Laces Out Loud

Three games remain in the NWSL regular season, only two teams have clinched playoff spots, and almost nothing about the postseason picture feels settled. This week, Alli, Pamitha, and Gurushabd break down a wild Week 24 as Kansas City climbs, Portland tumbles, North Carolina jumps back above the playoff line, and Seattle suddenly finds itself on the outside looking in. With just four points separa...

Signing young talent is one thing. Helping that talent thrive is another. With Alli back in the lineup, the Laces Out Loud crew digs into what happens after teenagers turn pro—and whether the NWSL’s reported new development pathway could give its youngest prospects a better shot at success. From playing time and coaching changes to keeping college options open, what does investing in a player’s fu...

Five games remain, the NWSL playoff race is getting ridiculous, and apparently being able to see the game you’re watching on television is still too much to ask. This week, Pamitha and Gurushabd break down a chaotic Week 22 that saw Angel City surge three places up the table, Seattle fall outside the playoff line, Kansas City cling to eighth, Washington get back on track, and the middle of the sta...

Week 21 of the NWSL season brought chaos, milestones, questionable decisions—and one very important question: Can Moneyball actually work in soccer? We start on the pitch, where Boston stunned Washington 3–0 at Audi Field, Chicago stole a stoppage-time point from Portland, Denver and Angel City delivered a six-goal thriller, and Seattle kept its playoff hopes firmly alive. With the postseason race...

Week 20 gave us history, statement wins, unexpected exits, and another reminder that absolutely nothing in the NWSL stays predictable for long. Ashley Sanchez puts the league on notice with a spectacular hat trick as the Courage keep climbing. Denver Summit shocks league-leading Gotham with three goals against the seemingly impenetrable AKB. Seattle takes down San Diego, and the Washington Spirit...

Week 19 is in the books, and somehow the NWSL playoff picture is still evolving. Gurushabd is back from Spain and Portugal with tales of tapas, dangerously affordable espresso, and one surprisingly difficult mission: finding a women’s FC Barcelona jersey in Barcelona. Then we turn our attention stateside, where the WAFCON stars are making an immediate impact, Barbara Banda is back, Orlando has mad...

We're back! Women’s sports are growing at an incredible pace. But actually following them? That can still be harder than it should be. This week, we’re joined by Dana Lerner, creator of SheScores , a new platform bringing scores, schedules, stats, standings, broadcast information, and more from women’s sports leagues around the world into one place. Dana tells us how her own frustration trying to...

The NWSL table is moving, the contenders are getting tested, and apparently no lead is safe. This week on Laces Out Loud, we break down a wild weekend across the league: Seattle finishes the job with a huge 2–0 win over San Diego, Sam Kerr reminds everyone exactly why she’s Sam Kerr, and the Washington Spirit survive a seriously impressive Denver Summit side to take over the top spot in the standi...

What will it take for the United States to develop the next generation of great soccer players? We are officially going down the academy-system rabbit hole—and this is only the beginning. In the first installment of an ongoing Laces Out Loud series, Alli takes us inside the player-development systems used in England and helps us compare the long-established Premier League model with the much newer...

The World Cup may be winding down, but its impact on American soccer could be just beginning. This week, we ask what the tournament’s cultural momentum could mean for the NWSL and the women’s game—from converting casual viewers into lasting fans to expanding access beyond America’s expensive pay-to-play system. We also discuss Gotham FC’s move from New Jersey to its future home at Etihad Park in Q...

Welcome to Laces Out Loud, an NWSL and women’s soccer podcast for fans who love the game, fans who are just finding their way in, and anyone who believes the women’s game deserves to be discussed with the passion and thoughtfulness it has earned. Hosted by Alli, Pamitha, and Gurushabd, we break down the matches, celebrate the players, spotlight the stories behind the sport, and ask what it will ta...

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...