Caitlin Clark’s Former Coach, Lisa Bluder Makes Her March Madness Pick

Summary

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Podcast Summary

Welcome to the Party

Episode: Caitlin Clark’s Former Coach, Lisa Bluder Makes Her March Madness Pick
Date: March 19, 2026
Hosts: Julie Foudy, Abby Wambach
Special Guest: Lisa Bluder (Former Iowa Women’s Basketball Coach)
Special Commentator: Billie Jean King (Regular)

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Episode Overview

This lively episode celebrates the huge moment for women’s sports as it dives into the start of March Madness. Soccer legends Abby Wambach and Julie Foudy are joined by the legendary Lisa Bluder, who coached superstar Caitlin Clark and led Iowa to sustained national prominence. The conversation blends bracket breakdowns, deep dives into team culture, reflections on Caitlin Clark's ascent to stardom, the changing landscape in women’s college sports, and plenty of laughs.

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Key Segments & Discussion Points

1. Big News in Women’s Sports (CBA & Iranian Team Spotlight)

• WNBA’s Historic CBA Agreement

  • [01:38–03:30] Hosts react to the "not just nice, but substantial" progress in the WNBA's new collective bargaining deal.
  • Julie Foudy: “Women’s sports is not just a pipe dream anymore. Women’s sports is an actual business opportunity... Congratulations, you guys.” [02:32]
  • Abby Wambach highlights the trickle-down effect for all women’s sports.

• Iranian Women’s Soccer Team and Human Rights

  • [03:39–07:03] Somber coverage of the Iranian women’s team’s silent protest at the World Cup, reprisals at home, and the bigger dangers athletes face.
  • “My heart goes out to these athletes...I wish for them love and light...these are impossible decisions to make.” — Abby Wambach [05:54]

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2. Women & March Madness: Context and Brackets

• History of Women’s “March Madness” Branding & Legacy

  • [07:26–09:30] Julie explains that women’s basketball teams were only allowed to use "March Madness" branding since 2022, drawing parallels to other historical inequities in women’s sports.
  • Anecdotes about early Women's World Cups and travel.

• Podcast Bracket Challenge Launch

  • [09:32–11:42] The hosts kick off their own bracket challenge, invite listeners to get involved, and joke about making picks based on mascots and colors.
  • “We may or may not have chosen a team because, yeah, we think their mascot is cuter...” — Julie Foudy [10:44]
  • Banter about trash-talking with other women’s sports podcasts.

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3. NWSL Offseason & Transfer Updates

• [12:01–14:53] A fast-paced review by Julie of major National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) moves, including key signings for Angel City and Bay FC, re-signings, and massive new contracts raising the bar for women’s sports salaries.
  • “Triple espresso is back! ...That’s big for the league.” — Julie Foudy [13:51]

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4. Main Interview: Lisa Bluder Joins the Party

Lisa’s March Madness Mindset & Bracketology

• [20:57–23:35] Lisa joins from her vacation in Cancun (in a beauty salon for WiFi!) and describes the weirdness of her first March without coaching.
  • “This is the time of year that it bothers me a little bit... I do miss it.” — Lisa Bluder [22:37]
  • “But when that bracket came out...I went out and had dinner. So there are some advantages!” [23:16]

Preparation & Mentality for the Tournament

• [23:40–24:33] Lisa goes inside the mental approach teams must take.
  • “It’s putting the blinders on... focusing on one game at a time... I kind of looked at it as mini-tournaments, but keeping your kids focused on the next game is really, really important.” [23:49]

Bracket & Matchup Insights

• [24:33–26:01] Lisa breaks down her views on key regions, surprise matchups, Cinderella teams, and parity.
  • Notes on UConn and Vanderbilt in same region, South Carolina–Oklahoma possibility, Big Ten dark horses.
  • “There’s so much parity and I love that in this game right now... none of the brackets look great. They’re all going to be hard to get through.” [25:48]

Can UCLA Upset UConn? Lisa’s Pick

• [26:04–27:31]
  • “I think UCLA has the best shot... with shooters around [Lauren] Betts, you’ve got to be able to put those threes down against UConn.” [26:04]

Parity, NIL & the Transfer Portal

• [29:02–30:33] Deep dive into the impact of new NCAA rules:
  • “I think it’s a little bit easier [to sustain success]...if you’re already successful, you’re going to be able to draw those better kids...Plus the financial part and the NIL money...if you have deeper pockets, it helps.” — Lisa Bluder [29:31]
  • Also notes the downside: “I don’t love...kids hopping around from school to school. One of the great things about Caitlin Clark — she stayed four years.” [30:51]

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5. Building Team Culture & Coaching Caitlin Clark

Recruiting and Developing Caitlin Clark

• [38:59–41:30]
  • Bluder started recruiting Caitlin in 7th grade, recounts how Clark first committed to Notre Dame before changing to Iowa at the last minute.
  • “I get a phone call from her saying, ‘Do you still have room for me?’ I’m like, ‘Yeah, of course I do!’” — Lisa Bluder [39:14]

What Makes Caitlin Clark Special?

• [41:30–42:18]
  • “She’s an unbelievable competitor...she has no fear of failure. And that allows her to put herself out there and risk it...The kid works...She takes care of the things mentally as well as physically.” [41:55]
  • Credits Clark’s soccer background for elite passing vision.

Team Culture & Leadership

• [43:01–45:24]

  • “We tried to explain: when her light shines, it shines on all of us...We had frank, open conversations — all the time, not just once. We did culture building every day.” [43:28]
  • Used Abby’s "Wolfpack" book one year, Billie Jean King’s “Pressure is a Privilege” another: “I hate to tell you this, Abby, but Billie Jean’s got you beat — we repped ‘pressure is a privilege’ all the way to the Final Four.” — Lisa Bluder [45:25]

• [46:38–48:40] Extended conversation about the overlooked importance of intentional culture-building, including regular meetings and heart-to-hearts to foster emotional connection and accountability.

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6. Reflections on Coaching Legacy & Women’s Sports’ Growth

• [50:08–51:38]
  • “To see where it’s gone...I want the younger generation to respect that, to understand how hard people fought for them to have these opportunities.” — Lisa Bluder [50:08]
  • On coaching Caitlin through a paradigm-shifting era: “To me, Caitlin is just Caitlin…You’re so locked in, you don’t even know what’s going on around you.” [51:38]
  • Bluder’s daughter’s realization: “Shit, Mom, this really is a big deal. Billie Jean King is here.” [52:22]

Leadership Book?

• [53:24–55:05]
  • Abby encourages Lisa to write a leadership book. Lisa shares she started a project, but lost a core collaborator. Abby suggests, “Write your own commencement speech...siphon all those golden nuggets.” [54:07]

Lisa’s 2026 Championship Pick!

