Full Time: A show about women's soccer

Gotham FC are your 2026 NWSL Shield champions, after topping the standings on the final day of the regular season. So, how did Gotham clinch a first-ever Shield in team history, and what other drama unfolded as the playoff spots were locked in?

On this episode of Full Time, moments after the final whistle on Decision Day, the podcast breaks down Gotham’s historic win, San Diego Wave’s second-place finish, and the Seattle Reign squeaking into the eighth and final playoff spot.

PLUS: With the NWSL regular season complete and ballots due this week, The Athletic’s Meg Linehan and Tamerra Griffin give their picks on who should take home the 2026 NWSL Awards. Can Ashley Sanchez still be MVP even though the NC Courage missed the playoffs? Why does Coach of the Year feel wide open? And, as wild as it sounds, should Defender of the Year be about defending?

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HOST: Theo Lloyd-Hughes

PANEL: Meg Linehan, Tamerra Griffin

PRODUCER: Theo Lloyd-Hughes

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Referenced on the show:

NWSL Decision Day 2026 recap: Gotham FC wins first Shield; Spirit, Wave and Current lock home games

NWSL original Jess Fishlock takes the spotlight after a career of doing quiet work for Seattle

How ESPN is capitalizing on the NWSL’s biggest Decision Day yet

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29 games down, 1 to go. The longest NWSL regular season ever is reaching its climax, and two teams, Gotham FC and the San Diego Wave, are left duking it out for top spot in the standings and the chance to lift the NWSL Shield.

So, on the show today, we’re going to be debating what winning the NWSL Shield really means. Should the regular season title mean more than a Championship? How do we increase the value of this trophy? And what would winning it mean to the two clubs left chasing the glory?

The podcast also breaks down all things Decision Day. From what will happen on Sunday in the Shield race, who will win the final playoff spot, and which teams can claim a spot in the top four and the right to host a playoff game.

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HOST: Theo Lloyd-Hughes

PANEL: Meg Linehan, Tamerra Griffin

PRODUCER: Theo Lloyd-Hughes

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Referenced on the show:

NWSL Decision Day: Explaining what’s at stake on the final day of the regular season

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Get in touch: ⁠⁠fulltime@theathletic.com⁠⁠

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On Monday, Alexia Putellas was crowned the best player in the world, as she claimed her third Women’s Ballon d’Or trophy.

But what does the Ballon d’Or really tell us about who the best player in the world is? What is the point of this award? Is it really just an exercise in marketing? Or can it truly be a gauge of success and value on the pitch?

On this episode of Full Time, Theo Lloyd-Hughes is joined by The Athletic’s Meg Linehan and Tamerra Griffin to debate the biggest award in the soccer calendar. Charlotte Harpur also joins the show to share her perspective from being in London at the awards to see the Ballon d’Or handed out. And Gotham FC president of soccer operations, Yael Averbuch-West, also breaks down what the Ballon d’Or means for elite clubs.

PLUS: Theo, Meg and Tamerra give their eulogies for all the NWSL teams that have already been eliminated from the playoffs. Which teams have plenty of hope and which teams don’t?

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HOST: Theo Lloyd-Hughes

PANEL: Meg Linehan, Tamerra Griffin, Charlotte Harpur

GUEST: Yawl Averbuch-West

PRODUCER: Theo Lloyd-Hughes

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Get in touch: ⁠⁠fulltime@theathletic.com⁠⁠

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This week, reports from The Athletic learned that the cities of Chicago and Portland are returning to the table to place bids to host the 2031 Women’s World Cup, which is expected to be hosted in the United States, Mexico, Jamaica, and Costa Rica.

So, on this episode of Full Time, Theo Lloyd-Hughes, Tamerra Griffin, and Meg Linehan debate the case for those two cities to host. What makes a good host city? And what lessons will FIFA and U.S. Soccer have learned from the 2026 men’s World Cup when it comes to making their picks for the women’s edition in five years?

PLUS: The Athletic’s Asli Pelit joins the show to give more details on Portland’s bid. While the pod also discusses the viral video from Angel City FC that riled up the Denver Summit after last weekend’s match in the NWSL, and who is the favorite to win the 2026 Women’s Ballon d’Or next Monday?

