2026 Summer Mailbag | Full Time Podcast
Is Trinity Rodman overrated? Do the U.S. womens national team need to be playing in more competitive tournaments? Should more NWSL teams follow the Utah Royals and give head coaches more time? This weeks Full Time is a Summer Mailbag special, where hosts Jillian Sakovits, Meg Linehan and Tamerra Griffin answer listener questions on everything and anything about the global womens game. From 2027 World Cup roster conundrums to picking WAFCON 5-a-side teams and everything in between. ------------ #nwsl #uswnt #wsl ------------ Subscribe to the Full Time newsletter to get all the latest women's soccer news straight to your inbox every Tuesday: Get in touch: fulltime@theathletic.com Follow on Instagram and TikTok: @tafulltime Catch the full episodes of Full Time right here
Video Transcript
Hello, everybody.
A very warm welcome to Full Time.
It is presented by Amazon Prime.
As promised, today is our summer mailbag episode for you.
So with you today is myself, Jillian Sakovitz, alongside Tamara Griffin and Meg Lenahan.
Hello.
Is everybody ready for the burning questions that hit the inbox this summer?
Yeah.
It's been an interesting year to be asking questions about- the state of 'Cause we're sort of in this, like, coming off of a major thing that we were quasi-involved in and related to, but we're still kind of far out from our next big thing.
But there were some really good questions.
And by big things you're referring to World Cups.
World Cups.
Okay.
Senior World Cups- because we do have some youngins- Sure getting ready to play soon- Yeah which we've been asked about, and I appreciate that.
And also now those tournaments might actually happen, so great.
Right.
Right.
Wow.
That's the other thing that makes this timing- Yeah.
I mean, I'm glad that that all got resolved before- Kind of, yeah this mailbag because- Yeah this could've been a stressful episode otherwise, but- Yes we move.
Yeah.
Temporarily resolved inside of, of the week.
Probably some more spice to come, but, uh- Mm-hmm for now we're all, we're all in a, feeling like we're in a really good place.
Last week we had a little bit of fun while I was in Charlotte, North Carolina, getting ready for the MLS All-Star Game, posing should we bring all this craziness and chaos to the NWSL, and what would that look like?
So I wanna say thank you to everybody who answered all of our questions, and we got some really fantastic responses from all of you on, on your thoughts and feelings around an NWSL All-Star Weekend.
I think we're all in agreement that that's exactly what it would be.
A quote we got, "An NWSL All-Star game is an abominable idea.
Please bury the idea with the NFL game and what should happen to all the others."
Okay.
"A combined game is even worse.
I love the women's game- and outside the Cup I barely pay attention to the men.
The speed and strength of the top men would be too much.
Now you want to have an NWSL All-Star play the WSL All-Stars," which w- we th- we threw out there.
"That's a game I'd be interested in."
That's a strong dislike, everybody, for, for the co-ed idea.
Yeah.
I mean, I feel like there's another way to look at it, too, and this person does say that they don't pay much attention to the men's, but you could al- I mean, the speed and strength is one thing, but also you could see a lot more flopping.
Like, I feel like it's important for people who mostly focus on women's soccer to see how much men flop on the men's side.
So I feel like there's a lot of give and take there.
And I saw the N- I believe it was the NWSL during the Men's World Cup were doing these, like, "If you're a big fan of Lionel Messi- have you met Rose Lavelle" kind of comps.
So in that same spirit, I feel like it could be interesting to actually see what those players would be like on the same pitch.
Also just don't think anyone is ever playing that hard in an All-Star game.
Yeah.
No one's gonna be going full out in an All-Star game, especially if it was some sort of co-ed game.
And I w- I wanna say we got another piece of feedback too that was, I think at least a little more open to it, right, of, "Most adult rec leagues are co-ed, so it would be equally cool- true to see an co-ed All-Star game, teams with actual stars in that sport.
MLS and NWSL could be trailblazing.
The Portland Thorns and Portland Timbers have played two games with mixed teams and they've been tremendous fun for the players and the fans.
Both were fundraisers."
one was definitely for Ukraine.
No one could actually remember what the second one was for.
"But were totally unserious, which was part of the fun."
Again, I think what we were low-key arguing for with the All-Star game of this is an exercise in fun and joy and not necessarily an exercise in soccer, so.
Yeah.
Fun is the point, but wherever you fell on that spectrum, whatever your opinions are, however strong, like our first commenter, or, you know, diluted, we appreciate the fact that you even engaged with the question, and definitely we appreciate everyone who took time to DM us, email us, carrier pigeon, however you sent in the questions.