• [56:24–56:42]
  • “Everybody’s saying UConn, and I’m probably gonna get all kinds of hate mail. I’m gonna go with UCLA because I gotta be different.” — Lisa Bluder [56:30]
  • “Too easy to say UConn. Too easy.” [56:42]

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On WNBA’s CBA Deal:
  “Women’s sports is not just a pipe dream anymore. Women’s sports is an actual business opportunity…Something that is here to stay.” — Abby Wambach [02:32]

• On Building Team Success Around a Star
  “When her [Caitlin Clark’s] light shines, it shines on all of us. We’re all going to have more opportunities because of her.” — Lisa Bluder [43:28]

• On Coaching & Culture
  “We did culture building every day...You have to have the culture piece in any team sport. You just have to.” — Lisa Bluder [46:45]

• On Modern College Sports:
  “If you’re already successful, you’re going to be able to draw those better kids, in my opinion...Plus the NIL money — if you have deeper pockets, it helps for sure.” — Lisa Bluder [29:31]

• On Caitlin Clark’s Mindset:
  “She has no fear of failure...she works her butt off. She’s in the gym. She takes care of all the things mentally as well as physically.” — Lisa Bluder [41:55]

• On Being at the Epicenter of Change
  “To see where it’s gone...I want [the next generation] to respect that. To understand how hard people fought for them to have these opportunities.” — Lisa Bluder [50:08]

• A Daughter’s Perspective at the Final Four:
  “Shit, Mom, this really is a big deal. Billie Jean King is here.” — Lisa Bluder [52:22]

• On Making Her Pick for the Title:
  “I’m gonna go with UCLA because I gotta be different.” — Lisa Bluder [56:30]

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Timestamp Guide to Major Segments

• WNBA CBA news: [01:38–03:30]
• Iranian women’s team protest/human rights: [03:39–07:03]
• March Madness branding history/ramp up: [07:26–09:30]
• Podcast bracket challenge banter: [09:32–11:42]
• NWSL hot stove report: [12:01–14:53]
• Lisa Bluder joins interview: [20:57–56:45]
  • On not coaching March Madness: [22:37]
  • Tournament prep & seeding breakdown: [23:40–27:31]
  • NIL & transfer portal impacts: [29:02–30:33]
  • Recruiting & developing Caitlin Clark: [38:59–41:30]
  • Team culture methods: [43:01–45:24]
  • Leadership, legacy, and personal approach: [50:08–55:05]
  • 2026 Championship pick: [56:24–56:42]

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Episode Tone & Vibe

• Upbeat, humorous, and filled with inside stories of women’s sports.
• Generous with praise, candid about challenges, and unafraid to tackle serious issues alongside lighthearted bracket talk.
• Celebratory and community-focused, always reminding listeners: “first party rule is: have a sh*t ton of fun.”
• Bluder’s wise, calm energy anchors the episode.

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For New Listeners

This episode is a must for anyone wanting to understand not just the Xs and Os of women’s basketball’s March Madness, but also the heart, behind-the-scenes drama, and evolving culture of women’s college sports. Lisa Bluder offers a rare, generous glimpse into what makes a transcendent athlete like Caitlin Clark — and a powerhouse program — thrive. Plus, you’ll leave with bracket tips and deep respect for the cultural shift underway.

“Pressure is a privilege.” — Lisa Bluder (shouting out Billie Jean King) [45:33]

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Transcript

[Julie Foudy]

Baseball is back and the first pitch is on Netflix. The New York Yankees, led by seven

[Abby Wambach]

time all star Aaron Judge, head to the San Francisco Bay to take on Raphael Devers. San Francisco Giants this season kicks off with one exclusive opening night game. Watch MLB opening night the New York

[Julie Foudy]

Yankees versus the San Francisco Giants live on Netflix. Wednesday, March 25th at 8:00pm Eastern, 5:00pm

[Abby Wambach]

Pacific,

[Lisa Bluder]

5:00am I'm up with a crisp Celsius energy drink running 12 miles today. Grab a green juice, quick change and head to work.

[Abby Wambach]

Meetings, workshops, One more Celsius.

[Lisa Bluder]

No slowing down.

[Abby Wambach]

Working late, but obviously still meeting the

[Lisa Bluder]

girls for a little dancing.

[Julie Foudy]

Celsius Live fit. Go grab a cold refreshing Celsius at

[Lisa Bluder]

your local retailer or locate [e-mail] this

[Abby Wambach]

episode of welcome to the Party is brought to you by McDonald's Big Arch Burger. We need to talk about Caitlin.

[Lisa Bluder]

We started recruiting her when she was in seventh grade. I get a phone call from her saying, do you still have room for me?

[Julie Foudy]

Yeah, of course I do. Let me think about that.

[Abby Wambach]

Yes. Who you picking to win it?

[Lisa Bluder]

You know, everybody's saying UConn and I'm probably gonna get all kinds of hate mail. I'm gonna go with UCLA because I gotta be different and I gotta.

[Abby Wambach]

Yay. Attention, the party is about to commence.

[Julie Foudy]

Welcome to the party, party people. Finally it happened.

[Abby Wambach]

NDA Players association gets the CBA deal agreed upon verbal terms.

[Julie Foudy]

Agreed. Big news. We actually recorded the pod earlier this week. And so we wanted to just pop in at the top of the show, say how pumped we are because this is a moment. This isn't just about the CBA getting done, which is great and the season's gonna carry on and all those things. But like this moment, to me, as we have been fighting, and it's not just basketball, we've been fighting for these kind, this kind of motion and progress and statement contract to say like, we've arrived, we deserve some revenue share, we deserve some equity in this. We have put in the work. And finally we're seeing the results of that. And for the first time, it feels like it's substantial.

[Abby Wambach]

It does. It's important, right? What the WNBA and the players did by sticking together collectively and not giving in, it matters. And the trickle down effect to all other women's sports is so massive. And so I just want to say thank you, thank you to the players, thank you to the executive, all the, all the women who are working diligently to get this done. And also thank you to the WNBA for making this deal happen. I think that both entities came together. We can agree on this. Women's sports is not just a pipe dream anymore. Women's sports is an actual business opportunity, Something that is here to stay. That is not just good for roi, but it's actually a market asset, a mature market asset. Congratulations, you guys.

[Julie Foudy]

All right, now back to our episode, which we recorded earlier this week. What's up, party people? I'm Julie Foudy.

[Abby Wambach]

And I'm Abby Wambach.

[Julie Foudy]

Abs. Hi. Before we get to March Madness, which kicks off tomorrow. Crazy enough. On. On a more serious note, we wanted to mention the Iranian women's soccer team because they were in Australia playing and trying to qualify for the upcoming Women's World cup and Olympics. And I don't know part of people if you saw it, but the team drew global attention on Mark's on March 2nd when the Iranian players did not sing their national anthem before their opening match against South Korea. And it became a moment widely interpreted as a silent protest. And when that happened, it of course sparked backlash in Iran, and state media labeled the players as wartime traitors. And in their next two games, they actually did sing the national anthem, leading to speculation they had been pressured by officials traveling with the team. And after Iran was eliminated from the tournament, which was after the US had started a war with their country, seven members of their delegation. So six players and one staff member accepted humanitarian visas offered by Australia instead of immediately returning to Iran. But after weeks of back and forth and unfortunately threats to their families if they didn't return home, all but two have decided to return home. I don't know if you saw that update. So as the weeks have progressed, obviously more are feeling if we don't return home, the bad things will happen to our family. And so human rights activists say players reversed course after those threats were made against their families in Iran. Which is all. When you. You see this and you're reading this, and I just am horrified for this whole situation and for these Iranian players stuck in this really tragic cycle of. Of feeling like they have to return to save their families.

[Abby Wambach]

Yeah. And I think that the biggest thing I want to talk about right now is that this is not. We're not reporting. On whose side are you on and whether we believe that this war should be happening to begin with. This is not what that is about. This is about these women athletes who went to go and play soccer and now are fearing their life. Right. And their family's lives and their family's lives. And so I just. My heart goes out to These athletes. And I'm not going to get into the immense amount of what this all means because I think that we can go down rabbit holes. What I want to focus on is sending out our strength and support to this Iranian women's soccer team because they are real people, and I just. I wish for them love and light and. Yeah, they're. They're being put in a very hard situation. I mean, it's just. It's impossible. These are impossible decisions to make.

