Good Game with Sarah Spain

Track AND movie stars Nikki Hiltz and Emma Gee join Sarah ahead of the premiere of their new documentary KICK, alongside the director of the film, Julia Schwalb. The film follows Nikki's fight for a spot on the U.S. Olympic team, their advocacy, their love story with fiancée Emma, and more. Nikki discusses why they actually love the feeling of imposter syndrome, Emma talks about her decision to come out while at BYU, and the trio share why they wanted to first and foremost make a sports movie, while also getting at deeper issues. Plus, it’s all...

Three-time beach volleyball Olympian and ESPN commentator Holly McPeak joins Sarah to discuss the biggest highlights from the college volleyball season so far, Nebraska’s continued dominance, and what she makes of the complicated pro landscape in both beach and indoor veebs. Plus, Spinster Day is right around the corner – how are you planning to celebrate autonomy? 

Check out Wable here

Learn more about Spinster Day here 

You can now WATCH Sarah’s interviews! Subscribe to @iHeartWomensSports on YouTube and check out the Good Game playlist here

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With the NWSL playoffs in full swing, Big Citrus gathers to discuss the bad pitch quality for the Gotham-Seattle quarterfinal, the circumstances that led to the Washington Spirit getting a *real* home game next weekend while Gotham FC will have to settle for a back-up pitch, what high team valuations do and don’t mean, and why we’re once again asking for more transparency in the NWSL. Plus, deja VENue, they’ve still got it, and FORE! - there’s a new league in town!

Gymnastics world champion Skye Blakely joins Sarah fresh off World Championships in the Netherlands. Skye shares how she persevered after suffering last-second injuries ahead of the U.S. Olympic Trials — not once, but twice — and how she balances competing in both elite gymnastics for Team USA and college gymnastics for the University of Florida. 

Check out Erin Raw’s Good Game Recommendations spreadsheet here

The NWSL broadcast schedule is here

See if there’s an official Pride 5k near you here…

And buy one of Nikki Hiltz’ 2026 Pride 5k shirts here

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Ahead of the start of the NWSL playoffs, San Diego Wave midfielder Kenza Dali joins Sarah to discuss her team’s stellar season so far, the differences in European and American soccer cultures, the Michael Jordan quote that drives her, and what her French national team needs to do to find success at next year’s World Cup. Plus, more homework for slices and crying over a trailer. 

Newly crowned WNBA champion Kayla Thornton joins Sarah fresh off the Golden State Valkyries' title win. They discuss playing in front of an incredible crowd at Ballhalla, how Kayla dealt with her role evolving during the playoffs, and why this championship feels different than the one she won with New York. Plus, Day 1 is in the record books, Juju Watkins is back, and the Liberty finally decided to call that time-out. 

Follow Kayla on Instagram here

You can now WATCH Sarah’s interviews! Subscribe to @iHeartWomensSports on YouTube and check out the Good Game playlist her...

On the heels of another amazing New York City Marathon, Sarah is joined by New York Road Runners’ Chief Diversity Officer Erica Edwards O’Neal. Erica explains how DEI work shows up on race day, why she visited Kenya with her colleagues, and what smaller organizations can do to create inclusive events. Plus, oui oui, grappling for gold, and welcome to the team.

Bay Area native and The Athletic columnist Marcus Thompson II joins Sarah to recap Game 7 and the Valkyries’ title win, the role Ballhalla played during this WNBA season, and why the Valks are a model for the future of the league. They also talk about Marcus’ new book “Game Changers: The GOATs Who Revolutionized Basketball” and his effort to connect generations of hoopers. Plus, double isn’t nothing, bad checks, and missing for a good reason. 

Check out the Valkyries’ parade route here

Read the story on Jess Fishlock here

Check out the NWSL visualiz...

The WNBA Finals are headed to a Game 7! Little Citrus jumps on to discuss the Atlanta Dream’s huge Game 6 win over the Golden State Valkyries, how fans showed up in a big way despite the early tip-off, the adjustments that have made all the difference in this series, and what to expect in Game 7 at Boo-Halla. Plus, decision day is here, we hope we’re not a curse, and if you can make it 26.2 there, you can make it 26.2 anywhere. 

The NSL schedule is here

The NCAA basketball schedule can be found here  

Chec...

Sarah is joined by Olympic hockey champion and Minnesota Frost forward Taylor Fox – you know her as Taylor Heise. The PWHL star got married over the summer and now has a new last name on her jersey, so watch out for that on the ice! Sarah caught up with Taylor earlier this week before Team USA played their first of two exhibition games against rival Canada. They discussed how the team is preparing for the upcoming World Championship, the most fun parts about the off-ice hangouts with teammates during training, and how her marriage started with a beer pong me...