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HOST: Theo Lloyd-Hughes

PANEL: Meg Linehan, Tamerra Griffin

PRODUCER: Theo Lloyd-Hughes

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Referenced on the show:

Portland wants to host 2031 Women’s World Cup games. The Bhathal family is helping lead the charge

Chicago want to host the Women’s World Cup after saying ‘no’ to men’s tournament

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Get in touch: ⁠⁠fulltime@theathletic.com⁠⁠

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On Monday, the England women’s national team announced that head coach Sarina Wiegman had signed a two-year contract extension, through the end of the UEFA Women’s Euro 2029 tournament. So, what does Wiegman’s contract extension mean for Wiegman, the Lionesses, and the rest of global women’s soccer?

On this episode of Full Time, Theo Lloyd-Hughes is joined by The Athletic’s Megan Feringa to unpack Wiegman’s new contract extension as well as all the latest from the English Women’s Super League, including how the teams lower in the table can bridge ‘The Gap’ on those at the top, whether Manchester City will ever lose again, and the latest on Arsenal’s crisis that continues to embroil head coach Renee Slegers.

PLUS: Melanie Anzidei discusses what we learned from the NWSL weekend and gives her predictions on how the top eight places in the league will shake out. Were the San Diego Wave the real winners of the weekend? What happens to Ashley Sanchez’s MVP campaign if the North Carolina Courage miss out on the playoffs?

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HOST: Theo Lloyd-Hughes

PANEL: Megan Feringa, Melanie Anzidei

PRODUCER: Theo Lloyd-Hughes

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Get in touch: ⁠⁠fulltime@theathletic.com⁠⁠

Follow on Instagram and TikTok: @tafulltime

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This week, the Full Time podcast is wondering: Is there such a thing as the biggest game in the NWSL calendar?

And if so, right now, is that marquee matchup between Washington Spirit and Gotham FC?

Well, with the two teams facing off on Saturday at Audi Field – in a rematch of the 2025 NWSL Championship – what better time to debate what it means to see these two go head-to-head and unpack why this week’s regular season match has so much on the line. How are these squads looking heading out of the international break and back into league action? And what will this match mean for the Shield, the playoffs and the MVP race?

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HOST: Theo Lloyd-Hughes

PANEL: Meg Linehan, Melanie Anzidei

PRODUCER: Theo Lloyd-Hughes

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Get in touch: ⁠⁠fulltime@theathletic.com⁠⁠

Follow on Instagram and TikTok: @tafulltime

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Subscribe to the Full Time newsletter ⁠⁠here⁠⁠

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On this episode of Full Time, host Tamerra Griffin is joined by The Athletic’s Meg Linehan and Melanie Anzidei to discuss the recent friendlies between the U.S. women’s national team and Spain, which finished 2-0 to the European visitors and then 2-2.

Is the USA midfield still a problem? Where did Emma Hayes get her team selection right and wrong? Do these results make Spain favorites to next year’s World Cup? Fresh from Audi Field and Subaru Park, our panel breaks down all the lessons learned.

PLUS: On Wednesday, U.S. Soccer announced plans for a new national tournament that brings together women’s soccer clubs from different leagues nationwide to compete for a single championship. What do we know about the Crest Cup? The pod reacts to the breaking news.

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HOST: Tamerra Griffin

PANEL: Meg Linehan, Melanie Anzidei

PRODUCER: Theo Lloyd-Hughes

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Referenced on the show:

The USWNT and Emma Hayes needed Ashley Sanchez to step forward. She delivered

USWNT showed they have depth against Spain. Suddenly, Emma Hayes’ core group is under pressure

U.S. Soccer launches Arthur M. Blank Crest Cup, women’s soccer’s equivalent to U.S. Open Cup

Sanchez’s, Swanson’s goals lift USWNT to thrilling second-half comeback to draw Spain

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Get in touch: ⁠⁠fulltime@theathletic.com⁠⁠

Follow on Instagram and TikTok: @tafulltime

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This week marked the finale of the fourth season of ‘Ted Lasso’. This was the first season of the incredibly popular Apple TV show that centered around women’s soccer. So, on this week’s Full Time, the podcast wonders: Did ‘Ted Lasso’ do women’s soccer justice?