[Julie Foudy]

Yeah, exactly. Love and light is a great way to put it. Coming up, a hard turn to make. Iowa's legendary basketball coach, Lisa Bluder. She's going to be coming on the show. She's coached y' all in 18 March madnesses. I don't know if madnesses is even a word, but we're gonna go that way.

[Abby Wambach]

I love it. Madnesses. Yeah. Yes.

[Julie Foudy]

Eighteen March Madnesses. And by the way, abs, March Madness only became a word the women could use, or two words the women could use since 2022. Do you remember this story?

[Abby Wambach]

No.

[Julie Foudy]

Oh, yeah. It was called the women's NCAA Tournament. They wouldn't let the women use the phrase March Madness.

[Abby Wambach]

You are me.

[Julie Foudy]

I am not. Because that would dilute, they thought the men's March Madness and the branding of the men's.

[Lisa Bluder]

Right.

[Julie Foudy]

2022. Only in 2022 were the women able to call the. Their tournament as well, March Madness. That would be like the men playing at Wimbledon, but the women play, I don't know, the London Tennis Tournament or like, to your point, of. Of the Academy Award. Men win an Academy Award, but women get an annual movie recognition.

[Abby Wambach]

Well, I mean, that is actually still happening in the Academy Awards. So we're like, literally, for the individual award winning givers, I think there were only nine women that were even nominated out of all the other categories.

[Julie Foudy]

Right.

[Lisa Bluder]

Well.

[Julie Foudy]

And it actually did happen with the Women's World cup, by the way, too. Remember, the first one was called Mars Cup.

[Lisa Bluder]

Yes.

[Julie Foudy]

Because we couldn't call it the FIFA Women's World Cup.

[Abby Wambach]

You played in that one, 1991. You brought it home.

[Julie Foudy]

Mars cup, let's go.

[Abby Wambach]

You won. You won it. And then wasn't it true. Isn't it true that everybody was on the same plane, all the teams, and you had to, like, drop the teams

[Julie Foudy]

off on the way home, Doorway off.

[Abby Wambach]

That is insane to think about that.

[Julie Foudy]

We had to go all the way around the other side from China. We had to go the other way. Not just over the Pacific. We went all the way around. Is that crazy? With Our. But we were a host hoisting that M M Mars Cup. You better believe it. Anyways, you get it. It's perfect timing to have Lisa Bluder on because.

[Abby Wambach]

Yeah.

[Julie Foudy]

As you may or may not know, party people, we've got a pod bracket challenge happening with some very serious competition.

[Abby Wambach]

Join us. This is the last day you can join us.

[Julie Foudy]

Right.

[Abby Wambach]

By tonight.

[Julie Foudy]

You can do it exactly.

[Abby Wambach]

Technically by tomorrow morning.

[Julie Foudy]

Yeah. Because it literally. The brackets close because games start. Brackets close Friday morning, early 7:00am Pacific Time. So get it done by Thursday night tonight. So we're taking on the recap show. That's Kristen Press and Tobin Heath. Good game with Sarah Spain. A lot of trash talking happening. The women's game, obviously. Sam Mewis, Lynn BIE Sauerbrun, Christy Mewis Time wasting the brand new podcast from Kelly o' Hara and Ali Riley and coach Jackie. That's going to be good trash talking right there. We're going to put all their social handles in our show notes so you can. You can chirp at them as well. And we'll include a link to our challenge because listeners can do it too. We want you all in on this. Welcome to the March Madness party is the group name on the ESPN brackets. Okay. That will also be in the show notes. We may or may not have chosen a team because, yeah, we think their mascot is cuter. Very legitimate reason. Colors, Colors.

[Abby Wambach]

These all things matter.

[Lisa Bluder]

Matter.

[Abby Wambach]

They matter.

[Julie Foudy]

Matter. They do. A college like I wish my kids could get into or I had. I've attended. I don't know.

[Lisa Bluder]

Right.

[Abby Wambach]

Yes.

[Julie Foudy]

Those things matter, people.

[Abby Wambach]

Totally.

[Julie Foudy]

So, yes, Lisa Bluder would have been really helpful. We should have asked her to help us. You can all join the fun as well. There will be a pod winner and a listener winner both. So fill out a bracket abs. Did you see Spainer chirping already?

[Abby Wambach]

Oh, yeah. I saw that email. I saw that email.

[Julie Foudy]

She's chirping people. She's like, hey, Fowdy. Just a reminder, they can use their hands in basketball. I was like, I know that Spainer.

[Abby Wambach]

I scored a thousand points in high school. I got some D1 college. I got some D1 college offers. So I think we're just going to sweep everything. I'm a winner, number one spot. And I want to be a winner in this, Jules.

[Julie Foudy]

All I do is win, win, win, no matter what.

[Abby Wambach]

Let's go. Go. This episode of welcome to the Party is brought to you by McDonald's Big Arch Burger.

[Julie Foudy]

Oh, yes, it is. Okay, Abigail.

[Lisa Bluder]

Yeah.

[Julie Foudy]

With the NWSL kicking Off.

[Lisa Bluder]

Can't wait.

[Julie Foudy]

I think we should get into it a little bit. Who we're excited to see and watch and of course we need to start with our team as we are park co owners of Angel City. We got Emily Sams from Orlando, which I think is a huge signing. She's the 2024 Defender of the year. She won it with Orlando in 2024 as well. Savvy King 2.0 is back, baby. At the end of last season we signed Japanese player Hina Segita. She was brought in from the Portland Thorns. So. So I think that brings some NWSL championship experience. And then we got Brazilian Ari Borges in midfield which brings some physicality. So let's go Angel City. Okay. And I know you saw this, but the huge signing to Bay FC of Claire Hutton, US midfielder, 20 year old. Yeah, I'm surprised she left Kansas City, but what a steal I think that is for Bay fc. I texted Brandy and Leslie and that whole crew. Daniel yell right away going oh, you got yourself a gem. Because this kid, I, I interview her all the time for the national team. She just turned 20 and she is this old soul that is so wise and so well spoken. I like I there's no way I was talking like that at 20 years old. Like she's so mature. She's going to be a leader. This kid's impressive. So I think they scored on that. They can build around Claire and they've got a new coach in Emma Coates worked with a lot of the youth national teams in England. So go bfc. Even though you are our biggest rival. I can't believe I'm saying that. And triple espresso is back. As we know, all three missed all of 2025 for Trinity, most of 2025 due to injuries and of course pregnancies. But they're all back in 2026. Sophia Wilson is back with Portland Thorns for the 2026 NWL season after exercising a player option wor which was a historic record breaking deal which made her the highest paid NWSL player in the history of the league until Trinity Rodman signed her historic three year year contract extension with the Washington Spirit which runs through the 2028 season that is worth over 2 million annually including bonuses makes her the highest paid player now and the world's highest paid women's soccer player. And Mal Swanson is back as well after having her first child Josie in November. So yeah, I mean I don't know how quick they're going to be back because they still have to Recover, of course. But good news is the triple espresso is back with you.

[Abby Wambach]

Yeah. And Jules, you know, it takes a lot to build a successful team that is stacked and better than ever. And we are so excited to tell you all about McDonald's Big Arch Burger. It truly is the definition of stacked. Okay, picture this. Two quarter pounder patties, three slices of cheese, tangy Big Arch sauce, lettuce, pickles, crispy and slivered onions, and a poppy and sesame seed bun. It is everything you love about McDonald's burgers. Between two buns, the new Big Arch sauce is tangy, it's creamy, and it is a perfect pair to the Big Arch burger. I can't wait to try this. Order the new Big arch. The most McDonald's McDonald's burger yet at participating McDonald's for a limited time while supplies last. All right, Jules, you want to break through the busiest time of the year with the brand new Peloton Cross Training Tread plus, powered by Peloton iq.

