Charlotte North Opens Up About USA Women's Lacrosse

Summary

Podcast Summary: Welcome to the Party

Episode: Charlotte North Opens Up About USA Women's Lacrosse

Date: June 16, 2026
Hosts: Abby Wambach, Julie Foudy, and Billie Jean King (frequent guest, not present this episode)
Guest: Charlotte North

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Overview

This lively episode of "Welcome to the Party" celebrates the explosive growth of women’s lacrosse. Hosts Abby Wambach and Julie Foudy welcome lacrosse superstar Charlotte North for an open, fun, and thought-provoking conversation. Together, they explore the rise of women’s lacrosse—from its Olympic debut and new pro league, to pay equity challenges and the joy of being a late bloomer. Charlotte also opens up about her unexpected journey to the top and shares her passion for the sport’s future. The banter-heavy conversation also touches on World Cup energy, family sports traditions, and, of course, a mutual obsession with golf. It’s an episode rich with sports wisdom, memorable moments, and hope for the future of women’s sports.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Women’s Sports as a Force for Unity & Joy

(00:15–09:58)

• The hosts reflect on attending recent World Cup matches and the palpable sense of hope, unity, and community spirit.
• Julie on the World Cup:
  "I am screaming. The entire stadium is screaming the national anthem. I am screaming... By the end of the national anthem, I am so... I'm like, sobbing. I was like, oh, My God." [05:31]
• They discuss how sports have a unique ability to unify, referencing fans of different cultures connecting and the uplifting energy that international competition brings.
• Abby: "The men have this unique opportunity to really unite this country after such an entirely divisive period…that is the best motivation ever." [09:58]

2. Growth and Barriers in Women’s Lacrosse

(20:04–25:11)

• The women's game is at a tipping point with the launch of the WLL (Women’s Lacrosse League) and lacrosse’s upcoming Olympic debut in 2028.
• Four Cool Things about Lacrosse:
  1. Olympic Debut: The 6-on-6 “Sixes” format will be used, featuring only six qualifying teams. [21:16]
  2. Pro League History: Brief history of leagues leading up to WLL's launch. [21:30–22:53]
  3. Sister Superstars: Highlighting the Humphrey sisters’ championship at UNC. [22:53]
  4. Dynasties: Northwestern’s dominance, plus Division II and III champions. [23:37–24:29]
  5. Historical Roots: Lacrosse is the oldest team sport in North America, originally played by the Haudenosaunee people, seen as a way to resolve conflict peacefully. [24:29]

3. Charlotte North—A New Kind of Sports Star

(32:01–44:33)

• Background: Late to lacrosse (started in 8th grade in Texas), now regarded as a "North Star" for the sport.
• Balancing Roles: Charlotte juggles playing professionally, for Team USA, broadcasting, and running youth camps.
  • "I feel like throughout the year I wear a bunch of different hats…Professional lacrosse player is, you know, comes first and foremost. Playing on Team USA is the priority as well." [32:45]
• Growing the Game: Loves connecting with young players in non-traditional lacrosse areas.
• The Pro League Vibe:
  • Excitement around the WLL, positive crowds, and the thrill of playing before sold-out stadiums even for new teams and new formats.
  • Sixes vs Tens: Describes the difference between the Olympic/promo league "Sixes" (faster, more intense) and the traditional 10-a-side format.
    • "Sixes is so fun…you’re in practice playing like a man up drill…It shows the speed of our game, but also the skill in such a unique way. So I think it's the perfect format for the Olympics." [36:46]

4. Rules, Risk & Innovations in the Pro League

(37:18–41:25)

• Two-Point Line: Now an experiment in the WLL—high-scoring games and new strategies.
  • "If you can shoot from distance, you can put some points up. And we tried it out…It was pretty fun." [37:41]
• Equipment & Safety:
  • Debate about helmets/padding: Adding equipment might change the women's game fundamentally, not desired by most players.
  • Charlotte: "It's a slippery slope…If we add helmets, we have to add pads…We're eventually just kind of morphing into the men's game, which I don't know if we want that." [39:34]
• Celebrations: The joy and culture of stick-throwing after a goal, and the elegance and badass-ness of the women's game.
  • "Women's lacrosse is just so beautiful…there's like a classy elegance to it…and it's also badass." —Abby [41:25]

5. Olympic Dream and the State of the Sport

(42:35–44:54)

• Olympics 2028: A monumental step for the sport—bigger stage, increased skill and athleticism, and wider exposure.
  • "When it's played at its purest form, it is jaw-dropping…some of the best athletes that I've ever seen in any sport…can't wait for new fans to see it." [43:39]
• Barriers to Growth: Cost of equipment, limited access beyond the East Coast, and the need for increased youth and international development.
  • "There are a few, I would call them barriers to entry for our sport…one of them is…the big one is, is cost." [50:06]
• Role of TV/Media: Increased ESPN and streaming coverage has been game-changing for visibility.
  • "Media coverage is a big part of it…They've had a bajillion college games on television the past few years." [51:28]

6. Pay Equity & The National Team

(52:20–56:13)

• Notable Moment: Charlotte reveals Team USA players are not paid—neither men nor women.
  • _"Do you guys get paid to play for USA Lacrosse?"
    —Abby [52:20]
  • "We do not." —Charlotte [52:28]
• The hosts draw parallels to their own US Soccer battles for pay, and encourage Charlotte and her peers to advocate for change—promising their support.
  • "Julie has a lot of experience, I have a lot of experience. And…Billie Jean King. Kinger's gonna freak out. We're add[ing] it to her list…She'd be like, tell me more." [53:18–53:32]
• WLL now provides some financial stability and health benefits, but representing your country remains largely uncompensated.

7. The Late Bloomer Path

(56:13–59:17)

• Charlotte began lacrosse in 8th grade—a rare path for an elite athlete.
  • "I learned about it in seventh grade, started playing in eighth grade, and I was lucky…But yeah, I learned about it quickly and fell in love with it…But, yeah, I felt like I was playing catch up with everybody, which was also kind of a stressor." [56:43–58:29]
• Encouragement for parents/kids—early specialization is not necessary for greatness.
  • "The best part about sports is when people just love and obsess over it and they want to go out to the field…when you go through that phase of burnout, you lose all that." —Charlotte [56:50]

8. Charlotte the Golfer & Finding Balance

(59:39–65:13)

• Charlotte is also a passionate, single-digit-handicap golfer—a sport she finds time for even amidst pro lacrosse.
  • "I played golf yesterday with two of my US teammates. So we find time to fit it in…I'm obsessed with golf." [60:21–61:05]
• Golf hacks and banter between Abby, Julie, and Charlotte, culminating in a promise to play together.
• Shared love of random sports YouTube and making time for fun away from elite sport—highlighting balance and joy.

9. Party Popper: Charlotte’s Dallas Hoops Fandom Quiz

(70:55–75:23)

• Charlotte is put on the spot with rapid-fire Dallas basketball trivia—showcasing her personality and competitive spirit.
• Lighthearted, competitive banter and sports knowledge flexing.

10. Closing Reflections: What’s Next for Women’s Lacrosse?

(75:23–79:00)

• Abby and Julie underscore the importance of fair compensation and institutional support for female athletes in emerging sports.
  • "The thing I don't like is what they'll throw back at them is you should just do it for the pride of wearing the red, white, and blue…I used to say…is your coach getting paid?...So why should we have to work for free as well?" —Julie [77:56–78:19]
• Hopeful tone for the future: The sport feels at a "tipping point" reminiscent of the 1990s U.S. Soccer movement.
• Urging solidarity between men’s and women’s teams to advocate for progress.

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Memorable Quotes & Timestamps

• Charlotte North: "I feel like throughout the year I wear a bunch of different hats…it's really cool to see how far it's come." [32:45]
• Abby Wambach: "This coming together and this hope—the men have this unique opportunity to really unite this country after such an entirely divisive period." [09:58]
• Julie Foudy: "I got really emotional at the game…it's like I was hopeful again…I haven't felt hopeful about this country in a long time, sadly. And I know I'm not alone in that, but…this is giving me hope. I'm like, we can come together." [05:43]
• Charlotte North: "Sixes is so fun…It shows the speed of our game, but also the skill in such a unique way. So I think it's the perfect format for the Olympics." [36:46]
• Charlotte North: "We do not [get paid to play for Team USA]…So USA Lacrosse is a non profit organization." [52:28]
• Abby Wambach: "Julie has a lot of experience…I have a lot of experience…Billie Jean King. Kinger's gonna freak out. We're add[ing] it to her list. She'd be like, tell me more." [53:18]
• Charlotte North: "I didn't have a ton of access to the sport. So I love going, you know, all over the map and getting to meet young players. But the sport is growing. It is in a healthy spot and it's exciting." [33:17]
• Charlotte North, on her late start: "I played every sport that I could get my hands on besides lacrosse…learned about it in seventh grade, started playing in eighth grade…But, yeah, I felt like I was playing catch up with everybody, which was also kind of a stressor." [56:43–58:29]
• Abby Wambach: "I honestly don't meet a lot of people that...have my similar interests...and maybe this is why we're doing this podcast. Maybe this is what the purpose is, is to meet new friends." [76:27]
• Julie Foudy: "I want to help them, too…It feels like the US Soccer in, like, the 90s. As you’re embarking on something where you can feel like they're at a tipping point. Like, let's go. Let's get to it. We're almost there." [77:02]

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Timestamps for Important Segments

| Topic | Timestamp | |----------------------------------------|--------------------| | Emotional power of the World Cup | 00:15–06:55 | | Social/cultural unity via sport | 06:55–10:59 | | The state & history of women’s lacrosse| 20:04–25:41 | | Charlotte’s intro & journey | 32:01–33:45 | | The new league & Olympic format | 34:09–37:18 | | Rules, risks & equipment debate | 37:18–41:25 | | Olympic dreams & expansion | 42:35–44:33 | | Barriers to lacrosse—cost, access | 50:06–51:28 | | National team pay equity discussion | 52:20–56:13 | | Charlotte’s late-bloomer story | 56:13–59:17 | | Charlotte’s golf obsession | 59:39–65:13 | | Dallas basketball party popper quiz | 70:55–75:23 | | Reflections on the future | 75:23–79:00 |

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Tone and Style

The conversation is energetic, heart-on-sleeve, and full of humor and camaraderie. There is an unvarnished honesty about the challenges still facing women in sports, but the prevailing sense is one of optimism, mutual respect, and excitement for the future. The hosts and guest use a casual, conversational style peppered with personal stories, inclusive asides, and frequent laughter.

