Good Game with Sarah Spain

League One Volleyball (aka LOVB) takes center stage for installment #2 of our “New Year, New Leagues” series. LOVB President Rosie Spaulding and Salt Lake City player Jordyn Poulter join Sarah to discuss how the league is prioritizing athlete experience and why in-game commentary will sound a little different. Plus, the stars, stakes, stats, and stories you need to know.  Wat...

We’re starting 2025 with our “New Year, New Leagues” series of shows, bringing you everything you need to know about the new professional women's leagues kickin' off, tippin' off, first pitchin' and first servin’ their way into our hearts in 2025. First up, Unrivaled Basketball president Alex Bazzell joins Sarah to talk about the stars, stakes, stats and stories in the new...

We’ve spent the week revisiting our favorite interviews of 2024, and last but not least is Sarah’s conversation with Rose Eveleth, host of the Tested podcast. They joined her back in August to talk gender verification testing, the binary categorization of humans, and the “dangers” that inexact sciences seek to protect women athletes from. Subscribe and listen to Rose Evelet...

As part of our “Best of 2024” series, here is Sarah’s conversation with USWNT legends Sam Mewis and Becky Sauerbrunn from August, right before the U.S.-Brazil gold medal game at the Paris Olympics. Sam and Becky discussed everything from the start of the Emma Hayes era to their favorite post-game eats.  Listen to Sam Mewis's podcast, "The Women's Game" here Make sure to chec...

We’re revisiting some of our favorite interviews of 2024! Today, we hit play on Sarah’s conversation with recently retired WNBA hooper Layshia Clarendon. Lay joined Sarah to talk grieving his career while honoring themself and their stillness, being the first out trans player in the W, and the Finals series between two of her former teams. Follow Layshia on IG here ! Leave us a voicema...

We’re revisiting some of our favorite interviews of 2024! Back in August, former pro cyclist and forever activist Kathryn Bertine joined Sarah to discuss the history of the Tour de France Femmes, and why equality in cycling is still a long way away. Read Kathryn Bertine’s memoir, Stand and watch her film, Half the Road Leave us a voicemail at 872-204-5070 or send us a note at goodgame@...

We’re revisiting some of our favorite interviews of 2024, starting with U.S. cross-country skiing star Jessie Diggins. Sarah originally caught up with Jessie in August during the Summer Olympics, but today we’re running back the interview as it’s the height of Jessie’s own competition season. Watch Jessie compete in the 2024-25 Tour d...

It’s time for the first annual Slice-ee Awards!! Sarah, Misha and Alex announce the nominees in each category and ask YOU to cast ballots. Plus, Jane McManus, editor of The Year’s Best Sports Writing 2024, joins Sarah to share her favorite pieces from this year, and chat about her upcoming book The Fast Track: Inside the Surging Business of Women's Sports. Then a *unique* In Memoriam,...

Jenny Nguyen, founder of The Sports Bra women’s sports bar in Portland, Oregon, joins Sarah to discuss her transition from chef to bar owner, betting her life savings on her vision, how opening the bar changed her relationship with her parents, and how to know a risk is worth taking.  Interested in starting your own Sports Bra franchise? Check it out here Follow the Sports Bra on social...

To celebrate the holidays, we present you with three nicely-wrapped segments. We kick off the festivities with a “Yes, And” about one of the best basketball players of all time before handing out a “Good Game, Fact You” and a “What The Fact” to the same recipient. Plus, it only took 112 episodes, but Sarah, Misha and Alex finally decided on a name for themselves...

Tessa Bonhomme and Julia Tocheri, hosts of the PWHL’s Jocks In Jills podcast, join Sarah to talk about using their pod to help fans connect with players, the Minnesota Frost’s rollercoaster offseason, Hilary Knight’s scoring resurgence, and Julia’s former summer job as a Historical Interpreter. Plus, it’s time for the NCAA Volleyball Final four, NWSL expansion news, a...

USC basketball superstar JuJu Watkins and head coach Lindsay Gottlieb join Sarah for a wide-ranging interview. JuJu talks about setting goals for her sophomore season, her recent investment in Unrivaled, and why she thinks the WNBA should change its eligibility rule, while Coach Gottlieb explains how she’s adapted during this time of NIL and dishes on the one surprising thing JuJu needs to w...

Group chat is BACK! Sarah is joined by actor, musician and podcast host E.R. Fightmaster and comedy writer and stand-up Erin Foley to talk about their respective podcasts, Caitlin Clark’s Time Magazine interview, marketing the modern female athlete, and the sports “F*** Yous” they’d like to deliver. Plus, the PWHL is back, the WNBA is going international - kind of - and a t...

