Full Time: A show about women's soccer

On this week’s Full Time, hosts Jillian Sakovits, Meg Linehan, and Tamerra Griffin dive into the emerging world of web-based women’s soccer mini-games. The pod talks to the people behind viral soccer mini-games ‘Road to 75’, ‘Immaculate Footy', as well as someone who helped develop Fantasy NWSL. What does it take to launch a mini-game? How do they work, and in what ways do they educate fans on women’s soccer data and history? Can these games shape the culture and the fandom of the sport?______________HOSTS: Jillian Sakovits, Meg Linehan, Tamerra GriffinGUESTS: Kieran Doyle, Emily Anderson, Izzy DuddyPRODUCER: Theo Lloyd-Hughes______________Get in touch: ⁠⁠fulltime@theathletic.com⁠⁠Follow on Instagram and TikTok: @tafulltimeSubscribe to our Youtube channel: hereSubscribe to the Full Time newsletter ⁠⁠here⁠⁠Visit the Yahoo Women's Sports hub ⁠⁠here

The Kansas City Current’s Temwa Chawinga and Malawi are heading to the 2027 Women’s World Cup in Brazil.In a thriller on Sunday night, Malawi – the lowest-ranked team at the 2026 Women’s African Cup of Nations – came from behind to defeat Ghana 2-1 in the quarterfinals in Casablanca, Morocco.On this episode of Full Time, Jillian Sakovits is joined by The Athletic’s Tamerra Griffin to unpack Malawi’s incredible run to the semifinals and what it means for the nation and their players to reach a first World Cup. Will powerhouse Nigeria miss a women’s World Cup for the first time? What happened to Barbra Banda and Zambia? PLUS: All the best moments from the NWSL weekend, including goals galore as Pietra Tordin scores the fastest-ever hat-trick in NWSL history and the North Carolina Courage stun the Washington Spirit at Audi Field._______________HOST: Jillian SakovitsGUEST: Tamerra GriffinPRODUCER: Theo Lloyd-Hughes_______________Referenced on the show:WAFCON 2026: Cameroon shocks Nigeria, Algeria and Malawi qualify for first Women’s World CupNWSL stars at WAFCON feel a responsibility to elevate teammates to similar opportunities_______________Get in touch: ⁠⁠fulltime@theathletic.com⁠⁠Follow on Instagram and TikTok: @tafulltimeSubscribe to our YouTube channel: hereSubscribe to the Full Time newsletter ⁠⁠here⁠⁠Visit the Yahoo Women's Sports hub ⁠⁠here

On Wednesday, at a press conference in New York City, NWSL commissioner Jess Berman officially unveiled the league’s 2027 calendar outline. In what will be the NWSL’s historic 15th season, the league will have its earliest-ever kickoff on February 11, the same week as the Super Bowl.On this episode of Full Time, Jillian Sakovits is joined by The Athletic’s Melanie Anzidei and Asli Pelit to break down what we learned from the NWSL’s midseason press conference, how the league went about deciding the best way to allow for a lengthy break during the 2027 Women’s World Cup next summer and will the NWSL benefit from the KC Current’s involvement in the new season of Apple TV show Ted Lasso._______________HOST: Jillian SakovitsGUESTS: Asli Pelit, Melanie AnzideiPRODUCER: Theo Lloyd-Hughes_______________Reference on the show:NWSL to start 2027 season in February ahead of Women’s World Cup next summerNWSL commissioner Jessica Berman talks 2027 calendar, media rights deal and weather protocolWill ‘Ted Lasso’ shine a light on the evolution of women’s soccer?Racing Louisville owner seeks new investment, says relocation not off the table_______________Get in touch: ⁠⁠fulltime@theathletic.com⁠⁠Follow on Instagram and TikTok: @tafulltimeSubscribe to our Youtube channel: hereSubscribe to the Full Time newsletter ⁠⁠here⁠⁠Visit the Yahoo Women's Sports hub ⁠⁠here

Is Trinity Rodman overrated? Do the U.S. women’s national team need to be playing in more competitive tournaments? Should more NWSL teams follow the Utah Royals and give head coaches more time? This week’s Full Time is a Summer Mailbag special, where hosts Jillian Sakovits, Meg Linehan and Tamerra Griffin answer listener questions on everything and anything about the global women’s game. From 2027 World Cup roster conundrums to picking WAFCON 5-a-side teams and everything in between.______________HOSTS: Jillian Sakovits, Meg Linehan, Tamerra GriffinPRODUCER: Theo Lloyd-Hughes______________Get in touch: ⁠⁠fulltime@theathletic.com⁠⁠Follow on Instagram and TikTok: @tafulltimeSubscribe to our Youtube channel: hereSubscribe to the Full Time newsletter ⁠⁠here⁠⁠Visit the Yahoo Women's Sports hub ⁠⁠here