Host Theo Lloyd-Hughes is joined by The Athletic’s Meg Linehan and Asli Pelit, as well as writer Steph Yang to unpack what worked and what didn’t about this high-profile televised comedy that broadcast women’s soccer to millions of homes around the world.

PLUS: Theo and Meg give their three things to watch out for in the upcoming U.S.women’s national team vs. Spain friendlies.

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HOST: Theo Lloyd-Hughes

PANEL: Meg Linehan, Asli Pelit, Steph Yang

PRODUCER: Theo Lloyd-Hughes

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Referenced on the show:

Ted Lasso and what promotion means in the women’s game

‘Ted Lasso’ tackles women’s soccer’s worst nightmare: Knee injuries

Side hustles aren’t just for ‘Ted Lasso’s’ plot, they’re many professional footballers’ reality

What ‘Ted Lasso’ gets right about the lack of resources allocated to women’s soccer

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Get in touch: ⁠⁠fulltime@theathletic.com⁠⁠

Follow on Instagram and TikTok: @tafulltime

Subscribe to our YouTube channel: here

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Are Arsenal in crisis? And, what does the future hold for head coach Renée Slegers?

On this episode of Full Time, Theo Lloyd-Hughes and The Athletic’s Megan Feringa break down a testing week for Arsenal and their beleaguered head coach that finished with a 4-2 defeat to Manchester City on Sunday. After another poor start to a WSL season, the Gunners find themselves 10th in the table and 10 points adrift of the league leaders. Yet again, a long-awaited title chase feels over before it ever really began.

PLUS: What is still at stake in the NWSL? The Athletic’s Meg Linehan also joins the show to analyze the league standings in the NWSL with 27 matches played and three more games left to go in the regular season. Who is in the Shield race? Who can host a playoff game? Who is locked into the playoffs? And who is still clinging to faint playoff hopes?

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HOST: Theo Lloyd-Hughes

PANEL: Megan Feringa, Meg Linehan

PRODUCER: Theo Lloyd-Hughes

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Referenced on the show:

Arsenal have lost their self-belief. Rediscovering it won’t be straightforward

The Lauren Hemp 2027 Ballon d’Or campaign starts here

What are we meant to think of London City Lionesses and their superstars?

Houston Dash eyeing fresh start in 2027 is more exciting than concerning

USWNT calls up Jaelin Howell to replace injured Sam Coffey for Spain friendlies

You can find Alison Gale’s playoff predictor website here

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Get in touch: ⁠⁠fulltime@theathletic.com⁠⁠

Follow on Instagram and TikTok: @tafulltime

Subscribe to our YouTube channel: here

Subscribe to the Full Time newsletter ⁠⁠here⁠⁠

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Five years ago, the NWSL was facing a reckoning over systemic abuse within women’s soccer. With play halted and protests from players and fans across the country, no one was sure if the league would survive.

Five years on, the league barely resembles the NWSL of the past. But how did we get here? And how did the NWSL players save their league and shape its future?

On this special episode of Full Time, host Jillian Sakovits is joined by The Athletic’s Meg Linehan to trace the developments in the league since its biggest crisis in the wake of reporting on abuse in the NWSL in 2021. Former NWSL and U.S. women’s national team player Meghan Klingenberg also joins the show to share her insight from being a player with the Portland Thorns back in 2021, and reflect on the legacy that the NWSL Players Association helped to create in the wake of the reckoning.

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HOSTS: Jillian Sakovits, Meg Linehan

GUEST: Meghan Klingenberg

PRODUCER: Theo Lloyd-Hughes

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Referenced on the show:

Five years ago, the NWSL was in crisis. Thanks to its players, it’s flourishing

‘This guy has a pattern’: Amid institutional failure, former NWSL players accuse prominent coach of sexual coercion

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Get in touch: ⁠⁠fulltime@theathletic.com⁠⁠

Follow on Instagram and TikTok: @tafulltime

Subscribe to our YouTube channel: here

Subscribe to the Full Time newsletter ⁠⁠here⁠⁠

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Ashley Sanchez is back with the U.S. women’s national team. The North Carolina Courage star was among 26 players USWNT coach Emma Hayes named to her roster for a crucial pair of friendlies against reigning World Cup champion Spain on Oct. 10 and 13.

