Full Time: A show about women's soccer

The first weekend of the second half of the 2026 NWSL season is in the books. But in classic NWSL fashion, just as we were sitting down to welcome back league play after a 5-week break, there was a major transfer: 2025 Midfielder of the Year and MVP nominee Manaka Matsukubo moved from the North Carolina Courage to Chelsea in the English Women’s Super League. On this episode of Full Time Review, Jillian Sakovits and Meg Linehan are joined by Chief Soccer Officer for the Courage, Ceri Bowley, to go inside Matsukubo’s move. Bowley candidly talks about how close Matsukubo was to staying in North Carolina and why new arrival, 18-year-old England international Erica Meg Parkinson, is a testament to the team’s transfer strategy and ethos.PLUS: Meg talks about her moment of the opening weekend and what the implications could be for the U.S. women’s national team in the wake of the U.S. president getting involved with FIFA to aid the suspension of the red card for U.S. men’s national team forward Folarin Balogun at their home men’s World Cup this summer._______________HOSTS: Jillian Sakovits, Meg LinehanGUESTS: Ceri BowleyPRODUCER: Theo Lloyd-Hughes_______________Referenced on the show:Chelsea sign Manaka Matsukubo from North Carolina Courage on five-year dealTrump’s call to Infantino and plot to ‘free’ Balogun that sparked a huge World Cup controversyFIFA’s decision to suspend Folarin Balogun’s ban damages the integrity of this World Cup_______________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

It’s official! Lionesses and former Bayern Munich midfielder Georgia Stanway is returning to the WSL to join Arsenal. The two-time European champion sat down with The Athletic’s Charlotte Harpur to talk about her journey from Munich to London and which of her England teammates had a part to play in her returning home. Harper also spoke to her former teammates Glodis Viggosdottir and Sarah Zadrazil, as well as her Dad, Paul Stanway._______________HOST: Jillian SakovitsGUEST: Georgia Stanway, Charlotte HarpurThis podcast was produced by The Athletic._______________Referenced on the show:Georgia Stanway’s journey to Arsenal: How footballers really move clubs (and countries)_______________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

Today on the show, host Jillian Sakovits is joined by The Athletic’s Meg Linehan and Tamerra Griffin to dive into one of the biggest questions surrounding the NWSL. The trio discusses if the league should be responsible for developing young players for the USWNT, how head coach Emma Hayes factors into players’ decisions to go abroad and how the league has helped international players grow their game.______________HOST: Jillian Sakovits, Meg Linehan andTamerra GriffinThis podcast was produced by The Athletic.______________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 NWSL is back with the Challenge Cup kicking off the second half of the season. Today on the show, host Jillian Sakovits is joined by The Athletic’s Asli Pelit to recap Gotham FC’s Challenge Cup win, discuss Sam Kerr’s transfer to the New Jersey-based side and explain the league’s new footwear framework._______________HOST: Jillian SakovitsGUESTS: Asli PelitThis podcast was produced by The Athletic._______________Referenced on the show:Gotham FC announces Sam Kerr signing on deal to 2030NWSL returns with the Challenge Cup, but the question remains: What is its purpose?Gotham FC captures NWSL Challenge Cup in Ohio’s first pro women’s soccer matchNWSL launches new footwear framework, limiting brands to those who sign deals with league_______________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 2026 men's FIFA World Cup is in full swing.At the heart of the English-language coverage in the U.S. is the brilliant Rebecca Lowe, host of FOX’s World Cup studio coverage. Today on the show, The Athletic’s Adam Crafton sits down with Lowe to talk about hosting this historic World Cup, how she fell in love with the beautiful game and if she will be part of the 2027 Women's World Cup._______________HOST: Jillian SakovitsGUEST: Adam Crafton, Rebecca LoweThis podcast was produced by The Athletic._______________Referenced on the show:Fox host Rebecca Lowe: Anchoring America’s World Cup coverage is ‘the pinnacle of my life’_______________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 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup officially kicks off in one year and we could not be more excited. Today on the show, host Jillian Sakotvits is joined by The Athletic’s Meg Linehan, Melanie Anzidei, Tamerra Griffin to dig into the biggest questions surrounding head coach Emma Hayes and the USWNT. Then Tamerra gives out her current national team power rankings.______________HOST: Jillian SakovitsGUEST: Meg Linehan, Melanie Anzidei, Tamerra GriffinThis podcast was produced by The Athletic.______________Referenced on the show:The 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup is a year away: Key questions for the USWNT______________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

Venezuela has never qualified for a senior men’s or Women’s World Cup, but after some magic on June 9, the women’s team is one step away. The Vinotinto qualified for the inter-confederation playoffs after drawing Uruguay 1-1 in the final matchday of the CONMEBOL Women’s Nations League thanks to an equalizing goal from captain Deyna Castellanos. On this episode of Full Time, host Jillian Sakovits is joined by Castellanos to talk about her journey to the Portland Thorns from Florida State, the girls’ soccer tournament hosted by her foundation and getting one step closer to World Cup glory._______________HOST: Jillian SakovitsGUESTS: Deyna CastellanosThis podcast was produced by The Athletic._______________Referenced on the show:Which countries have qualified for the 2027 Women’s World Cup?_______________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 NWSL trade window is open and the moves are surprising everyone. On this episode of Full Time Focus, host Jillian Sakovits is joined by The Athletic’s Meg Linehan and Asli Pelit to talk about the flurry of NWSL trade news that broke on Wednesday. The trio breaks down Sam Kerr to Gotham FC and Lilly Reale to Boston Legacy. Then they discuss head coach Alexander Strauss parting ways with Angel City FC, Kennedy Fuller’s departure and Ally Sentnor’s arrival to the Los Angeles Club._______________HOST: Jillian Sakovits, Meg LinehanGUEST: Asli PelitThis podcast was produced by The Athletic._______________Referenced on the show:Sam Kerr set to join Gotham FC after leaving ChelseaAngel City fires head coach Alex Straus after just a year in chargeBoston Legacy sign 2025 Rookie of the Year Lilly Reale after trade from Gotham FC_______________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 hype around the FIFA men’s World Cup is at a fever pitch, with the possibility of a surprise winner from an expanded 48-team field hanging in the air. But could next year’s Women’s World Cup in Brazil prove to be even more unpredictable?Hosts Meg Linehan and Tamerra Griffin are joined by The Athletic’s Melanie Anzidei to look at the countries that already qualified for the 2027 tournament as well those who might be facing off in an intercontinental playoff. They also discuss whether Marta might suspend her retirement to help Brazil lift the trophy at home and why Mexico could be a dark horse contender.______________HOST: Meg Linehan, Tamerra GriffinGUEST: Melanie AnzideiThis podcast was produced by The Athletic.______________Referenced on the show:Red-card clash the latest in a fierce USWNT-Brazil rivalry: ‘A team that broke our hearts’Soccer in Mexico: Increased investment, the most-watched league and Women’s World Cup dreams______________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