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Summary Takeaway

This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in the evolution of women’s sports, the power of athletic community, and what it takes to grow a game. Charlotte North emerges as both a beacon of possibility for newcomers to lacrosse and a thoughtful advocate for equity. The party’s just getting started for women’s lacrosse, and listeners are left inspired to join—and help move the movement forward.

Transcript

[Charlotte North]

And if you want to shoot, like, 100 miles an hour, you just really wind up and put your back into it.

[Abby Wambach]

Yes. Do you guys get paid to play for USA Lacrosse?

[Charlotte North]

We do not.

[Julie Foudy]

Kinger's gonna freak out about this. We're gonna add it to her list. She'd be like, tell me more.

[Abby Wambach]

The World Cup. It's all happening.

[Julie Foudy]

I am screaming. The entire stadium is screaming the national anthem. By the end of the national anthem, I am sobbing.

[Abby Wambach]

I'm, like, sobbing the morning of the game. And I wore, for the first time since retiring, my own U.S. soccer jersey. I don't care. I am trying to put as much juju out in the world. I'm sweating. I'm so excited.

[Julie Foudy]

I'm like.

[Charlotte North]

I'm like.

[Julie Foudy]

Sweaty boobs. Sweaty boobs. Hit me with an. And I end up. Attention.

[Abby Wambach]

The party is about to commence.

[Julie Foudy]

Welcome to the party. What's up, party people? I'm Julie Foudy.

[Abby Wambach]

And I'm Abby Wambach. Hi, Julie.

[Julie Foudy]

Hi, Abigail. How are we?

[Abby Wambach]

I'm good. It was a good weekend. It was.

[Julie Foudy]

We're going to talk about all of that. But coming up later, women's lacrosse is headed in a whole new direction. They've got the Olympics. Yes. Pro leagues, bigger audiences. And if you're looking for the North Star of where the sport is going, Charlotte, north might be a hell of a place to start. She is so rad on so many levels. And she is coming up later. We also want to note that we recorded this chat with her before for her Achilles injury. And Abs and I are just heartbroken when we heard she had injured herself with the Women's Lacrosse League just launching. It was actually in one of those games. And of course, the lacrosse world championship happening this summer as well. So big hug for Charlotte, and we will get to the parties. Part of our party with Charlotte after our party starter. But first, Abs. Should we talk about this weekend? It was a big weekend.

[Abby Wambach]

Yes, we should talk about this weekend. Julie, I. What is going on? I have hope in my heart. I have excitement in my heart. I mean, the usa, the Knicks, like the World Cup. It's all happening. I just feel happy. And you were at the game, Jules.

[Julie Foudy]

And I know you were mom of the Year and went to the baccalaureate party ceremony for.

[Abby Wambach]

Thank you for saying that.

[Julie Foudy]

Oh, my God.

[Abby Wambach]

Because I am.

[Julie Foudy]

But that game, I kept going. Oh, my God. I don't want to send too much to Abby because it's just gonna be rubbing.

[Abby Wambach]

You sent me. You sent me. You'll never believe who just Walked into our suite. Tom Cruise and David Beckham. And I just write. What did I write back? Like, F off. F all the way off.

[Julie Foudy]

Kids were freaking out. I was like, declan, this is not your first rodeo. Do not play like it's your first rodeo. Don't go over there and bug him. He's like, I just want a picture, Mom. I'm like, just wait. Just wait. And then they went to a suite, a couple down afterwards, and everyone's taking pictures. And Declan just kept looking at me with these dagger eyes like, how dare you not let me take a picture with him.

[Abby Wambach]

But isn't it just so awesome to see all of the. The soccer love and what it does to not just our country, but, like, what it does to all of the fans worldwide and everybody wearing the gear. I'm wearing the gear I wore. Julie, can I tell you, like, an embarrassing story?

[Julie Foudy]

What?

[Abby Wambach]

That I now energetically think helped. I went and worked out the morning of the game, and I wore, for the first time since retiring, my own U.S. soccer jersey to my workout class. Other people were there. They saw me, and I was like, you know what? I don't care. I am trying to put as much juju out in the world. Guess what number. Guess what number I wear.

[Julie Foudy]

20.

[Abby Wambach]

Guess what number the best goal scorer on the national team right now wears for the world.

[Julie Foudy]

I didn't even put those two together. Yo, that was because you. You're going have to wear it every time now.

[Abby Wambach]

I know. I. It's so embarrassing. I was so embarrassed, but I was like, I'm giving. I'm doing anything I possibly can to give our guys the most juju.

[Julie Foudy]

Okay, can I just tell you, too, like, yeah, I got. I got really emotional at the game, I bet, because here we are. And I mean, it. It one. I was. I was very concerned on what type of fan would show up. Like, is it just going to be so corporate? Yeah, because the tickets were so expensive that, like, you didn't get the hardcore fans, the supporters. And yet the stadium was red, white, and blued out. Everyone had these amazing outfits on. George Washington's everywhere. I mean, just, like, red, white, and blue, you know, overalls. It was just. It was so cool. So the kids were, like, loving it. And then the national anthem.

[Abby Wambach]

Huh?

[Julie Foudy]

Okay, I look over, and I am screaming. The entire stadium is screaming the national anthem. I am screaming the national anthem. I look over at my kids. They are screaming the national anthem. By the end of the national anthem, I am so. I'm like, sobbing. I was like, oh, My God, I

[Charlotte North]

can't even sing

[Abby Wambach]

of the brave.

[Charlotte North]

I was like, the brave.

[Julie Foudy]

I was like, oh, my gosh. It just. It was like I was hopeful again when I realized afterwards, and I was like, why did I get so emotional? Is like, I've been looking. I mean, I haven't felt hopeful about this country in a long time, sadly.

[Abby Wambach]

Yeah.

[Julie Foudy]

And I know I'm not alone in that, but that, like, this is giving me hope. I'm like, we can come together. We can do this.

[Abby Wambach]

Yeah.

[Julie Foudy]

Like, unify us.

[Abby Wambach]

It's proof there's something that's happening. And much like what our women's team does, that I feel in my bones, I'm like, these guys have this unique opportunity to do something that is so much bigger than themselves and to bring lots of different kinds of people together to be cheering for. Like, we are all agreeing that this. This is the thing that we're all going to get on the same side for. And I like that. That's why sports is so freaking amazing. It's amazing. It's amazing.

[Julie Foudy]

And the men played awesome. I. I was. I mean, they. That was such a great game by them. I know. I know Paraguay is not the best in the world. Right. And. And they're going to have to bring that against better teams, but they looked great. I was. I was so pumped for them. And then. And then your algorithm of, like, you know, the Scottish fans who are hysterical and everywhere, and the Orange army from the Netherlands and Brazil taking over Times Square. Did you see that? The Brazil fans.

[Abby Wambach]

So good.

[Julie Foudy]

I mean, can you imagine with the Brazilian fans and all the Knicks fans together?

[Abby Wambach]

Oh, my God.

[Julie Foudy]

Oh, this is why there's buses on fire. And I'm like, oh, my God.

[Abby Wambach]

And. And Jules, you know, we got to just tell the party people, Australia beat Turkey. And that puts us in a really interesting, beautiful position in our group, you know, because a lot of people are like, we got to get out of the group. And the field, the tournament has more teams in it. So to me, getting out of the group isn't we're gonna get out of the group, but you also just need to get out of the group first. And so if we go in and we beat Australia, that puts us at the top of our group, which gives us a ton of leverage, not just to get out, but potentially going one.

[Julie Foudy]

Yeah.

[Abby Wambach]

It's wild.

[Julie Foudy]

More hope.

[Abby Wambach]

Yeah.

[Julie Foudy]

I'm just so happy that, like, people are seeing the world gather here and that, like, did you see the Koreans sharing tequila with the Mexicans because they couldn't take it in.

[Abby Wambach]

Was it the other way around or.

[Julie Foudy]

It could be the other way around. But then, like, remember, Mexico was all thankful for. For the Koreans last World cup, because I forget who they beat, but they beat someone that then got Mexico out of their group. It's like. So they have this, like, bromance going on.

[Abby Wambach]

That's so funny.

[Julie Foudy]

But, yeah. And then I saw this. This post on Instagram called Nina and the Brain. Mo sent it to me from our team, Monique. It was so good. And it summarized all of this so well. It says, I hope that for the next few weeks, your algorithm is utterly and relentlessly drenched in rhythm. Shakira's hips. An inflatable gorilla twerking alongside a mariachi. Uncontained joy. A celebration like you have never experienced before. As people around the world gather to cheer on their favorite teams in the World Cup, I hope that for slivers of time, you're reminded at how beautiful and enriching cultural diversity can be and that despite the forces that push us toward division, there are still things capable of bringing us together and worth fighting for. Shared passion, laughter, music, food, respect. For the simple pleasure of rooting for a team. Isn't that good?

[Abby Wambach]

Damn. Yeah, I'm going to read that a bunch. That's right.

[Julie Foudy]

That's it. Like, that's it. That's why I'm, like, so emotional.

[Abby Wambach]

I mean, and honestly, like, people. People can probably think about what it would feel like to represent your country. And, yes, the playing and representing your country is cool. However, I think our women's national team has always been more focused on what it can do to our country and the positive impact it can have. And so this coming together and this hope the men have this unique opportunity to really unite this country after such an entirely divisive period. And. And I don't know if they want that responsibility, but to me, like, that is the best motivation ever. Like, if I can win and do my job and then also get this freaking incredible byproduct of, like, uniting my nation. Like, come on, boys, you have it.

[Julie Foudy]

No pressure.

[Abby Wambach]

You. You've got the chance to. You've got this moment. And. And who is going to meet the moment? Baligan, like, come on, number 20. Number 20 is. Of course, I'm here for it. I'm like, I'm serious. Like, I'm gonna wear the same clothes every single game. I mean, it will be hilarious because I really want to go to the Turkey game, the third game here in la, trying to get tickets. Anybody know anybody who got Tickets. Because my gosh.

[Julie Foudy]

And Cindy Parlo will have some tickets.

[Abby Wambach]

I'm like, will it be weird if I wore my own jersey?