ESPN soccer reporter Jeff Kassouf joins Sarah to discuss his annual survey of NWSL general managers, the latest updates on grievances between the league and the players' association, and what to expect heading into Decision Day weekend. Plus, Ballon d’Or history, the U.S.-Canada rivalry rekindles, and the Golden State Valkyries are one game away from victory. 

Jeff’s third annual NWSL GM survey is here

You can now WATCH Sarah’s interviews! Subscribe to @iHeartWomensSports on YouTube and check out the Good Game playlist here

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USA Today sports columnist Nancy Armour joins Sarah from the Netherlands to discuss the 2026 World Gymnastics Championships. She explains why the sky is NOT falling for the U.S. women despite their loss to China in the team competition, what Team USA needs to clean up to get ready for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, and the one American gymnast she is confident will be on that Olympic team. Plus, size matters, an extra-long lunch break, and start practicing that royal wave.

Golden State Valkyries analyst Morgan Ragan and Atlanta Dream analyst Angel Gray join Sarah to talk WNBA finals. They discuss the Bay Area and Atlanta both showing out all series long, the keys to the Valks’ game 4 win and the X-factors that will decide tonight’s game 5 back at Ballhalla. Plus, Cox out in Indy, a Müller missile heard ‘round the league, and is Trinity Rodman still Greenland?

Washington Spirit midfielder Hal Hershfelt joins Sarah to discuss her drag debut, a wheelbarrow of fish, her winding path to soccer stardom, and whether or not it’s jinx-y when her teammates talk about how much they wanna play in the NWSL Championship at their home stadium. Plus, Atlanta shows up, long-time-no-Pou, and bending the rules of attendance records. 

The Alpine Skiing World Cup Soelden broadcast schedule is here

Team Canada’s full roster for the upcoming Hockey World Championship is here

Check out the Montréal Victoire’s championship rings here

Follo...

Sarah sat down with WNBA legend Nneka Ogwumike this week as part of the Women’s Sports Foundation’s annual Athlete Leadership Connection event. They discuss why Nneka’s not *really* retired, her proudest moment as a WNBA player and leader, and the question everyone is asking: Will she go from Madame President to Commissioner Ogwumike? Plus, Nneka names a woman, we’re asking for earnestness, and Halloween and Gay S***.

College volleyball players (and sisters!) Kendall and Elle Schara join Sarah to discuss how a diagnosis upended Kendall’s world, Elle’s life-saving donation, and the work that went into getting back on the volleyball court this season. Plus, a request for a vagueposting moratorium.

Listen to The Gist’s “How I Got the Call Up” here

You can now WATCH Sarah’s interviews! Subscribe to @iHeartWomensSports on YouTube and check out the Good Game playlist here

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It’s time for another Big Citrus women’s sports potluck! On the menu today: Producer Alex has a spicy main, Bianca’s got a sweet dessert, and Sarah brought a regional dish from Chicago. (No, it’s not a green bean casserole.) Plus, thick skin to the front, the end is near, and a win streak for the record books. 

ESPN basketball reporter Alexa Philippou joins Sarah to discuss the WNBA Finals. They talk about the Golden State Valkyries’ game one win over the Atlanta Dream, what Angel Reese and company need to do to win game two, and how things might shift when the series heads to Atlanta. Plus a delayed return, backflipping on the world stage, and trading places down the stretch. 

Read Maya Goldberg-Safir’s story on Japanese-American basketball leagues here

Read about Taylor Knibb’s I...

Architect Avi Greene and sports investor Asrat Alemu join Sarah to discuss their respective roles in bringing to life new facilities built specifically for women’s sports, how the Kansas City Current serves as a model for other franchises, and the way architecture and design impact everything from performance on the field to fan experience. Plus, the shield is in sight, signing the union cards, and this one’s for the girls.

Request access to Populous’s white paper on purpose-built facilities here

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ProPublica investigative reporter Molly Hensley-Clancy joins Sarah to discuss the outstanding work she did for The Washington Post exposing abuse in the NWSL, the focus of her current work at ProPublica, and her latest bombshell reporting on the AAU and youth sports. Plus, the Dream is getting bigger, Momma Mal gets on the board, and two leagues, one cup. 

SHOW NOTES: 

Vote for “Good Game with Sarah Spain” in the Signal Awards here

Send Molly tips here 

Read all of Molly’s reporting for ProPublica here 

Read Neil Paine’s data analy...

