and Producer Theo break down the USWNT’s win over Canada and debate which players are in and out of the team’s best available XI. Calling in from Columbus, Ohio, Tamerra Griffin also gives her analysis from the stadium on Wednesday night.PLUS: The latest on CAF’s choice to postpone the 2026 Women’s African Cup of Nations until this summer, Iran is knocked out of the 2026 Women’s Asian Cup while conflict surges between the U.S., Israel and Iran, UEFA 2027 World Cup qualifiers get underway, and more from the FIFA international window._______________HOSTS: Jillian Sakovits, Tamerra Griffin, Melanie AnzideiPRODUCER: Theo Lloyd-HughesVIDEO PRODUCER: Lia GriffinEXECUTIVE PRODUCER: Emily Olsen_______________Referenced on the show:A clear core group emerges as USWNT defeats Canada: ‘I love winning football matches like this’Lack of clarity around WAFCON postponement causes speculation and player sufferingIran face Asian Cup elimination after 4-0 loss to hosts Australia_______________Get in touch: fulltime@theathletic.comFollow on Instagram and TikTok: @tafulltimeSubscribe to our Youtube channel: hereSubscribe to the Full Time newsletter hereVisit the Yahoo Women's Sports hub hereTake The Athletic's 2026 Listener Survey here Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Transcribe →What the USWNT learned from their scrappy win over Argentina
Mar 200:42:03Tap to summarizeThe U.S. women’s national team scrapped its way to a 2-0 win over Argentina in the opening match of the 2026 SheBelieves Cup. But what did Emma Hayes’s team learn from a match where they only generated six shots and were fouled 21 times? On this episode of Full Time, host Jillian Sakovits is joined by The Athletic’s Tamerra Griffin, who was in Nashville, Tennessee, for the opening night of the SheBelieves Cup. The duo analyzes the good, the bad, and the ugly of the USA’s win on Sunday night, and why Canada’s 4-1 over Colombia, in the other opening round fixture, meant so much to Casey Stoney and her players.PLUS: Jillian and Producer Theo review the new ESPN documentary ‘NWSL: The Final Third’, which gives an inside look at the 2025 NWSL season, featuring behind-the-scenes footage of Angel City, the KC Current, and the Washington Spirit. _______________HOSTS: Jillian Sakovits, Tamerra GriffinPRODUCER: Theo Lloyd-HughesVIDEO PRODUCER: Lia GriffinEXECUTIVE PRODUCER: Emily Olsen_______________Referenced on the show:Lindsey Heaps leads USWNT to SheBelieves Cup win over Argentina, Trinity Rodman suffers injuryTrinity Rodman leaves SheBelieves Cup match after hard foul_______________Get in touch: fulltime@theathletic.comFollow on Instagram and TikTok: @tafulltimeSubscribe to our Youtube channel: hereSubscribe to the Full Time newsletter hereVisit the Yahoo Women's Sports hub hereTake The Athletic's 2026 Listener Survey here Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Transcribe →Jameese Joseph: Trinidadian roots and legacy playing for the USWNT
Feb 2700:46:37Tap to summarizeFamily can shape us. For U.S. women’s national team forward Jameese Joseph, the pride she feels playing soccer is the result of the hard work and dedication of her parents, who put her in a position to be great.On this episode of Full Time, Tamerra Griffin is joined by Joseph, from the USWNT’s training camp at the 2026 SheBelieves Cup, to talk about her journey from college to the Chicago Stars and now an international soccer player for the four-time World Cup winners. They get into the legacy of her parents immigrating from Trinidad, as well as the lessons learned playing in the USWNT U23s that helped her develop into the right player for head coach Emma Hayes. PLUS: Jillian Sakovits and Tamerra give their thoughts on the new kits for the 2026 NWSL season that dropped on Thursday and look ahead to the start of the 2026 SheBelieves Cup. Does winning a friendly tournament really matter for the USWNT? Which opposing player should fans be looking out for? What are the latest changes to the USWNT’s roster this week? _______________HOSTS: Jillian Sakovits, Tamerra