Welcome to the Party

Episode: "The Moments That Changed Women’s Sports in 2025"

Date: December 30, 2025
Hosts: Julie Foudy, Abby Wambach, Billie Jean King

Main Theme / Purpose

This episode is a celebratory deep-dive into the monumental moments that defined women’s sports in 2025. With soccer icons Julie Foudy and Abby Wambach, joined by tennis legend Billie Jean King, the trio drafts their personal top three moments that moved, inspired, and shifted the women’s sports landscape. Alongside this, they spotlight changemakers, creators, and organizations pushing the movement forward, and inject their trademark humor, competition, and camaraderie. The mission: Celebrate women’s sports, build community, and have a sh*t ton of fun.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Billie Jean King's Global Adventure & Major Announcement

• Billie Jean King (Kinger) recounts her recent trip to South Africa for the holidays and a safari, followed by an immediate trip to Germany for a major announcement between the WTA and Mercedes Benz.
  • “If anybody out here...you haven’t been on a safari...it’s worth it.” (01:00, Billie Jean King)
  • Details on WTA-Mercedes Benz partnership: $500 million, starts in 2026, aimed at equal prize money by 2031.
    • “This is for the WTA announcement with Mercedes Benz, the biggest deal, really, in the history of women's sports.” (02:08, Billie Jean King)
    • “They’re investing about $50 million annually to boost women's tennis visibility...and support the goal of achieving equal PR across the tour by 2031, which is really cool.” (03:16, Julie Foudy)
  • Roger Federer as Mercedes ambassador, Coco Gauff newly announced as woman ambassador.

2. Party Starter: Celebrating Inspirational Voices

A segment highlighting books, podcasts, and organizations shaping women’s sports culture.

• Billie’s Pick: Book “Making a Difference” on Birch Bayh, co-author of Title IX. The discussion emphasizes the importance of Title IX’s language and its impact on women's athletic scholarships.
  • “That’s really when women’s sports took off. That’s the first time we had athletic scholarships ever.” (08:09, Billie Jean King)
• Abby’s Picks: Influencers and podcasters, e.g., Sarah Spain’s Good Game, Sam Mewis’ The Women’s Game, Coach Jackie, Megan Rapinoe & Sue Bird’s podcast, etc. Advocates for propping up fellow women storytellers.
  • “We are an inclusion kind of people, and we are all boats rise kind of a people...We want them to do as well as we are doing.” (09:31, Abby Wambach)
• Julie’s Pick: Organization “BAWSI” - Bay Area Women’s Sports Initiative – uses female athletes to empower girls in underserved schools.
  • “There are a lot of Bossy girls out there, which I love...support them if you can because they’re just doing tremendous work.” (14:39, Julie Foudy)

3. Annual Snake Draft: Top Moments in Women’s Sports 2025

A lively, competitive snake draft where each host picks their top 3 moments from the year.

Draft Highlights

• First Round Picks

  1. Billie: Madison Keys wins her first (and only) major at the Australian Open, surviving match point in the semis (25:08)
     • “Everyone in tennis now has exhaled because we love her.” (25:16, Billie Jean King)
  2. Abby: Women’s Rugby World Cup Final in England — England’s victory, record attendance, and potential “before and after” watershed moment for the sport (25:50)
     • “You can kind of always point it back to this one before and after moment...I think that this women’s rugby World Cup is hopefully going to be this before and after moment for women’s rugby.” (27:23, Abby Wambach)
  3. Julie: WNBA Finals — Las Vegas Aces' extraordinary turn-around season, 16-game win streak after a massive defeat, culminating in their third title in four years (27:44)
     • “Asia Wilson sends a text to the group and basically says like, if you are not embarrassed by that game, do not come to practice!” (29:14, Julie Foudy)

• Second Round Picks

  1. Julie: NCAA Women’s Volleyball — Texas A&M’s Cinderella run: defeating undefeated Nebraska, their first Final Four, then sweeping the Final Four and winning the national title (29:24)
     • “Texas A&M, who had never been to a Final Four, wins the national title. That, my friends, is a story.” (30:58, Julie Foudy)
  2. Abby: Launch of the Love (LVB) Professional Volleyball League — Abby and Glennon’s involvement as owners, excitement at the sport’s popularity, accessibility, and positive energy (32:42)
     • “Quite frankly, it was the Nebraska Texas game that Glennon didn’t have any idea, number one, how popular the sport is, how wild and obsessed these fans are.” (32:55, Abby Wambach)
  3. Billie: PWHL (Professional Women’s Hockey League) — Minnesota Frost’s back-to-back Walter Cup wins, and Kinger’s personal involvement in the league's founding (34:39)
     • “Just the third season. I can’t believe we’re in the third season already. But the win back to back is just amazing.” (35:35, Billie Jean King)