[Julie Foudy]

I do. I do.

[Abby Wambach]

Do you?

[Julie Foudy]

Yes.

[Abby Wambach]

Okay, so, Jules, Peloton Cross Training Tread plus is their most sophisticated system to date, combining real time performance insights with a range of training modes that let you move seamlessly between solo sessions and instructor led workouts, which I love. It brings structure and flexibility together so your training evolves with you. What makes Peloton I think work for me is how it removes the friction. Consistency for me is everything. And Peloton makes it simple. Yeah. To plan the workouts to stay engaged and keep building the momentum.

[Lisa Bluder]

Right.

[Abby Wambach]

To keep going back instead of overthinking, Jules, what to do. I can just show up, run, lift, and challenge myself. Right. So that the guidance is essentially there. You don't have to think, just show up. And also, Jules, the experience feels intentional, from the design to the programming to the instructions themselves. Okay. It keeps things fresh, motivating, and genuinely enjoyable. Which is exactly why I stick with it. Let yourself run, lift, sculpt, push, and go explore the new peloton cross training tread [e-mail] Abigail, this time of year

[Julie Foudy]

always makes me want to reset, open the windows, clear off the clutter, and actually make my home work better for how we live. And I know you know how much I love Wayfair, but they have been my go to for that refresh. I've been leaning into a lighter spring feel. And as I was telling you, I've updated that entire side patio. Have pictures I need to update my pictures maybe as well. And I've added storage so that I'M I don't know about you, but, like, clutter gets me. I can't handle it. So that, like, I'm like, yes, give me, get me organized. I want to be more functional. And I love how simple they make the search. Like, lately I have needed some new bed frames. And so you can search by material, you can search by color, you can search by size, of course. And you can filter by exactly what you want. You can read thousands of reviews and feel confident you're choosing something that really fits your space. And I did have assembly put together for my furniture outside. You can have that done. They have installation options available, so it takes all that stress out of the process because no one wants to spend two days putting furniture together that doesn't actually feel like it's put together. Well, fine furniture, decor, and essentials that fit your unique style and budget. Head to Wayfair.com right now to shop all things home. That's Wayfair. W A Y F A I R.com Wayfair Every style, every home, every party. Okay, party people. Now to the partiest part of our party Today we've got one of the most respected coaches in the history of women's basketball joining the party after a 40 year coaching career. Yes, 40 years. And 24 of those years at Iowa, she stepped away as the winningest coach in Big Ten history with 884 career wins, building Iowa into one of the most consistent and successful programs in the country. And of course, the last chapter of that run was the one the entire sports world was watching, guiding Caitlin Clark and the Hawkeyes to back to back national, national championship games. During the moment women's basketball and women's sports exploded. And she was right at the epicenter of that whole thing. So. And now instead of calling plays, she's calling games. She's traveling the country as an analyst for the Big Ten network, still right in the heart of women's hoops. And Abby, as I said earlier, the more I think about it, the more I wish we would have waited to fill out our brackets. Yeah. Until we spoke with Lisa. Because truly we need to win this pod challenge. Because if anyone knows how this tournament really works, it's this woman. 18 trips to the big dance party, people. 18. But the best part, she's not joining us from a gym or home office or a broadcast booth in perfect welcome to the party style. She's coming to us from Vacay, where I hope, I hope you have had your feet in the sand and a big old fruity drink with an umbrella in it. Lisa, welcome to the.

[Abby Wambach]

Legend.

[Lisa Bluder]

I love it, man.

[Julie Foudy]

Straight from vacation, Yo. Where are we?

[Lisa Bluder]

Well, I'm in Cancun right now. You know, it's spring break, and I got us. I had a son here last week and a daughter here this week, so I decided I'd just stay put.

[Abby Wambach]

Yes.

[Julie Foudy]

Why not?

[Lisa Bluder]

That's awesome. Because you can do that. I'm not on the beach right now. You guys have brought me in from my. My son, and I'm in a beauty salon right now in Cancun, so. And it's not for myself.

[Abby Wambach]

What? It's for the WI Fi.

[Lisa Bluder]

It's for the WI Fi. So good. I just hope nobody comes in, but I wish I was getting, like, a manicure or something while I was sitting here. You know, you better.

[Julie Foudy]

You better turn that shop closed sign to closed instead.

[Lisa Bluder]

That's a good idea.

[Julie Foudy]

No one's allowed in. Oh, you are a gem. All of that just to get on the show. Thank you for taking a break during vacation. Thank you for finding a random beauty salon and can't get in to do this. So you had WI fi, that is.

[Lisa Bluder]

You guys are the best, man. You know, you guys ask something, everybody jumps, right? I mean, you two are unbelievable. And all that you've done for women's sports. Unbelievable. Love it.

[Julie Foudy]

Oh, stop. No, tell us more. Tell us more. Keep going.

[Abby Wambach]

Well, we're all doing our part, right? Like, you, you, you. And by the way, you did your part for 40 years and you're still doing your part with staying in the game and becoming this analyst. You know, obviously you're on. You're on spring break right now. What does it feel like this time? Like to not be in the dance?

[Lisa Bluder]

It feels kind of weird. This is the time of year that it bothers me a little bit. Like, I have no. Like, I'm so much enjoying retirement and having so much fun. But this time of year, like the. Like the Big Ten tournament, you know, I get. I miss that. And. And then the excitement of the NCAA tournament, there's just. It's so fun. There's nothing like it. The preparation, the anticipation of it also, it's. It's a blast. And I do miss it.

[Julie Foudy]

I was wondering that. I was like, I wonder if it's like a sigh of relief of, like, oh, thank God I don't have to go through that anymore because it's a lot, I imagine, as well, stress wise. So you do miss it. Interesting. It is.

[Lisa Bluder]

But you know something? When that bracket came out, I didn't go back to my office and watch four or five hours of film. I went out and had dinner. So, you know, there are some advantages.

[Julie Foudy]

Right. You would have been breaking down everything.

[Lisa Bluder]

Right.

[Julie Foudy]

Like, okay, okay.

[Lisa Bluder]

Yeah. I mean, that's what you do. You get all those films and. Oh, my gosh, it's. It's a, it is a great time,

[Julie Foudy]

though, for teams going into the madness and starting the tournament.

[Lisa Bluder]

We.

[Julie Foudy]

What's the mental mindset? I want to know, like, how they're preparing, what they're doing, all those things.

[Lisa Bluder]

Yeah, that's fascinating. I mean, you know, it's. It's putting the blinders on right now and just focusing on that one game at a time. But I kind of looked at it sometimes as like two game tournaments, like two games at your home gym, hopefully, if you're a top 16 seed, and then, you know, two games to get to the final four and then two more games. But kind of looked at as many tournaments. But it's, it's so hard not to look down the line, and it's really. Keeping your kids focused on the next game is really, really important. You know, your staff's got to look ahead because you got to be ready for the next game as soon as that one's over with. So you're going to have assistant coaches that are scouting those next games. But as a head coach and, and the players, you really got to be locked in.

[Abby Wambach]

What do you think of the seeds and the brackets this. This year? Like, your general thoughts?

