Welcome to the Party — "The Fight to Keep Girls Playing"

Podcast Summary

Date: February 3, 2026
Hosts: Abby Wambach, Julie Foudy, Billie Jean King
Episode Theme:
A celebration of National Girls and Women in Sports Day, featuring stories, stats, and strategies for keeping girls active and invested in sports—both for their own well-being and for the future of women’s athletics. The hosts highlight their personal journeys, community impact, and the vital roles adults play in inspiring and sustaining participation.

Episode Overview

This special episode is all about the annual National Girls and Women in Sports Day—a day dedicated to honoring progress, advocating for continued growth, and ensuring that every girl has the opportunity to compete, have fun, and lead through sports. Abby, Julie, and Billie Jean intertwine their lively banter, legendary experiences, and tangible calls to action for listeners and communities.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Documentary Projects & the Importance of Storytelling

• Billie Jean King's Film at Sundance
  • Billie Jean discusses the experience of seeing her story told ("Give Me the Ball") at Sundance and the vulnerabilities and teamwork involved in documentary filmmaking.
  • [01:27 BJK]: "Give me the Ball. They named it Give me the Ball because I guess that's my saying lately. … It just means accepting responsibility and make it happen and all those great things."
  • Acknowledgment of editors and behind-the-scenes crew: "We can't win without them." [02:59 BJK]
  • Nostalgia over archival footage and early memories with Serena and Venus Williams.

2. National Girls and Women in Sports Day: History & Impact

• Origins & Evolution
  • Billie Jean King witnessed the creation of the day; 2026 is its 39th anniversary, with events in every US state.
  • The Women's Sports Foundation (founded by BJK in 1974 with a $5,000 check) is core to the day, having invested $115 million in programming. [09:07 Foudy]
  • The day started as a tribute to Olympic volleyball player Flo Hyman and expanded into a national movement.
  • [08:19 Foudy]: "…That was the first time I met [Barack Obama]. And he's like, yeah, I get it."

3. Current State of Play: Opportunities & Persistent Gaps

• Despite progress, girls still have “1 million fewer chances to play sports than boys” in high school. [10:42 Foudy]
• Women’s professional leagues are much younger and less established.
• Billie Jean King: “We’re not even close. … we still have less opportunities than the guys did in 1972." [10:19 BJK]
• Importance of Participation
  • Girls in sports report better mental health: 5x lower rates of disorders for multi-sport athletes.
  • Sports build leadership—half of women believe their leadership skills came from playing sports. [11:14 Wambach]

4. How Sport Shapes Lives Beyond the Field

• Leadership & Life Skills
  • Abby explains relating sports lessons to parenting and real-world situations.
  • Julie recounts team-building and leadership development with Dr. Kuhlenhacker: [12:49 Foudy]: “She would make that leap … what you’re doing applies to life.”
• Community Involvement & Visibility
  • Nationwide, organizations and colleges are activating the day with clinics, workshops, and exposure to non-athlete careers in sports (physical therapy, media, coaching, etc.)
  • Spotlight on inclusivity, particularly through HBCUs and i9Sports’ pledge to reach half a million girls by 2030.

5. Role Models & Adult Influence

• The panel emphasizes that adults' attitudes and actions are crucial to keeping girls engaged in sports.
• [21:45 Foudy]: “That’s the thing, because it creates habits in your kids without them even knowing it, because you’re showing them that.”
• Abby credits her wife Glennon for helping reframe modeling behavior: “It’s not what I say, but how I live.” [20:00 Wambach]
• Modeling healthy activity has ripple effects on children, and growing up seeing relatives stay active inspires lifelong habits.

6. Personal Stories: When Did You Know You Belonged in Sports?

• Billie Jean King: “Anything to do with the ball, I was gone from the womb. … I always felt I belonged to movement and the ball and sports.” [26:38 BJK]
• Abby Wambach: Her soccer journey began with a library book checked out for her eldest sister—“How to Play Soccer.” She knew she belonged after scoring 27 goals in her first three games. [28:15 Wambach], [29:52 Wambach]
• The hosts note that not every kid is a prodigy; persistence and fun matter most, not just early success.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On responsibility and leadership:

  “Give me the ball. … It just means accepting responsibility and make it happen and all those great things.” — Billie Jean King [01:27]

• On opportunity gaps:

  “We’re not even close. … we still have less opportunities than the guys did in 1972.” — Billie Jean King [10:19]

• On impact of sports beyond athleticism:

  “Half of women believe that their leadership skills came from their experience playing sport.” — Abby Wambach [11:14]

• On adult influence in kids’ habits:

  “One thing I know to be true is the way that we model our behavior for our kids, having probably the bigger impact on outcomes and their success.” — Abby Wambach [20:00]

• On early spark in sports:

  “I just couldn’t get enough. … I always felt I belonged to movement and the ball and sports. I just loved it." — Billie Jean King [26:38]

• Julie’s competitive spirit (humorous highlight):

  “This is all that matters in life, is this minute to win it.” — Julie Foudy [31:47]

  • Friendly rivalry plays out with treadmill sprints—Julie vs. Abby—ending in a tie but epic banter.

Timestamps for Important Segments

• [01:01–05:32] Documentary reflections (Sundance, teamwork, BJK’s film)
• [06:40–10:08] National Girls and Women in Sports Day: History and WSF impact
• [10:19–13:40] Status of participation, barriers, and benefits of sports
• [15:10–16:31] Community programs and organizational spotlights (colleges, i9Sports, HBCUs)
• [20:00–23:11] Adult influence & modeling healthy behavior
• [26:13–30:35] First moments of belonging and finding a home in sports
• [39:06–45:40] The “minute to win it” competition (Julie vs. Abby), friendly rivalry, and teamwork
• [45:40–47:18] Reflections on competitiveness, role models, and the enduring fight for equity

Additional Highlights

• Interactive resources:
  Listeners can visit the Women’s Sports Foundation site for a map of nationwide events. [13:44 Foudy]
• Personal touch:
  Stories about family origins in sports, books from libraries, relatable struggles with motivation, and joy in movement as kids.
• Call to action:
  Everyone is encouraged to get involved, support girls’ athletics, and stay vocal about the need for greater equity.

Tone & Style

• Upbeat, irreverent, celebratory, yet grounded in real advocacy and practical advice.
• Deep camaraderie between the hosts, with plenty of laughter, competitive banter, and mutual support.

For Listeners: Why This Episode Matters

Even if you’ve never laced up a cleat, “The Fight to Keep Girls Playing” makes clear that keeping girls active in sports has lifelong ripple effects—on health, confidence, leadership, and equity. The hosts model just how fun, profound, and ongoing the movement for women’s athletic opportunity is—inviting every listener to join the party and push for progress.

Useful Resources Mentioned

• womensportsfoundation.org
  Find events, stats, programs, and ways to get involved.
• Check out the event finder map to see National Girls and Women in Sports Day celebrations near you.

Party Rule #1: Have a sh*t ton of fun—while changing the world for girls in sports.
Party People: Time to get in the game!