NWSL This Week Podcast
113 episodes — Page 1 of 3
Episode 106: Courage take 8th, Current score a handful, and Savannah DeMelo is back!
Special Episode: Atlanta City FC’s branding
Episode 105: Fishlock carries Reign, Angel City still rolling, and 20 for Sanchez
Episode 104: Angel City soars, Vlatko returns
Episode 103: Gautrat & Kilgore out in Houston in the latest coaching upheaval and the top teams struggle with the bottom
Episode 102: Shield race tightens, Stars sink again, Vlatko is a free agent
Episode 101: Seb Hines is OUT at Orlando, plus all this week’s action
Episode 100: San Diego Tops Utah, Orlando Stuns Washington, and Chicago Surges Back to Life to End Louisville’s Streak
Episode 99: Gotham Extends Their Lead; Houston Dashes Past the Courage; And Is the Hottest Team In the League Racing Louisville?
Extra, Extra! Last-place Stars make coaching change, sack Martin Sjogren after 18 games
Episode 98: Fast starts, frantic finishes, and a Super Bowl invasion
Episode 97: Wild weekend sees wild changes on the table, keeper assists, and more
Episode 96: Spirit top table, a Laura Harvey milestone, and another wild week for Gotham
Episode 95: Whirlwind week for Gotham; another clean sheet for Angel City
Episode 94: Reign, Angel City beat rivals, Racing nears rock bottom
Episode 93: NWSL returns with fireworks from Rodman, Swanson, others
Episode 92: Gotham lifts the Challenge Cup and makes Sam Kerr's arrival official
Episode 91: Blockbuster trades and the return of Sam Kerr
Episode 90: Winner and Losers from NWSL's first half
Episode 89: Finals, Rivalries, and Midseason Superlatives
Episode 88: On to the June break
Episode 87: When the Utah Royals went top of the table (plus Mal Swanson scores)
Episode 86: Wave back on top, Legacy show tenacity, and some interesting penalty calls
Episode 85: Chawinga, Chawinga, Chawinga
Episode 84: Thorns hit top of table; Legacy get memorable maiden win
Episode 83: Fishlock injury, Current struggles, Royals rise in NWSL return
Episode 82: Is a major schedule change in the works?
Episode 81: Commissioner for a Day
Ep. 80: Stoppage time goals, big wins for struggling teams, and MANAKA Matsukubo
This week, Dan and Michael discuss potential rebirths for Kansas City and Washington, stoppage time thrillers in Orlando and Houston, and the legend of Manaka Matsukubo. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit nwslthisweek.substack.com
Episode 79: Current are building in a hurricane
This week, the situation in Kansas City turns alarming, Gotham’s scoreless drought reaches 3 games, and the Spirit are still searching for a win. In Denver, a crowd of more than 63,000 obliterated the NWSL attendance record, and the Summit are looking good so far! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit nwslthisweek.substack.com
Episode 78: Red cards galore and a shocker off Lake Michigan
This week, red cards are all the talk around NWSL including two at the Cascadia showdown. And the Stars pull a shocker to take down the Shield winners in their home opener. And did you say Angel City and the Dash are atop the table? This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit nwslthisweek.substack.com
Episode 77: The Legacy begins in front of 30k, Current win, Stars/Spirit struggle
This week the crew reviews Week 1 including a massive crowd in Boston, the return of Savy King (heart surgery) and Sophia Wilson (maternity), and the rough start of the season for the Spirit and Stars. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit nwslthisweek.substack.com
Episode 76: The Final Countdown
This week Dan, Bekki, and Michael make final preparations for the 2026 NWSL season with previews of last year’s 8 playoff teams. Find out who thinks Kansas City won’t win the Shield, who thinks the Summit are a playoff team, and who thinks those playoffs won’t pass through Audi Field this season. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit nwslthisweek.substack.com
Episode 75: Jen Cooper and all things NWSL stats
This week, NWSL historian Jen Cooper joins Dan and Michael to discuss her evolution from Dash broadcaster to the provider of stat nuggets for all NWSL broadcasts. Find out details about NWSL sisters plus lots of other random facts. And a major injury scare involving Trinity Rodman. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit nwslthisweek.substack.com
Episode 74: 2026 NWSL Preview, Phase 1
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit nwslthisweek.substack.com
Episode 73: Boom goes the trade market!
This week, a pair of trades jolt the NWSL with Claire Hutton heading to Bay FC and the Current shipping most of the money to Washington to acquire Croix Bethune. What does it all mean? And is Catarina Macario the next star headed for NWSL? This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit nwslthisweek.substack.com
Episode 72: Imagining a draft of current NWSL players
This week Dan, Bekki, and Michael discuss who among NWSL players they would select with the first pick at each position in a fictitious draft. Also what will make commissioner Jessica Berman’s next three years successful. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit nwslthisweek.substack.com
Episode 71: Crystal Dunn retires, Gotham snags the Champions Cup bronze and Dan goes to NWSL Media Day
This week Crystal Dunn announced her retirement and Gotham came in third in the first-ever Champions Cup. Dan Lauletta also took a trip to NWSL Media Day and brought back some exclusive content from Avery Patterson, Casey Murphy, and Paige (Monaghan) Cronin. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit nwslthisweek.substack.com
Episode 70: Trinity is signed, sealed, and delivered
This week, Dan and Michael discuss the end of the Trinity Rodman contract saga and analyze some of the soccer components (including Michael’s bold prediction!) Also the Courage have a coach, but one team still doesn’t, the Ally Sentnor conundrum, and Delfine Cascarino bids the NWSL adieu. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit nwslthisweek.substack.com
Episode 69: We're back! And the 2026 NWSL schedule is out
This week, the 2026 NWSL schedule is out! Also the Players Association has filed a grievance meant to block the new HIP rule, Sam Coffey is off to England, Lindsey Heaps is coming home, and marquee players make tantalizing, intra-league moves. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit nwslthisweek.substack.com
Episode for the HIP: NWSL votes on High Impact Player Rule
In this special episode, Dan, Bekki, and Michael discuss the new High Impact Player Rule and the impact of NWSL deciding which players can--and which players cannot--earn money above and beyond the salary cap. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit nwslthisweek.substack.com
Special Episode: Marisa Ingemi
On this special episode, Dan is joined by Marisa Ingemi from the San Francisco Chronicle to discuss all things Bay FC after the club announced Emma Coates as head coach. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit nwslthisweek.substack.com
Episode 68: Inching closer to a Trinity Rodman resolution
This week, the parameters of a new rule that will allow Trinity Rodman to remain in NWSL are falling into place. Plus the transaction wire remains busy and three coaching openings remain around the league. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit nwslthisweek.substack.com
Episode 67: The Trinity Rodman conundrum
This week, Dan and Michael break down all angles of the ever-evolving Trinity Rodman situation? Will NWSL tweak its rules to allow the Spirit to pay her? Or will the face of American soccer soon be plying her trade in Europe? This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit nwslthisweek.substack.com
Episode 66: Let's debate the NWSL playoff format
This week, Dan and Jenna debate the merits of letting 8 teams in the NWSL postseason tournament. Plus is Trinity Rodman leaving and how soon will be know? and the latest coaching vacancy has emerged in Portland where Rob Gale was fired this week. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit nwslthisweek.substack.com
Ep. 65: Gotham Are Your 2025 NWSL Champions!
The dust has settled on the 2025 season, and 8th seed Gotham have come out as champions after defeating the Washington Spirit, who have to settle as runners up for the second year in a row. We break down the match and the subs and lack of subs that ultimately determined this match, as well as discuss the end-of-the-year awards. It might be a wrap for 2025, but we will still be coming at you with new episodes sporadically through the off-season. So stay tuned! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit nwslthisweek.substack.com
Episode 64: Spirit, Gotham set NWSL Championship clash
This week, the Spirit and Gotham secure semifinal victories and will meet for the NWSL Championship this weekend in San Jose. It will be their 44th meeting across all competitions since 2013. The gang breaks down the games and discusses the surprise coaching vacancy in Kansas City and much more! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit nwslthisweek.substack.com
Episode 63: Current crash out on dramatic weekend of NWSL playoff action
This week, the Shield winning Current crash out with first home loss in 16 months while the Spirit, Thorns, and Pride also advance to the semifinals. Olivia Moultrie, Marta, and Aubrey Kingsbury were among the weekend’s stars. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit nwslthisweek.substack.com
Special Episode: Racing Louisville head coach Bev Yanez talking making the playoffs and building a team mentality
bonusRacing Louisville head coach Bev Yanez visits NWSL This Week to talk about Racing making the playoffs for the first time, how they turned their season around after a slow start, and how she helped her players buy into a winning mentality. She also walks us through some of her experiences in the NWSL playoffs as a player and how those experiences have helped inform her role as a head coach. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit nwslthisweek.substack.com
Episode 62: Racing Grab Final Playoff Spot
This week, Ella Hase’s 1st NWSL goal lifts Racing Louisville into the playoffs for the first time while a victorious Courage side falls short. The playoff field is set now with quarterfinals in Kansas City, Washington, Portland, and Orlando. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit nwslthisweek.substack.com