Cyclist and viral Instagrammer Laini Multer (aka Laini Bones) joins Sarah to discuss taking over the internet one men’s Strava record at a time. They talk about her athletic beginnings, the time she fangirled a gold medalist mid-race, and the most unhinged comments she’s received for taking men’s cycling crowns. Plus, good reads from a pair of big brains.

Follow Laini on Instagram here 

Read Candace Buckner’s column here and listen to her on “No Offseason” here

Check out Rodger Sherman’s newsletter Sports! here

You can now WATCH Sarah’...

NBC Sports Coordinating Producer Betsy Riley joins Sarah to discuss bringing the WNBA back to the network after a 24-year hiatus, how she’s preparing for the upcoming WNBA Finals, and what it’s really like inside the truck during a broadcast. Plus, progress in a loss, movement at the deadline, and everyone watches women’s sports – well, at least everyone who can get in the building.

Vote for “Good Game with Sarah Spain” in the Signal Awards here

Check out Crystal Dunn’s Instagram here and watch the highlight of her appearance on the U.S. Soccer po...

Duke women’s basketball and Team USA head coach Kara Lawson joins Sarah to talk about leading the national team to gold at the FIBA World Cup, how she stays locked in and ignores outside noise, and why her Duke team is still a bit of an unknown as the NCAA season nears. Plus, a dramatic reading, 100 MILL-ion dollars, and we’ve got a Fever that won’t come down. 

Read Sportico’s article about the Valkyries generating $100M in annual revenue here

The Amina Seck update from ESPN is here

Check out the new j...

Toronto Tempo head coach Sandy Brondello joins Sarah to discuss coaching the WNBA’s only Canadian team in its inaugural season, how she’s handling not making the postseason for the first time in 13 years, and her tips for future expansion teams. Then, she gives her scouting report on the four remaining teams in the playoffs. Plus, stats that tell the story, a veteran follows an itch, and stars – they’re just like us!

Jackie Johnston, aka Coach Jackie, joins Sarah to discuss her brand new podcast, “Is She Game?” The internet’s favorite women’s sports yapper shares highlights from the last year of covering women's sports, talks about becoming besties with Michelle and Barack Obama, and discusses how she views the relationship between journalists and content creators. Plus, Sarah explains why Good Game already has a beef with Jackie's new show.

Listen to Jackie’s podcast “Is She Game?” here on October 9th

Vote for Good Game for The Signal Awards here

You can now WATCH Sarah’s...

Women’s hoops journalist, podcaster, and author Jordan Robinson returns to the show to chat all things WNBA playoffs. She joins Sarah to discuss her takeaways from the first round, including the Lynx’s shocking early exit and comments from the Fever front office and players about Indiana fans. She also reacts to Sunday's semifinal openers, shares whether she thinks the Aces have what it takes to win again, and reveals which piece of WNBA merch she’s always collecting but doesn’t wear. Plus, the race is on, the team is set, and off-season hoops are just around the corn...

PWHL Ottawa Charge head coach Carla MacLeod joins Sarah to discuss how a routine mammogram led to a breast cancer diagnosis and a transformational year, the way her team surrounded her with love and support while she underwent treatment, and how she’s preparing for the upcoming PWHL season with four more expansion teams in the mix. Plus, East and West divisions, a bunch of Easter eggs we still haven’t found, and another reminder that women’s sports is the Good Place.

Women’s Sports Foundation CEO Danette Leighton and Cole Brauer, the first female American sailor to race solo around the world, join Sarah to talk about the inaugural WSF Sport Report. They discuss what the findings tell us about a girl’s journey from youth sports to elite competition and why we should be worried about the pipeline fueling pro women’s sports. Cole always shares some memories of her sail around the world and why she thinks being at sea is easier than being on land. Plus, keep dreaming, staying put in Louisville, and a “Yes And” that carries us...

Canopy Talent CEO Jack Liechtung joins Sarah to talk all things NIL. Jack explains why he left a fancy law firm to join the sports world, how the NIL space is still the wild wild west, and why he thinks Nebraska volleyball is a standout example in the space. Plus, that’s a hot Fever, the Lynx sink, and wake up, babe – a new USWNT roster just dropped.

Big Citrus circles up for an end-of-summer potluck! There are a few topics from the last couple of months that we haven’t stopped thinking about or haven’t had time to talk about, so we’re bringing them to the Good Game table to chew on ‘em a bit more. Plus, the WNBA playoffs march on, fallen angels, and two more reasons to hate what’s happening in Washington, D.C. 

Vote for “Good Game with Sarah Spain” for Best Sports Podcast here

Get your tickets to Unrivaled in San Francisco here

Architectural D...