[Lisa Bluder]

Yeah, I mean, I guess when I saw that, I think it's unusual that UConn and Vandy are in the same kind of region. You know, Shea Ralph's done such a great job at Vanderbilt. Amazing. And then she worked at UConn and played at UConn, and that's kind of a unique thing. Both are playing so well. South Carolina could meet up with Oklahoma again. Oklahoma is the only team that beat them in the sec, so I think, you know, that's. That's kind of interesting. Duke, LSU could meet in the Sweet 16. LSU won that first matchup that they played. So there's, you know, I think Kentucky's interesting. You got Kenny Brooks, who was the head coach at James Madison, playing against his former team.

[Julie Foudy]

That's.

[Lisa Bluder]

That's kind of wild. I know he had a little stop at Virginia Tech in between there, but still you go back to your, you know, where you started your Division 1 career, and now you're playing against them, hosting them. It's kind of weird.

[Julie Foudy]

Yeah, that's Got to be strange, right?

[Lisa Bluder]

Yeah.

[Julie Foudy]

What about for. For Iowa? I. I see. You got. You got to get through South Carolina and Yukon just, just to get to the final.

[Lisa Bluder]

Yeah, that's. That's a tough bracket. I mean, for sure. But you know, there's so much parity and I love that in this game right now that none of the brackets look great. I mean like they're all going to be hard to get through really.

[Abby Wambach]

Do you think anybody can bring down UConn?

[Lisa Bluder]

I think UCLA is the best shot. UCLA? Just because. Okay. UCLA has got Lauren Betts in the middle six seven. Great. But then three point shooters around them and I think you've got to be able to put those threes down against UConn because they're just so good. You've got to be able to nail threes and with the. Or Lauren bets inside that lets you have some few open threes.

[Julie Foudy]

How do you though then stop both Az Fudd and Sarah Strong? That's the question.

[Lisa Bluder]

Those two, they're amazing.

[Julie Foudy]

Well, they're so deep as well. Sarah Williams as well. I mean they're good.

[Lisa Bluder]

Yeah, they're good. I mean they're good and I mean. Yeah, I don't know if there's any way to stop them because you know Sarah, so she's so versatile. She's so strong and I mean she's positionless. Really. It's pretty cool abs.

[Julie Foudy]

She's shooting. Sarah Strong right now as a sophomore is shooting. Correct me if I'm wrong, coach. Over 60% from the field and over 40% from. From threes. As. As is Az Fudge. She's over 40% from threes as well.

[Lisa Bluder]

Yeah, yeah, yeah. That. That's nuts. And that's why I think they have to. Anybody that's gonna even have a chance, they're gonna have to put down threes because they do such a good job with it. But yeah, it's. It's gonna be a fun tournament, you guys.

[Abby Wambach]

Yeah, it's totally gonna be a fun tournament. Who is like the. The most dangerous team outside of the top seeds that we know of?

[Lisa Bluder]

In your mind when you say top seeds, you mean like. I mean like Vandy's number two. I mean you. You mean.

[Julie Foudy]

Yeah.

[Abby Wambach]

Is there like a Cinderella. Is there a Cinderella team that you see that, that people aren't really talking about? Yeah.

[Lisa Bluder]

Yeah, that's a good question. I mean, I think the Big Ten has got some really good teams in it right now. I think Michigan, Iowa, Minnesota are all playing really, really well and they're all hosting. And so, you know, those are the teams that I'm kind of most familiar with, and I've just seen what they've done lately. Minnesota, they have very veteran team and they're playing really well down the stretch here. You know, you talked about sophomores, how there are so many great sophomores right now across the country in women's basketball, and the Big Ten has a plethora of sophomores that are just outstanding. So it's, I mean, the future of women's basketball is looking really, really good.

[Julie Foudy]

That's all on. All those teams are all on the UCLA side, too, of the bracket. We've talked, we're talking to Lauren Betts and Charlie. It's like, okay, you got, you got LSU, you got Duke, and you got Minnesota as your 2, 3 and 4 on that side with UCLA, which is outside of the bracket. Okay, is it harder or easier? This is, this is my deep question, Coach.

[Lisa Bluder]

Okay, deep. Oh, we're going deep.

[Julie Foudy]

I'm going deep because of. And I, I don't know if I want to go down this road because it is, it is a rabbit hole, but I'm going there for a little bit. Is it harder or easier to sustain success right now? And I'm talking because obviously we've got nil. We've got transfer portal. We've got a lot of noise in women's basketball right now. So does that make things easier or harder to be successful?

[Lisa Bluder]

You know, I think it's a little bit easier just because if you're, I know you're going to lose some kids from the portal. I understand that. But you also have access to get really good kids as well. And if you're already successful, you're going to be able to draw those better kids, in my opinion. And so I, I feel like it's, it's a little bit easier right now. Plus, you know, the financial part of it and the nil money, if you have some, you know, deeper pockets, it helps for sure. So it's, I think it's easier to sustain right now.

[Julie Foudy]

Right, That's a good point.

[Lisa Bluder]

But I also think it's easier to build, like, take over a down program and make them good quickly. Like they used to always say, oh,

[Julie Foudy]

give some, because you could just throw money at them now for sure.

[Lisa Bluder]

And you've got the transfer portal so you can start all over again. I mean, there's some people that have like eight new players, nine new players, you know, on their team. And I mean, so the transfer portal allows you to do that.

[Julie Foudy]

Yeah. I'm just thinking though, of like Corey Close last year when they make it for the first time to final four with UCLA and she loses how many to the portal. Her entire freshman class pretty much goes into the portal and I'm like, oh, my gosh. Right?

[Lisa Bluder]

Yeah.

[Julie Foudy]

Gut wrenching.

[Lisa Bluder]

I don't love that. I don't love that a part of it, but it's a reality and that's the way it's going to be. But it doesn't allow. I think kids are not thinking about their own brand or their academics or anything like that. Like, if you're hopping around from school to school. I think that was one of the great things about Caitlin Clark. She was there for four years. She stayed at Iowa for four years. It allowed her to build this huge fan base. It allowed her to build her brand. And, you know, academically, she did great on top of that. So, you know, I just don't know if people are even looking at that stuff right now.

[Julie Foudy]

This episode of welcome to the Party is brought to you by McDonald's Big Arch Burger. Abigail, I know you love some Mickey D's and McDonald's has a new Big Arch burger. Have you heard about it?

[Abby Wambach]

I have.

[Julie Foudy]

It is the most McDonald's McDonald's burger yet. Okay, picture this. Two quarter pound patties.

[Lisa Bluder]

Yes.

[Julie Foudy]

Three slices of cheese. Tangy. I love cheese too. Tangy. Big Arch sauce. Lettuce. Pickles. Crispy. And slivered onions. I love the onions. And a poppy and sesame seed bun. Okay. So my favorite thing about McDonald's burger is probably the sauces. They know how to do a sauce so well. And to hear there's going to be a special Big Arch sauce on this burger. Let's go. And I'm a big fan of the sauce and pickle combination, so I cannot wait to try this. So order the new Big arch. The most McDonald's McDonald's burger yet at participating McDonald's for a limited time while supplies last. This episode of welcome to the Party is brought to you by Cologuard, a non invasive colon cancer screening test. Abs, did you know that colon cancer is one of the most preventable cancers?

[Lisa Bluder]

Yep.

[Julie Foudy]

Yet nearly about 60 million Americans at average risk still haven't been screened. It's crazy.

[Abby Wambach]

I didn't know that.

