Expected Own Goals

RECORDED BEFORE DETAILS OF RODMAN'S $2 MILLION AVERAGE ANNUAL VALUE WAS REPORTED Hot off the presses and straight from the most important press conference in women's soccer history (according to the participants), the guys wrap their heads around Trinity Rodman's new three-year contract with the Washington Spirit. How did this deal get done? What effect does the league's proposed High Impact Player rule have on the contract's terms? How does it fit into the rest of the Spirit's offseason? Buckle up, gang! Like & subscribe to our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ page and watch the first volume of our Anatomy of series! Follow us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Did we make an own goal? E-mail us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠xog@xowngoals.com⁠⁠⁠⁠ Art by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Eli Elbogen⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Music by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Devin Drobka's Bell Dance Songs⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe to our Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for as little as $6/month to get bonus episodes and the main feed ad-free! RECORDED BEFORE CLAUDIA MARTÍNEZ NEWS First things first: Meghann Burke has offered news on the state of the union's grievances against the league! The bad news is it's gonna be awhile before anything is resolved. Then, the guys move on to signings. Denise O'Sullivan has moved to Liverpool. Macey Hodge has gone to Racing Louisville. Melissa Kössler and Maja Lardner offer good respective case studies on how to contextualize data in international transfers and college signings. But seriously, WHAT IS GOING ON IN SAN DIEGO??? Four starters have left the club in the last month, not to mention earlier departures of María Sánchez and Naomi Girma. Ludmila and KiKi Pickett have come in (and Trinity Byars should finally be available), but what is the state of the roster right now? Are things as bad as they were even in the post-Jill Ellis era? Like & subscribe to our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ page and watch the first volume of our Anatomy of series! Follow us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Did we make an own goal? E-mail us at ⁠⁠xog@xowngoals.com⁠⁠ Art by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Eli Elbogen⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Music by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Devin Drobka's Bell Dance Songs⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe to our Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for as little as $6/month to get bonus episodes and the main feed ad-free! RECORDED BEFORE LUDMILA'S TRANSFER TO SAN DIEGO WAVE The NWSL hot stove is officially lit! The headlines this week are Sam Coffey's transfer to Manchester City, with Lindsey Heaps coming the other way from France and signing with her hometown Denver Summit. What do these deals represent for the Thorns and Summit respectively? Did Portland get fleeced? Is Heaps the marquee signing on the field that she will be off the field? The guys dig into this, plus Emily Sams, Ary Borges, Savannah McCaskill, Kailen Sheridan, and many more. Like & subscribe to our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ page and watch the first volume of our Anatomy of series! Follow us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Did we make an own goal? E-mail us at ⁠⁠xog@xowngoals.com⁠⁠ Art by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Eli Elbogen⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Music by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Devin Drobka's Bell Dance Songs⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

WANT MORE GREAT BONUS CONTENT? ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe to our Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for as little as $6/month to get bonus episodes and the main feed ad-free! The year has come to a close, so as we always do, we take a look back on all the things we got wrong over the last 12 months. And there are some doozies!Did we miss any? E-mail us at xog@xowngoals.com! Like & subscribe to our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ page and watch the first volume of our Anatomy of series! Follow us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Art by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Eli Elbogen⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Music by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Devin Drobka's Bell Dance Songs⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

NOT A PATREON MEMBER? ⁠⁠⁠⁠Use the code "XOG"⁠⁠⁠⁠ to get a year's subscription for 50% off!!! The NWSL dropped their "High Impact Player" rule two mornings before Christmas, and they're acting like they don't need the NWSL Players Association to negotiate and sign off on it. The union has different ideas. The guys walk through all of the insane details of the rule, why the league released it just before a major holiday, and what the union can do about it. Like & subscribe to our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ page and watch the first volume of our Anatomy of series! Follow us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Art by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Eli Elbogen⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Music by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Devin Drobka's Bell Dance Songs⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

NOT A PATREON MEMBER? ⁠⁠Use the code "XOG"⁠⁠ to get a year's subscription for 50% off!!! With the year coming to a close, it's time to reflect on the best players of the 2025 NWSL season. The guys draft players into their respective best XIs, bicker and argue all the way, and then try to synthesize both into the Official xOG Best XI. Agree with their choices? Disagree? Sound off! Like & subscribe to our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ page and watch the first volume of our Anatomy of series! Follow us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Art by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Eli Elbogen⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Music by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Devin Drobka's Bell Dance Songs⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