On this episode of Full Time, host Jillian Sakovits is joined by The Athletic’s Meg Linehan and Melanie Anzidei to unpack the USA’s roster to face off against Spain, as well as Hayes’s press conference on Tuesday. Where will Sanchez fit into the team? Who are the first-time call-ups, and was it wise for Hayes to bring them in for these friendlies? What does it mean for Jaedyn Shaw and Ally Sentnor to be omitted from the squad?

PLUS: This week, the 2028 NWSL expansion team from Atlanta unveiled its team name, club colors, and crest. The podcast breaks it all down and holds nothing back to give their take on the designs and rollout.

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HOST: Jillian Sakovits

PANEL: Meg Linehan, Melanie Anzidei

PRODUCER: Theo Lloyd-Hughes

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Referenced on the show:

Ashley Sanchez returns to USWNT roster for Spain friendlies after long absence

Atlanta NWSL team reveals name and crest ahead of 2028 debut

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Get in touch: ⁠⁠fulltime@theathletic.com⁠⁠

Follow on Instagram and TikTok: @tafulltime

Subscribe to our YouTube channel: here

Subscribe to the Full Time newsletter ⁠⁠here⁠⁠

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Cloe Lacasse is having one of the best seasons of her career. The Utah Royals forward co-leads the NWSL in assists, with 10, and could break the league record in the same statistic if she sets up one more goal. She also has seven goals, making her one of the league’s top goal contributors. The Canadian’s form has begged the question: Is Lacasse underrated?

On this episode of Full Time, host Jillian Sakovits and The Athletic’s Tamerra Griffin sit down for an interview with Lacasse to learn about her journey to Utah, what she thinks of personal accolades, the tricks of being a good goal creator, and what makes the Royals a team without an ego.

PLUS: Jill, Tamerra, and Producer Theo give their picks of who the most underrated players of the 2026 NWSL season are, while also trying to better understand what makes a player underrated.

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HOSTS: Jillian Sakovits, Tamerra Griffin

GUEST: Cloe Lacasse

PRODUCER: Theo Lloyd-Hughes

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Get in touch: ⁠⁠fulltime@theathletic.com⁠⁠

Follow on Instagram and TikTok: @tafulltime

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10 days after mutually parting ways with the Kansas City Current, Vlatko Andonovski is back in the NWSL.

In a dramatic turn of events, the former USWNT head coach is now the Chief Soccer Officer for the Chicago Stars. So, on this episode of Full Time, host Jillian Sakovits is joined by The Athletic’s Meg Linehan and Tamerra Griffin to discuss whether Andonovski can make Midwestern magic happen yet again and turn the worst team in the NWSL into a contender. Can Andonovski revive the Chicago Stars?

PLUS: The latest top stories from the NWSL weekend, from Angel City’s surge into the playoff places and Gotham becoming the first team to book their ticket to the postseason. And the pod takes a look at the state of the USWNT U20 group, which was eliminated from the World Cup by Brazil in the Round of 16 last week. What does another early exit from a world competition mean?

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HOST: Jillian Sakovits

PANEL: Meg Linehan, Tamerra Griffin

PRODUCER: Theo Lloyd-Hughes

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Referenced on the show:

Chicago Stars’ struggles this season were evident. Vlatko Andonovski could revive the team

Ex-Chelsea director Paul Green wants to turn Bay FC into a championship team

The under-20 World Cup has top players ‘caught in between’ club and country

Alex Morgan, Crystal Dunn, Marta among players calling for FIFA to move U-20 Women’s World Cup

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Get in touch: ⁠⁠fulltime@theathletic.com⁠⁠

Follow on Instagram and TikTok: @tafulltime

Subscribe to our YouTube channel: here

Subscribe to the Full Time newsletter ⁠⁠here⁠⁠

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How long does the average head coach last in the NWSL? Why do we see so much turnover at the head coaching position? What are the causes, and what are the solutions (if we need them)?

On this episode of Full Time, host Jillian Sakovits is joined by The Athletic’s Meg Linehan and Tamerra Griffin for a deep dive into coaching turnover in the NWSL. The trio unpacks all the data from coaching turnover over the last five years in the NWSL, examining the trends behind the revolving door as well as trying to understand which clubs are showing a different way. Are male and female head coaches given different lengths of tenure? What is the adequate amount of time to evaluate a head coach?