GriffinGUEST: Jameese JosephPRODUCER: Theo Lloyd-HughesVIDEO PRODUCER: Lia GriffinEXECUTIVE PRODUCER: Emily Olsen_______________Referenced on the show:Key Europe-based players return to USWNT roster for SheBelieves Cup; no Catarina MacarioArsenal’s Olivia Smith withdraws from SheBelieves Cup with Canada due to concussionUSWNT midfielder Sam Coffey says team has ‘responsibility’ to speak out about social issuesReviewing NWSL’s bold new 2026 jerseys: Big swings, city ties, and falling short_______________Get in touch: fulltime@theathletic.comFollow on Instagram and TikTok: @tafulltimeSubscribe to our Youtube channel: hereSubscribe to the Full Time newsletter hereVisit the Yahoo Women's Sports hub hereTake The Athletic's 2026 Listener Survey here Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Transcribe →Making sense of global qualifying for the 2027 Women’s World Cup
Feb 2400:47:19Tap to summarizeWhile the U.S. women’s national team has been playing friendly after friendly, plenty of the rest of the world has already started their qualification paths to the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil.So, what is the state of World Cup qualifying around the world in women’s soccer? What do people need to know about the differences in how the six FIFA confederations handle their qualifiers? How can FIFA change the women’s game and increase investment? Who are the nations to watch that could be on the rise over the next year? On this episode of Full Time, as the first FIFA window of 2026 arrives, host Jillian Sakovits is joined by The Athletic’s Tamerra Griffin and Producer Theo to get into World Cup qualifying around the globe. What does it all mean? When is it happening? And, why should we care? _______________HOSTS: Jillian Sakovits, Tamerra GriffinPRODUCER: Theo Lloyd-HughesVIDEO PRODUCER: Lia GriffinEXECUTIVE PRODUCER: Emily Olsen_______________Referenced on the show:How Jamaica eliminated Brazil from the 2023 Women’s World CupFIFA president Gianni Infantino’s call for more women in power is ironic and disappointingBrazil wins 2027 Women’s World Cup hosting duties: What we know about the successful bid_______________Get in touch: fulltime@theathletic.comFollow on Instagram and TikTok: @tafulltimeSubscribe to our Youtube channel: hereSubscribe to the Full Time newsletter hereVisit the Yahoo Women's Sports hub hereTake The Athletic's 2026 Listener Survey here Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Lo LaBonta: A USWNT call-up a decade in the making
May 23, 202500:22:46Tap to summarizeAfter a decade in the NWSL, Kansas City Current midfielder Lo LaBonta has earned her first-ever call-up to the USWNT. On this week's Full Time Focus, the self proclaimed "5-foot fireball" caught up with Meg Linehan to talk about her emotions as she reacted to the long-awaited call, and the rare feeling of being a rookie once again.PLUS: Host Jillian Sakovits is joined by Sports Illustrated contributor Jenna Tonelli to discuss the inaugural Concacaf W Champions Cup final that will see UANL Tigres take on NJ/NY Gotham FC. After lots of roster turnover, a couple of cup final defeats and a nail-biting playoff exit last season, what would lifting a continental trophy mean to Gotham? And, will this tournament tell us which league is stronger between LigaMX Femenil and NWSL?_______________Referenced on the show:USWNT roster: Naomi Girma returns, Lo’eau LaBonta debuts, Korbin Albert absentGotham, Tigres advance to Concacaf W Champions Cup FinalLeah Williamson, Arsenal, and juggling the emotions of playing in a final for the club you support_______________HOST: Jillian SakovitsGUESTS: Lo LaBonta, Meg Lineha, Jenna TonnelliPRODUCER: Theo Lloyd-HughesVIDEO PRODUCER: Lia GriffinEXECUTIVE PRODUCER: Emily Olsen_______________Get in touch: fulltime@theathletic.comFollow on Instagram and TikTok: @tafulltimeSubscribe to the Full Time newsletter hereVisit the Yahoo Women's Sports hub here Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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