Good Game with Sarah Spain

Women’s college hockey writer Nicole Haase joins Sarah to discuss this weekend’s Frozen Four, the favorites for the Patty Kazmaier Award, the current college-to-pro pipeline and her unique path to covering hockey. Plus, March Madness is upon us, a new rugby era starts now, and a What The Fact about a bracket built on malicious compliance. Follow Nicole Haase on social media! She’s on Bluesky here and X here Read Nicole’s reporting for the Victory Press here and for USCHO here! And you can listen to “The PodKaz” here   Join our Good Game NCAA basketball tournament Bracket Challenge group here The full March Madness schedule can be found here  Watch the women’s hockey Frozen Four! The schedule is here  Want a Women’s Elite Rugby refresher? Listen to our episode on the league here  Pick up tickets for the PWHL’s Pride Unity games here  Make your picks for Starch Madness! Sarah will post them on Instagram so you can vote on each head-to-head battle! We have a new email! Send us a note at goodgame@acast.com Follow Sarah on social! Bluesky: @sarahspain.com Instagram: @Spain2323 Follow producer Misha Jones! Bluesky: @mishthejrnalist.bsky.social Instagram: @mishthejrnalist Follow producer Alex Azzi! Bluesky: @byalexazzi.bsky.social See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Geno Auriemma, UConn head coach and the winningest head coach in college basketball history, joins Sarah to share why Paige Bueckers’ biggest strength is her delusion, changes he'd make to the NCAA Tournament format, how his approach to coaching differs from the regular season to the tournament, and how he found out Diana Taurasi was retiring. Plus, a new stadium in the Mile High City and Cam Brink gets an "ick."  Join our Good Game NCAA basketball tournament Bracket Challenge group here Leave us a voicemail at 872-204-5070 or send us a note at goodgame@wondermedianetwork.com  Follow Sarah on social! Bluesky: @sarahspain.com Instagram: @Spain2323 Follow producer Misha Jones! Bluesky: @mishthejrnalist.bsky.social Instagram: @mishthejrnalist Follow producer Alex Azzi! Bluesky: @byalexazzi.bsky.social See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Former USWNT & NWSL player turned analyst and founder and CEO of The Keeper Institute, Jill Loyden, joins Sarah for an in-depth club-by-club NWSL preview, to discuss how soccer has evolved since her playing days, and to share a big change she believes would elevate the NWSL’s level of talent. Plus, the return of one of our favorite segments: Fight Me!  Check out The Keeper Institute here Follow Jill on Instagram here Leave us a voicemail at 872-204-5070 or send us a note at goodgame@wondermedianetwork.com  Follow Sarah on social! Bluesky: @sarahspain.com Instagram: @Spain2323 Follow producer Misha Jones! Bluesky: @mishthejrnalist.bsky.social Instagram: @mishthejrnalist Follow producer Alex Azzi! Bluesky: @byalexazzi.bsky.social See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The gang’s all here! Sarah, Alex and Mish link up to talk through a handful of happenings: from the March Madness bracket reveal to Mish’s alma mater going dancing for the first time, and a Starch Madness recipe that may or may not call for a power drill. Plus, the weird timing of an extremely gay WNBA trade, the PWHL is killing the puckin’ game, and you slices have got a lot of decisions to make. Grab your Good Game merch on Breaking T here! Join our Good Game NCAA basketball tournament Bracket Challenge group here Snap a pic of slice Amanda Vallo’s GOAT team bracket here, fill it out & send it to us! Leave us a voicemail at 872-204-5070 or send us a note at goodgame@wondermedianetwork.com  Follow Sarah on social! Bluesky: @sarahspain.com Instagram: @Spain2323 Follow producer Misha Jones! Bluesky: @mishthejrnalist.bsky.social Instagram: @mishthejrnalist Follow producer Alex Azzi! Bluesky: @byalexazzi.bsky.social See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s a sports smorgasbord of an episode, beginning with the biggest takeaways from Selection Sunday and moving into a little surfing, shooting, swimming, soccer, and sports that don’t start with S, too! Sarah opens up our overflowing inbox and voicemail to respond to some of the messages slices have been sending in. And finally… we reveal a special something y’all have been asking about for months. The NCAA women’s basketball bracket is here  Leave us a voicemail at 872-204-5070 or send us a note at goodgame@wondermedianetwork.com  Follow Sarah on social! Bluesky: @sarahspain.com Instagram: @Spain2323 Follow producer Misha Jones! Bluesky: @mishthejrnalist.bsky.social Instagram: @mishthejrnalist Follow producer Alex Azzi! Bluesky: @byalexazzi.bsky.social See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Maryland basketball head coach Brenda Frese joins Sarah to discuss why a preseason trip to