[Julie Foudy]

No.

[Abby Wambach]

To the game?

[Julie Foudy]

No, it will not. No. We will run this clip. No, we need to like, we need to get the double sided jersey. Like.

[Abby Wambach]

Yeah.

[Julie Foudy]

On the back. Wombach on the front.

[Abby Wambach]

So that would be cool.

[Julie Foudy]

Someone make that. Let's make that. Have you also my friend, my friends, my, my kids have been talking about Freddie from Germany.

[Abby Wambach]

Oh, my God.

[Julie Foudy]

Views of the US this is the

[Abby Wambach]

content I'm here for. Yes. He's on my timeline for sure.

[Julie Foudy]

Tell me more about Freddy kids. I, I've barely seen Freddy, but my kids, oh my gosh, they're like, oh, here's where he is, Mom. He's going to the Ella Langley concert.

[Charlotte North]

Is he a player to meet her?

[Abby Wambach]

I have a question. He's just a fan.

[Julie Foudy]

Yeah, just a really good fan.

[Abby Wambach]

Because wasn't he in Mardi Gras? And he couldn't believe the beads. Couldn't believe the beads.

[Julie Foudy]

And then he's like, you know, where did he go? He went to the Waffle House. He's just like hitting all of it. Chili's.

[Abby Wambach]

That's awesome.

[Julie Foudy]

All like the fast food places. McDonald's and Taco Bell. He's like, taco Bell landed or something like that. I don't know.

[Abby Wambach]

That's amazing.

[Julie Foudy]

Okay, so I know Freddie's been hitting a lot of places, but Abby, do you have any fun travel coming up?

[Abby Wambach]

Well, yes, I'm doing a lot of fun travel. My family is going up to Northern California a couple weeks after we drop Emma off just to make sure she's good.

[Julie Foudy]

Okay, so if you're, if you're like doing a family vacation, are you, are you like planning things ahead? Are you, do you have like a full on itinerary when you go?

[Abby Wambach]

Okay.

[Julie Foudy]

Because we do not.

[Abby Wambach]

Abby, prior to yesterday's dinner conversation with my family, to Abby, today is different. So I will one day.

[Julie Foudy]

Yes.

[Abby Wambach]

Yeah. I have been planning. I have been the planner, Abby. Like, you know, we've got kids, so we gotta like make sure we have activities and stuff that we get to go do. Otherwise they're just gonna bed rot all day. Right. So I've been the planner, but I've decided after also learning that research shows that people are happier on trips when they do not plan things.

[Julie Foudy]

Good. I like.

[Abby Wambach]

So you like land, you get to the place and then you just start asking locals what you should do. That way like you feel connected to the place that you're in.

[Julie Foudy]

I subscribe to that.

[Abby Wambach]

Yes. Yes. I. I mean, are you. Are you a planner or not?

[Julie Foudy]

No, not at all. I am an explorer, but I like to do it kind of spontaneously. And I often find myself on the flight to wherever I'm going doing kind of just a basic kind of rundown of, like, okay, what are some of the activities people do? So I have a little familiarity of like, oh, these are the fun things to do.

[Abby Wambach]

Okay.

[Julie Foudy]

Yeah. Because I feel like those little unexpected moments turn out to be much more memorable than the stuff you plan. Right.

[Abby Wambach]

Food is very much where my memory is stored. Like, it's just like the little moments coming back. Yeah. Like coming back at the end of the night and wanting to crash, but you just end up staying up and talking for hours.

[Julie Foudy]

Which, by the way, is why I think it's so much better to travel with Airbnb because you're all together. I know we talk about this a lot, but that is so key to me is that community that you've got everyone together.

[Abby Wambach]

Yes. I mean, and for traveling, like, for the two of us, you know, planning for this summer, we will definitely. We. I mean, we've already booked with Airbnb. It's not definitely going to be. We have. We have those plans already. So I'm. I'm pretty excited because especially with teenagers, you know, like, forced hangout and being in the same space, it's just, like, perfect for our family.

[Julie Foudy]

Yeah, agreed. Okay, back to. To lacrosse. Abigail, I know your nephew's play, Brady and Connor. And. And you have three nieces that also play. Did you ever try it yourself? Because I think you would have been a beast at it, actually.

[Abby Wambach]

Well, back in the day, women's lacrosse, girls lacrosse was just, like, just coming on the scene. And I played in the backyard with my brothers with their sticks that had pockets. And then I think that, like, I tried one once, and I was like, this is not easy. This is harder, way harder than I know. Like, I know how to throw and catch a lacrosse ball, but only with the boys. Stick. But, yeah, I'm so excited because Charlotte is, like, you know, a legend in the world of lacrosse. And Brady. Brady's kind of making himself into a legend right now in the world of lacrosse. And Connor. Yeah. Going into Duke next year. And I've got three nieces who play two in college and one in high school right now. So it's. It's just my whole family. Who knew that we would become a lacrosse family instead of a soccer family? I don't know.

[Julie Foudy]

What happened, like, the Humphreys, Okay.

[Abby Wambach]

At the.

[Julie Foudy]

At our Julie Foudy Sports Leadership Academy, which we did for, like, almost 20 years.

[Abby Wambach]

Yeah.

[Julie Foudy]

And we did it at the East Coast a lot at Petty Academy, which is this great school in New Jersey. And we had two total legends who ran our lacrosse portion of it because it was more than just soccer, of course. So we had Jen Adams, who's this Australian All Caps legend, a lacrosse player, and she played at Maryland as well, and Dana Dobie, who's this Canadian lacrosse All Caps legend. And they also are super successful coaches at Loyola University in Maryland. But so they. They tried every year to teach me lacrosse, but I was not very good at it. I tried a lot of stick tricks. I used to throw a lot with Izzy at the leadership academies, but literally, that was it. I never played.

[Abby Wambach]

Right.

[Julie Foudy]

But the. The best thing they ever taught me. Jen and Dana, huh? Which I thought would be really fun for the podcast. Anytime at camp, if one of them said to you, hit me with an and I. Okay, you had to. This is a camp thing. You had to go and will always love you. And you had to do the full. The full thing. So I think for the podcast, this has nothing to do with lacrosse, but I love this about Jen and Dana because all of a sudden, it would be like the middle of this serious evening talk, and from the back, they'd be like, foudy, hit me with an and I. And then the kids would have no idea what it is because it's maybe a new camp. And you all of a sudden be like, hunda, it's so good.

[Abby Wambach]

That is the most fun thing ever. And I don't think you know this about me. You know, Whitney is like my top. Top what? Yeah, Whitney. Anytime I'm in the gym. This is crazy.

[Julie Foudy]

You play Whitney Houston.

[Abby Wambach]

Whitney. When Whitney comes on, I'm like. And so the trainers at the gym I go to, they know that. So they, like, they put Whitney on repeat when I'm working out.

[Julie Foudy]

Oh, my God, this is freaking.

[Abby Wambach]

That's hilarious. I love that.

[Julie Foudy]

Hit me with an and. Let's hear it. Then hit me with an and I abs.

[Abby Wambach]

I can't do it.

[Julie Foudy]

What you. But this is the thing. You have to do it, like, then we do it to the kids. And it's so fun because the kids, like, you know, uncomfortable. You are at that age. These teenagers, they have to, like, you got to give it everything you have. We never, like, we're like, no, that's not enough. Give it.

[Abby Wambach]

Okay, okay.

[Julie Foudy]

Abby, hit me with an and I, Abby, jen and dana are watching k and I.

[Charlotte North]

And I

[Julie Foudy]

will always love you. Party people. She's got a voice.

[Abby Wambach]

No, I don't. No, I don't.

[Julie Foudy]

That was impressive.

[Abby Wambach]

I love. Love me some Whitney jewels. Oh, and I. And I don't do her justice, obviously. Whitney's the legend. She's the legend.

[Julie Foudy]

We're gonna do that forever on the podcast. Now that is a thing. Hit me with an Andy. All right, let's go to our party starter that highlights shakeups and headlines you'll want to celebrate this week in women's sports. And this special party starter is brought to you by Ally the bank. That is your ally. Okay, abs. In honor of our north star, Charlotte north, joining us at the party today, we are doing a special lacks. So lacrosse party starter. Four cool things you may not know about lacrosse. Number one at the Olympics. Women's lacrosse is headed to the Olympics in 2028. So for the first time ever, which amazes me, honestly, women will compete in the Olympics with lacrosse, which, as we know, is a huge moment for them in their sports history. And it will feature the. And I want to talk about to Charlotte about this. This fast paced 6 on 6 version of the sport. Yeah. And there's. There's only a total of six teams that will qualify to compete leading up to the games. Okay, that seems like it's. That's tight, right?

[Abby Wambach]

Yeah. The 66 I want to talk to her about too, because I wonder how different it is. It's got to be so different. It's probably the difference between 11 volts. 11 versus the, you know, the TST. Seven. Seven asides.

[Julie Foudy]

You know, seven aside. Right.

[Abby Wambach]

Okay.

[Julie Foudy]

So topic stuff too.

[Abby Wambach]

Yeah, Topic number two of our party starter. As Kinger always says, know your history. So we want to give a brief history of Women's Professional Lacrosse League here in the US before the launch of the WLL Women's Lacrosse League in May, there were two other women's professional lacrosse leagues and one professional tour before that. Brief history is coming. So the United Women's Lacrosse League UWLX, happened from 2016 to 2018. Then, Jules. The Women's Professional Lacrosse League, the WPLL.

[Julie Foudy]

Not to be confused with the WLL. The current.

[Abby Wambach]

Correct, correct. That happened from 2018 to 2020. And they played two full seasons in 2018 and two in 2019 before the cancellation of the 2020 season due to the COVID Yeah. And then Athletes Unlimited Pro lacrosse happened from 2021 to 2024. That league suspended its LAC in 2024. And the WLL launched with four teams. Boston guard, New York Charging, Maryland Charm, and the California Palms. So just a little brief history on, like, where we've been. And also, I think. I think that we're going some places with women's lacrosse.

[Julie Foudy]

It's exciting to find out. Yes, I look forward to that. Okay, and then another topic. The sister superstars in lacrosse. You had three sisters who won a national championship together. So last year, the Humphrey sisters helped lead North Carolina to the NCAA title. One of the coolest family stories in college sports. So imagine winning a national championship with both of your other sisters on the field with you. And on top of that, Chloe Humphrey scored her 109th goal of the season in the Natty, tied in the NCAA Division 1 single season record. So that was in the national final this year.