• Third Round Picks

  1. Billie: Mixed Doubles at the US Open — special event featuring top players, new format, calling for mixed to be tennis’ premier event (36:17)
     • “I think mixed should be the biggest event in tennis...It shows equality, inclusion. I’m all big on that.” (36:26, Billie Jean King)
  2. Abby: Natalie Grabow, 80, becomes oldest woman to finish the Ironman in Kona, Hawaii (39:29)
     • “If you’ve ever done any long distance race before ... there’s an inset respect and, and just like complete admiration for anybody who can compete and complete these things.” (38:29, Abby Wambach)
  3. Julie: Lindsey Vonn, age 41, comes back from five years retired, returns to skiing and wins her 83rd World Cup victory, qualifying for her fifth Olympics (40:14)
     • “She returns to skiing...in December, just recently, she returns to skiing and wins her 83rd World Cup...41 years old!” (41:55, Julie Foudy)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the relentless push for women’s sports parity:
  • “Everyone’s trying like crazy because we do believe in equality and inclusion and women and men should get the same." (03:54, Billie Jean King)
  • “These things, it’s not really...it’s a continuum. And you know that with soccer, any sport, it’s just a lot of work.” (05:07, Billie Jean King)
• On celebrating each other in the women’s sports community:
  • “We are all boats rise kind of a people...we want them to do as well as we are doing.” (09:31, Abby Wambach)
• On the Title IX milestone:
  • “That’s the first time we had athletic scholarships ever. And the first one went to Annie Meyers in 1974...He just had no idea because in these 37 words, there’s the word ‘activity.’...if they hadn’t left it in, we would not have athletic scholarships.” (07:47–08:41, Billie Jean King)
• On sports’ emotional impact:
  • “I am just so on this Lindsey Vonn train I cannot even tell you. Let’s go. Get to Cortina, get to your living room and go.” (42:06, Julie Foudy)
• On rooting for women’s sports everywhere:
  • “When women in sports win, we all have a reason to party.” (15:05, General sentiment, attributed to Ally sponsorship segment)
• On facing and setting new challenges:
  • “You get these exciting things, but, you know, nothing is just given to us.” (02:55, Billie Jean King)
• On the connective power of sport:
  • “Every player mattered.” (31:52, Billie Jean King, about NCAA Volleyball Finals)

Timestamps for Key Segments

| Time | Segment | |---------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 00:43 | Billie Jean King’s South Africa safari story | | 02:08 | WTA–Mercedes Benz historic deal details | | 03:54 | The fight for equal prize money and visibility | | 09:31 | Women’s sports content recommendations (podcasts, influencers) | | 14:39 | Shout-out to BAWSI: Bay Area Women’s Sports Initiative | | 20:39 | Introduction of Snake Draft for top 2025 moments | | 25:08 | Billie’s draft pick: Madison Keys’ Australian Open victory | | 25:50 | Abby: Women’s Rugby World Cup Final in England | | 27:44 | Julie: Las Vegas Aces turnaround and WNBA title | | 29:24 | Julie: Texas A&M’s NCAA volleyball championship run | | 32:42 | Abby: Launch of Love Volleyball League, co-ownership announcement | | 34:39 | Billie: PWHL Minnesota Frost’s back-to-back championships | | 36:17 | Billie: Mixed doubles US Open and vision for mixed tennis | | 39:29 | Abby: Natalie Grabow, 80, becomes oldest Ironman finisher | | 40:14 | Julie: Lindsey Vonn returns at 41, wins 83rd World Cup and aims for Olympics |

Flow & Tone

The tone is lively, inclusive, humorous, and deeply passionate about women’s sports. There's generous use of personal anecdotes, behind-the-scenes reflections, warm competition, and heartfelt celebration of progress and community. Each host’s personality shines: Billie’s measured historical awareness and advocacy, Abby’s enthusiastic cheerleading and honesty, Julie’s infectious energy and storyteller’s instincts.

For Listeners Who Missed the Episode

If you missed this episode, you missed a communal celebration of what makes women’s sports powerful. Billie Jean King, Abby Wambach, and Julie Foudy not only spotlighted the year's defining moments—from big-money deals and on-field heroics to cultural touchstones and trailblazing individuals—but also uplifted the voices and organizations building the future. The moments they chose weren’t about trophies, but about transformation, perseverance, and the interconnected growth of athletes and fans. This show is for anyone looking to be inspired, to learn, and to have a damn good time rooting for women who shape the games we love.

Which 2025 sports moment sits with you? Tell the party—and don’t forget Billie’s rule: have a sh*t ton of fun.