NOT A PATREON MEMBER? ⁠Use the code "XOG"⁠ to get a year's subscription for 50% off!!! The NWSL offseason is officially in full swing. Teams have given roster updates, and extensions/re-signings are being announced along with significant deals like Ally Schlegel's to North Caroli—oh, who are we kidding? There is only one story in the league right now, and it's one that will affect every other deal for the rest of the offseason no matter how it ends. Trinity Rodman was ready to re-sign with the Washington Spirit, until the league rejected the terms of the deal. The players union is now appealing the decision. How did we get here? Does the league have any defensible case? Should the union lose, what does that mean for the future of free agency in the NWSL, and of its ability to attract and retain top talent from all over the world? This story is nowhere close to done, so strap in! Like & subscribe to our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ page and watch the first volume of our Anatomy of series! Follow us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Art by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Eli Elbogen⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Music by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Devin Drobka's Bell Dance Songs⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

NOT A PATREON MEMBER? Use the code "XOG" to get a year's subscription for 50% off!!! The U.S. women's national team took down Italy 5-0 on aggregate across a window that saw the 26th and 27th players get their first caps under Emma Hayes, an all-time record for a U.S. head coach. What has 2025 meant for the USWNT, and how has it set themselves up for the next phase of their World Cup preparations? The guys also do a quick news roundup from the past two weeks, including the Rob Gale firing, the Hailie Mace and Jess Fishlock signings, and other bits and bobs. Like & subscribe to our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ page and watch the first volume of our Anatomy of series! Follow us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Art by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Eli Elbogen⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Music by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Devin Drobka's Bell Dance Songs⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Fly Bats, fly! Gotham FC won their second NWSL title on Saturday, squeaking past the Washington Spirit 1-0 on a miracle goal from Rose Lavelle in the second half. Did the Spirit deserve to lose? Did Gotham deserve to win? What ultimately separated the two sides, how should they view their seasons as a whole? Subscribe to our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for only $6/month to get exclusive bonus content, including the show ad-free! Like & subscribe to our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ page and watch the first volume of our Anatomy of series! Follow us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Art by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Eli Elbogen⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Music by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Devin Drobka's Bell Dance Songs⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The moment has finally come! In the now-most-played fixture in NWSL—and in what may now finally be called a true rivalry—the Washington Spirit and Gotham FC face each other in San Jose for all the marbles. The guys hung out at each team's training to figure out who has the edge. The projections make Gotham slight favorites, so why do our guts tell us the Spirit have the advantage? They try to make sense of it all. Subscribe to our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for only $6/month to get exclusive bonus content, including the show ad-free! Like & subscribe to our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ page and watch the first volume of our Anatomy of series! Follow us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Art by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Eli Elbogen⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Music by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Devin Drobka's Bell Dance Songs⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Yael Averbuch West will be the first to tell you she didn't fully grasp what the job of General Manager would entail when Gotham FC tapped her for the post. Four years and a Championship trophy later, Gotham finds itself knocking on the door of another title. Averbuch West sat down with the guys to share her evolution as a GM, the club's evolution from where they were, and what she has attempted to instill in Gotham at every level. Patreon is unpaywalled this month! If you have enjoyed these bonus episodes, ⁠subscribe for only $6/month⁠ to get exclusive bonus content, including the show ad-free! Like & subscribe to our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ page and watch the first volume of our Anatomy of series! Follow us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Art by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Eli Elbogen⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Music by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Devin Drobka's Bell Dance Songs⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Washington Spirit GM Mark Krikorian stepped down from his position back in March, but instead of rushing to find a replacement, owner Michele Kang entrusted the front office to two of Krikorian's protegées, interim GM Nathan Minion and sporting director James Hocken. How did Minion and Hocken navigate the at-times rough seas that was the 2025 season, and how have they continued to shape the organizational philosophy of the Spirit over the last eight months? Nathan and James sat down with the guys to talk all about their journeys, and how the Spirit ended up contending for a title for the second straight year. Patreon is unpaywalled this month! If you have enjoyed these bonus episodes, subscribe for only $6/month to get exclusive bonus content, including the show ad-free! Like & subscribe to our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ page and watch the first volume of our Anatomy of series! Follow us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Art by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Eli Elbogen⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Music by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Devin Drobka's Bell Dance Songs⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It was more than 90 minutes of dross, capped by a moment of magic: 2023 NWSL champs Gotham FC squeaked past 2024 champs Orlando Pride thanks to Jaedyn Shaw's free kick wizardry and little else. Neither team played well. How much does that inform Orlando's offseason outlook? How can Gotham find the juice to get past a peaking Washington Spirit in the Championship game? The guys muse over all of it. Subscribe to our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for only $6/month to get exclusive bonus content, including the show ad-free! Like & subscribe to our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ page and watch the first volume of our Anatomy of series! Follow us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Art by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Eli Elbogen⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Music by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Devin Drobka's Bell Dance Songs⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Washington Spirit are headed to their second straight NWSL Championship game on the heels of a commanding performance against a depleted Portland Thorns side. Were Washington good, or were Portland bad? What will the Thorns need to do in the offseason to get back to the playoffs? And what do Trinity Rodman's contract negotiations tell us about the state of the NWSL's ability to retain top talent? Subscribe to our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for only $6/month to get exclusive bonus content, including the show ad-free! Like & subscribe to our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ page and watch the first volume of our Anatomy of series! Follow us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Art by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Eli Elbogen⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Music by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Devin Drobka's Bell Dance Songs⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Our second semifinal preview looks at the other two recent champs, Orlando and Gotham. Gotham has the better and deeper roster, but are they invincible? Orlando still has the core of their world-class defense, but can it slow down the likes of Jaedyn Shaw and Gabi Portilho? Will Esther be available from first whistle, or could she be a late-game changer? The guys tease out all the possible scenarios. Subscribe to our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for only $6/month to get exclusive bonus content, including the show ad-free! Like & subscribe to our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ page and watch the first volume of our Anatomy of series! Follow us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Art by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Eli Elbogen⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Music by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Devin Drobka's Bell Dance Songs⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The first of our two semifinal previews drills down on the Portland Thorns coming to Audi Field to try and force an upset on the Washington Spirit. The only trouble is that Washington now has the depth the Thorns are so sorely lacking. How can Olivia Moultrie and co. fight uphill against the most complete remaining attack in the NWSL playoffs? Subscribe to our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for only $6/month to get exclusive bonus content, including the show ad-free! Like & subscribe to our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ page and watch the first volume of our Anatomy of series! Follow us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Art by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Eli Elbogen⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Music by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Devin Drobka's Bell Dance Songs⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Our Patreon feed is out from behind the paywall this month! ⁠Join for only $6/month⁠, where you'll also get the main feed (audio & video) ad-free! On this week's bonus episode, we were thrilled to welcome back coach and broadcaster Jill Loyden to the show to break down the year that was in NWSL goalkeeping, drilling down deep on the playoff performances from Aubrey Kingsbury, Lorena, Claudia Dickey, and the rest of the gang. If you love a good penalty shootout chat, this is the episode for you! Like & subscribe to our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ page and watch the first volume of our Anatomy of series! Follow us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Art by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Eli Elbogen⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Music by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Devin Drobka's Bell Dance Songs⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

