Podcast Summary: Welcome to the Party

Episode: How Gotham FC Won the NWSL Championship
Hosts: Julie Foudy (A), Abby Wambach (B), Billie Jean King (not present in this episode)
Date: November 25, 2025

Main Theme

This episode dives deep into how Gotham FC pulled off a remarkable run to win the NWSL Championship, recounting the personalities, pivotal plays, and underdog narrative that led them from the eighth seed to champions. Julie and Abby share their firsthand experiences at the championship weekend, discuss notable figures in the women’s soccer world, and celebrate the transformation of the NWSL into a thriving professional league.

Episode Breakdown

1. Opening Banter & Weekend Recap

• [00:38] – [05:00]

• Julie and Abby open with a hilarious, candid look at their busy championship weekend—Julie’s adventures with teenage boys at SoFi Stadium and Abby’s hot flashes at noisy postgame parties.
• They trade stories about enduring wild meet-and-greets, “viciously sweating” through events, and the smaller, more grassroots feel of early NWSL championships compared to today’s glitzy experience.

“These above 45 year olds are not used to going out late nights and hanging out with the young folk of the NWSL Championship weekend.” —Abby [00:45]

2. Women’s Sports Headlines & Party Starters

• [11:09] – [25:00]

a. Trinity Rodman Bidding War & NWSL Growth

• The USL Super League’s huge contract offer to Trinity Rodman could shift the power dynamics of women’s soccer in the US.
• NWSL viewership is up 61% this year, with Trinity Rodman driving much of that surge.

“This is the first real domestic bidding war in US women’s soccer… and could reset the power dynamics between leagues.” —Abby [12:30]

b. WNBA Draft Lottery

• Dallas Wings win the #1 pick for the second straight year; discussed with good-natured ribbing over “ping pong ball twerking.”
• Noted sweet support between young stars Paige Becker and Cooper Flag.

c. College Hoops & NIL Tournaments

• UConn survives a scare against Michigan; Notre Dame upsets USC with a late winner.
• Introduction of Players Era NIL basketball tournaments in Las Vegas highlights new trends in college sports and athlete compensation.

d. NCAA Women’s Soccer & Winter Olympics

• Celebrating underdog runs by Ohio State and Washington.
• Shoutout to ski legend Mikaela Shiffrin, now with 103 World Cup wins.
• US Women’s Deaf Soccer Team crushing at Deaflympics (14-0 over Great Britain; gold medal match next).

3. Championship Weekend: Fan Fests, Tailgates & Lavelle Family Traditions

• [28:40] – [31:16]

• Julie details the wild Just Women’s Sports party, the Lavelle family’s notorious “fireball shots” tradition, and the legendary “shot ski.”
• Event energy and fan engagement highlighted as proof of how far the NWSL and women’s sports community have come.

"Janet was like, come on, you're having a shot. …They have the fireball they're pouring into all the shot glasses. … The four of us line up and you have to say, 'Go Bats for Gotham!'" —Julie [30:10]

4. Deep Dive: Gotham FC’s Title Run

• [31:17] – [44:10]

The Underdog Story

• Gotham FC scraped into the playoffs as the #8 seed, then upset top-seeded Kansas City in extra time—giving rise to the now-iconic “Underdog’s my ass” Jaden Shaw quote.
• They then beat reigning champion Orlando Pride in the semifinals with another late goal.
• In the final, Gotham’s experience, depth (Rose Lavelle, Emily Sonnett, Jaden Shaw, Astear), and composure under pressure proved decisive, especially against a strong but injury-hit Washington Spirit.

“I just want to thank the one fan who had the, the guts to say, kinda, yeah, you do. You kind of stink.” —Abby [07:33] (memorable, showing the episode’s self-deprecating humor and the sense of community at the event)

The Final: Moments & Tactics

• The championship match was sold out (18,000 fans at PayPal Park).
• Rose Lavelle scored the winner in the 80th minute: “Rose Lavelle is like…she’s just like the sweetest thing that can be. She’s like a unicorn.” —Julie [35:38]
• Discussion on Lily Real’s narrow escape from a second yellow card (“probably could have deserved a red” —Abby [35:38]) and the critical substitutions and momentum shifts that led to Lavelle’s goal.
• Emily Sonnett’s gamesmanship and experience lauded: “She’s such a gamer…watching her go down and waste time at the end of games, that would have made my head blow right off.” —Abby [41:28]
• Gotham’s resilience underscored by late goals: “All their goals were really late too. Like, this is a team that just believed.” —Julie [41:00]

Injuries & Setbacks

• Spirit’s Trinity Rodman played limited minutes returning from back and knee injuries, impacting Washington’s effectiveness up front.

“You just could tell Trinity wasn’t…she didn’t have it. She wasn’t ready to like…I mean, I’m sure she was trying…but sometimes it just…those games aren’t meant to be.” —Abby [43:33]

5. Notable Stats & Legacy

• [42:32] – [44:20]

• Emily Sonnett’s fifth NWSL final: new postseason records for appearances, starts, and minutes.
• McCall Zerboni and Lynn Williams (along with Caitlin Rowland) now tied for most NWSL championships with four each.

6. Community, Growth, and Celebration

• [44:20] – [48:14]

• Heartfelt congratulations to Gotham FC and the larger women’s sports community.
• Shoutouts to sponsors (Ally), and reminders to watch more highlights, follow on social media, and rate the podcast.

Memorable Quotes & Timestamps

• On the evolution of the NWSL Championship experience:

  • “We just, like, went all—both teams went to, like, a pub in Rochester, New York, to go celebrate. And there was…Nothing planned. …It’s just very different now.” —Abby [03:36]

• On Gotham’s playoff mentality:

  • “It’s not how you start, it’s how you finish. …Sometimes those are the most dangerous teams to play against.” —Abby [39:24]

• On the championship-winning goal:

  • “Rose Lavelle is like a unicorn. …I cannot believe how calm, cool, and collected she was with her left-footed finish.” —Julie [35:38]

• Defining the “Underdog’s My Ass” moment:

  • “They knock off Kansas City Current…with a late goal…Jaden Shaw assisted it. And then that’s when you get the Jaden Shaw line: ‘Underdog’s my ass,’ which I love. And now a shirt. Thank you.” —Julie [33:05]

• On camaraderie and fan engagement:

  • “When I say Ally, you say WHOOP.” —Julie [11:18]
  • “I just want to thank the one fan who had the guts to say, kind of. Yeah, you do. You kind of stink.” —Abby [07:33]

Conclusion

This episode is a spirited celebration of both Gotham FC’s wild ride to the 2025 NWSL championship and of the wider vibrancy, unity, and transformation in women’s sports. Packed with behind-the-scenes stories, tactical breakdowns, fan hilarity, and reminders of just how far the NWSL has come, it’s a must-listen (or must-read!) for any women’s soccer fan.

Catch the full Gotham run, minute-to-win-it games, and more on the podcast’s YouTube channel and social media at @welcometothepartyshow.

End of Summary