Welcome to the Party: "The Biggest Stories in Women’s March Madness Right Now"
Podcast: Welcome to the Party
Date: March 24, 2026
Hosts: Julie Foudy, Abby Wambach, Billie Jean King
Special Guest: Jordan Robinson (Women’s Hoops show podcast host, author of "Court Queens")
Episode Overview
This lively, jam-packed installment of "Welcome to the Party" brings together soccer legends Abby Wambach and Julie Foudy, tennis icon Billie Jean King ("the Kinger"), and hoops expert Jordan Robinson to break down the hottest stories in Women’s March Madness and beyond. The episode spotlights the historic new WNBA Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) as a sea change for women’s sports, recaps surprise upsets and emotional storylines from the NCAA tournament, and celebrates milestones in women’s hockey and swimming.
The conversation is candid, energetic, and informed—mixing perspectives from athletes turned advocates with real-time bracket banter and heartfelt stories about the people behind the moments.
Table of Contents
March Madness Party Bracket: Pod Update
[04:43-09:54] Bracket Challenge Rundown
- The pod-to-pod March Madness bracket challenge has gotten over 1,000 listeners involved.
- Leaderboard drama:
- "Welcome to the Party" and "Good Game with Sarah Spain" co-lead with 420 points each.
- Glennon Doyle (with her unique heart-picking bracket method) is close behind.
- Listener leaderboard: 29 teams tied at 460 points, with standout names "Swishful Thinking" and "Best Balling Babes."
- Staff shoutout: Intern Emma sits atop internal rankings at 450 points.
- Abby notes: “Jules, you want to know what I know? That doesn’t matter. Last year’s brackets? Don’t matter.” [07:48]
Standout Stories from March Madness
[10:15-15:49] Dream Runs and Emotional Wins
- D3 History: NYU Violets’ 91-game streak snapped by Scranton; Denison crowned D3 Champions.
- Minnesota’s Sweet 16 Return:
- Amaya Battle’s game-winning shot sends hometown Gophers to the Sweet 16 for first time in 20 years.
- Emotional resonance: She honors her late mother, also a Minnesota alum.
- Blanket Lady (Peps Newman, 80-year-old superfan) gets New York Times feature for her “blanket runs.”
- Coaching Moments:
- Maryland coach Brenda Frese’s intense, affirmative “I believe in you” moment with Luchi Okanawa.
- “This is why good coaching and understanding your players is so important... I loved tough coaching because that’s the motivation I needed.” – Abby [14:45]
- Team discusses perceptions of gender and coach-player dynamics.
Cinderella Stories & Memorable Moments
Virginia’s Run:
- First Four team; multiple wins for first time since 2000; led by hometown-hero Kahmora Johnson, a former team ball girl now starring in March Madness.
LSU Women:
- Sixteenth 100-point game of season; standout emotion from Flau'jae Johnson in her last home game.
- Sweet 16 match-up with Duke’s top defense coming.
Fun Listener Bracket Vignettes:
- Empathy’s Bracket: Last place, missed all second-round picks, gets a collective “hug” from the hosts.
Historic WNBA CBA: What Changed and Why It Matters
[38:57-54:42] Groundbreaking Collective Bargaining Agreement
Overview:
- Jordan Robinson breaks down the 17-month negotiation and new deal.
Key Points:
- Supermax contracts: Jump from $200k to $1.4 million, potentially $2 million by end of deal.
- Salary Cap: Grows from $1.5M to $7M per team.
- Entry-level contracts: Rookie deal rises to about $500k (from $78k last year).
- Mid-roster pay: Middle-tier players’ average jumps from $120k to ~$583k.
- Developmental spots: Each team gets two, outside the salary cap.
- Retired players: One-time “thank you” payments, up to $100k for vets (e.g., Cheryl Swoopes), honoring league’s trailblazers.
- Day-to-day player benefits: Guaranteed housing, charter flights (no more commercial flights), enhanced child care and pregnancy protections, improved retirement (401k) plan.
- Revenue share: Estimated near 20% (NBA still owns 42% of WNBA).
- Intent: “It was so much bigger than just the moments or just this year... they made sure everybody was included.” – Jordan [39:55]
Impact:
- Abby: “This is why women leading is really important, because we never forget where we came from... clawing and scratching up the mountain.” [52:36]
- Billie: “I’m thrilled, because I always think the players—we’ve had the same challenge in tennis and other sports—not getting enough.” [45:13]
Other Key NCAA Championships: Hockey & Swimming
[23:50-25:52]
- Women’s D1 Hockey: Wisconsin Badgers win 9th national title (fourth showdown in a row vs. Ohio State), powered by Team USA Olympians like KK Harvey and Layla Edwards.
