Podcast Summary: "I Was The First Athlete To Be Outed"

Welcome to the Party | Treat Media
Hosts: Abby Wambach, Julie Foudy, Billie Jean King
Date: February 10, 2026

Episode Overview

In this vibrant and candid episode, the "Welcome to the Party" trio—Abby Wambach, Julie Foudy, and Billie Jean King—delve into landmark moments in women’s sports, explore the nuances of athlete privacy and emotion, celebrate recent achievements (from Super Bowl celebrations to Olympic milestones), and have a raw conversation about identity with insight from Billie Jean King on being the first professional athlete to be outed. Notable highlights include interviews with the NYU women’s basketball team and a deep discussion on the acclaimed LGBTQ+ sports drama "Heated Rivalry." The tone is energetic, honest, humorous, and deeply supportive of women and LGBTQ+ athletes.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Super Bowl and Cultural Celebrations (02:27–08:09)

• Hosts recap the Super Bowl: praise for the halftime show (Bad Bunny’s Latin heritage spotlight), and Brandy’s live performance of “America the Beautiful.”
• Julie highlights the intentionality and details: “They couldn’t figure out how to bring all the plants in... so they made the plants people. They dressed people up as plants.” (04:12)
• Emotional resonance of Bad Bunny's message:
  Julie Foudy (05:08):

  “The only thing more powerful than hate is love is what you saw up there."

• Recognition of Aaron Jackson as the first Black flag bearer for Team USA at the Winter Olympics (07:57).

2. NYU Women’s Basketball Team Interview: Historic Winning Streak (09:43–12:12)

• Julie and Abby welcome NYU Women's Basketball after an 82-game Division 3 win streak. Meg Barber (Head Coach, 10:23):

  “It’s the people we bring into the program... selfless, committed. They have not lowered their standard amongst all the winning.”

• Caroline Pepper noted as the only current player to have experienced a loss:

  “I think we were super prepared for every game that we play.” (11:02)

• Focus shifts from win streak to UA Championship and national titles.

3. Winter Olympics Highlights with Marissa Tanden (12:57–21:09)

Figure Skating:

• US vs. Japan rivalry in team figure skating is recapped; Ilya Malinin earns gold, lands legal backflips.
• Marissa Tanden (13:54):

  "The backflip itself was not actually made a legal move in figure skating until last season... it was a black woman who actually executed that backflip in the Olympics."

• Amber Glenn becomes the first out female US Olympic figure skater, deals with public backlash (15:10).

Alpine Skiing:

• Lindsey Vonn’s comeback at age 40 detailed; hosts dispel online myths about her crash. Marissa Tanden (16:11):

  “Her crash had nothing to do with the fact that she had torn her ACL.”

• Breezy Johnson’s win after an ACL injury—literal and symbolic comebacks.

Women’s Hockey:

• Hillary Knight ties the US Olympic goals record.
  Marissa Tanden (18:52):

  “She has now tied for the USA record for most goals in the Olympics by a female hockey player, which is incredible.”

• Historic moment: Team USA vs. Team Canada will feature three Black women on the ice at once (19:34).

Other Olympic News:

• Update on Chloe Kim: overcoming injury and anxiety ahead of her quest for a third gold medal (20:27–21:09).

4. Coffee with the Kinger: Privacy, Emotions & Double Standards in Women's Sports (30:13–41:08)

Coco Gauff’s Racket-Smashing Incident (30:49):

• Coco’s post-loss moment caught on camera sparks debate on athlete privacy. Coco Gauff, via Julie Foudy (30:49):

  "I tried to go somewhere where I thought there wasn't a camera because I don’t necessarily like breaking rackets... but obviously they did."

• Kinger’s take:
  Billie Jean King (32:50):

  “Her explanation was perfect... She’s under a lot of pressure... Let her be for a while.”

• Gender Double Standard: Abby Wambach (35:11):

  "A dude, you know, John McEnroe, breaks his racket... and he's called charismatic... women are called sore losers.” Billie Jean King (37:00):
  “It drives me crazy... When the announcers are doing women’s tennis, if they use the word nervous one more time, I’m gonna puke.”

• Proposals: Create neutral/private spaces for emotional release, clarify camera boundaries (green/yellow/red zones).

5. Heated Rivalry: Identity, Coming Out, and Media Representation (44:40–53:34)

• Hosts discuss the breakout show “Heated Rivalry”—gay romance set in the hockey world. Billie Jean King (46:41):

  “Of course I relate to this. I’ve been through it... I was told we won’t have a tour if I discuss anything with my life.”

• Kinger recounts being the first athlete outed, the immense loss and burdens: Billie Jean King (47:51):

  "I was the first athlete to ever be outed… I had to keep everything quiet... Even privately, we wouldn’t talk."

• Abby gives credit:

  “You’re the kind of first person that took that shot for us, you know, and I’m just so grateful to you.” (49:23)

• The need for visibility and representation—especially for queer male athletes in team sports.
• Noted that despite progress, no NHL athletes have come out, but cultural tides may be shifting.
  Billy Jean King (52:02):

  “Someone’s going to have the courage to come out. I want them to have permission and then shown the support and love that they’re really going to need to get through this.”

Notable Quotes & Timestamps

• "The only thing more powerful than hate is love."
  — Julie Foudy (05:08), on Bad Bunny’s halftime message.

• "She took one for the team... It was a woman who did the Olympic backflip."
  — Marissa Tanden (13:54–14:23), on historical figure skating protest.

• "A dude, John McEnroe, breaks his racket... he's called charismatic... women are called sore losers."
  — Abby Wambach (35:11), discussing gender double standards.

• "I was the first athlete to ever be outed... I had to keep everything quiet..."
  — Billie Jean King (47:51), reflecting on her place in sports history.

• "You’re the kind of first person that took that shot for us... I'm just so grateful to you."
  — Abby Wambach (49:23), thanking Billie Jean King.

• "If I can say one thing about being older, really older, it's perspective."
  — Billie Jean King (53:56), on the value of life experience.

Memorable Moments

• NYU women’s basketball team’s enthusiastic group welcome and “best welcome to the party intro” (09:43–12:12)
• Billie Jean King’s raw admissions of loss and resilience from being outed (47:51–50:16)
• Proposals for “locker room privacy” and debates over female athlete emotional expression
• Lighthearted banter about watching “Heated Rivalry” and the generational differences in LGBTQ+ representation (46:41–53:34)

Key Timestamps for Important Segments

• 02:27–08:09 – Super Bowl culture recap & Bad Bunny discussion
• 09:43–12:12 – NYU Women’s Basketball interview
• 12:57–21:09 – Winter Olympics updates with Marissa Tanden
• 30:13–41:08 – Coffee with Kinger: Coco Gauff privacy incident/debate
• 44:40–53:34 – All about "Heated Rivalry," identity, and Billie Jean King's coming out story

Tone & Energy

The episode is fast-paced, passionate, warm, and humor-filled. Abby, Julie, and Billie Jean King speak openly and with camaraderie; their personal experiences and emotions elevate topics from sports news to personal histories, always centering fun and inclusion.

For Listeners New to the Show

This episode offers a mix of celebration, advocacy, and deeply personal storytelling. Whether you’re a die-hard women’s sports fan or new to the space, you’ll find a window into the joys, challenges, and progress made in women’s and LGBTQ+ sports—and why “Welcome to the Party” is, above all, a community for everyone.