[Julie Foudy]

Yeah, the Cologuard test makes screening super simple. It is delivered. And. And I did this recently, so I am talking from firsthand experience. It is delivered right to your door. And best of all, there's no prep. And if anyone has gotten a Colonoscopy before you know what I'm talking about. There's no fasting, there's no anesthesia, there's no time off work, and most insured patients pay nothing out of pocket. And literally the test comes right to your door in a box. You open it up and then you ship the sample back in that same box. You close it, the label is already right there. It's actually really well done, super efficient, super easy. I sent it back in under 24 hours, and a few days later, I had my result, which was thankfully negative with my cologuard test. It's that simple. And it's perfect for a busy schedule as well. And so my point being, because this is such a preventable form of cancer, there is no excuse. Get screened for colon cancer, please, party people. I. I really don't want any of you to go unscreened for this preventable disease. And as I was just saying, the cologuard test is a really simple way to get it done. So if you're 45 years old or older and at average risk, ask your health care provider about screening for colon cancer with the cologuard test. You can also request a Cologuard prescription [e-mail] the Cologuard plus test is intended to screen adults 45 years of age and older and who are at average risk for colorectal cancer. Do not use the Cologuard products. If you have had adenomas, which are a type of colon polyp that can sometimes become cancer, inflammatory bowel disease, or other hereditary syndromes, a personal or first degree family history of colorectal cancer or a positive result from another colon cancer screening method within that test. Recommended screening interval. Talk to your healthcare provider if any of these situations apply to you. Cologuard results should be interpreted with caution. A positive test result does not confirm the presence of cancer. Patients with a positive test result should be referred for colonoscopy. A negative test result does not confirm the absence of cancer. Patients with a negative test result should discuss with their doctor when they need to be tested again. False positives and false negative results can occur. Available by prescription only.

[Abby Wambach]

Jules. Okay, I think that you might agree with me on this, but my skin has changed so much over time.

[Julie Foudy]

You don't even have to ask that question.

[Abby Wambach]

Especially. Yeah, especially as I've gotten older. You know, we spent so much time outdoors in the sun and. And for me, too, it also changes with the seasons. So seasonality is a thing for me and my Skin. And right now with so much travel going from dry to humidity to Milan to warm back home, it totally affects how my skin feels. And I think oftentimes the skin care routines that I see so many steps on and you got to do the 1, 2, 3, 4, I can't stick with that. Like, give me one or two things that I can do. That is why, that is why I am so excited about this new product called One Skin.

[Lisa Bluder]

It.

[Abby Wambach]

It's a skin care line that Jules is driven by science that works at the cellular level. Their clinical team has developed OS1, their proprietary peptide. Okay. And you know how much I love peptides. It's the first ingredient proven to switch off those damaged senescent cells or senescent cells actually slowing your skin aging directly at the source. Which is this is why I think it's so important, like, rather than like, you know, put something on your face and have it not really deal with the problem, the root of the problem. Like that's where peptides I think, and this product is going to be really helpful. And my favorite product is the essential moisturizer which fits easily into my existing daily routine, which is nuts. I just get out of the shower and I just put the moisturizer on my face. So every time I use One Skin, I'm giving my skin a clear signal to repair all of the damaged cells that I've had and support collagen and strengthen my skin barrier. So One Skin's products are. Yeah, they're backed by extensive lab and clinical data including 4 peer reviewed clinical studies to validate their efficacy and safety on all skin types. Plus Jules, they've got over 10,000 five star reviews and have been recently featured by Bloomberg as a leader in skin longevity. And it really shows you don't need a complicated routine to activate healthier, long, younger looking skin. Born from over a decade of longevity research, One Skin's OS1 peptide is proven to target the visible signs of aging, helping you unlock your healthiest skin now and as you age. Right. So for a limited time, try one skins with 15 off using code. Welcome to the party at OneSkin Co SL. Welcome to the party. That's 15% off. OneSkin Co with code. Welcome to the party. After your purchase, they'll ask you where you heard about them. Please support our show and tell them we sent you. We need to talk about Caitlyn because first of all, we all know how widely popular and famous she is, how much impact she's had on the wnba, on women's college basketball, on Women's sports. She's like one of the. The stars.

[Julie Foudy]

Right.

[Abby Wambach]

And how did you get her to go to Iowa? Like, what was that like? I'm so curious at how that happened. And how did you, you know, how did you keep her there for the four years? Like, what. What was that process like?

[Lisa Bluder]

Yeah, well, getting her was quite an experience because we started recruiting her when she was in seventh grade. You know, she's an hour and 45 minutes away from Iowa's campus, so recruiting her hard right from the beginning, you know, following around many trips down I80 to Des Moines. So we kind of had that relationship. We really built a good relationship. But I don't know if you know the story that she actually didn't commit to Iowa. First she committed to Notre Dame, and, you know, she went to a Catholic high school, and it's. You know, that was a. That was a big deal. And she committed to Muffet in Notre Dame. And then we kind of noticed. Well, she. She never posted that. She did. You know, she told us she was going there, but she never posted on social media or anything like that. Three weeks go by, and I get a phone call from her saying, if. Do you still have room for me? I'm like, yeah, of course I do.

[Julie Foudy]

Let me think about that.

[Lisa Bluder]

Yeah.

[Abby Wambach]

Yes.

[Lisa Bluder]

I think it was really the closeness to home. She's a homegirl, right? You know, we're an hour and 45 minutes away. And we really had developed some really good relationships. And the year before, we had made it to the Elite Eight. We got beat by Baylor to go to the Final Four. Megan Gustafson was the national Player of the Year from our team, and we went right from there to her home visit. And so I think we could prove to her, listen, we can do this. We can get to the Final Four. We're one game away right now. We just had the national Player of the Year on our team. So, you know, these are things that you can accomplish at Iowa. And. And, you know, we were on the same page. We wanted to go that Final Four so badly.

[Julie Foudy]

Okay, when did you realize, like, this kid is special?

[Lisa Bluder]

Well, you know, her first year, it was Covid. So she played in front of nobody. I mean, there was, you know, nobody in the stands except for cardboard cutouts and things. So it was really unusual that not people didn't get to see her play. And then her sophomore year, you know, that's when the first time people were coming into the gyms again and got to year. But her junior year was when she really broke out. We knew we had something special just from seeing her in practice every day, you know, the minute she stepped foot on campus. But I don't think the world got to see her until really her junior year.

[Abby Wambach]

What do you think is like, I'm so curious about this because coaches have such a unique insight into the mind, the talent and the physicality. Like you see them on such a personal level on a day to day basis. What is the thing with her that is the difference maker? That's the differentiator that can put her into the stratosphere, that she's, she's earning.

[Lisa Bluder]

Yeah. She's an unbelievable competitor. And I don't care what you're playing like. And she was a great soccer player. And I've heard that. Yeah. And she attributes a lot of her passing angles to learning that on the soccer field. And it's so true. Like, she is the best. Everything's, you know, three point shooting. She is the best passer. It's amazing.

[Julie Foudy]

Amazing.

[Lisa Bluder]

And so she attributes a lot of that to soccer. But competitiveness, like, I don't care if you're playing checkers, if you're playing uno. I mean, the girl is gonna win. And. And she has no fear of failure. And that, I think, allows her to really put herself out there and risk like with those threes and with some of those unbelievable passes that other people be like, you know, I, I got, I might, I might fail. There's none of that with her. And then she works her butt off, quite honestly. I mean, the kid works. She's in the gym. You know, she takes care of all the things mentally as well as physically. She's learned how to do that, take care of her body. You know, first, she didn't maybe eat the best. You know, she's better at all those

[Julie Foudy]

things now as she's rising and you're, you're seeing this cultural shift. I know. Coach, you're such a big proponent, which is why we love you, of team culture and chemistry and like, how did you balance all that? And maybe she. I've heard stories of Caitlin being very engaged in that as well. Like recognizing that, you know, I've, I've got to also shine some light on my teammates.