Croatia helped this year’s team bond, how recruiting high school kids is different than taking a shopping trip in the transfer portal, and what she remembers most from her 2006 championship-winning team. Plus, a call for your favorite starches and an ode to a different kind of slice. Send us your favorite starch recipes for “Starch Madness!” Send ‘em to goodgame@wondermedianetwork.com  Follow Maryland women’s basketball on Instagram here  Watch Alexa Gasparotto’s triple axel here  Watch Montana State’s buzzer-beating game-winner to clinch a spot in the NCAA tournament here  Read Sportico’s July 2024 story on the private equity rules in the NWSL here The NCAA basketball schedule can be found here  The PWHL schedule can be found here  The Unrivaled schedule can be found here  The NCAA hockey schedule can be found here  The LOVB schedule can be found here Find the PVF schedule here Follow Sarah on social! Bluesky: @sarahspain.com Instagram: @Spain2323 Follow producer Misha Jones! Bluesky: @mishthejrnalist.bsky.social Instagram: @mishthejrnalist Follow producer Alex Azzi! Bluesky: @byalexazzi.bsky.social See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Alyssa Naeher, recent USWNT retiree and still the goalkeeper for the NWSL’s Chicago Stars, joins Sarah to talk about the origin of her nickname “Uncle Naeher,” succeeding Briana Scurry and Hope Solo on the national team, and how she knew it was time to retire from international competition. Plus, an NWSL season preview, a little recap of Sarah’s trip to South By Southwest, and a new celebrity BFF. Find venue info, ticket packages, and the schedule for the AU Softball League’s inaugural season here Grab discounted tickets for the Chicago Stars NWSL home opener vs. the Houston Dash here The 2025 NWSL season schedule is here  Leave us a voicemail at 872-204-5070 or send us a note at goodgame@wondermedianetwork.com  Follow Sarah on social! Bluesky: @sarahspain.com Instagram: @Spain2323 Follow producer Misha Jones! Bluesky: @mishthejrnalist.bsky.social Instagram: @mishthejrnalist Follow producer Alex Azzi! Bluesky: @byalexazzi.bsky.social See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Moolah Kicks founder and CEO Natalie White joins Sarah to discuss why (and how!) she created and launched a footwear brand in her 20s, why cold emailing Mark Cuban paid off for her (and might pay off for you, too!), and what she learned from surveying women and girls about what they wanted out of a basketball shoe. Check out the Moolah apparel Natalie mentioned here Leave us a voicemail at 872-204-5070 or send us a note at goodgame@wondermedianetwork.com  Follow Sarah on social! Bluesky: @sarahspain.com Instagram: @Spain2323 Follow producer Misha Jones! Bluesky: @mishthejrnalist.bsky.social Instagram: @mishthejrnalist Follow producer Alex Azzi! Bluesky: @byalexazzi.bsky.social See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Lexie Brown, Seattle Storm guard and co-host of iHeart’s Full Circle podcast, joins Sarah to chat about finding out she was getting traded from the Los Angeles Sparks, how storytelling and brand sponsorship are assisting the growth of women’s sports, and her new gig here on the iHeart Women’s Sports Network. Plus, the NWSL’s Washington Spirit and the UCLA women’s basketball team exact some revenge, skier Mikaela Shiffrin adds to her legacy, and a slice gives us some more context on the Rice Krispie mystery. Listen to our episode with Bernadette McGlade here See the NCAA hockey tournament bracket here Subscribe to Lexie Brown’s Full Circle podcast here Check out the Sickos Committee’s video on the Minnesota Aurora’s rivals here  Leave us a voicemail at 872-204-5070 or send us a note at goodgame@wondermedianetwork.com  Follow Sarah on social! Bluesky: @sarahspain.com Instagram: @Spain2323 Follow producer Misha Jones! Bluesky: @mishthejrnalist.bsky.social Instagram: @mishthejrnalist Follow producer Alex Azzi! Bluesky: @byalexazzi.bsky.social  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Alysia Montaño, an Olympic bronze medalist and founder of For All Mothers, joins Sarah to discuss the inspiration behind her nonprofit, how pregnancy has historically impacted endorsements and brand deals, and what it was like to break a non-disclosure agreement with Nike to shed light on how the company treated pregnant athletes. Plus, Alysia gives flowers to the organizations that have made the biggest strides in ensuring athletes in women’s sports have protections and support around pregnancy and childbirth. Read/watch Alysia’s op-ed in the New York Times here Read more about Alysia’s nonprofit here Leave us a voicemail at 872-204-5070 or send us a note at goodgame@wondermedianetwork.com  Follow Sarah on social! Bluesky: @sarahspain.com Instagram: @Spain2323 Follow producer Misha Jones! Bluesky: @mishthejrnalist.bsky.social Instagram: @mishthejrnalist Follow producer Alex Azzi! Bluesky: @byalexazzi.bsky.social See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bernadette McGlade, longtime commissioner of the Atlantic-10 conference, joins Sarah to discuss fighting for the distribution of financial “units” in women’s basketball, the potential outcomes of the House vs. NCAA settlement and why it’s important to learn from failure. Plus, the Rice Krispie mystery gets sticky, a women’s tennis moment courtesy of the worst person in the room, and the NWSL is back. The A-10 basketball tournament schedule can be found here  The full college basketball schedule can be found here The Unrivaled schedule can be found here  The PWHL schedule can be found here  The LOVB schedule can be found here Find the PVF schedule here Leave us a voicemail at 872-204-5070 or send us a note at goodgame@wondermedianetwork.com  Follow Sarah on social! Bluesky: @sarahspain.com Instagram: @Spain2323 Follow producer Misha Jones! Bluesky: @mishthejrnalist.bsky.social Instagram: @mishthejrnalist Follow producer Alex Azzi! Bluesky: @byalexazzi.bsky.social See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

ESPN women’s basketball reporter Alexa Philippou joins Sarah to discuss which college hoops stars have the edge in the player of the year race, chat about the huge leap the Indiana Fever took in WNBA free agency, and share a tale about Diana Taurasi that didn’t make it into the ESPN story about her retirement. Plus, our government’s checks and balances do some checking and balancing, a Japanese soccer legend announces her retirement, and a couple friends of the show are in competition mode. Read the ESPN story Alexa contributed to about Diana Taurasi’s retirement here Read Kevin Blackistone's column about Haskell Indian Nations University here Listen to our episode with Katherine Legge here Find the schedule and race results for the World Bobsled and Skeleton Championships here See Sophia Wilson’s pregnancy announcement post on Instagram here And watch Sophia’s husband Michael gush about his wife here Leave us a voicemail at 872-204-5070 or send us a note at goodgame@wondermedianetwork.com  Follow Sarah on social! Bluesky: @sarahspain.com Instagram: @Spain2323 Follow producer Misha Jones! Bluesky: @mishthejrnalist.bsky.social Instagram: @mishthejrnalist   Follow producer Alex Azzi! Bluesky: @byalexazzi.bsky.social See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Andscape & ESPN commentator Ari Chambers joins Sarah to discuss what’s sure to be a chaotic March Madness, the difference between a great team and a Final Four team, her thoughts on the inaugural Unrivaled season, and why we should all remain vigilant with Title IX at risk. Plus, a Wildcat joins a Duck and a Hawkeye in an exclusive club. Follow Ari on Bluesky and Instagram! Leave us a voicemail at 872-204-5070 or send us a note at goodgame@wondermedianetwork.com  Follow Sarah on social! Bluesky: @sarahspain.com Instagram: @Spain2323 Follow producer Misha Jones! Bluesky: @mishthejrnalist.bsky.social Instagram: @mishthejrnalist Follow producer Alex Azzi! Bluesky: @byalexazzi.bsky.social See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Truth bomb: Even our FAVORITE sports figures aren’t perfect. Sarah, Alex and Misha have a meaningful conversation about how to react when athletes we admire for their on-field heroics do harmful things outside of their sport. Plus, the Athletes Unlimited pro hoops season comes to a close, plenty of college hoops chaos, and Diana Taurasi shows off her comedic timing. The NCAA basketball schedule can be found here  Leave us a voicemail at 872-204-5070 or send us a note at goodgame@wondermedianetwork.com  Follow Sarah on social! Bluesky: @sarahspain.com Instagram: @Spain2323 Follow producer Misha Jones! Bluesky: @mishthejrnalist.bsky.social Instagram: @mishthejrnalist Follow producer Alex Azzi! Bluesky: @byalexazzi.bsky.social See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Domè Guasch, the first-ever general manager for NWSL expansion team BOS Nation Football Club, joins Sarah to talk skipping school to pursue coaching, why his focus is on the women’s game, recruiting players in the NWSL’s post-draft era and what he knows about the team's potential rebrand. Plus, the details behind his first hire as GM, and Sarah gives him a Boston pop quiz, including a potentially controversial coffee take. Leave us a voicemail at 872-204-5070 or send us a note at goodgame@wondermedianetwork.com  Follow Sarah on social! Bluesky: @sarahspain.com Instagram: @Spain2323 Follow producer Misha Jones! Bluesky: @mishthejrnalist.bsky.social Instagram: @mishthejrnalist Follow producer Alex Azzi! Bluesky: @byalexazzi.bsky.social See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Elana Meyers Taylor, one of the best bobsledders of all time, joins Sarah to talk winning