[Abby Wambach]

That is incredible. And you know, the Humphrey sisters, that was a fun story to watch. And it was also fun because I love watching the UNC women's lacrosse team because I love Jenny Levy. And so I don't mean to disrespect Jenny by what I'm about to say in topic number four, but can you say dynasty? So the Northwestern team has become one of the greatest dynasties in women's college sports. The Wildcats have won nine NCAA championships under coach Kelly Amonte Hiller, including this year against North Carolina. And we love giving the love, you know, to all the divisions. So Florida Southern, also. Right. Won the Division 2 women's lacrosse championship. And Middlebury. Middlebury won the Division 3 championship. So congratulations to all the national championship champions this year.

[Julie Foudy]

Okay. And a little bonus from the Smithsonian. Again, know your history. Lacross is officially recognized as the oldest team sport. I did not know this. In North America. I would have never guessed. This is the oldest team sport in North America. And it's actually often referred by indigenous peoples as the Creator's game. The Haudenosaunee people, whose traditional homelands encompass much of what is now known as New York State. Abs you might know this being from there, believe lacrosse is a gift from the Creator, a way for warriors to resolve disputes without violence.

[Abby Wambach]

Wow.

[Julie Foudy]

It didn't get called lacrosse until the French learned of the game and thought the sticks resembled the Pope's. Staff lacrosse.

[Abby Wambach]

No way. I did not know that. That's freaking cool.

[Julie Foudy]

Isn't that amazing?

[Abby Wambach]

Okay, and also, can we just talk a little bit? Like, let's just, like, talk a cross about how. How these folks were using it to solve war.

[Julie Foudy]

Right?

[Abby Wambach]

Like, that is what sport can do, folks.

[Julie Foudy]

Yeah, It.

[Abby Wambach]

It. It can it can be an equalizer of and. And get us to stop killing each other. I just think it's so awesome.

[Julie Foudy]

Resolve disputes without violence. Although I think some lacrosse players would say it gets a little violent.

[Abby Wambach]

Yes, that's right.

[Julie Foudy]

Especially on the men's side. Okay, that's a wrap on our party starter and Ally for sponsoring the segment. Ally is more than a bank, and their do it right approach helps customers unlock their economic potential and guides their efforts as a leading sponsor in women's sports. And just like us, Ally believes that when women in sports win, we all have a reason to party. LA bank member FDIC okay, up next, Charlotte north is proof that being late to the party isn't always a bad thing. She didn't start playing lacrosse until eighth grade. Now she's one of the best players on the planet. Charlotte north is next.

[Abby Wambach]

Okay, Jules, so the FIFA World cup is basically going to be one of those rare moments where people, you know, from all over the world are suddenly sharing space together, right? Different cultures, different languages, different themes.

[Julie Foudy]

What I love most about it.

[Abby Wambach]

Yep, exactly. All, like, colliding in the same cities in North America. And as we both can attest, those are kind of like the trips that change you the most in many ways. So, like my trip to France in 2019, I got to go to the FIFA World cup and watch the women play. And we. We booked on Airbnb, and it was so awesome. First of all, I got to go be a spectator and not a player, and it's just way less stressful. It's way less stressful. It's so wonderful. I got to be in the city. You know, like, we. We booked an Airb B in Paris, and it was just, like, so beautiful to be able to, like, move around the city, use that as, like, our hub to go to the games outside of. Outside of the city center. And just to be in a different culture is just, like, one of my favorite things. So that by locals, and for me, this is actually such a go to thing that I always do. Whenever I'm in a foreign city, a place that is not my home city, I look up all of the Airbnb experiences that are nearby.

[Julie Foudy]

I just did that with San Luis Obispo because I was like, oh, okay, what are some of the experiences they're offering? And, oh, this is amazing.

[Abby Wambach]

Exactly. Airbnb. The world is meant to meet Abigail.

[Julie Foudy]

Last year, I didn't feel like I had a summer fit, but now, thanks to Quince, I feel like I always just know what to wear.

[Abby Wambach]

I love their stuff so much.

[Julie Foudy]

I know. And there's such a variety of things, right? For example, quince has this 100% European linen fit shorts. Have you seen these? They're like cute blue and white stripes with this little white drawstring. Okay. That's one thing I got. And then I also got these. They're called the Micro Rip Stop Mid Rise Hike. And they're little hiking shorts.

[Abby Wambach]

Cool.

[Julie Foudy]

I like to hike so much.

[Abby Wambach]

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Cool.

[Julie Foudy]

So I've been living in those. All of that is just starting at just $32 for those shorts and 34.90 for the hiking shorts. And the quality genuinely feels so much more expensive than that. Quince works directly with ethical factories and cuts out the middlemen. So you're paying for the quality itself, not just the branding, which is what we love about them. And everything is priced 50 to 80% less than similar brands. Elevate your summer wardrobe. Party people. Go to quint.com welcome to the party. For free shipping on your order and 365 day returns. Now available in Canada too. That's Q-U I N C.com welcome to the party. For free shipping and 365 day returns. Quint.com welcome to the party.

[Abby Wambach]

This episode is brought to you by Levi's.

[Julie Foudy]

One of the things we love about this partnership is what Levi's actually stands for. Celebrating people out in the world who are shifting the status quo, whether in a big way or a small way, and bringing together originals from every walk of life, every background, every expression, and giving them the space to take risks and write their own stories, which we love with Levi's right there with them. So again, the most exciting part, Levi's is teaming up with some of those most iconic federations, of course, the United States, Mexico, England and France. And because it's not just about the game, it's about identity. It's about how fans show up, how they express themselves, and how they tell their story on and off the field.

[Abby Wambach]

This is going to be the uniform of the fandom.

[Julie Foudy]

Show the back of your jacket real quick. Yeah, I don't have that on the red one.

[Abby Wambach]

Look at this.

[Julie Foudy]

That's what I love about Levi's. It's not just about looking good. It's about being part of something bigger. Learn [e-mail]. And now to the partiest part of our party. Women's lacrosse is growing as we've been talking about, faster than ever. The Olympics are coming, professional opportunities are expanding, and for the first time, young Girls can realistically dream about building a career in the sport they love. Few people have done more to help drive that growth than our guest, Charlotte north, the two time to Wharton award winner. That is for the best collegiate player in the nation. Yes, she's won that twice. National champion while at Boston College, World champion for Team USA in 2022. Captain of the Boston guard, entrepreneur, broadcaster, one of the most recognizable faces in the game today, Charlotte North. Welcome to the pot, Ed.

[Abby Wambach]

Charlotte North. It's here. I finally get to meet you in real life. I guess. This is not real life. It's virtual.

[Charlotte North]

I count it. I count it. Thank you, guys. That's unreal. What an intro.

[Abby Wambach]

We try to make it a little different than the normal. I'm so happy you're here. I'm so happy that you are such an ambassador for women's sports. I see you everywhere. I'm like, dude, you are crushing it. Commentating. You're doing so much. Like, how are you? Like, what. Where are you at right now? I know, like, the. The league is starting, like, what's going on?

[Julie Foudy]

And you just got engaged. Oh, my God, that's right.

[Abby Wambach]

I forgot to say that.

[Charlotte North]

Congratulations.

[Julie Foudy]

We saw that. We saw that.

[Charlotte North]

We were excited in the middle of all the chaos, as you guys know very well. Yeah, I pulled off an epic surprise. It was amazing. Amazing day. Couldn't be happier. But yes, I'm in the middle of now, our summer season with the wll, but I feel like throughout the year I wear a bunch of different hats. You know, professional lacrosse player is, you know, comes first and foremost. Playing on Team USA is the priority as well. So I'm very lucky that I continue to play at the highest level with my teammates. I mean, that's. That's the dream for all of us. And it's really cool to see how far it's come. But then, you know, I also wear the hat of being a broadcaster throughout the college season, which is so fun. It's a whole different world. Like, television's nuts, but it's really cool. Like, all these lacrosse games are now on tv. There's more games everywhere. Streaming is huge for us as well. But we get linear windows, we get prime time games. It's awesome. And then, yeah, I like to travel around, run some camps and clinics when I can as well, and get out there on the field with some young players in all these areas that don't have a lot of lacrosse. I grew up in Texas, so, you know, not really a lacrosse hotbed by any means. And I didn't have a ton of access to the sport. So I love going, you know, all over the map and getting to meet young players. But the sport is growing. It is in a healthy spot and it's exciting.

[Julie Foudy]

Yeah. What about the new league? Like, what's the vibe? What's the feeling? Speaking of healthy.

[Charlotte North]

Yeah.

[Julie Foudy]

How, how the crowds been, all of that.

[Charlotte North]

So we have a game down in Charlotte, North Carolina, which I expect there to be, you know, a good amount of people. The game's growing down there for sure. Collegiately with programs like North Carolina down there, there's tons of fans of both the men and the women down there. And then, you know, professionally, the men have the Carolina chaos. We don't have a team down there yet, but we're going in that tour based model. We're bringing our teams in, we're playing in front of that crowd. So that, that'll be fun, but it's, it's awesome. We played in a championship series, like a mini series the past two years for the first two years of the wll and we played in the Sixes format, which is the format that will be played in the Olympics. It's kind of like rugby. You've got full field rugby, then you've got rugby sevens. It's very similar to that where we have a smaller field, less number of players. It's a little bit easier to understand and understand all the crazy rules in the sport of lacrosse, but we played that and we had an awesome run in, in the wintertime where you're not getting a lot of lacrosse. So we were able to play on television. We drew, we had sold out crowds in our first event, you know, two years back, and I was lucky enough.

[Julie Foudy]

And that was all the Sixes. The shortened version. Okay.

[Charlotte North]

Yep, that was the shortened version. And so, you know, the games go quick, but it's, it's sort of what lacrosse fans are coming to love a little bit more now because it is so fast and you play every position. It's, it's very, you know, it's, it's kind of a sped up version of our game. But it's so exciting because you're seeing scores that are 18 to 21, you know, like high flying, a lot of action, a lot of, lot of exciting goals that are scored. But then now we're playing our first full summer season and that's in the field format. So what everybody is used to seeing 10 on 10, three attackers, three midfielders, three defenders and a goalie. And we're doing that touring around this Summer and I think everybody's really excited. We've been kind of waiting for this opportunity to showcase what it looks like to be a pro lacrosse player. Nobody really knew what that was like or what it would be like. And it's our inaugural summer season, so it's just getting started, but it's been awesome so far.

