Laces Out Loud

This week on Laces Out Loud , we’re sweating through a brutal heat wave, watching cars spontaneously combust outside Audi Field, and asking what extreme summer conditions mean for players, fans, and the future NWSL calendar. Then we dive into one of the most exciting World Cups in recent memory — late goals, wild VAR moments, Cabo Verde magic, and the growing realization that expanding the tournam...

Laces Out Loud is officially expanding! In Episode 31, we celebrate the podcast’s move to Apple Podcasts, Pocket Casts, iHeartRadio, and more before diving into a packed soccer week. Gotham adds another trophy with a Challenge Cup win over Kansas City, while the NWSL’s new cleat-branding rules spark a bigger conversation about player compensation, endorsement deals, and whether women athletes are...

The World Cup break continues, but the NWSL news cycle is refusing to rest. This week, Pamitha, Gurushabd, and Alli dig into Angel City’s chaotic week, the Ally Sentnor trade, Kansas City’s next move, and Gotham somehow getting even more Gotham with Sam Kerr’s return to the NWSL. Then the crew takes on the bigger soccer culture questions: why American chants need an upgrade, how women’s soccer fan...

The Laces Out Loud crew is back and digging into the numbers. This week, Pamitha, Gurushabd, and Alli break down whether the Kansas City Current can actually win without Temwa Chawinga, comparing her impact to other stars like Esther and Barbra Banda while asking bigger questions about coaching, roster construction, and what separates good teams from truly elite ones. Plus, we recap the USWNT’s sp...

The Laces Out Loud crew is finally together in person for a special episode full of NWSL joy, chaos, and very loud opinions. After a sold-out Washington Spirit vs. Seattle Reign match at Audi Field, we break down the game day experience, fan culture, Youth Night energy, questionable chants, Lacey Santos’ gorgeous free kick, and what makes women’s soccer supporters so special. Plus, we dig into the...

This week on  Laces Out Loud , we’re breaking down a wild CONCACAF final, the Washington Spirit’s 5–3 thriller against Club América - remind us - who thinks women's soccer is inferior? Silence? Good. We also discuss the very real tension between growing the women’s game and protecting player health. We also dive into the NWSL’s latest strange trend — hair pulling, red cards, tactical fouls, and wh...

This week on  Laces Out Loud , Pamitha, Alli, and Gurushabd catch up on two weeks of NWSL action, starting with Gurushabd’s trip to Angel City at BMO Stadium, where the vibes were immaculate and the mango ice cream may have stolen the show. The crew talks Ashley Sanchez’s heater, NC Courage crowds, Mal Swanson’s return, José the Coyote social media beef, Gotham’s $5 ticket push, and what accessibl...

This week on  Laces Out Loud , we open with a heartfelt tribute to Zuko, our beloved black cat and unofficial podcast supervisor, before diving back into the beautiful game. Alli brings the spreadsheets, the math, and the FBref deep dive as we explore the growing international footprint of the NWSL: which countries are represented, which players are logging serious minutes, and which clubs are bui...

Technical difficulties may have stolen our planned international players deep dive, but the NWSL gave us plenty to talk about. This week on  Laces Out Loud , we recap a wild return from the international break, including the Washington Spirit’s dominant 4-0 win over Kansas City, Sandy MacIver’s big saves, Trinity Rodman’s first goal of the season, Claudia Martínez making history, and Gotham and Wa...

We’re diving into the  business of women’s soccer  with special guest Evan—sports industry pro and occasional Washington Spirit supporter. From  NWSL stadium strategy  and league growth to  merch shortages, ticketing tactics, and broadcast optics , we break down what’s really driving the fan experience behind the scenes. Why are jerseys always sold out? Do teams control how “full” stadiums look on...

Welcome back to  Laces Out Loud  — the international break edition. Fresh off the United States vs Japan women’s soccer match, we break down USWNT takeaways, from midfield chemistry to the rise of the Thompson sisters ( maybe mint a new nickname?! ). We get into: USWNT vs Japan analysis and standout performances The “Too Many Thompsons” phenomenon 🦖 How far women’s soccer coverage has come (and w...

Welcome to  Laces Out Loud  — where a former Division III athlete, a reformed collegiate soccer hooligan, and a rec-league superstar break down all things NWSL. This week? Absolute scenes. We’re diving into a wild weekend across the league: the Washington Spirit get the win amid concussion protocol controversy, Temwa Chawinga is BACK, and Orlando vs. Angel City delivers one of the most electric fi...