There was only one NWSL quarterfinal that wrapped in regulation time, but it wasn't exactly a classic. The Pride's early goal let them wait Seattle's anemic offense out en route to a 1-0 victory. Was this Seattle's best performance of the year? Did Orlando offer enough to deserve the win? The guys tease out all the details. Subscribe to our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for only $6/month to get exclusive bonus content, including the show ad-free! Like & subscribe to our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ page and watch the first volume of our Anatomy of series! Follow us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Art by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Eli Elbogen⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Music by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Devin Drobka's Bell Dance Songs⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Everyone knew that the Portland Thorns and San Diego Wave could go any number of ways. But a raucous home crowd and a moment of magic from Olivia Moultrie and Reilyn Turner pushed Portland into the semifinals. How have the Thorns managed to get so far when so many key weapons haven't been available? What do the Wave need to do to keep their rejuvenated success going in the seasons to come? The guys tease it all out. Subscribe to our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for only $6/month to get exclusive bonus content, including the show ad-free! Like & subscribe to our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ page and watch the first volume of our Anatomy of series! Follow us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Art by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Eli Elbogen⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Music by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Devin Drobka's Bell Dance Songs⁠⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Washington Spirit played like the no. 2 seed by the end of the regular season. They offered a genuinely strong attacking performance. But Racing Louisville have been survivors all year, and took the home side all the way to penalties at Audi Field, where Aubrey Kingsbury once again shut down the shootout. How should we look at Louisville's season? Are the Spirit ready to challenge for the big trophy? The guys tip their caps to a proper contest. Subscribe to our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for only $6/month to get exclusive bonus content, including the show ad-free! Like & subscribe to our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ page and watch the first volume of our Anatomy of series! Follow us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Art by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Eli Elbogen⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Music by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Devin Drobka's Bell Dance Songs⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices