Full Time: A show about women's soccer

The U.S. women’s national team defeated Japan 2-1 over the weekend, getting revenge for a 2025 loss by the same scoreline to the same opponent. But, is this result proof that Emma Hayes’s team has progressed?On this episode of Full Time Review, host Jillian Sakovits is joined by The Athletic’s Tamerra Griffin, who was out in San Jose, Calif., to take in the USWNT’s first of three friendlies against Japan. Who were the USWNT’s top performers? How did Japan test the USA? What did the pod make of Sophia Wilson’s first USWNT start since 2024? Did we get closer to understanding the status of Hayes’s A and B teams? And, what changes to the starting XI will she make for Tuesday’s trip to Lumen Field in Seattle?_______________HOSTS: Jillian Sakovits, Tamerra GriffinPRODUCER: Theo Lloyd-HughesVIDEO PRODUCER: Lia GriffinEXECUTIVE PRODUCER: Emily Olsen_______________Referenced on the show:USWNT 2, Japan 1: Rose Lavelle scores in 100th start, Sophia Wilson returnsUSWNT’s next test: Japan, champions of Asia, with a roster of international stars in the makingClaire Hutton interview: Ronaldinho influence, USWNT leadership and Japan testEmma Hayes’ rebuild of the USWNT is taking shape – and already reaping rewards_______________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 April, United States Women’s National Team head coach Emma Hayes has booked three friendlies against Japan with the intention of giving her team the perfect preparation for next summer’s Women’s World Cup. So, what makes Japan the ideal opponent for the USWNT to go head-to-head with? How will the three lineups look different? And, what is it about Japan’s style of play that will help iron sharpen iron?On this episode of Full Time, hosts Jillian Sakovits and Tamerra Griffin look into the past, present, and future of the rivalry between the United States and Japan. From the three consecutive finals between 2011 and 2015, to the nail-biting recent encounters, including their most recent bout at the SheBelieves Cup, where Japan upset their hosts 2-1. Hayes believes that Japan are a strong contender to win the 2027 World Cup, but does the podcast panel agree?_______________HOST: Jillian Sakovits, Tamerra GriffinPRODUCER: Theo Lloyd-HughesVIDEO PRODUCER: Lia GriffinEXECUTIVE PRODUCER: Emily Olsen_______________Referenced on the show:Sophia Wilson back with USWNT: ‘I’m in a really great place right now’Nils Nielsen leaves Japan 12 days after Asian Cup win, Michihisa Kano to take charge of U.S. friendliesWorld Cup prep continues vs. Japan_______________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

Temwa Chawinga is back. After 168 days out with an injury, the two-time NWSL MVP and Golden Boot winner made her return to the pitch with the Kansas City Current in their 2-1 comeback win over Gotham FC this past weekend.So, what does it mean for the Current and the NWSL to have Chawinga back? On this episode of the Full Time Review, host Jillian Sakovits is joined by Melanie Anzidei to discuss Chawinga’s return, as well as Kansas City’s revenge match against Gotham, and how much struggling Current head coach Chris Armas needs his star after suffering an early-season three-match losing streak. PLUS: What is behind Gotham’s continued struggles in front of goal? What does it mean for Angel City to drop its first game of the season, leaving no undefeated teams remaining in the NWSL? Is it time to believe in the San Diego Wave? _______________HOST: Jillian SakovitsGUEST: Melanie AnzideiPRODUCER: Theo Lloyd-HughesVIDEO PRODUCER: Lia GriffinEXECUTIVE PRODUCER: Emily Olsen_______________Referenced on the show:_______________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 ⁠⁠hereJoin the Full Time fantasy league: hereLeague Code: UOBDVD

The UEFA Women’s Champions League quarterfinals are in the books. But did the four semifinalists, Arsenal, OL Lyonnes, FC Barcelona and Bayern Munich, deserve to advance?On this episode of Full Time Focus, Producer Theo Lloyd-Hughes and Tamerra Griffin break down all four of this week’s quarterfinal second legs, with the help of The Athletic’s Cerys Jones, from Stamford Bridge in London, and Laia Cervello, from the Nou Camp in Barcelona. Just how wasteful were Chelsea with their chances? Did Sonia Bompastor’s fury at the referees overshadow the match? How special was Barcelona’s return to the Nou Camp, where Alexia Putellas celebrated her 500th match in style? Did Lyon disappoint despite advancing? What is Bayern Munich’s secret weapon?PLUS: What does the pod make of Nils Nielsen suddenly stepping down as the head coach of Japan’s women’s national team just 12 days after winning the Asian Cup?_______________HOSTS: Theo Lloyd-Hughes, Tamerra GriffinGUESTS: Laia Cervello, Cerys JonesPRODUCER: Theo Lloyd-HughesVIDEO PRODUCER: Lia GriffinEXECUTIVE PRODUCER: Emily Olsen_______________Referenced on the show:Chelsea 1-0 Arsenal: Sonia Bompastor sent off after Katie McCabe’s hair pull in fiery finaleWhy Arsenal may need to show a bit more caution in the Champions League semi-finalsChelsea’s Champions League exit underlines the need for summer transitionThe night Barcelona crowned Alexia Putellas their queen at the new Camp NouChampions League: Barcelona dominates, makes semifinals with Bayern, Arsenal and OL LyonnesNils Nielsen leaves Japan 12 days after Asian Cup win, Michihisa Kano to take charge of U.S. friendlies_______________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

