From Air Mattresses to Sold-Out Arenas: Kendall Coyne Schofield

Welcome to the Party Podcast
Episode Date: January 29, 2026
Hosts: Abby Wambach, Julie Foudy, Billie Jean King
Guest: Kendall Coyne Schofield

Episode Overview

This episode celebrates the remarkable journey of Kendall Coyne Schofield—a trailblazer in women's hockey, Olympic gold medalist, PWHL leader, and advocate for the next generation. Abby, Julie, and Billie Jean King dive deep into the evolution of women’s professional hockey, navigating setbacks and victories, balancing motherhood and elite athletics, and the communal work required to “build, not just play in, the league.” With stories from air mattresses to sold-out arenas and a few memorable, laugh-out-loud moments, this episode is a masterclass in grit, vision, and sisterhood.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Realities of Early Professional Women’s Hockey

• Building, Not Just Playing in the League
  • Kendall describes the harsh realities she and her teammates endured—low pay, lack of resources, sleeping on air mattresses—and the unity that sparked the movement for something better.
  • Quote:
    "It was never about playing in the league. It was always about building it. These young girls would come up to me and say, I want to be like you. I want to do what you do... And I'm like, no, you don't. You don't want to sleep on your teammate's air mattress." (00:00)

2. The Power of One Voice and the Role of Allies

• Catalyzing Change with Community

  • The decision to call Billie Jean King and Alana Kloss was pivotal, following advice from Angela Ruggiero.
  • Billie Jean King underscores Kendall’s and her cohort’s selflessness:
    • Quote:
      "...it was never about playing in the league...it was about building it for the next...you guys said 'we' instead of 'I'." (11:26)

• Formation of the Players Association

  • In 2019, 200+ top players formed an association, leading to the PWHL five years later.

3. Business, Visibility, Sponsorships

• From Skepticism to Sold-Out Arenas

  • Early doubts about women’s hockey were dispelled as sponsors like ELF came on “day one,” amplifying the league’s legitimacy.
  • Quote:
    "But then you had partners like ELF who came on boom, day one, year one, they're like, let's go. We believe in this." (14:08)
  • Julie Foudy highlights the importance of athletes understanding the business side:
    "It’s so fun when you realize...as Kinger always says, understanding the business behind what you're doing..." (15:13)

• Post-Olympic Silence, Now Replaced by Continuity

  • For years, women's hockey would “go silent” after the Olympics; now, thanks to the PWHL, fans remain engaged year-round.
  • Quote:
    "Now...no more if, ands or buts. It's coming back...the awareness, the visit, you know, it matters. Women's hockey isn't silent anymore." (16:54)

4. Athletes, Parenting, and Redefining Limits

• Motherhood and High Performance

  • Kendall shares her motivations after becoming a mom—defying assumptions that pregnancy marks a career’s end and showing her son what perseverance looks like.
  • Quote:
    "...the amount of people that said, 'congratulations on a great career.' In a way, it was as deflating as it was...more empowering...Why is this the end? This is just the new beginning." (18:19)

• Her "Why": Fueled by Vision, Not Surprised by Success

  • Not surprised by the sold-out arenas: "If I didn't believe in this, I wouldn't have put the work in every day to accomplish it...I knew it was going to happen." (20:55)

5. Defining Moments: NHL All-Star Fastest Skater (Battle of the Sexes)

• The Courage to Step Up

  • Kendall details the surprise invitation to skate against the NHL’s fastest men with only hours’ notice, the anxiety of representing all women in a single lap, and the impact of changing perceptions.

  • Quote:
    "I kept telling myself: It's like riding a bike...The biggest thing, I was like, don’t fall. Because if you fall you just take women...20, 30 years back." (27:20)

  • Abby on the cultural impact:
    "It made people go...I didn't know women's hockey existed. And it's like, not only does it exist, but look at Kendall Coyne Schofield skating as fast as NHL players." (29:26)

6. PWHL Milestones: From Empty Stands to 17,228 Fans

• Changing the Landscape

  • The recent record with 17,000+ fans at a PWHL game showcased the legitimacy and demand for women’s professional hockey.
    Quote:
    "What was the most recent record? It was 17,228 fans that filled the Capital One arena in Washington, D.C." (30:36)

