Full Time: A show about women's soccer

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

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

On a special Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) episode of Full Time, Malawi forward and two-time NWSL MVP Temwa Chawinga joins the talk with Tamerra Griffin about how she’s feeling ahead of her first continental tournament and what it would mean to qualify for her and Malawi’s first-ever World Cup. PLUS: Washington Spirit sporting director James Hocken also joins the pod to explain how NWSL teams prepare their rosters to lose stars during midseason international tournaments, such as WAFCON. Also, after the Spirit signed three African players this summer, he gives his thoughts on why the continent is producing so many NWSL stars._______________HOST: Tamerra GriffinGUESTS: Temwa Chawinga, James HockenPRODUCER: 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

This summer, Tori Penso became the first American woman to be a head referee at a men’s World Cup match. That piece of soccer history followed on from her taking the women’s World Cup final in Sydney, Australia, three years ago. Along with her assistants, Brooke Mayo and Kathrin Nesbitt, Penso has been blazing a trail for women referees in the men’s and women’s games. So, what is it like to referee at a World Cup?On this episode of Full Time, hosts Meg Linehan and Tamerra Griffin are joined by Penso to take the listener inside the World Cup from a referee’s perspective. The interview also unpacks Penso’s journey to being one of the world’s elite officials, how technology is impacting her profession, and what she wants fans and players alike to know about what it’s like to be under so much scrutiny on the pitch. ______________HOSTS: Meg Linehan, Tamerra GriffinGUEST: Tori PensoPRODUCER: 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

After 104 matches in 39 days, the 2026 Men’s World Cup is officially in the books. Up next - less than one year away - the countdown to the 2027 Women’s World Cup in Brazil has now officially begun.On this episode of Full Time, host Jillian Sakovits is joined by The Athletic’s Meg Linehan and Melanie Anzidei to discuss what lessons are to be learned from the 2026 Men’s World Cup, what impact this summer will have on the women’s game, and how the NWSL can keep the momentum going all the way into Brazil 2027. PLUS: Jill, Meg and Melanie discuss their picks of the best moments from the NWSL weekend. From Rose Lavelle buzzer beaters to a homecoming in Colorado._______________HOST: Jillian SakovitsGUESTS: Meg Linehan, Melanie AnzideiPRODUCER: Theo Lloyd-Hughes_______________Referenced on the show:The 1994 World Cup influenced a generation of Americans. What will 2026’s impact be?USWNT star Lindsey Heaps makes Denver Summit debut in hometown return to NWSLThe 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup is less than a year away: Key questions for the USWNTWhich countries have qualified for the 2027 Women’s World Cup?: Countdown to Brazil_______________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 USL W League national final between Vermont Green FC and Salmon Bay FC is this Saturday evening. What is the significance of this matchup in the broader American soccer landscape?Hosts Meg Linehan and Tamerra Griffin discuss the developmental value of this pre-professional league and the opportunities grassroots soccer clubs offer players and coaches. Then, Meg and Tamerra are joined by Vermont head coach Abby Carchio and Salmon Bay head coach Malia Arrant to preview the championship match – which could feature an appearance by former Seattle Reign great Lauren “Lu” Barnes._______________HOSTS: Meg Linehan, Tamerra GriffinGUESTS: Abby Carchio, Malia ArrantPRODUCER: Karan Lodha_______________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