Undefeated with a perfect three wins from three in the NWSL, the time has come to wonder: What is Angel City’s ceiling?On this episode of Full Time, hosts Jillian Sakovits and Tamerra Griffin analyze a captivating press conference from ACFC head coach Alex Straus and what the Los Angeles team’s impressive start means for their contender status in the NWSL. Tamerra also takes the listener inside her trip to San Diego, where she sat down one-on-one with U.S. women’s national team star Cat Macario to talk about her historic transfer to Wave FC.PLUS: Who is Erica Meg Parkinson? The pod unpacks the surprise 17-year-old debut call-up by Sarina Wiegman for England’s upcoming Women’s World Cup qualifiers._______________HOST: Jillian Sakovits, Tamerra GriffinPRODUCER: Theo Lloyd-HughesVIDEO PRODUCER: Lia GriffinEXECUTIVE PRODUCER: Emily Olsen_______________Referenced on the show:USWNT’s Catarina Macario on returning home to San Diego, leaving Chelsea and ‘having fun’ againOne team remains undefeated in NWSL. Is it parity or time to panic?Arsenal’s Beth Mead back in England squad as Erica Meg Parkinson gets first call-up_______________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 was another record-breaking weekend in the NWSL. While we’ve got used to professional women’s sports attendance records getting smashed every year, this one felt quite different.When Denver Summit FC took on the Washington Spirit Saturday afternoon, 63,004 people showed up to Empower Field at Mile High, eclipsing the record set by Bay FC season at Oracle Park by more than 22,000 fans. So, what does it mean for the NWSL and women’s sports in the U.S. to have Denver to enter the league with such a spectacle?On this episode of the Full Time Review, host Jillian Sakovits is joined by three different voices who all coalesced at the Summit’s inaugural home opener to witness history. Hear from Summit cofounder, broadcaster, and former NWSL player Jordan Angeli, The Athletic’s Tamerra Griffin in the press box, and co-host of the Summit Up podcast, Hallie Guardo, fresh from the stands._______________HOST: Jillian SakovitsGUESTS: Kelley O’Hara, Asli PelitPRODUCER: Theo Lloyd-HughesVIDEO PRODUCER: Lia GriffinEXECUTIVE PRODUCER: Emily Olsen_______________Referenced on the show:Denver Summit FC shatters NWSL attendance record in home openerDenver Summit set the NWSL attendance record at 63,004, raising the bar for future expansion_______________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 ⁠⁠hereJoin the Full Time fantasy league: hereLeague Code: UOBDVD

Stina Blackstenius and Alessia Russo were ruthless in front of goal in Arsenal's 3-1 win over Chelsea in the UEFA Women’s Champions League quarterfinal first legs. Did that performance highlight the exact sort of clinical forward play Chelsea have been missing?On this episode of Full Time Focus, host Jillian Sakovits is joined by The Athletic’s Charlotte Harpur, fresh from the Emirates Stadium in London, to break down what we learned from a quarterfinal classic between Arsenal and Chelsea, and what the latest news is on Sam Kerr’s future with the Blues. Jillian and Charlotte also get into the other midweek European matches, from a historic yet bitter night in Manchester, and an upset in Wolfsburg.PLUS: Melanie Anzidei also hops on the pod to get into the Denver Summit’s historic first-ever win. Melanie was in New Jersey to catch the 2026 NWSL expansion team down the reigning champions, Gotham FC. The pod also discusses a chaotic midweek slate in the NWSL, where many teams rotated out their stars._______________HOST: Jillian SakovitsGUESTS: Charlotte Harpur, Melanie AnzideiPRODUCER: Theo Lloyd-HughesVIDEO PRODUCER: Lia GriffinEXECUTIVE PRODUCER: Emily Olsen_______________Referenced on the show:Ruthless Arsenal expose Chelsea’s need for a clinical finisherUWCL first-leg defeat to Bayern shows Manchester United must narrow the small marginsWomen’s Champions League: 18 goals as Bayern Munich, Arsenal and Barcelona find a scoring streakDenver Summit shuts out defending champion Gotham FC to earn first NWSL win in big way_______________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 NWSL season is two weeks old. The chaos is chaosing, the takes are taking, and the narratives are...well...flying. Yes, on this episode of Full Time, it’s time to figure out what we’ve learned so far, and forecast which early-season narratives the podcast panel is buying and selling.Jillian Sakovits, Tamerra Griffin and Producer Theo discuss who the best team in the NWSL is right now, is this the year Gotham FC cracks an attendance above 10,000, are the Kansas City Current about to flop, will we see a head coach fired before midseason, and so much more._______________HOST: Jillian Sakovits, Tamerra GriffinPRODUCER: Theo Lloyd-HughesVIDEO PRODUCER: Lia GriffinEXECUTIVE PRODUCER: Emily Olsen_______________Referenced on the show:6 red cards in the first 16 games of the NWSL season: ‘You OK, sis?’Gotham FC’s long-term ‘puzzle’Shorthanded Portland Thorns beat Seattle Reign despite two red cardsSummit sign USWNT forward Yazmeen Ryan and midfielder Delanie Sheehan in deal with DashKelley O’Hara on red cards, NWSL Atlanta & her switch to broadcasting_______________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