Welcome to the Party: THE WILDEST PREGAME RITUALS YOU’VE EVER HEARD

Host: Julie Foudy
Co-hosts: Abby Wambach, Billie Jean King
Special Guest: Marissa Tanden
Date: February 19, 2026

Episode Overview

This episode dives into the fascinating world of superstitions and pregame rituals in women's sports—both at the Olympic level and among soccer legends themselves. Julie Foudy, along with soccer powerhouses Abby Wambach and Billie Jean King, swap personal stories, unearth the quirks of their teammates, and chat with Olympic content creator Marissa Tanden. It’s a lively, revealing discussion packed with honesty, humor, and real-life experiences, ultimately exploring the deeper “why” behind athletes’ sometimes-wacky routines.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The USWNT Roster & SheBelieves Cup Buzz

(Starts 04:40)

• Julie recaps Emma Hayes' announcement of the latest US Women’s National Team roster: This is the most experienced and deepest roster since the Paris 2024 Olympics, with returning stars like Trinity Rodman, Naomi Girma, and the Gotham players.
• Injuries and new faces: 12 players have 10 caps or fewer, showing how much Hayes has broadened the team’s pool.
• Goalkeeper drama: Fallon Tullis Joyce is back, possibly competing with Claudia Dickey for the No. 1 spot.
• Midfield excitement: Every key midfielder is back (Rose, Coffey, Shaw, Jackson, etc.).
• "Angel City defender Savvy King’s comeback": After a scary on-field collapse and heart surgery, she’s been cleared to play—“Savvy 2.0 is back, baby!” (10:39)

2. Olympic Highlights with Marissa Tanden: Party Starter Segment

(11:54–23:49)

a. Alana Myers Taylor’s Gold in Bobsled

• Oldest US Olympian to win gold: Breaks a newly set record and ties Bonnie Blair as the most decorated American women’s Winter Olympian ever.
• Moving moment: Julie: “And her kids there and her sobbing on the podium—I had all the feels.” (12:33)

b. Michaela Shiffrin’s Redemption Arc

• Most decorated US Alpine skier, earning three Olympic golds despite previous injuries and heartbreak at the last Olympics.
• Julie: “Maybe today was the first time I could actually accept this reality instead of thinking I would be going in this moment without him, to take the moment to be silent with him.” (14:12)

c. "Blade Angels" – US Figure Skating’s New Era

• Three medal hopefuls, self-named and owning their moment.
• Alyssa Liu leads after the short program.
• Discussion about the tradition of Olympic team nicknames. (17:01)

d. USA vs. Canada Women’s Hockey Rivalry

• Canadian captain Marie-Philip Poulin breaks the Olympic goals record.
• US dominance this Olympics: Five shutouts, outscoring opponents 31-1.
• Marissa: “It can’t be understated how incredible this lineup has been.” (20:54)

e. Olympic Love Story

• US team captain Hilary Knight and US speed skater Brittany Bowe get engaged during the Olympics.
• Julie: “Olympics brought us together. This one made us forever.” (22:29)

3. The Heart of the Episode: Wildest Pregame Rituals & Superstitions

(23:49–63:38)

A. Olympic Athlete Superstitions

• Mikaela Shiffrin: Eats sour gummy bears before racing—“It snaps her into focus.” (30:51, Abby)
• Jessie Diggins: Wears face glitter for joy and confidence—“It’s a salute to the little girl who just wants to go super speed.” (31:05, Julie)
• Eileen Gu: Does body taps in sets of eight before every run; 8 is China’s lucky number, associated with prosperity.

B. Defining Superstition vs. Routine

• Julie: “Superstitions are not fully under your control. Superstitions control you. Routines are what you control.” (34:49)

C. Julie’s Rituals

• Wore the same teddy bear/soccer ball underwear for every high school game:
  “...every game they would ask, ‘do you have your underwear on?’ And I had to flash my little teddy bear and soccer balls.” (35:11, Julie)
• Burned them after high school from ritual fatigue.