• Ownership, Equality, and Dreaming Big

  • Billie Jean King explains the league’s single ownership model, ensuring all teams and players receive top treatment.
    "They're going, God, we're treated just like the guys. And we think that is hugely important." (31:00)

7. The Rivalry: Team USA vs. Canada Sets the Gold Standard

• Olympic Mindset and Rivalries
  • Kendall reflects on USA's recent sweep against Canada and the drive to focus on each game, not past victories.
    "Our first game is against the Czechs on February 5th, and that's our focus." (34:05)
  • Julie Foudy contextualizes the rivalry:
    "Every single Olympic women's hockey gold medal has either been won by the U.S. or Canada. This rivalry is insane." (33:10)
• Better Competition Thanks to More Resources
  • With the league now providing full support, athletes can focus on their craft.
    "The reason the product is so incredible is because of the tools and resources that are allowing players to be the best..." (36:25)

8. Party Poppers: The Blind Ranking Game (Fun Segment)

• Kendall ranks five career milestones without knowing what's coming next:
  • #1: Having son Drew watch her play at the 2026 Olympics
  • #2: Olympic gold medal (2018)
  • #3: Helping launch the PWHL
  • #4: NHL Fastest Skater event (first woman to compete)
  • #5: Writing her book "As Fast As Her"
• Memorable exchange:
  • Julie: "I thought you were doing a Brandy Chastain moment."
  • Kendall: "Okay, well, I was." (43:41)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Billie Jean King (on leadership):
  "I knew we had a live one, a leader, because, you know, very much like Julie, you and Abs, you guys said we instead of I." (11:26)

• Kendall Coyne Schofield (on the journey):
  "Every no that we heard was worth the one yes that we received. And we're living our dream thanks to so many, including Billy and Alana, who helped make this possible." (12:36)

• Abby Wambach (on inspiration):
  "Once a month, when I'm feeling I don't know, like I need a little inspiration, I go to YouTube and I type in Kendall Coyne Schofield, All Star Game, NHL..." (23:01)

• Kendall Coyne Schofield (on motherhood and legacy):
  "I didn't want him to look back and see, you know, he was born in 2023. And then him look back and be like, when did mom's hockey career end? And him see that it was also 2023...he was the reason I kept going." (19:00)

• Julie Foudy (on silver medals):
  "I call silver medal white gold." (33:02)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• [00:00] Kendall opens with defining ethos: Build, don’t just play in, the league
• [10:09] Kendall discusses her book “As Fast As Her” and the formation of the PWHL
• [14:08] Importance of business, investment, and early brand partnerships
• [18:19] Motherhood and redefining athletic limits
• [20:55] Vision and self-belief: “Are you surprised?” story
• [23:01] Abby recounts personal inspiration from Kendall’s NHL All-Star performance
• [27:20] Kendall intricately details prepping for the NHL Fastest Skater event
• [30:36] The swell to sold-out arenas and the 17,228 fan milestone
• [33:10] Olympic rivalry context, renewed USA dominance
• [36:25] PWHL’s game-changing professional environment, leveling the playing field
• [44:32] The "Party Poppers" blind ranking segment—hilarious and heartwarming

Tone and Style

The episode is energetic, irreverent, and celebratory—anchored by camaraderie, mutual respect, and humor. The hosts and guest riff off each other naturally, using personal anecdotes, inside jokes, and candid reflections to keep the show both rich in insight and fun.

Summary: Why This Episode Matters

Kendall Coyne Schofield’s story is emblematic of the women’s sports movement—from scraping by for love of the game to demanding, and delivering, real change. The dialogue between Billie Jean King, Abby, and Julie underscores a generational handoff of leadership values, activism, and — crucially — joy. Kendall’s journey offers hope and a blueprint for the next wave of athletes: Don’t settle for crumbs when you can build the whole table.

Listen if you want:

• Behind-the-scenes stories of women's hockey evolution
• Real talk on business, activism, and motherhood in elite sports
• A dose of inspiration (and humor) from women who changed history

End on this quote:
"Pressure is a privilege. That's what you're going to be experiencing soon."
— Billie Jean King (00:20, 43:47)