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.

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HOST: Jillian Sakovits

GUESTS: Kelley O’Hara, Asli Pelit

PRODUCER: Theo Lloyd-Hughes

VIDEO PRODUCER: Lia Griffin

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER: Emily Olsen

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Referenced on the show:

Denver Summit FC shatters NWSL attendance record in home opener

Denver Summit set the NWSL attendance record at 63,004, raising the bar for future expansion

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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.

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HOST: Jillian Sakovits

GUESTS: Charlotte Harpur, Melanie Anzidei

PRODUCER: Theo Lloyd-Hughes

VIDEO PRODUCER: Lia Griffin

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER: Emily Olsen

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Referenced on the show:

Ruthless Arsenal expose Chelsea’s need for a clinical finisher

UWCL first-leg defeat to Bayern shows Manchester United must narrow the small margins

Women’s Champions League: 18 goals as Bayern Munich, Arsenal and Barcelona find a scoring streak

Denver Summit shuts out defending champion Gotham FC to earn first NWSL win in big way

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Get in touch: ⁠⁠fulltime@theathletic.com⁠⁠

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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.

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HOST: Jillian Sakovits, Tamerra Griffin

PRODUCER: Theo Lloyd-Hughes

VIDEO PRODUCER: Lia Griffin

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER: Emily Olsen

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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 cards

Summit sign USWNT forward Yazmeen Ryan and midfielder Delanie Sheehan in deal with Dash

Kelley O’Hara on red cards, NWSL Atlanta & her switch to broadcasting

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Get in touch: ⁠⁠fulltime@theathletic.com⁠⁠

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Kelley O’Hara has almost everything there is to win. But which trophy in her cabinet means the most?

On this episode of the Full Time Review, host Jillian Sakovits is joined by O’Hara for a one-on-one interview with the USWNT legend turned CBS Sports broadcaster. The two-time World Cup winner talks about the NWSL’s recent uptick in red cards, how she made the jump to broadcaster after hanging up her cleats, who she’s picking to win the UEFA Women’s Champions League, and what it means for professional women’s soccer to be coming to her hometown of Atlanta in 2028.

PLUS: The Athletic’s Asli Pelit hops on the show to talk about the biggest winners from the NWSL weekend. The magic of Tessa Dellarose’s debut goal as the Chicago Stars upset the Kansas City Current and the long-awaited return of a USWNT star for NJ/NY Gotham FC.

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HOST: Jillian Sakovits

GUESTS: Kelley O’Hara, Asli Pelit

PRODUCER: Theo Lloyd-Hughes

VIDEO PRODUCER: Lia Griffin

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER: Emily Olsen

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Referenced on the show:

Shorthanded Portland Thorns beat Seattle Reign despite two red cards

Tessa Dellarose scores first pro goal as Chicago Stars upset Kansas City

Japan win Women’s Asian Cup with victory over Australia

Gotham captain Tierna Davidson makes first appearance since ACL tear last year

How Gotham’s 2025 championship ring reflects past glory and future ambition

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Get in touch: ⁠⁠fulltime@theathletic.com⁠⁠

Follow on Instagram and TikTok: @tafulltime

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League Code: UOBDVD

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When five players made their decision to defect in the 24 hours following Iran’s final match of the 2026 Women’s Asian Cup, a 2-0 loss to the Philippines, they faced a near-impossible choice. Return to a war zone or leave everything behind and stay in Australia. If they remained in Australia, they had to consider the risks faced by their family back home.

On this episode of the Full Time Focus, host Jillian Sakovits is joined by The Athletic’s Jacob Whitehead to discuss his extensive reporting on the journey of Iran women’s national team at the Asian Cup. The Athletic has spoken to over two dozen sources with knowledge of the team’s experience at the Asian Cup, including people close to the women who defected. In the end, seven members of Iran’s group defected, but five changed their minds and returned home, with two remaining in Brisbane, Australia.

PLUS: The latest on this year’s Asian Cup ahead of Saturday’s final in Sydney, Australia, and the six teams who have qualified for the 2027 World Cup in Brazil.

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HOST: Jillian Sakovits

GUEST: Jacob Whitehead

PRODUCER: Theo Lloyd-Hughes

VIDEO PRODUCER: Lia Griffin

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER: Emily Olsen

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Referenced on the show:

The Iran women footballers faced with an impossible choice: Defect or return to a war zone

Iran football team returns home after week-long journey, two players remain in Australia

Five Iran Women soccer players defect with help of police following Asian Cup in Australia

FIFA, Australian government hold urgent talks over Iran women’s team’s future after Asian Cup exit

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Get in touch: ⁠⁠fulltime@theathletic.com⁠⁠

Follow on Instagram and TikTok: @tafulltime

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Subscribe to the Full Time newsletter ⁠⁠here⁠⁠

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What is it like to score the winning goal in a European final for your girlhood club, when you have been marking Marta all through the match?