[Abby Wambach]

What do you prefer, sixes or tens?

[Charlotte North]

I never know how to answer this question because I'm like, I love them both for different reasons. I grew up playing the field game and so that will always hold a special place in my heart. I'm an attacker, so I love being on the offensive zone and getting to really like dissect a defense in that way. But sixes is so fun. It's like you're in practice playing like a man up drill.

[Abby Wambach]

Yeah.

[Charlotte North]

And you just get to go up and down like it's, it's new and I think it's, it's capturing a lot of people's hearts and for the right reasons. It shows the speed of our game, but also the skill in such a unique way. So I think it's the perfect format for the Olympics. And it's been really fun. We actually competed in the World Games last summer in China where we played sixes in the international stage. And it was so cool to see how these countries are fielding these teams because you don't need as many players. So these teams are that much better. So it's really cool to see it's

[Abby Wambach]

going to be more competitive. Speaking of competitive, there's a rule in your league. There's like a two point goal. What the hell is that?

[Julie Foudy]

I love this. I wish soccer did more of this.

[Charlotte North]

I know. Like, like.

[Julie Foudy]

Yeah, yeah, exactly. Abby, you would have scored. Could you imagine thousands of points?

[Charlotte North]

Yeah. Games would flip on a dime.

[Abby Wambach]

Like.

[Charlotte North]

Yeah, it's really exciting. I love that we kind of get to experiment with these things in our pro league. And we've never had a two point line before, so if you can shoot from distance, you can put some points up. And we tried it out. It was 13 yards, I believe 13 yards out from the net in the championship series that we used earlier this year. And so it was pretty fun. I'm someone who likes to shoot from distance, controlled and safely, which is a big topic in our sport. But it's, it's fun to have a two point option.

[Julie Foudy]

I mean, you're down, you should be getting three points for that. I saw that shot and I was like, okay, yeah, that is a three pointer. Yeah, Yeah, I love it. You have so much strength with your shot too, but it's like fastest shot ever award. I feel like that's very much what it was.

[Abby Wambach]

You're like, yeah, Charlotte's like the boss. Like, you're the one who's, who's crushing it. Do you like not wearing helmets or do you. Would you prefer putting a helmet on? Because I feel scared about you sitting outside that two point line, like ripping shots and one just rising a little bit too high and popping somebody in the jaw.

[Charlotte North]

Yeah, I mean, so we've had a couple incidents in the past and I think one of the, like, we go back and forth because now players are shooting faster than ever. It's like these goalies, man, they see shots that are 80 to 90 miles an hour and they don't even have

[Julie Foudy]

hardly any pads on.

[Charlotte North]

I'm like, yeah, they wear detector. That's it. Yeah, it's crazy. It's crazy. Some of these bruises and it's just nuts. But I do understand the argument for helmets, however, I, I think we avoid that for as long as we can because it's a slippery slope. So if we add helmets, we have to add pads. Exactly. Gets more physical. And our sticks are different from the men's sticks.

[Abby Wambach]

So.

[Charlotte North]

Yeah, our pockets aren't as deep. So you, you aren't. If you get hit or you get bumped or checked or whatever, the ball will come out if it's more physical. So we would have to move then to the men's style of a stick. And then I think we're eventually just kind of morphing into the men's game, which I don't know if we want that.

[Abby Wambach]

That's right.

[Charlotte North]

So it is a slippery slope. I don't know. But I do get, I get the fear of, of something bad happening. I also think there are rules in place that do help in terms of safety. Like we have this three seconds call where you're not really allowed to stand in the middle of no man's land right in front of the cage for more than three seconds without marking someone. So it incentivizes the defense to get out of the way. And we have shooting space, which, like if you watch a college game and you see a random whistle be blown and a referee does this. Like if you look like you could shoot in somebody's standing or camping out in there and they're in your shooting lane, you get a penalty shot for it.

[Abby Wambach]

So there are door.

[Charlotte North]

Yeah, so like 8 meters, like when you see someone line up on the 8 meter, like a lot of times, it's because they draw shooting space, because defenses aren't getting out of the way in time. So there are rules in place to avoid it. However, everybody's human. Sometimes things happen, but it's a slippery slope.

[Abby Wambach]

I think you're like, I do love

[Julie Foudy]

when you guys score and then you, you throw the stick down. I was like, God, I want to do that one day. Like, bam.

[Charlotte North]

It tees you up for a perfect celebration.

[Abby Wambach]

I think that, I think that women's lacrosse is just so beautiful. I went. I was in UNC a couple weekends ago when the men were playing. My nephew plays. My nephew. Yeah, yeah. And my new nephew.

[Charlotte North]

What a baller he is.

[Abby Wambach]

Yeah, he's legit. And the younger one, Connor, is going to Duke next year, so she's got

[Julie Foudy]

like seven nephews and 500 nieces that play. I'm like, what is happening with the Wombach family? There's like, every, every week I hear of another person that's playing in her family.

[Abby Wambach]

I've got two playing in at Siena and one at one playing at Sienna, one playing at Niagara. Women's lacrosse, and then two boy lacrosse players. So anyways, but I was at unc and I went to the women's game, the men's game on Saturday, and the women's game on Sunday, and the women's game is just so fun, freaking beautiful. And to know how flat your guys sticks, the pockets are and how fast y' all are running at top speed with people bumping you and possibly trying to get that ball off of, of the stick. It's like, it's incredible, and it's, like, beautiful. Like, it's just so. There's like a classy elegance to it that, and it's also badass. There's just like, everything is involved. I just appreciate you guys. And then, you know, you have the Olympics coming up, right? So can we talk about how big of a deal the, the Olympics is for you? Like, in 2028, it's going to be sixes, right? And, and, and are you excited for it? First time women lacrosse in the Olympics.

[Charlotte North]

I can't believe it. I, I, I can't believe it. But at the same time, it kind of feels like, like it's been a long time coming because of how, how far the sport has grown. And I feel like it's the perfect next step for, for the entire sport and everybody who plays it to be able to showcase it to a whole new audience. Like, this is a bigger stage than anyone has ever seen in our sport. So I think it is perfect. I think the skill, like, to your point, Abby, there is more skill now in the game than ever. There's more athleticism in the game. So if you're someone who's never seen lacrosse and you're going to watch the Olympics for the first time, like you're going to see a field that looks a little bit like a basketball court in terms of how many players are on the field at once and the scheme that's being used and the pick and roll and you know, the way that defenders approach somebody dodging on them. Like all those things are very similar to something like basketball, but it's the non stop back and forth is something like hockey. So it's like if you like pieces of these different sports, like you're gonna get a little bit of everything in lacrosse and then it's, you know, as physical as soccer, but it's, it's the hand eye of other sports too. Like it pieces everything together so beautifully. And when it's played at its purest form, like it is jaw dropping, like, these are some of the best athletes that I've ever seen in any sport that I play alongside of. It's ridiculous. Like, and I just, I can't wait for it. I can't wait for new fans to see it because I'm like, when you see it at field level and you see how strong these girls are, but they run eight miles a game. Like, I mean, you guys know it's just a whole different beast when you're playing at the highest level. So we've been training like crazy for, for forever. This is actually a World cup year for us. So. Yeah, team, we're going to Tokyo this summer. So it's kind of hard to like look a little bit too far into the future. You know, we have training camp coming up next week and we all get to be back together, but, but just taking it day by day. But it's a dream. It's a dream to kind of see that on the horizon for us is the World Cup.

[Abby Wambach]

Sixes or tens?

[Charlotte North]

It is tens.

[Julie Foudy]

And the World cup is every four years. Like, like the, like soccer, right?

[Charlotte North]

Yes, it is. It's every four years. Yeah. So our, we, we had one in 2022. We actually had it on U.S. soil and no team had ever won on their own home soil before. And we, we did that in 2022 in Maryland and it was, was amazing. I mean like legends on that team.

[Julie Foudy]

You were part of that team.

[Charlotte North]

Yeah, yeah, yeah. But like Taylor Cummings, Kayla Trainor, like just these figures in our sport who went out after they retired after that game. But like, I always think about players like that that I wish could be, you know, on that Olympic team playing in 2028 because of what they've done for the sport. But it's going to be so cool.

[Julie Foudy]

Absolute. For most of my athletic career, I just grabbed whatever protein was at the grocery store. And often it wasn't protein, it was carbs. It was, let's be clear, frozen pizzas. I wasn't thinking about quality. I was thinking about fuel. Get it in, move on. I don't have to do a lot of work. And honestly, most of it tasted like that.

[Abby Wambach]

So.

[Julie Foudy]

Omaha Steaks.

[Abby Wambach]

Whoa.

[Julie Foudy]

Can we just talk about them for a little bit? Omg, y', all. I ordered their filet mignon and I remember thinking this is what steak is supposed to taste like. It's been naturally aged for 28 days. Grass fed grain finished. And this is amazing because it's with everything they do. It's not just the filet mignon, their pork loin, their tenderloin. I mean, I have gone through all of their, their chicken breasts. I've gone through all of the Omaha steaks. So good as samplings and you can actually taste the difference. Never settle for grocery proteins again. And this year, Omaha Steaks makes the easiest Father's Day gift. Shop the specials and order the perfect gift in time for Father's day@omaha steaks.com and get $35 off when you use promo code. Welcome to the party at checkout. That's Omaha steaks.com code. Welcome to the party. Terms apply. See site for details One thing I so appreciate about skims is that they just don't over complicate things. They make the basics you wear every day feel better.

[Abby Wambach]

True.

[Julie Foudy]

And thank you for that. I've tried plenty of bras and underwear that look great and then you put them on and you're like, what is happening? Too tight in one spot. Constantly adjusting, showing through the clothes. It's, it gives that wrinkle line on the clothes. I don't love that. It always feels like something is kind of off. Lately I've been living in their everyday cotton collection.

[Abby Wambach]

Oh so cozy.