Kim Stone, CEO of the NWSL’s Washington Spirit, and Alycen McAuley, chief business officer for the WNBA’s Washington Mystics, join Sarah to reflect on Capital Queens, the first-ever joint women’s sports week in Washington, D.C. McAuley also talks about the Mystics’ future arena plans, and Stone shares the secrets of Rowdy Audi and looks ahead to D.C. hosting the upcoming NWSL Championship. Plus, the WNBA playoffs are off and running, A-town gets a new name, and it’s so hard to say goodbye.

Sara Haines, co-host of The View, former college athlete, and Sarah’s newest bestie, joins the show after the pair recently met IRL in New York City. Sara compares her college experience at Smith to making taffy, shares how she ended up as MVP of a gay men’s volleyball league, how she decides which controversies to respond to on The View, and the mantra she wears on a bracelet as a daily reminder. P.S. - Tune in tomorrow for all the WNBA playoff content you crave!

With the WNBA Playoffs getting underway this weekend, ESPN’s Andraya Carter joins Sarah to discuss what each team needs to do to make it out of round one, the most noteworthy surprises following the FIBA break, and her biggest, boldest predictions for the Finals, the next W commissioner, and more. Plus, this WNBA legend deserves some flowers – and a whole lot more.

The WNBA schedule is here

You can now WATCH Sarah’s interviews! Subscribe to @iHeartWomensSports on YouTube and check out the Good Game playlist here

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Fresh off winning the inaugural WPBL championships, Los Angeles Queens captain Ashton Lansdell joins Sarah to discuss how a switch in the Queens’ lineup helped them win the series-clinching game 5, what it was like living in Springfield, Illinois, with 60 of the best women’s baseball players in the world, and why the connections she made on and off the field this season brought her to tears. Plus, coronation night, the end of the road, and consider us intrigued.

Gotham FC forward Jaedyn Shaw joins Sarah to discuss the battle for the NWSL Shield, how she’s handling pressure ahead of the 2027 Women’s World Cup, and her take on new research from e.l.f Beauty and Parity about how participating in girls' sports positively impacts later life endeavors. Plus, Stewie is stewing, a group-stage trouncing, and for all the folks claiming they want to protect women’s sports, this is your moment to actually do something. 

Read more about the case of Kentucky State basketball’s Aminata Seck here

Check out The Athletic’...

Author and journalist Lindsay Crouse joins Sarah to talk about her new book “The Case for Quitting: The Surprising Benefits of Opting Out.” They discuss why women tend to absorb far more than their share of unproductive suffering without ever considering quitting as an option, which questions to ask when deciding whether something is worth continuing, and what everyone can learn from zebrafish. Crouse also reflects on her role bringing to light the stories of brave women like Kara Goucher and Allyson Felix when she was a journalist at the New York Times. Plus, another record bites the dust, toni...

Bestselling author and the mastermind behind the “Swifties for Eternity” account Olivia Levin joins Sarah to discuss the overlap between Swifties and women’s sports fans, offer a few lessons in community-building, and share the moment when she first became aware that Taylor Swift was aware of her. Plus, context is the killer of unadulterated fun, ending a women’s hoops drought, and it doesn’t matter if the bus breaks down if you’re already home. 

Check out the Unrivaled x Minneapolis video here 

The Athletic’s WNBA playoff projections page is here

Watch Morgan...

A quartet of guests joins Sarah to discuss the harm that could be done to women’s sports if the “Protect College Sports Act” becomes law. NWSLPA executive director Meghann Burke, Senior Advisor & Legal Counsel for the WNBPA Erin Drake, Maryland basketball’s Oluchi Okananwa, and LSU basketball’s Jada Williams unpack the history of how we got here, why this bill would be disastrous for women’s sports, and their solution for fixing the college athletic landscape. Plus, queens of the diamond, Friday Flowers, and a shootout spells the end for the U.S.

Midge Purce joins Sarah ahead of International Equal Pay Day to discuss her own role in the fight for equal pay, Gotham’s success this season and her podcast “Confessions of an Elite Athlete.” The pair also reflect on their shared experience at one of Gloria Steinem’s Talking Circles and the responsibility they feel to carry on her work. Plus, we’re SO back, takin’ ‘em to court, and we’ve got a mind reader on our hands.

Big Citrus jumps on the show to react to a week of headline-making stories in the sports world, from the athletes speaking out about Sydney Sweeney’s latest brand deal to Caitlin Clark’s finger-wagging, and a cackle-fest that brought back memories of the U.S. men’s Olympic hockey team debacle. Plus, table stakes, a World Cup request, and Marla Hooch – what a hitter! 

Find out how to watch the Toronto Tempo’s ESPN Original Series here

Read what Jane McManus wrote about Sydney Sweeney in The Guardian here

Find out how to watch the...