On this episode of the Full Time podcast, Alex Scott joins the show for a special interview to reflect on exactly that, when she conquered the continent with Arsenal in 2007, and where dreams became a reality for the Londoner. Scott is now an ESPN presenter for the UEFA Women’s Champions League (UWCL) on Disney+, which will air all matches, including the quarterfinals on 24 & 25 March and 1 & 2 April, in the competition live, and also talks about her post-playing career in broadcasting, what has changed in the women’s game over the last 20 years, and why she thinks Emma Hayes is perfect for the U.S. women’s national team (USWNT).

PLUS: Host Jillian Sakovits unpacks Cat Macario’s reported transfer to the San Diego Wave with The Athletic’s Tamerra Griffin, and what it means for Chelsea, the Wave, the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL), the USWNT, and the new era of big-money contracts in global women’s soccer. And, if all that wasn’t enough, the podcast also gives its thoughts on NJ/NY Gotham FC announcing its first official NWSL match in New York City.

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HOSTS: Jillian Sakovits, Tamerra Griffin

GUEST: Alex Scott

PRODUCER: Theo Lloyd-Hughes

VIDEO PRODUCER: Lia Griffin

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER: Emily Olsen

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Referenced on the show:

Gotham FC to host Washington Spirit at Citi Field in first NWSL match in New York City

USWNT’s Catarina Macario set to join San Diego Wave from Chelsea

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Get in touch: ⁠⁠fulltime@theathletic.com⁠⁠

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League Code: UOBDVD

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The NWSL is back! To kick off the 2026 season, we saw 19 goals, two red cards and not a single tie in the first-ever 16-team and eight-match opening weekend.

On this episode of Full Time Review, host Jillian Sakovits is joined by Melanie Anzidei, fresh from criss-crossing the East Coast as she covered two games in-person in less than 24 hours, and Producer Theo to unpack all the top storylines from opening weekend.

Have we underestimated a Portland Thorns team that can silence Audi Field? How much does the Washington Spirit miss Croix Bethune? How were the vibes at Boston Legacy’s first-ever match? What does it mean to have Savy King, Sophia Wilson and Barbra Banda all back on the pitch again?

After that, Jillian is joined by The Athletic’s Megan Feringa to analyze Sunday’s English Women’s League Cup final, which ended with Chelsea winning 2-0 over Manchester United. Can a trophy snap Chelsea out of their crisis? How important is Lauren James? What can Manchester United do to become elite?

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HOST: Jillian Sakovits

GUESTS: Melanie Anzidei, Megan Feringa

PRODUCER: Theo Lloyd-Hughes

VIDEO PRODUCER: Lia Griffin

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER: Emily Olsen

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Referenced on the show:

NWSL 2026 opening weekend: Big comebacks, red cards and packed stadiums

For Manchester United, the riddle remains: how do you beat Chelsea in a cup final?

NWSL storylines to follow for the 2026 season: Rule changes, World Cup moves and seven new coaches

Angel City defender Savy King returns 10 months after collapsing during cardiac event

The pieces are falling into place for Portland Thorns after a preseason of uncertainty

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Get in touch: ⁠⁠fulltime@theathletic.com⁠⁠

Follow on Instagram and TikTok: @tafulltime

Subscribe to our Youtube channel: here

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League Code: UOBDVD

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With the start of the NWSL season upon us, Theo Lloyd-Hughes and Tamerra Griffin join Jillian Sakovits to break down the biggest storylines on and off the pitch. They analyze the entrance of two new expansion teams in Denver FC and Boston Legacy, whether we'll see a repeat performance from the 2025 shield winners, KC Current, and if this is finally the year for the Washington Spirit.

They also talk about NWSL attendance numbers and how the men's World Cup will affect the NWSL, the newly implemented HIP policy, and how the NWSL is approaching safety concerns and regulations heading into this season.

Finally, they close out with a predictions game for the season ahead.

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HOST: Jillian Sakovits, Tamerra Griffin

PRODUCER: Theo Lloyd-Hughes

VIDEO PRODUCER: Lia Griffin

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER: Emily Olsen

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Referenced on the show:

NWSL 2026 season predictions: Champions, Triple Espresso’s return and an MVP three-peat

NWSL doubled in size over the last decade. The 2026 season will be a pivotal ‘next chapter’

Bev Yanez on her coaching journey & Racing Louisville's date with destiny

Meet NWSL expansion team Denver Summit: Hometown talent, attendance records and a blank canvas

Meet NWSL expansion team Boston Legacy: Reintroduction, European influence and a desire to win

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Get in touch: ⁠⁠fulltime@theathletic.com⁠⁠

Follow on Instagram and TikTok: @tafulltime

Subscribe to our Youtube channel: here

Subscribe to the Full Time newsletter ⁠⁠here⁠⁠

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Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.