Seattle said keep the wins coming, Denver said how about 63,004, and the NWSL said we are not waiting around for the spotlight. This week, we recap the latest results, talk Spirit worries without hitting the panic button, and then we zoom out and dig into the numbers: how fast is the NWSL really growing, and how does that rise compare to where MLS was at a similar stage? Also: a little appreciatio...

Two weeks into the 2026 NWSL season and…everyone relax. This week on  Laces Out Loud , we talk early storylines—from Chicago making a statement to Angel City holding strong at the top—and why maybe, just maybe, it’s too soon to panic about your team. There’s plenty to like, plenty to question, and a lot of soccer still to be played. We also break down the NWSL’s new rules aimed at cutting out time...

The NWSL is BACK—and it wasted no time delivering chaos, storylines, and big-time moments. This week on  Laces Out Loud , we break down all the action from opening weekend, from statement performances to teams still shaking off the rust. We dive into  Cat Macario’s record-breaking $8 million deal with San Diego  (and what the HIP rule means for the league), plus why the Wave might already look lik...

The 2026 NWSL season is almost here and the crew is ready to make some bold predictions that will almost certainly age terribly. This week on  Laces Out Loud , we break down what we’re most excited about heading into kickoff — from the return of superstar moms like Andi Sullivan, Mallory Swanson, and Sophia Wilson to the next wave of rookies who could take the league by storm. We debate potential...

This week on  Laces Out Loud , we’re talking supporter culture, Bay Area energy, and what makes women’s soccer fans different — in the best way. We’re joined by the leader of  The Bridge Brigade , the official supporters group of Bay FC, to break down the vibe surrounding the club, what a Bay FC gameday experience really feels like, and how intentional, values-driven fandom is shaping the future o...

This is Part Three — the final chapter — of our conversation with Angela and Mario from the  Casual FC Podcast , and we’re taking it onto the pitch. We break down Angel City FC’s on-field identity and what it will take to shed the “Rehab FC” nickname as the club moves into its next phase. Is the rebuild finally turning into something real? What does this roster need to compete in the NWSL? And why...

Part Two of our conversation with Angela and Mario from the Casual FC Podcast is here! We explore how “Immigrant City” has become a powerful identity marker for Los Angeles and a meaningful rallying point for Angel City supporters during a complicated national moment. We talk about what it truly means to put  fans and football first  in professional women’s soccer — from front office decision-maki...

This week on  Laces Out Loud, we’re joined by the hosts of the  Casual FC Podcast  — your go-to show for all things Angel City FC. In Part One of our conversation, we dig into how their podcast got its start, what fandom really means in Los Angeles, and how Angel City has built one of the most passionate supporter cultures in the NWSL. We also talk about the responsibility — and the joy — of being...

This week on Laces Out Loud, we take a closer look at the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) between the National Women’s Soccer League and the NWSL Players Association, with a focus on the league’s new High-Impact Player (HIP) rule. Our discussion is framed by Trinity Rodman’s recent contract with the Washington Spirit, which followed disputes between the league and the NWSLPA over salary cap...

This week on  Laces Out Loud , we take a closer look at  ownership and governance in the National Women’s Soccer League , focusing on how teams, league leadership, and investors shape growth on and off the field. Using publicly available reporting, league statements, and an anonymous general manager survey, we examine what “investment” in the NWSL actually means in practice. Beyond capital, we loo...

Welcome back to  Laces Out Loud  — where a former Division III athlete, a reformed collegiate soccer hooligan, and a rec-league superstar break down women’s soccer and the National Women’s Soccer League like only they can. With the full  NWSL schedule  officially out, we take a  through ball  (not a deep dive) into what’s really driving it: explosive growth in women’s sports, a historic media righ...

Women’s sports are growing — but growth doesn’t sustain itself without real investment. With the 2026 NWSL schedule release approaching, we take a deeper dive into what meaningful support for women’s soccer actually looks like. We discuss the  Kang Women’s Institute , U.S. Soccer’s  Soccer Forward  initiative, and why — despite positive momentum — there are still critical gaps holding the ecosyste...

Every team, one goal, It’s a new year — so naturally, we asked:  If every NWSL team had a New Year’s resolution, what would it be… and who’s already breaking theirs? In this episode, we run through every team in the league, set expectations for 2026, and debate which clubs are positioned to overachieve — and which might already be testing our patience. (Spoiler: at least one team wasted no time pr...