D. Abby’s Epic Rituals

• Extremely elaborate routines, many developed over years:
  • Specific meals (chicken breast and salad; or eggs for early games)
  • Sat next to Christy Rampone on the bus for her entire national team career.
  • Must win a solitaire game on her phone on the bus.
  • In the locker room, put on left sock-shinguard-shoe first, then right. Each piece accompanied by sequences (“tap, tap, tap”).
  • Must see the ball hit the net in warm-up for a “vision” of scoring.
  • Would pour water on her face/hair and try to successfully flip the water bottle.
  • Slap her face hard three times before going on field—“One, two, three. Maybe this is why I didn’t score so many goals. I needed to slap my face three times.” (50:34, Julie)
  • Unique handshake with forwards; verbal rituals with Alex Morgan.

Memorable Reflection:

Abby:
“I think that there’s something really holy about going through the process of rituals to get prepared for something important. And… when I start to tap into other people doing the same thing… we all then collectively get connected.” (41:06)

E. Teammates’ Rituals Shared

• Ali Krieger: Left sock/boot/shin guard before the right. (53:00, Abby)
• Christine Lilly: Three jump headers before the whistle; always tried to find her dad in the stands. (53:37, Julie)
• Mia Hamm: Socks, shinguards, cleats go on right, then left. Would stay with winning bus seat partner. (54:14, Julie)
• Brandi Chastain: Didn’t put on the uniform until crossing the locker room threshold—“That’s when I went from easy go lucky… to ‘I’m gonna kick your ass’ mode.” (55:06)
• Ali Riley: Had “lucky spandex” with holes in them. (55:27)
• Shannon Boxx: Same breakfast every game day; French-braided hair; right, then left sock/shinguard/shoe order. (56:12, Abby)
• Michelle Kwan: Always put left skate on before right—“Everything in my life was choreographed and structured, so why not add one more thing?” (57:15, Julie)

F. The Psychology & Advice for Young Athletes

• Julie: “If you feel like you need something that will calm your nerves and give you order, okay. But make it stuff you can control… So that you’re not in a situation where if you don’t have those socks or the underwear isn’t there… you don’t want that either.” (59:00)
• Abby: “Even if it’s not true, like I logically understand that putting my sock left foot first… is going to give me any advantage. But spiritually and emotionally… it makes this puzzle… click into place and then you’re off. And that’s what I wanted.” (60:33)

Notable Quotes & Moments

• On connection through rituals:
  "I truly believe... there’s something holy about going through the process of rituals. Then, when I actually start to tap into other people doing the exact same thing... we all then collectively get connected."
  — Abby Wambach (41:06)

• On the burden of superstition:
  "After four years of wearing this underwear and having the stress... I burned those things after. I’m done with this damn superstition. No more superstitions."
  — Julie Foudy (35:26)

• On pragmatic routines:
  "Champions train for flexibility. The best performers embrace uncertainty and develop routines that help them reset and focus on purpose."
  — Julie, quoting Dr. Michael Gervais (46:42)

• On how rituals make or break the mindset:
  "Superstitions are not fully under your control. Superstitions control you. Routines are what you control."
  — Julie Foudy (34:49)

Timeline of Major Segments

• 00:49 — Superstitions intro: “Do superstitions even work?”
• 04:40–10:39 — SheBelieves Cup, USWNT Roster analysis, Savvy King’s comeback
• 11:54–23:49 — Olympic Party Starter (bobsled, Alpine skiing, figure skating, hockey rivalry, Olympic romance)
• 23:49–63:38 — Wildest Pregame Rituals: Deep-dive into hosts' and friends' superstitions, philosophical discussion, and practical advice for athletes
• Approximately 64:00 — Invitation to listeners to share their superstitions

Conclusion

The episode is an engaging deep dive into the quirks and psychology of athlete rituals—part confessional, part comedy, always insightful. By sharing both serious and absurd stories, Julie, Abby, and their guests humanize sports legends and open up a conversation about mental preparation, vulnerability, and the universal search for control and comfort in high-pressure moments.

Listener Call-to-Action

Julie and Abby encourage listeners to share their own wild pregame rituals and superstitions for future episodes.

Original tone: Fun, candid, sometimes irreverent, and always rooted in camaraderie and mutual respect.
First Party Rule remains: “Have a sh*t ton of fun.”