[Julie Foudy]

And the everyday cotton ultimate bra has become a staple for me because it's made from this super soft, breathable cotton, but it still gives you the support and shape you want. It's the kind of bra I put on in the morning and then which is what I love so much. I don't actually think about it again, it's not like cutting into me. It's not falling off my shoulder. It's the highest compliment I can give and that's what really keeps me coming back to skims. The fabrics feel amazing. The fit is consistently great. Shop everyday cotton and all of my favorite bras and [e-mail] after you place your order, be sure to let them know we sent you select podcast in the survey and be sure to select our show Go on party people in the drop down menu that follows. That makes a big difference. Full, full disclosure. Body lotion alone is sometimes not enough for me.

[Abby Wambach]

I'm just gonna say.

[Julie Foudy]

Okay, I'm just gonna.

[Abby Wambach]

Where are you going with this?

[Julie Foudy]

Especially after long days outside, which, you know, I love. I want to be in the sun, I want to be out moving. And that requires showering, which I don't love more often, but that I need to. And my skin starts feeling dehydrated and old, honestly. And like kind of, you know, grapey, you know. Do you ever get that way? Yeah, kind of like a, A raisiny grape.

[Abby Wambach]

Pruney.

[Julie Foudy]

Yeah, yeah, yeah, Pruny. If that's you party people, then here's my hack. I use a little bit of OCS hyaluronic body serum underneath my lotion.

[Abby Wambach]

Oh, interesting.

[Julie Foudy]

Literally, my skin just feels better. It feels more hydrated throughout the day. So osea's hyaluronic body serum is a multi layer hyaluronic powered hydration for the entire body. And right now we have a special discount just for you. Get 10 off your first order site wide with code. Welcome to the [e-mail] that's code. Welcome to the party at O S E D A Malibu dot com. So you guys have won us, has won the last four world championships, right? Ranked number one in the world. So my question is, and that, and that tournament was on American soil. Why has it been so hard to break through, you think, in, in terms of the sport in this country? Because I, I do feel like it's still. I mean, it's getting there. Of course WLL is going to help for sure, but it's taken some time.

[Charlotte North]

It has, yeah. There, there's a few, I would call them barriers to entry for our sport. And you know, one of them is the big one is, is cost. You know, this, this sport has predominantly been played on the east coast when you're starting out. You know, a lot of high schools outside of the east coast don't carry lacrosse or there's Not a lot of, you know, youth opportunity to start playing, you know, for a local rec team or things like that. Just because it, the cost of equipment is really high. You know, it requires a lot of equipment for basketball or soccer. You don't necessarily need all that much, you know, outside of space. You know, your cleats or your basketball shoes, a basketball, soccer ball, lacrosse. It's, it's a whole slew of things that you need in order to participate, especially on the men's side. Like you need head to toe pads, you need gloves, stick, all that. And, and so that's, that's part of the cost. The travel, the club atmosphere, environment has grown into a different beast as well. So there are a lot of cost barriers, I would say, but trying to kind of break through that and expand the game not only in North America, but globally. I think we need to continue to expand the game globally. I mentioned the other international teams that are pouring resources and now that it is an Olympic sport like Australia, Japan is skyrocketing in terms of their development.

[Julie Foudy]

They're hosting this one.

[Charlotte North]

Exactly. Yeah. It's, it's cool to see, you know, the way in which these, these countries are prioritizing lacrosse. But we have to continue to expand and just teach more of the world about the sport. And I think it starts at the youth level as, as everything does, but it's, it's growing in America. It just has to continue to, we have to lower the cost and barriers there for people to start playing and then, you know, continue to expand to these non traditional areas. But TV is a big part of it. Media coverage is a big part of it. It's been awesome to see what ESPN has done. They partnered with the wll. They've had a bajillion college games on television the past few years. So I think that's a huge part of all of it. And then internationally we'll have our games games on TV as well. But I think that that's something we have to continue to push as well.

[Abby Wambach]

So I have a question around your. Like, do you guys get paid to play for USA Lacrosse?

[Charlotte North]

It's a great question. We do not. So USA Lacrosse is a non profit organization.

[Abby Wambach]

So is US Soccer.

[Julie Foudy]

So at the same time Abby and I were like, huh, keep going.

[Charlotte North]

No, trust me, I, I can't tell you how much I've read and watched and listened to you guys and, and just admired the way in which you guys have led everything in that department. I think it's a really exciting time. It's Also, you know, something to think about. It's. It's. I think down the line there will be opportunities. I think we're getting there. They do a really good job of raising money and getting out there in the communities and. And we have some awesome people who work for USA Lacrosse, but, you know, it's definitely, definitely something to think about.

[Abby Wambach]

Well, we need to figure this out because you guys are professional now and you need to be treated as such. Julie has a lot of experience. I have a lot of experience. And our other co host, Billie Jean King.

[Julie Foudy]

I was gonna say Kinger's gonna freak out. We're add it to her list. She'd be like, tell me more.

[Abby Wambach]

I love it. She would say to you, charlotte, Charlotte, what are you gonna do about it?

[Julie Foudy]

What are you gonna do about it, Charlotte?

[Charlotte North]

I mean, it's a good question. I think that, you know, us as players, you know, we understand how fortunate we are to play for, you know, our national team, and, you know, we don't take that lightly. I think we want to be part of the growth and expansion of the sport and also to, you know, uphold and maintain the success that the US Program has had. Having said that, you guys know how much effort and time and resources it takes to play at your highest level and do so after college. Like, that's something that, you know, naturally we've struggled with because there wasn't a WLL there. There wasn't as many international training opportunities. Now there are, but. But, you know, we haven't had that in the past. And we don't get to see each other every day. We don't. We don't get to train with each other each week. Like, we all are scattered around the country. So being able to kind of, you know, push the envelope and maintain where you're at and get better every day and stay healthy and all those things, you guys know, like, that's. That's no easy task. And so it's definitely something to think about and something that, you know, we're excited for, for what's coming up. But we're fortunate to have the WLL now and they're. They're giving us an amazing platform, but also, like, stability and, you know, income and, and health benefits and things like that. Like, yeah, that's. That's a huge part of it. That's something that's new this year for us. So, yeah, it's a good step. Well, the fact that, well, now you're

[Julie Foudy]

stuck with us, so, yeah, yeah, you could just call us anytime.

[Abby Wambach]

The fact that you're going to be playing in the Olympics. Like, your team needs to be getting paid dollars. And. And just because now you have a little stability with the WLL does not mean that you don't deserve pay for representing your country in World Cups and Olympics. And yes, it costs a lot of money, but I just want you to know, like, good people are in charge of these organizations. Right? There were good people at U.S. soccer that are seeing the books and are seeing the bottom line. But my question is, do the men get played paid on their side, on

[Charlotte North]

the national team side? No, they do not. So we're in the same boat as them.

[Julie Foudy]

Them.

[Charlotte North]

So I kind of.

[Julie Foudy]

Something you can change together.

[Charlotte North]

Exactly. Yeah. I feel like this is, you know, a rising, you know, tide for us. And it's. It's exciting, but it's definitely something that, you know, we. We talk about and we're hopeful for down the line.

[Julie Foudy]

I. I think it's insane that you didn't. And I want all parents to hear this and all kids to hear this. You did not start playing lacrosse until middle school. You know how they're like, oh, my gosh. You didn't start your kids playing soccer until 7 years old.

[Abby Wambach]

I know.

[Julie Foudy]

How dare you. I'm like, charlotte didn't start lacrosse till she was 13 or 14. Come on. That's crazy.

[Charlotte North]

These kids, these schedules that they have these days. I'm like, guys, you are gonna hate this sport in six months.

[Abby Wambach]

That's right.

[Charlotte North]

And you are never going to want to play again. And it's sad because, like, the best part about sports is when people just love and obsess over it and they want to go out to the field and they want to watch their favorite teams and players, like, those are the best type of athletes that I feel like have the most success. And when you. You go through that phase of burnout, like, you lose all that. And that's so sad. So, yeah, I played every sport that I could get my hands on besides lacrosse, because there was no lacrosse. I didn't know about it, and I learned about it in seventh grade, started playing in eighth grade, and I was lucky. Like, I hit the jackpot with the coaches that I had that took a chance on and moved down to Texas and took over our high school team and started a club. I got so lucky. Like, these were coaches that played at Georgetown and coached at Syracuse. Like, they. They been through, you know, what elite lacrosse looks like. And so they were like, hey, we're going to go start this club, club team down in Texas. We're gonna. We're gonna help bring Texas lacrosse to where we think it can be with all the athletes that are down there. Like, it was. It was amazing. I was so lucky. But. But, yeah, I learned about it quickly and fell in love with it. Just everything that, you know, you guys mentioned, the. The beauty of it, the skill, the athleticism of it. But, yeah, I felt like I was playing catch up with everybody, which was also kind of a stressor. Like, I was a late recruitment by definition, and now there's some recruiting rules in place. But, like, I went to max four tournaments because everything was a flight away. Like, we weren't going to tournaments every weekend of the summer, playing in 110 degree heat, you know, Thursday to Sunday, every week that these kids are doing now, it's nuts.

[Abby Wambach]

But Charlotte's, like, the biggest diamond in the rough because, like, bc. Wait, you went to. Where did you go. Where was your first college?

[Charlotte North]

Duke. So I. Yeah, I wasn't really recruited heavily coming out of high school, but I was. I was so lucky because I'm like, my dream was to play in the acc, best conference in lacrosse and try to, you know, win a national championship and just like, immerse myself in. In the love I had for the sport. And so I was lucky. I got recruited by Duke and a couple other schools, but wasn't heavily recruited. And I was kind of like that last spot, if you will, in the. In the class. And. And I was like, all right, I'm gonna work my ass off to try to, you know, make an impact. And I had some great coaches there as well, and then entered the transfer portal and ended up at bc, and the rest is history.

[Abby Wambach]

We call ourselves late bloomers. I was also a late bloomer.

[Charlotte North]

Yes, exactly.

[Julie Foudy]

I was a never bloomer.

[Charlotte North]

Okay?

[Abby Wambach]

Bullshit.

[Julie Foudy]

I wish I was a late bloomer. Why didn't I bloom? Where did that happen? Okay, I also understand that you play a little golf.

[Charlotte North]

Oh, yes.

[Julie Foudy]

Let's go.

[Charlotte North]

We've heard you guys do as well. No.

[Julie Foudy]

Well, I might have beaten Abby on the golf course, thank you very much.

[Abby Wambach]

You didn't beat me. We were on teams and your team beat my team.