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HOST: Jillian Sakovits

PANEL: Meg Linehan, Tamerra Griffin

PRODUCER: Theo Lloyd-Hughes

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Referenced on the show:

As NWSL grows, ‘head coach retention’ should become a new marker of success

Houston Dash fire coach Fabrice Gautrat and technical director Twila Kilgore

Vlatko Andonovski’s Kansas City Current departure: ‘The finality of it hurts for the players’

Bay FC close to appointing ex-Chelsea general manager Paul Green as head of football

Meet Jimmy Coenraets, the 31-year-old Utah Royals coach leading NWSL’s most unlikely contender

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Get in touch: ⁠⁠fulltime@theathletic.com⁠⁠

Follow on Instagram and TikTok: @tafulltime

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Subscribe to the Full Time newsletter ⁠⁠here⁠⁠

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Cat Macario’s debut season in San Diego is over before it ever really began. Wave FC announced on Monday that the U.S. women’s national team attacker would be placed on the season-ending injury list after undergoing knee surgery. So, how did we get here, and what does it mean for Macario, the Wave and the USWNT?

Host Jillian Sakovits is joined by The Athletic’s Melanie Anzidei and Tamerra Griffin to discuss a big news week in the NWSL, where, alongside Macario’s injury, we saw the Houston Dash fire head coach Fabrice Gautrat, the Orlando Pride hand out a big contract extension to Barbra Banda, and a group of past and present global soccer stars pen an open letter to FIFA.

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HOST: Jillian Sakovits

PANEL: Melanie Anzidei, Tamerra Griffin

PRODUCER: Theo Lloyd-Hughes

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Referenced on the show:

San Diego Wave place US forward Catarina Macario on season-ending injury list with knee injury

Houston Dash fire coach Fabrice Gautrat and technical director Twila Kilgore

Orlando Pride signs prolific scorer Barbra Banda to contract extension

The under-20 World Cup has top players ‘caught in between’ club and country

Alex Morgan, Crystal Dunn, Marta among players calling for FIFA to move U-20 Women’s World Cup

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Get in touch: ⁠⁠fulltime@theathletic.com⁠⁠

Follow on Instagram and TikTok: @tafulltime

Subscribe to our YouTube channel: here

Subscribe to the Full Time newsletter ⁠⁠here⁠⁠

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After 18 months away, Jenna Nighswonger is back in the NWSL and back in her home state of California. So, why has she joined Bay FC, what excites her about head coach Emma Coates, and how is life back in the league where she was a league Champion and Rookie of the Year three years ago? On this episode of Full Time, Nighswonger sits down with The Athletic’s Tamerra Griffin to catch up on life and soccer after returning to the U.S .from Arsenal this summer.

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HOST: Jillian Sakovits, Tamerra Griffin

GUEST: Jenna Nighswonger

PRODUCER: Theo Lloyd-Hughes

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Referenced on the show:

Ballon d’Or Feminin 2026: Who do our writers think should win?

The under-20 World Cup has top players ‘caught in between’ club and country

Making sense of Vlatko Andonovski's exit from the KC Current

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Get in touch: ⁠⁠fulltime@theathletic.com⁠⁠

Follow on Instagram and TikTok: @tafulltime

Subscribe to our Youtube channel: here

Subscribe to the Full Time newsletter ⁠⁠here⁠⁠

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This week, the Kansas City Current announced that the team would be mutually parting ways with Sporting Director Vlatko Andonovski.

The bombshell news came just 10 months after Andonovski led the Current to a record-breaking NWSL Shield win as head coach, then swiftly restructured his role in Kansas City, moving him from the dugout to head of the front office on the sporting side.

On this week’s Full Time, Jillian Sakovits, Tamerra Griffin and Meg Linehan will be trying to make sense of what this divorce means for the Current and Andonovski. How did we get here, and where will both go next? Is Kansas City still an elite destination in the NWSL?