[Lisa Bluder]

Yeah. And she didn't understand that at first. And that was one of the things we really had to work on was because. And I don't blame her, she comes from a high school where she did everything. She came from an AU program where she did everything. And now she's expected to come to a University and share the wealth. You know, it's different, right. And it's a mindset that's got to change a little bit. So we really worked hard on that and we tried to explain to our players, listen, when, when her light shines, it shines on all of us. And we're all going to have more opportunities because of her. And so we, we really had a lot of frank, open conversations about this stuff. And we did it all the time. It wasn't like a one time thing, you know, one time. Okay, let's have a little seminar on culture building. We believed in it and we did. I think we did culture building every day. We did team meetings every week where we really dive dove into like, you know, kids and what made them tick and what. How do you hold your teammates accountable and how are you when people hold you accountable, how do you act? So all those things are so important to culture building and we did a ton of it. I was telling, just started to tell Abby the story that one of the things we did was actually read her book Wolf Pack, which was amazing. Amazing. And so I have this thing where after shoot around on game days, I always sit everybody around our circle and we talk about different issues, women's issues. It could be political, anything, you know, it could be racial, it could be anything that's going on in the media right now. We're gonna. But also let's, you know, how do we get motivated for this game? So anyway, and Wolfpack was one year where we read that. We just read a little a chapter every time or part of a chapter and then we discussed it as a team and that got us through the 2019 year. We went to the elite eight.

[Julie Foudy]

So cool.

[Lisa Bluder]

But I hate to tell you this, Abby, but Billie Jean's got you beat because we rep pressure as a privilege. One year we got to the final four. So.

[Abby Wambach]

Son of a bitch.

[Julie Foudy]

I do love that you take the time to do that though. I hope there's coaches and parents listening to this.

[Lisa Bluder]

Yes.

[Julie Foudy]

And recognizing like, I think that is such a missed component. We've had Corey close on who is very similar to you coach, I think in that way. And we don't do enough of that like just gather the team and plant the seeds and you can do this at any age. I think the beauty of sports is that we're teaching kids not just to be good athletes, but great humans, most importantly. And. And you can do that by planting the seed along the way so that the fact that you would gather them and talk about life or politics or whatever, and then apply that to how to be a good teammate and how to build a stronger unit is why you were so successful. Like, people think it's mutually exclusive. No, those things are hand in hand. They're not separate. Right.

[Lisa Bluder]

I agree with you 100%. I agree with you. Is like the X's and O's are important, the talent is important.

[Julie Foudy]

Right.

[Lisa Bluder]

But you have to have the culture piece in any team sport. You just have to.

[Abby Wambach]

Yep.

[Julie Foudy]

Yeah.

[Abby Wambach]

And getting everybody, it's like a mind meld in a way. Right. It doesn't mean we have to actually agree on everything, but the things that we're talking about connect us.

[Julie Foudy]

Right?

[Abby Wambach]

So in our, on the national team, we would be overseas, you know, for hundreds of days of year, and there's only so much like videos and, and, and, and TV shows you can watch. So we would sit around our meal tables for hours sometimes after, after a long day of training, and we would just chat, right? We would talk about all the stuff that we'd be thinking about and we would disagree and we would debate and we would argue and we would talk. And I think it's like this lost art, especially with the cell phones. Sorry. You know, like nowadays when, when, when the teams are going to and from games, everybody's on their phones, right? And they're like, listen to their music and they're not connecting. And the connection is when I think, you know, there, there's conversations I've had with teammates and I'm sure you've seen this on, on teams you've coached, but you have this heart to heart with a teammate the day before about something random, right? They got their heart broken or whatever, something's going on with their family and that player is now running down the court in your world or the field in ours. And I am busting my ass to get in the box because of the conversation, regardless of what it, what it was about, it was like, I know this person needs me. So. Yeah, trying to find those conversations that unite people in, like, emotionally, that is almost as important as it is in, in, in practicing the talent and, and running the plays and doing the tactics and all of that.

[Lisa Bluder]

I agree. I agree. I mean, when you, when you have empathy for your teammates and what their experiences are different from yours, and I want to learn about them and learn about you. It, it takes it to a totally different level. And I, I feel like we had that like at Iowa and those final four teams. And it's not always easy when you have like a star, like Caitlin in order to accomplish that, but they bought in, and so I feel very blessed that they did that.

[Julie Foudy]

Where does that come from with your coaching history? Like, where did you go? Oh, this is a piece of the puzzle that I think we can do a better job at.

[Lisa Bluder]

You know, I think it really became from doing a lot of reading, you know, reading a lot of leadership books, listening to other people, coaches. I really think that, you know, it kind of was a part of my personality, too. Like, I'm, you know, I like people to gather together and to get along and, you know, so I think it's combination of all those things, like, for sure, understanding through leadership books that how

[Abby Wambach]

important it is, especially where you're at now, like, you're quote unquote, retired. It's a weird thing to retire, but also stay working. Like, you retire from one thing for. And you did it, and you did it for a long time. You deserve to, like, literally sail off into the sunset and stay on vacation forever. But you've decided to stay in the game. Why did you decide to stay in the game? And how is your retirement going?

[Lisa Bluder]

It's so much fun to stay in the game. I mean, you know, you guys, I played in, like, 79 to 83 in college, and there was like, 200 people in the stands. And to see, you know, like, I had a half a scholarship. You know, we didn't even have full scholarships back then. So, like, to see where it's gone, like, to how far it's. And I feel. I feel really blessed because I got to see it when it was at its infancy to. To see where it is now. And to me, that is so fun. And I just want to share that with people. I don't want the younger generation to forget about that. I don't. I want them to respect that. I want them to just understand how hard people fought for them to have the opportunities they have now, which are incredible. And so I think I can do that by staying involved with the game a little bit, whether that's, you know, going out, speaking about leadership or whether that's doing some announcing or, you know, desk work like that.

[Julie Foudy]

Do you. Do you often think, I hope you do that. You didn't just have, like, a front row seat to this cultural shift in women's sports. Like, you were, like, in the mosh pit of it all. You were right in the middle of it. Do you.

[Abby Wambach]

Do you think making it happen, making it happen, you. You literally, you. You guided and. And, and, and led one of, if not the most women's famous women's basketball player that has ever touched a basketball. Like, you are. You are. You are ushering in the next generation.

[Lisa Bluder]

You know, I really don't think about it a lot. For one thing, you know, to me, Caitlin is just Caitlyn. And so I guess, you know, like, I can still give her crap. You know, I love it. But honestly, you know, when you're in the, Going down that trail to try to win that national championship, you guys, I mean, you're just so locked in and you're, you're, you put the blinders on, you don't even know what's going on around you, and then it's over. And, and you're getting ready for the next one, right? Like, you're just doing it again. And so I, I still don't know if I fully comprehend all that was going on around us because we were oblivious to it. We were locked in. We were in ballrooms and, you know, eating meals together and going to the gym together. We weren't seeing all that was going around us. But I do have a funny story about the first time we were at the Final Four. We were playing South Carolina at Texas. And my daughter was my director of operations. She worked for me for five years. And so she was up in the semifinal game, we're beating South Carolina, and she goes, gets the stats from the, from the bench, and she looks up and she locks eyes with Billie Jean King. And she goes, shit, mom, this really is a big deal. She was right.