Hot off the heels of the 2026 men’s World Cup – FIFA president Gianni Infantino unveiled a proposal to sell a stake in FIFA competitions to private investors. After widespread condemnation from the public and FIFA member associations, the proposal has been scrapped. Now the question is: Can Infantino hold onto his grip on the FIFA presidency? What is next for FIFA? And, what did this all mean for the women’s game?On this episode of Full Time, Jillian Sakovits is joined by The Athletic’s Megan Feringa to take the listener inside the week that shook FIFA and the move that could cost Infantino everything. Megan also reacts to Monday’s breaking news that Manchester United manager Marc Skinner has left the English Women’s Super League club by mutual consent.PLUS: Asli Pelit hops on the pod and breaks down the best moments from the NWSL weekend, including Gotham FC’s journey to the top, the Royals’ big win over the Thorns and Jess Fishlock keeping the time on its toes. _______________HOST: Jillian SakovitsGUESTS: Asli Pelit, Megan FeringaPRODUCER: Theo Lloyd-Hughes_______________Referenced on the show:Inside the week that shook Gianni Infantino, FIFA and the football worldFIFA scraps World Cup private investment plans as Infantino fights for his futureUEFA threatens FIFA, Joshua Kushner with legal action over World Cup investment planEnglish FA to withdraw support for Gianni Infantino’s FIFA re-electionGotham and USWNT defender Emily Sonnett to miss remainder of NWSL season after knee surgery_______________Get in touch: ⁠⁠fulltime@theathletic.com⁠⁠Follow on Instagram and TikTok: @tafulltimeSubscribe to our YouTube channel: hereSubscribe to the Full Time newsletter ⁠⁠here⁠⁠Visit the Yahoo Women's Sports hub ⁠⁠here

With the second-ever Northern Super League season underway, the NSL has recently announced that it would be adding its first expansion team. Co-founded by Canadian soccer legend Desiree Scott, Winnipeg is set to become the NSL’s seventh team in 2027.So, what have been the major wins for the NSL after 18 months? What are their plans for growth? And, how vital is the relationship between the league and the Canadian women’s national team? On this episode of Full Time, Jillian Sakovits is joined by Scott to talk about her experience playing in the NSL’s inaugural season and the story behind founding the Winnipeg team. The Athletic’s Melanie Anzidei talks about what she learned from her reporting about what is going on in Canada’s first professional women’s soccer league. There’s also a conversation with NSL chair Mark Cohon about how the league office is driving growth. _______________HOST: Jillian SakovitsGUESTS: Desiree Scott, Mark Cohon, Melanie AnzideiPRODUCER: Theo Lloyd-Hughes_______________Reference on the show: Soccer in Canada: How the Northern Super League hopes to fuel Canadian women’s soccer_______________Get in touch: ⁠⁠fulltime@theathletic.com⁠⁠Follow on Instagram and TikTok: @tafulltimeSubscribe to our Youtube channel: hereSubscribe to the Full Time newsletter ⁠⁠here⁠⁠Visit the Yahoo Women's Sports hub ⁠⁠here

This week on Full Time, we’re talking: All-Star Games. Fresh from the WNBA wrapping up its All-Star Game in Chicago, IL, this past weekend and the MLS All-Star Game that takes place in Charlotte, NC on Wednesday, it got us thinking: When or will the NWSL have an All-Star Game? Jillian Sakovits, Meg Linehan and Tamerra Griffin debate everything about what an NWSL All-Star Game could and should look like. From who All-Star Games are really for, to how the league could possibly squeeze it into a busy calendar. ______________HOSTS: Jillian Sakovits, Meg Linehan, Tamerra GriffinPRODUCER: Theo Lloyd-Hughes______________Get in touch: ⁠⁠fulltime@theathletic.com⁠⁠Follow on Instagram and TikTok: @tafulltimeSubscribe to our Youtube channel: hereSubscribe to the Full Time newsletter ⁠⁠here⁠⁠Visit the Yahoo Women's Sports hub ⁠⁠here

Now that every team in the NWSL has played at least 15 games, the league is officially at the halfway point. So, on this episode of Full Time, Jillian Sakovits is joined by The Athletic’s Melanie Anzidei to break down who is leading the 2026 NWSL MVP race at midseason. Melanie ranks her top 10 players at the halfway point and who is poised to take the award come November.PLUS: The pod breaks down the best moments from the NWSL weekend. From Morgan Weaver’s return to soccer after 651 days away to Sofia Cantore’s stunning strike that kept the Washington Spirit at the top of the standings._______________HOST: Jillian SakovitsGUESTS: Asli Pelit, Melanie AnzideiPRODUCER: Theo Lloyd-Hughes_______________Referenced on the show:Sam Kerr scores first goal after Gotham return, Emily Sonnett taken off on stretcher_______________Get in touch: ⁠⁠fulltime@theathletic.com⁠⁠Follow on Instagram and TikTok: @tafulltimeSubscribe to our YouTube channel: hereSubscribe to the Full Time newsletter ⁠⁠here⁠⁠Visit the Yahoo Women's Sports hub ⁠⁠here