It’s always a good time when Sarah, Mish & Alex are on the mic! Your fave Good Game trio tries to give themselves a name and catches up on a busy month of life, work and sports happenings. Plus, a few additions to the co-ed adults sports Etiquette Code, a gingerbread house review, Malort Carols and some favorite holiday traditions. What do you want us to cover or dig into in 2025? Leave...

Paralympic swimmer Anastasia Pagonis joins Sarah to discuss how she prepared for blindness, how her guide dog Radar gives her much-needed confidence, and what it’s like to work with brands to change how people see visually impaired folks. Plus, a What The Fact about moms who coach and Angel City's newest investment in the community. The full NCAA volleyball tournament schedule is here  ...

Chris Mosier, team USA athlete and founder of  transathlete.com , joins Sarah to discuss what’s keeping him positive and hopeful post-election, how transphobes are using bans and lawsuits in athletics to demonize trans people, and the ways anti-trans rhetoric is affecting cis women in sports, too. Plus, we take a moment to celebrate with you Slices, and ask for your favorite holiday tra...

Author Elise Hart Kipness joins Sarah to talk about her transition from journalism to writing fiction, what it’s like to live vicariously through her book’s main character, and the story behind her latest thriller, Dangerous Play , in which reporter Kate Green discovers a dead body in the locker room while covering the USWNT at the Olympics. Plus, Caitlin Clark adds another honor to he...

Sarah’s good pals Josh Bard, producer for ESPN’s Around The Horn, and Kelaine Conochan, VP of global sales for Legends, join her for another edition of Group Chat. This time, they talk all things college hoops, attempt to craft an official co-ed adult sports etiquette code, and choose which Unrivaled basketball clubs they’ll be rooting for in January. You heard our 5-rule officia...

Caroline Fitzgerald, CEO and founder of GOALS Sports and host of "The Business Case For Women's Sports" podcast, joins Sarah to discuss the “aha!” moment that pushed her to start her own marketing and consulting business, the immense economic opportunity in women’s sports, and what she’s learned from connecting brands and leagues. Plus, the PWHL is in the game, and Alyssa Naeher’s versatility gets...

UCLA women’s basketball head coach Cori Close and guard Kiki Rice join Sarah to talk about their #1 ranking, beating the defending champion South Carolina Gamecocks, and handling mini mogul status at age 20. Plus, Toronto Tempo president Teresa Resch hops on to discuss the expansion draft and the accidental leak of her franchise’s team name. Check out the full NCAA Volleyball Tournament bracket he...

ESPN basketball reporter Alexa Philipou joins Sarah to talk all things college basketball, including JuJu Watkins' ceiling (is there one?!), the end of South Carolina’s win streak, why UCLA has been her No. 1 all season and whether women's sports media is ready to hold problematic players accountable. Plus, a WNBA website oopsie and the benefits of being part shark. Read Alexa's story about JuJu W...

Angel City FC defender Sarah Gorden joins Sarah to talk self-discovery in LA, being the epitome of a soccer mom, using food stamps to help support herself and her son early in her career, and the future of ACFC. Plus, a slice gets something off their chest and a little “Good Game, Good Game, Fact You” to celebrate our 100th episode. Join our NCAA Volleyball Championship Challenge group  here What...

Forward for the Minnesota Frost and two-time Olympic medalist with Team USA, Kelly Pannek, joins Sarah to talk about her goals for season two of the Professional Women's Hockey League, being PWHL teammates with rivals from Team Canada, her new beer "Been There, Won That," and balancing winter hibernation and summer fun. Plus, WNBA schedule release vids, PWHL TV deals and a hoops legend gets double...

Minnesota Frost and Team USA captain Kendall Coyne Schofield joins Sarah to talk winning the first ever Professional Women’s Hockey League championship, negotiating the league’s collective bargaining agreement, the start of PWHL season two and her plans for the 2026 Olympics. Plus college hoops upsets and BOS Nation has regrets. EPISODE NOTES: Check out the PWHL schedule  here Mikaela Shiffrin's I...

USWNT legend and Angel City FC co-owner Lauren Holiday joins Sarah to talk about wanting to be a changemaker in the sports ownership space, the latest on her group's bid to take control of the North Carolina Courage, her meet-cute with MNBA player husband Jrue Holiday, and how a brain tumor helped her learn how to choose joy. Plus, the PWHL season starts this weekend, listeners share their quirky...