[Julie Foudy]

If the Kinger is here, this is a huge deal.

[Lisa Bluder]

Yes, it is. Like, it didn't even occur to us because it was the next game, next game, next game. Let's go, you know, let's keep going. And then it's like, oh, my God, Billy. Hey. Also Biden's, you know, the president's wife was also there, but that didn't matter as much.

[Abby Wambach]

It was.

[Lisa Bluder]

Billie Jean King was there.

[Abby Wambach]

Yeah.

[Julie Foudy]

Joe Biden. King. Yes.

[Abby Wambach]

Dr. Biden. That's right.

[Lisa Bluder]

Dr. Biden.

[Abby Wambach]

Coach, we have a couple more questions for you. And I'm. I mean this in all sincerity, I would love to read a leadership book written by you. Are you writing one?

[Lisa Bluder]

You know, I'm not, but I had started a project with a producer and a director.

[Abby Wambach]

Let's go.

[Lisa Bluder]

To do things about lessons, you know, not about our, like, just our team would be a way to talk about the lessons. But unfortunately, one of them just passed away this week, so unfortunately we lost that. So I don't know if we're going to Keep going with this or not. I hope so, but I don't know that we will. He was a really big part of it.

[Abby Wambach]

Well, in. In my experience, and this is how I came to write Wolf Pack, which I think is an interesting cadence for people. I ended up doing a commencement speech at Barnard that then turned into the book. So what I would recommend, and I think every person should do this, not just people who have. Have been in the sports world. Everybody needs to write their commencement speech. What they would want to teach the next generation of the lessons of their life. It gives you this beautiful opportunity to really siphon all of the golden nuggets, the things that you've learned. How did you learn them? Like, what do I believe? Do I. Do I still believe it? Is it just because my parents believed it? Like, all this stuff comes up. So write your commencement speech, and it can give you an outline of the draft of a manuscript that you can turn into a leadership book.

[Lisa Bluder]

Wow, that's beautiful. That's great. I love it. Great advice.

[Abby Wambach]

Do it. You can do it. Because I want to read that book.

[Julie Foudy]

I mean, you are in Cancun with your feet in the sand. Why not do it now?

[Lisa Bluder]

Coach, I know the creative juices should be flowing, right?

[Julie Foudy]

Let's go get it. Get a big fruity drink in front of you with that umbrella. You are so awesome to. To take some time in the middle of your vacation, middle of you actually getting, finally a break. We so greatly appreciate it and thank you for being this grounding wise soul in the middle of this cultural shift and helping shape one of the most iconic players that. That has ever played the game and being just, like, in it, in the middle of it. I. I love that it was you that. That got to shape, that you're very kind.

[Lisa Bluder]

And you guys, I just. Everything that you do at the Women's Sports foundation last year, you guys were awesome at the. Oh, my gosh. You guys are great. So look forward.

[Julie Foudy]

We gotta do that every year this year. Yeah, exactly. Good. I'm gonna see you again in October. I hope that's still far away off. We're gonna have to figure out something before then. I'm gonna have to get to Cancun. Forget this podcast stuff. Let's go. We're coming to Cancun.

[Abby Wambach]

Coach, one last question before we let you go. Who you have. Who you picking to win it?

[Lisa Bluder]

You know, everybody's saying UConn, and I'm probably gonna get all kinds of hate mail. I'm gonna go with UCLA because I gotta be Different.

[Julie Foudy]

I gotta represent my big ten.

[Abby Wambach]

Let's go.

[Julie Foudy]

Let's go.

[Lisa Bluder]

Too easy to say Yukon. Too easy.

[Julie Foudy]

All right, you heard it there, party people. Coaches back in ucl. Hey. Oh, party pose on three.

[Abby Wambach]

Wait, we got to do a party pose? Yeah. Which is like a party pose is just like you're about to take a picture and you do a fun pose. Right?

[Lisa Bluder]

Okay.

[Julie Foudy]

What's the, what's the Iowa like? Do you have a hand signal?

[Lisa Bluder]

Yeah, we go Iowa, so it's a lot. So we don't have a hand signal.

[Julie Foudy]

Oh, okay.

[Lisa Bluder]

Yeah, I'm gonna do 22 for my Caitlyn.

[Julie Foudy]

Oh, that's cute. I'll do that with you. I'll do that. Okay, three. A party pose on three. One, two, three. How awesome is Lisa?

[Abby Wambach]

You know, there's just some people that make you feel calm. And she, I don't know if it's because she's on vacation and retired now, but I felt calm. I had a calm sense about me having that conversation with her. It felt like, oh, yeah, I want to be. I want to follow her. Like, you know, she's got that vibe. Like, she's like, she knows what's happening here.

[Julie Foudy]

She's good peeps. Yeah, Good peeps vibe. Thanks for her joining us. So appreciated. Okay, Abs, I don't know if you saw it as well, our team. Nyu, baby. The violence taken on Scranton with a spot in the national championship on the line today. Thursday. Let's go. Still undefeated, looking for their 92nd consecutive victory. So now the second longest in NCAA basketball history. So NYU versus Scranton and the D3 semis Thursday at 4:30p on ESPN. We will be checking it out for sure. And Just a reminder, NYU is a two time defending NCAA Division 3 champion. It is and is headed into the Final Four for the third straight year. So they're looking to go back to back to back. Let's go Violets, let's go. All right, party people, don't forget to subscribe to the welcome to the party YouTube channel. Click that little bell icon so you get updates when episodes go live.

[Abby Wambach]

And if you just take a second, we would appreciate it if you can rate, leave a comment and subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcast. And be sure to follow us on Instagram, YouTube and wherever you get your socials at. Welcome to Party show where Julie, Billy and I will bring the party straight to your feed. You can also email us@partypeoplequestions gmail.com Shout out to Kate Diaz for our theme music. We love you, Kate. Jules bringing in for usa. Usa. USA Cheer.

[Julie Foudy]

Amen. I'm in. Are you ready?

[Abby Wambach]

I am.

[Julie Foudy]

Oh, excuse me. I just belched. It always happens right before. It's like I get so excited for it. On three. One, two, three.

[Abby Wambach]

Welcome to the Party is an independent production brought to you by Treat Media. Treat Media makes art for humans who want to stay human. Initial Digital is our production partner and you can also watch our full conversations on the welcome to the party YouTube channel and follow us at welcome to the Party show on Instagram and TikTok. Thanks for listening. Two teams, one cup. The prime time stage is set for

[Julie Foudy]

the TGL presented by SoFi. Finals Los Angeles Golf Club versus Tigers Jupiter Links. Keep up. It's playoffs.

[Lisa Bluder]

Tune in.

[Abby Wambach]

Monday, March 23, 9pm Eastern on ESPN2

[Lisa Bluder]

and Tuesday, March 24, 7pm Eastern on

[Julie Foudy]

ESPN and on the ESPN app. The UPS store is making packing and shipping Easter gifts quicker than ever this year with UPS Air. How quick? Quicker than a walk around the park. Quicker than eating all the Easter candies. Quicker than finding a golden egg that you know is stuffed with cash. When you ship UPS Air at the UPS Store, your items arrive on time or your money back, guaranteed at no extra cost. Exclusively at the UPS Store US retail locations. Send EPS. Register Joy on time at the UPS Store. Visit the upsstore.com airguaranty for full details.

[Abby Wambach]

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