after 40, breaking through to stand atop the monobob podium, and the history of racism and misogyny in the sliding sports. Plus, a “Yes, And” about the first Black woman to win Winter Olympic gold and a “What the Fact” about an absolutely bonkers excuse to keep women out of bobsled’s sister sport. Follow Elana on Instagram here Watch Vonetta Flowers & Jill Bakken’s gold medal-winning run here Read more about the history of women being excluded from the Cresta Run here The NCAA basketball schedule can be found here  The PWHL schedule can be found here  The Unrivaled schedule can be found here  The Athletes Unlimited Basketball schedule can be found here The LOVB schedule can be found here Leave us a voicemail at 872-204-5070 or send us a note at goodgame@wondermedianetwork.com  Follow Sarah on social! Bluesky: @sarahspain.com Instagram: @Spain2323 Follow producer Misha Jones! Bluesky: @mishthejrnalist.bsky.social Instagram: @mishthejrnalist Follow producer Alex Azzi! Bluesky: @byalexazzi.bsky.social See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Diana Taurasi is officially hangin’ 'em up and Big Citrus convenes to reminisce on the legendary career of the greatest scorer in WNBA history. Plus, miniature horses on planes, clones for 1 v 1, fairness in NIL, and where’s the show merch? We answer a mailbag full of questions from you slices!  Read TIME magazine’s story on Diana Taurasi’s retirement here Read the 2012 NYTimes story on Lolo Jones here The NCAA basketball schedule can be found here  Leave us a voicemail at 872-204-5070 or send us a note at goodgame@wondermedianetwork.com  Follow Sarah on social! Bluesky: @sarahspain.com Instagram: @Spain2323 Follow producer Misha Jones! Bluesky: @mishthejrnalist.bsky.social Instagram: @mishthejrnalist Follow producer Alex Azzi! Bluesky: @byalexazzi.bsky.social See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Anne Marie Anderson, Emmy Award-winning ESPN broadcaster and author, joins Sarah to talk calling the inaugural season of League One Volleyball, the crowded field of pro volleyball leagues and how the sport’s landscape could change over the next five-to-ten years. Plus, finding your “front row,” solving the “urgent vs. important” equation, and more lessons from Anderson’s book, Cultivating Audacity: Dismantle Doubt and Let Yourself Win. Get Anne Marie’s book “Cultivating Audacity: Dismantle Doubt and Let Yourself Win” here Pre-order Sarah’s book “Runs In The Family” here Leave us a voicemail at 872-204-5070 or send us a note at goodgame@wondermedianetwork.com  Follow Sarah on social! Bluesky: @sarahspain.com Instagram: @Spain2323 Follow producer Misha Jones! Bluesky: @mishthejrnalist.bsky.social Instagram: @mishthejrnalist Follow producer Alex Azzi! Bluesky: @byalexazzi.bsky.social See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Shea Butter FC hosts SkyE and Sylvs join Sarah to share why they wanted to start a podcast and help change American soccer culture. Plus, they chat SheBelieves Cup, the upcoming NWSL season and how soccer in the U.S. can be better at making Black players, players of color and fans from different backgrounds feel safe and welcome. Plus, the Washington Mystics finally make a move, Texas hoops is tops for the first time since producer Mish was 6, and a friend of the show is #winning. See Kim Mulkey’s meme-worthy glare here Listen to the Shea Butter FC podcast here Grab your Shea Butter FC HBCU merch here Donate directly to the United Negro College Fund here Leave us a voicemail at 872-204-5070 or send us a note at goodgame@wondermedianetwork.com  Follow Sarah on social! Bluesky: @sarahspain.com Instagram: @Spain2323 Follow producer Misha Jones! Bluesky: @mishthejrnalist.bsky.social Instagram: @mishthejrnalist Follow producer Alex Azzi! Bluesky: @byalexazzi.bsky.social See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Beth Sidhu, the woman behind Sport Beach, joins Sarah to talk about the business of women’s sports, from why the perception of women athletes and women’s leagues has changed over the years to which big names will be seaside in Cannes this summer. Plus the Tempo’s moves are speeding up, like father like daughter, and the first ever member of the alpine skiing 100 club.  Pre-order Sarah’s book here Pre-order Dawn Staley's book here Pick up a copy of Jane McManus’s book “The Fast Track” at your local bookstore or here  Read the Oregonian’s 2024 report on Graeme Abel here Read Meg Linehan’s analysis of Abel’s hiring here  Leave us a voicemail at 872-204-5070 or send us a note at goodgame@wondermedianetwork.com  Follow Sarah on social! Bluesky: @sarahspain.com Instagram: @Spain2323 Follow producer Misha Jones! Bluesky: @mishthejrnalist.bsky.social Instagram: @mishthejrnalist Follow producer Alex Azzi! Bluesky: @byalexazzi.bsky.social See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.