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Articles referenced on the show:

Kansas City Current and ex-USWNT manager Vlatko Andonovski ‘mutually part ways’

How ‘Ted Lasso’ found a love for women’s soccer in Kansas City

Two-time MVP and Golden Boot winner Temwa Chawinga’s aura charges KC Current

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HOSTS: Jillian Sakovits, Tamerra Griffin, Meg Linehan

PRODUCER: Theo Lloyd-Hughes

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Get in touch: ⁠⁠fulltime@theathletic.com⁠⁠

Follow on Instagram and TikTok: @tafulltime

Subscribe to the Full Time newsletter ⁠⁠here⁠⁠

Visit the Yahoo Women's Sports hub ⁠⁠here

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A Ballon d’Or winner, in Bromley? Yes! You are hearing that correctly.

The Athletic’s Charlotte Harpur takes you inside Alexia Putellas’s debut in the English Women’s Super League, a curious and historic night in Southeast London for big-spending London City Lionesses and owner Michele Kang. The pod also breaks down how London City overcame Manchester United on the pitch in the first match under United’s new head coach, Eva Olid. And, how is Kang trying to balance the books and the WSL’s new spending rules?

PLUS: All the top moments from the NWSL weekend, which saw history in Portland, a hat-trick for the unstoppable Ashley Sanchez and an upset at the top of the table.

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HOST: Jillian Sakovits

GUESTS: Charlotte Harpur

PRODUCER: Theo Lloyd-Hughes

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Referenced on the show:

A Ballon d’Or winner in Bromley? Watching Alexia Putellas’ WSL debut with fans from around the world

Manchester United and the 45 minutes that put them in the sights of the WSL’s chasing pack

North Carolina midfielder Ashley Sanchez sets U.S. scoring record — USWNT could be next

WSL investigating rule breach by Crystal Palace Women, as match officials stood down

Earps, Putellas and how London City can afford their high-profile transfers

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Get in touch: ⁠⁠fulltime@theathletic.com⁠⁠

Follow on Instagram and TikTok: @tafulltime

Subscribe to our YouTube channel: here

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This week, The Athletic confirmed with sources that United States women’s national team midfielder Rose Lavelle has re-signed with Gotham FC through the 2029 season. The story was first reported by ESPN.

So, why did Lavelle choose to stay with Gotham? And what does it mean for the USWNT?

PLUS: Are we seeing the greatest Golden Boot race in NWSL history? Host Theo Lloyd-Hughes and The Athletic’s Melanie Anzidei break down the Lavelle contract news as well as how all the top scorers in the league match up and who their picks to win the award are come November.

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HOST: Theo Lloyd-Hughes

GUEST: Jillian Sakovits

PRODUCER: Theo Lloyd-Hughes

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Referenced on the show:

Rose Lavelle re-signs with Gotham FC through 2029

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Get in touch: ⁠⁠fulltime@theathletic.com⁠⁠

Follow on Instagram and TikTok: @tafulltime

Subscribe to our YouTube channel: here

Subscribe to the Full Time newsletter ⁠⁠here⁠⁠

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The English Women's Super League is back and bigger than ever. Expanded to 14 teams for the 2026-27 season, this week’s Full Time podcast previews the new season’s title contenders, relegation battlers, new players to watch, and biggest narratives to know before it all kicks off.

Host Jillian Sakovits is joined by a panel of writers from The Athletic, featuring Tamerra Griffin and Megan Feringa. Can Manchester City repeat for the first time in their history? Are a strengthened Arsenal the top pick to win a first WSL title since 2019? How much spotlight will Alexia Putellas take up as she crashes the party with the big-spending London City Lionesses?

Articles referenced on the show:

Seven top WSL transfers: From young stars to some of Europe’s most in-demand players

Manchester United set to sign Hacken winger Monica Jusu Bah in transfer over £400k

Washington Spirit’s Rebeca Bernal nearing Manchester United move

Who is Eva Olid, why have Manchester United appointed her and what is she walking into?

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HOST: Jillian Sakovits

GUEST: Tamerra Griffin, Megan Feringa

PRODUCER: Theo Lloyd-Hughes

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Get in touch: ⁠⁠fulltime@theathletic.com⁠⁠

Follow on Instagram and TikTok: @tafulltime

Subscribe to the Full Time newsletter ⁠⁠here⁠⁠

Visit the Yahoo Women's Sports hub ⁠⁠here

Hosted on Acast. See https://acast.com/privacy for more information.