[Julie Foudy]

I had two really good players.

[Charlotte North]

Okay, okay, what was the format?

[Julie Foudy]

I had Pro Joe and then semi Pro Joe is what I called them. Two Joes that just crushed it. I was like.

[Abby Wambach]

We played it as pro Am. We were in a Pro Am, and it was scramble.

[Julie Foudy]

So. So I don't know Andrea Reynolds, but she's a former BC teammate of yours, but she's a friend of a friend and she wants to know how you're going to find time for your golf obsession this season.

[Charlotte North]

Oh my gosh. I played with, with Andrea.

[Abby Wambach]

She's a beast.

[Julie Foudy]

Yeah, she's like, how, how is she gonna. You have to ask Charlotte. How is she gonna find time?

[Charlotte North]

Well, actually funny you guys ask. I played, I played golf yesterday with two of my US teammates. So we find time to fit it in.

[Abby Wambach]

We.

[Charlotte North]

We find time.

[Julie Foudy]

Yeah.

[Charlotte North]

In between the training, the, the weight room and all that, you know, we find, we find time, but you know, it's hard now. We're, we are the tour based model in the wl. So we travel a lot. You know, we have training camp with the national team and our headquarters are in Maryland, so we travel for that. But you know, through all the travel, you know, usually like Mondays and Tuesdays are good days for us, but I'm obsessed with golf. It's not, it's. It's a.

[Julie Foudy]

What's your handicap?

[Charlotte North]

Yeah, I think it's. It's at a 9, 3 right now.

[Julie Foudy]

Digits. Let's go.

[Charlotte North]

They got digits for the. For now. You know, I'm in Boston. I don't get to play. Like, winter months are dark. I'm like, I gotta go to the simulator. I gotta, I gotta go scratch this itch right now.

[Abby Wambach]

Do you have a simulator?

[Charlotte North]

No, but I. One day I'm gonna build one.

[Abby Wambach]

I want one so bad.

[Julie Foudy]

Wait, I'm gonna do an impersonation of my 17 year old mom. Can you stop buying pillows, bro, so we can get a simulator? I have a pillow problem. I like my decorative.

[Charlotte North]

Fair request. It's a trade off.

[Julie Foudy]

He's like, why can't we get a simulator? I'm like, okay.

[Abby Wambach]

It's a dream of mine for sure. I think when the kids are out of the house, I'm gonna turn one of their bedrooms into a simulator.

[Charlotte North]

Yeah. Yeah. So you have to like soundproof it though, because it's like when you hit a drive on a simulator, it sounds like, yeah, it's like a big boom. But I love it. I love it. I love going to the range. I. My short game sucks.

[Abby Wambach]

But same.

[Charlotte North]

I guess everybody's does. And that's the hard part about it. So frustrating.

[Abby Wambach]

Same. You want to, you want a golf thought? Because I think a lot about golf when I'm not playing golf. Here's a new golf thought. And they say that this can take you from shooting in, from going from the 80s and getting into the 70s.

[Charlotte North]

Okay, I'm listening.

[Abby Wambach]

Try to Just be scoring for birdies mentally. Nope, sorry, not birdies. Bogeys.

[Charlotte North]

Bogeys.

[Abby Wambach]

So basically all you're thinking is, I'm just trying to get a bogey on this hole. So it takes this mental pressure off of par, right? Because like, of course we're trying to always get birdies. Of course we are. Of course we're never getting birdies. Or every once in a while, maybe we're getting some solid pars. Like, we're solid. We're solid in the par game. But like, there's something that can happen, they say, psychologically, if all you're shooting for is bogeys and it can get you from. Get you from like high 80s and get you into low 80s and into the high 70s, which is literally the

[Charlotte North]

change I need right there.

[Abby Wambach]

Yeah.

[Charlotte North]

I'm like, I'm gonna make this eight foot putt. I'm gonna make it. I'm like talking to myself. I'm like, this is it. I see the line. I know. And then I smash it five feet.

[Julie Foudy]

Like, oh, Abby, tell. Tell Charlotte your, your putting theory theory too. This is.

[Charlotte North]

Oh, here, I need any putting tips.

[Abby Wambach]

Putting theory. So imagine a three foot around, like a three foot radius or diameter, like a draw, big circle three foot away from the hole.

[Charlotte North]

Okay.

[Abby Wambach]

And all you're trying to do is make it into that big three foot hole.

[Julie Foudy]

Oh, my gosh.

[Abby Wambach]

I should practice like that because every then, then it's. Then you're just two putting.

[Julie Foudy]

Yes.

[Charlotte North]

And I. Yes. Yes.

[Abby Wambach]

Do you know what I'm saying?

[Charlotte North]

Yes.

[Abby Wambach]

Yes. Instead of three putting. How many? Three putts. I'm like, no.

[Julie Foudy]

I'm like, we're back in. We're getting. We're getting her to a five. She's definitely at a five handicap by the end of this conversation.

[Charlotte North]

So when are we gonna play golf? Because now I need to see.

[Abby Wambach]

I'm sweating. I'm so excited.

[Charlotte North]

Yes. I'm like.

[Julie Foudy]

I'm like, when can I get sweaty boobs? Sweaty boobs?

[Charlotte North]

No, that's like, it's the summer of no. 3 putts for me. Like, that's, that is where I lose the most strokes. Like Ryan, my fiance, she's always like, oh, good luck. Like, have fun at the course. No three putts. Because she knows how much they piss me off.

[Julie Foudy]

Is Ryan a good golfer? Is she good?

[Charlotte North]

She's. She's good. She's like one of the most athletic and naturally gifted people I've ever met. But she does not that she does not love it. Like, I love it. Which, you know do most people? Probably not. Like, I, like, I'm on YouTube down a rabbit hole, watching.

[Abby Wambach]

Oh, my God, YouTube, YouTubes.

[Charlotte North]

Love.

[Abby Wambach]

God, love.

[Charlotte North]

Like, what I do in my free time.

[Abby Wambach]

I think we're besties. We're besties.

[Charlotte North]

Get me out on the golf course any day. It's like, it's the best day ever.

[Abby Wambach]

Okay, Jules. So I just try to be pretty intentional about the products that I buy for my family. So when it comes to laundry, I really, I. I choose All Free Clear detergent.

[Julie Foudy]

I love this.

[Abby Wambach]

Yeah.

[Julie Foudy]

Because we're always talking about being mindful with what we eat or what we put into our bodies, but I actually never really thought about laundry detergent in the same way.

[Abby Wambach]

Yeah, I know. Same. And. And when you really think about it, you're wearing these clothes all day. You're working out in them, you're traveling in them, sleeping in them, and then drying off after the shower with them on. So I do think it matters. That's why I like that. All Free Clear uses only essential ingredients that Jules tackle tough stains and tough odors. We've got teenagers.

[Julie Foudy]

I was gonna say. And you need that.

[Abby Wambach]

It's exactly. It's gentle on the skin, so it's. It's also soft.

[Julie Foudy]

Yeah. And it's 100 free from dyes and perfumes and parabens. And I feel that once you know that, you can't unknow it, which is a good thing.

[Abby Wambach]

Totally. I know. And for me, between our kids and sports gear and just life, there's just always stains, stains. Always stains. Like, there's always something happening.

[Julie Foudy]

Yeah, always. And honestly, I do feel like workout clothes and watch washing them and especially Declan's, like, layers of workout clothes and how many he puts on a day is a full time job.

[Abby Wambach]

Exactly. But. But that's what's great, right? Because it actually works on all of that. But I still feel good about using it for everyone in the house and myself too.

[Julie Foudy]

Yeah. I love that you can look at the back of the bottle and actually see what's in it and what each ingredient actually does. That level of transparency, by the way, is not just something you usually get with laundry detergent. Plus, my son Declan has really sensitive skin. He has some allergies, so I love that. As I was saying, there's no dyes or perfumes, since those can be irritating to his skin. And as we know, skin is an organ, we worry about what we put on the inside of our bodies. So we should also care about what touches our skin, too, with clothes and what we wash them in.

[Abby Wambach]

I know. And that is why it makes it such an easy choice. Jules.

[Julie Foudy]

It works. And it's a clean you can feel good about.

[Abby Wambach]

Pick up a bottle of all free clear detergent for your next laundry day. This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Happy Pride, everyone. So, Jules, we'. I don't know if you know this, but we've had 57 years of pride.

[Julie Foudy]

I did not know that.

[Abby Wambach]

Amazing so far, but still, I think there's still a lot more progress to be made, which is why we always kind of stress the importance. Okay. Of community and leaning on your support system. Okay. So friends matter, community matters. And sometimes having a dedicated space to talk things through with a therapist can really help you understand yourself better and feel less alone while navigating through life. I know that it has completely changed my life. So, jules. With over 30,000 therapists, better help is the world's largest online therapy platform, having served over 6 million people globally. And I just love how easy they've made it to find a therapist who. Who works for you and how simple it is to switch if it's not a fit. Like, that's such a. That's such a. Like, a big problem in therapy. It's, like, hard to switch. It's hard to find a new therapist. And better help makes it so easy. So now Pride Month is a celebration of community visibility and the freedom to be yourself. And a reminder of how important support and connection can be for mental health. Sign up and get 10 off at betterhelp.com welcome to the party. That's better. H-E-L-P.com welcome to the party. One of the things that I think is kind of funny about getting older is coming to the realization that my parents are people who have lived full on long, entire lives. And every time I talk to my dad, some random story comes out that I've never heard. Somehow, same. It's so weird. I'm like, who are you? Like, I feel like I'm talking to an alien. Maybe it's like a trip he took or a new, like, family story that nobody has ever told me. So I feel like I'm learning something completely new. And I'm seeing him in this, like, new light. And if that's you, I think you should check out Remento, because I first heard about Remento on Shark Tank. I don't know if you've seen this, Jules, but it's such a simple idea. Okay. Remento sends them a question each week by text or email, and they just answer or by talking like, they're telling a story to a friend, which is amazing, so they don't have to type it out. Then Romento takes those recordings and then turns them into a beautiful hardcover book. So this Father's Day, give your dad something that becomes more meaningful every single year. Go to www.remento.co and use code WELCOME to save $20 through Father's Day. That's Remento Co, like remember and memento. And use code welcome for $20 off fromento the life story book with dad's voice inside.