- “The pipeline—so many more girls playing.” – Julie [24:57]
- Women’s Swimming: Virginia wins sixth straight D1 title, unprecedented point margin; first program to do so in 25+ years.
Women in Soccer: Owner Spotlight & Angel City Hype
[17:09-29:52]
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Washington Spirit: Abby highlights Michelle Kang, first-ever woman principal owner investing across teams (including London City Lionesses), praised for her “ingredients” approach to successful women’s teams.
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NWSL Updates:
- Kat Macario signs record-breaking $8M deal with San Diego Wave (through 2030).
- Angel City FC is top of the table—hosts giddy about winning streak (“Maybe I don’t go anymore because they keep winning!” – Abby [28:43]).
How to Support Women’s Sports: Listener Guide
[34:36-37:55]
- Follow female athletes on social media.
- “Get butts in seats”; attend live games.
- Support brands sponsoring women’s sports.
- Host watch parties, bring your kids, TALK about women’s sports to widen the conversation.
March Madness Deep Dive: With Jordan Robinson
[55:31-61:10]
- Tournament Trends:
- More parity in women’s basketball is coming, but top-seeds still often dominate.
- This year’s "Cinderella": Virginia’s inspiring run from the First Four, led by emotional hometown star Kahmora Johnson.
- Overtime & Upset Drama:
- Three overtime games; lots of buzzer-beaters.
- USC’s Jazzy Davidson:
- Stellar freshman season; likely Freshman of the Year.
- LSU vs. Duke Preview:
- Offense vs. defense showdown; emotional stakes especially high for LSU seniors.
- Bracket Banter:
- “We only care about our brackets. Okay?” – Julie [60:08]
Notable Quotes & Memorable Banter
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On Brackets & Picking with Heart:
- “She was really picking based on heart... she said, now, how do I pick? Like, do I go inside myself and think and feel... and whichever one feels warm?” – Abby, on Glennon Doyle [05:28]
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On Denver’s Superfan:
- “They call her the Blanket Lady because... she shakes her blanket, this Minnesota blanket that has all the school emblems and stuff on it. This story is so good.” – Abby [12:38]
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On Affirmative Coaching Styles:
- “I loved tough coaching because that’s the motivation I needed. To be open about that, to not feel belittled and to feel inspired and motivated... when you can slow down that clip and the coach is saying, ‘I believe in you’...” – Abby [15:42]
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On Gendered Reactions to Intense Coaching:
- “When a male coach is in the face of a male player, we don’t have this second thought of, like, is that okay?... If you were like, wait a second, women are not supposed to be yelled at—I think we need to do a little bit of digging inside of our own selves for a little bit of misogyny.” – Abby [16:25]
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On WNBA Players Supporting Retirees:
- “That is millions of dollars they are giving to past players that they are choosing not to give to themselves... that makes me so thrilled. That’s why women leading is important.” – Abby [52:36]
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On Women’s Sports Growth:
- “For three decades up until 2019, media coverage of women’s sports was just 5% of all sports coverage... by 2022 it tripled to 16%. It’s hardly equal but audiences are growing.” – Julie [34:19]
Key Timestamps
- Intro & Pod Bracket Updates – [04:43–09:54]
- D3 Women's Basketball/Streak Upset – [10:15–11:17]
- Minnesota’s Sweet 16/Blanket Lady Story – [11:22–13:27]
- Maryland-UNC Coach/Player Moment – [13:30–16:09]
- Angel City FC/San Diego Wave & Michelle Kang – [17:09–29:52]
- NCAA Hockey & Swimming Champions – [23:50–25:52]
- WNBA CBA Overview: With Jordan Robinson – [38:57–54:42]
- March Madness Analysis (Jordan Robinson) – [55:31–61:10]
- Notable bracket/az fudd stat banter – [61:55–63:38]
- Closing Remarks – [63:55–65:07]
Final Thoughts
This episode is pure sports celebration—a mashup of stats, bracket drama, historical perspective, and meaningful stories. The hosts’ camaraderie and expertise—plus Jordan Robinson’s guest insights—make it must-listen for fans and newcomers alike. The landmark WNBA CBA is contextualized as history in the making for women’s sports, while the March Madness recaps leave you eager for more chaos on the court.
Recommended for: Anyone interested in women’s sports, leadership, community, and the stories behind the stats.
Party People, bring it in: this is women’s sports at its finest—full of heart, humor, history, and hope for the future.