[Julie Foudy]

Okay, Charlotte, we also know that you're a hoop head, so we're gonna do a little game with you because we love. We love a good competitive game. As you might know, we're not actually competing. It's for you. But we're gonna do a. We sometimes do this segment called Party Poppers with our guests, which is basically a Us. An excuse to do a fun game with you. We're gonna put you on a clock of one minute. I'm gonna set it on my timer. Jack will put it up on the. On the screen. So we'll set it, but I'm gonna give a little timer of a minute. Okay. And then we're gonna see. We're gonna test. This is Charlotte's Party Pop in Dallas basketball fandom quiz.

[Charlotte North]

Oh, gosh.

[Julie Foudy]

Since you're a hoop head, we heard.

[Abby Wambach]

Yeah.

[Julie Foudy]

Okay. I think you're gonna do great.

[Charlotte North]

I'm scared.

[Julie Foudy]

I think you pass if you can get seven out of ten. Is that fair?

[Charlotte North]

Are they ten questions?

[Abby Wambach]

Yeah, ten. Ten questions.

[Charlotte North]

All right.

[Julie Foudy]

In under a minute. Are you ready?

[Charlotte North]

All right. Are you gonna ask me how I feel about Luca Doncic?

[Julie Foudy]

Yeah, exactly. That is.

[Charlotte North]

What the hell?

[Julie Foudy]

Thank you. Thank you. We're in la. I was like, what? We just got Luca Doncic.

[Abby Wambach]

Okay. It's insane, that trade.

[Julie Foudy]

Oh, my gosh. Okay. Ready?

[Charlotte North]

Yep.

[Julie Foudy]

Wait, Abs, what were you saying? Julie, you're gonna have to.

[Abby Wambach]

Yeah. Do you want to go 1, 2. Just switch on and off.

[Julie Foudy]

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Abby Wambach]

Great.

[Julie Foudy]

Okay, ready? Oh, wait, I'm. I'm starting the clock now. Number one, Paige Beckers was selected with what pick in the 2025 WNBA Draft?

[Charlotte North]

Number one. Come on. Come on, buckets.

[Abby Wambach]

Page, which Dallas Superstar wore number 41 and led the Mavericks to the 2011 NBAA?

[Charlotte North]

Tall Baller for the Big G. I

[Abby Wambach]

was at that game.

[Julie Foudy]

Who was the most Correct. Who was the most. Who was named the most outstanding player of the 2025 Final Four when UConn won the national championship?

[Charlotte North]

Sarah Strong.

[Abby Wambach]

Okay, that's an error. We're gonna keep moving on. Before becoming the Dallas Wings. What. What city was the franchise located in immediately before moving to Texas?

[Charlotte North]

Kansas City?

[Julie Foudy]

Tulsa?

[Abby Wambach]

Tulsa Shock.

[Julie Foudy]

What former Notre Dame star became the face of the Dallas Wings franchise who now plays for Chicago?

[Charlotte North]

I have no idea.

[Julie Foudy]

Skyler Diggins. Skyler Diggins. Okay.

[Charlotte North]

No.

[Julie Foudy]

What are the other ones? Hey, keep going, keep going.

[Abby Wambach]

Another minute before Cooper Flag. Who was the last Maverick to win NBA Rookie of the Year?

[Julie Foudy]

Oh.

[Charlotte North]

Oh, my God.

[Julie Foudy]

We may. May not have just been talking about. Okay, who is the all time leading scorer in Dallas Wings franchise history?

[Charlotte North]

Is it Arike?

[Abby Wambach]

Yeah.

[Julie Foudy]

Yeah.

[Charlotte North]

Let's go.

[Abby Wambach]

What trailblazing former Mavericks female CEO helped helped transform the organization's culture and become one of the most respected executives in sports. She was also on our show a few weeks back.

[Charlotte North]

What's her name?

[Abby Wambach]

Oh my God, she's amazing.

[Julie Foudy]

Scent Marshall.

[Abby Wambach]

Yes.

[Charlotte North]

Oh, yes.

[Julie Foudy]

Okay. How many number one overall picks? This one was tough for me. I'm not sure I would have got this. How many number one overall picks have the Dallas Wings had in its history? Bonus points if you can name them.

[Charlotte North]

Well, Obviously the past two years, so 25, 26. That's two. I'm gonna go four. Four total.

[Abby Wambach]

Three. Close.

[Charlotte North]

When was the third?

[Abby Wambach]

Charlie Collier.

[Julie Foudy]

20. 22? Ish. I think so.

[Abby Wambach]

Az Paige.

[Charlotte North]

Yeah.

[Abby Wambach]

And Charlie.

[Charlotte North]

We are on the ups though, down there. We are.

[Abby Wambach]

You are. And I'm calling it, man.

[Charlotte North]

We're going to the final.

[Abby Wambach]

Yes, you are. Let's go. Yes.

[Julie Foudy]

Okay.

[Charlotte North]

Big wins.

[Julie Foudy]

Last one. How many WNBA championships has the Dallas Wings franchise won across its entire history?

[Charlotte North]

Zero.

[Julie Foudy]

Well, if you go back.

[Charlotte North]

If you go back to Tulsa. Tulsa?

[Julie Foudy]

No. Detroit Shock.

[Abby Wambach]

Oh, Detroit.

[Julie Foudy]

Wait, all three? Yeah, I counted that. It's the same. Apparently it's the same franchise.

[Charlotte North]

Like that makes sense. That's. That's a. That's a hard question.

[Julie Foudy]

So went Detroit to Tulsa to Dallas.

[Abby Wambach]

Oh, okay. That makes sense.

[Julie Foudy]

Okay. You did really well. Clap chocolate.

[Charlotte North]

Let's go.

[Julie Foudy]

Dude.

[Abby Wambach]

Thank you for coming on. This has been so fun. I can't wait to play golf with you. Like, for real. I want to play. You'll kick my ass. I'm. I'm not. I used to be an 8 and 8. Ish. And now I'm. I haven't played in a few years. Like, consistently.

[Julie Foudy]

You're still single digits too. You. You too. I'll just be your caddies. Okay. I'm just.

[Charlotte North]

No, you gotta play. You gotta play.

[Julie Foudy]

I'll be. I'll run. Ox. I'll Provide some music. Okay, Charlotte, we do a party pose on three. Whatever your party pose is. Yeah, lax.

[Charlotte North]

You guys gotta do lax.

[Julie Foudy]

How do you. How do you hold it?

[Charlotte North]

It's like a lever. It's like a lever.

[Julie Foudy]

Okay.

[Charlotte North]

Cradle, cradle, shoot. Cradle, shoot. And if you want to shoot, like, 100 miles an hour, you just really wind up and put your back into it.

[Abby Wambach]

Yes, yes.

[Julie Foudy]

Party pose on three. One, two, three.

[Abby Wambach]

I have a new best friend. I have a new best friend. I'm not kidding.

[Julie Foudy]

I don't.

[Abby Wambach]

I honestly don't meet a lot of people that are so much. That I feel like are so much like me, that have my similar interests, because I feel like I have a wide variety of interests. And she hit on a bunch. And maybe this is why we're doing this podcast. Maybe this is what the purpose is, is to meet new friends. Yes.

[Julie Foudy]

Oh, she's adorable.

[Abby Wambach]

So great.

[Julie Foudy]

So, so well spoken. And dang. I want to help them, too.

[Abby Wambach]

Like, I know.

[Julie Foudy]

Let's get to that next step. And I do feel like it feels like the US Soccer in, like, the 90s as you're embarking on something where you can feel like they're at a tipping point. Like, let's go. Let's get to it. We're almost there. Come on. So really cool.

[Abby Wambach]

Well, and it is a barrier. I mean, the not getting paid thing, because Brady, you know, he played on the U20 men's national team and went to their champ, their world championships last summer. And it's a big ask for not getting paid any money, you know, and these kids, especially the ones that are in college, like, they got to do their internships, and if there's not a ton of money in the professional league, it's like, do I keep playing my sport or do I go and get, like, a big adult job? You know, it's like, it's. It's confusing, and I just want.

[Julie Foudy]

The thing I don't like is what they'll throw back at them is you should just do it for the pride of wearing the red, white, and blue. And I. And I used to say to Cammy Granado, way back in the days when hockey would throw that back at her, like, okay, yeah. Is your coach getting paid? How about the person that just told you that? Are they getting paid? Are they working for free as well?

[Abby Wambach]

No, Exactly.

[Julie Foudy]

No, they're not. No, they are not. So why should we have to work for free as well?

[Abby Wambach]

Yeah. And it's interesting because, you know, I think that there is a. There is a system In. In place where they're like, but we're a non profit.

[Julie Foudy]

Yeah.

[Abby Wambach]

You know, and it's like, that doesn't mean anything. Like, you know, it's.

[Julie Foudy]

I love that both of us were like.

[Abby Wambach]

And so is us soccer.

[Charlotte North]

Yeah.

[Abby Wambach]

And I think it's actually probably beneficial that both the men and women's programs can probably unite. And that might be the hard part. But if both teams can come together, I mean, come on.

[Julie Foudy]

Yeah, exactly. Okay, let's go lacrosse. We're with you.

[Abby Wambach]

Freaking awesome.

[Julie Foudy]

Don't forget, party people subscribe to that YouTube channel and as we say, often like the importance of you guys showing your support with your comments. Whether it's on Spotify or Apple podcasts, we're reading all of this stuff. Give us feedback and like, show companies and corporations that everyone is indeed watching women's sports. And. And so subscribing actually does help us a ton. So thank you for doing that.

[Abby Wambach]

Yeah. Just rate. Leave a comment. Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts and be sure to follow us on Instagram, YouTube and wherever you get your socials at. Welcome to the Party show where Julie, Billy and I will bring this party straight to your feed. You can also email us because you know, party people, questions, we love it. So party people, questionsmail.com and party people, if you haven't heard, don't sleep on our sub stack. We have a substack now. Welcome to sign up party. Yeah. Sign up to follow us on welcome to the party show.substack.com KD we love you. Thank you so much for your music. Jules. Bring it in.

[Julie Foudy]

We should have touched it every single

[Abby Wambach]

freaking time we do this.

[Julie Foudy]

And she would love this. I know she would have been such

[Abby Wambach]

a good USA cheerer.

[Julie Foudy]

She would have been the should. We understand it's from the soul.

[Abby Wambach]

All right, 1, 2, 3. 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.