I'm not even privy to all the ways.
But thank you so much.
And the doors are not closed beyond this mailbag episode.
Feel free always to reach out to us on email, fulltime@theathletic.com.
We're on Instagram and TikTok @tafulltime.
Make sure you're following us there.
This is more of an ongoing conversation.
We just like to take a, a chance every few months in a season, to actually answer the questions like we're doing in this episode, and which we're gonna dive into after this break.
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Now, let's get you back to the show.
Welcome back.
It is time now to open that summer mailbag bag, and we are starting hot and heavy.
Amanda wrote in because she noticed that while watching the 2026 Men's World Cup, that there were a lot, Meg and Tamara, of Betting ads, including for Kalshi, a prediction market book taker.
Her question was, "Is the women's game missing out on advertising opportunities by having less presence in the sports betting landscape?
What would it mean if there were increased partnerships with sports betting and leagues like the NWSL?
Would that take away from anything in the women's game?
For example, the sense of community and connection rather than stacks, stats rather, and making a quick buck."
How do we feel about sports betting in the women's game?
I am very anti.
And part of that too is I've read now both a few articles, but there was a really great sports betting book, I'll, I'll post a link to it maybe after this episode drops, that really just dives into the history of sports betting and what that has opened up and just kind of Kalshi in particular stresses me out to an, a, a absurd degree, and I actually remember being in New York City in that week leading up to the World Cup final and looking up, and it was Clint Dempsey- in an ad for Kalshi.
And so I think there is a sense of, A, it always opens up questions about integrity of the game, right?
We've seen NBA betting scandals come through and all that kind of fun stuff.
But, like, y- I think there would be one very specific pro for the Well, okay, two very specific pros for the NWSL if this were to get opened up.
One is, it is a insane cashflow, right?
Mm-hmm.
And that's like a- Mm-hmm blessing and a curse.
But two, we would actually have better information around stats- Yeah and all, like, the information level for the NWSL as it exists right now is completely not good enough for sports betting.
So you would at least get better stats and better information, better injury reports.
Coaches wouldn't be able to lie about injury reports anymore because it's too important- Mm-mm for sports betting.
But I don't think it's worth it.
Just it stresses me out.
And I, I think also invites such a level of abuse onto the athletes when- Oof someone doesn't hit a parlay, right?
Like- Yeah it just opens up a door that I don't think needs to be opened.
I agree.
I mean, sp- talking about sports betting makes me feel the same way I feel when I talk about AI, which, ugh, you know?
But also a sense of inevitability.
You know?
And it raises that question that I honestly, maybe to my own detriment, try not to even engage in, th- that I'm glad you touched on, Meg, which is like, one, but what if?
And two, how could it be incorporated in a way that at least brings about some good to it?
So to your point about, you know, being able to improve the, the crumbs that we're currently working with when it comes to data, in the women's game, that is objectively a huge plus.
But as with most technological advancements, and nuances, it comes with a cost.
And I think whenever this kind of thing is introduced or potentially introduced into the women's game, you do have that question of ethics.
And as, Amanda pointed out in the question, there's always gonna be some tension between, you know, the foundational roots of women's sports and how that might interact or not, with these new business opportunities.
So also anti, but know that I personally am gonna have to get to a point where I start imagining what it look like, what it might look like, because it feels like it's coming whether we want it to or not.
I think in some level it's, it's inevitable i- in any sport, and I'm not for or against it.
I think that if I'm gonna play devil's advocate to the conversation, sports betting in any league is a I'm not saying it is a smart way or the right way, but it is a way to get other people interested, other sets of eyeballs- Mm-hmm when their money is involved.
I think about my- Yeah coworkers who are former European soccer players and have no idea what's going on in the NFL, but there is an NFL office pool floating around and, and they wanna get involved.
Now, could they name a quarterback?
No.
No.
But it, it, it, it gets them interested in, in the league.
Now, i- are those the fans that we're gonna sit here and say, "That's who we want watching the women's game"?
Yeah.
That's me as the question.
Right.
Mm-hmm.
But it, it does add that.
Now, do we need it?
Is it needed?
I don't know that, but that is a, another side to this whole thing.
I d- I think to your point, Jill, that's a reason why I think the NWSL front office would be looking at it as a potential move- Mm-hmm right?
For a league that is so obsessed with finding new ways and new inroads to, to groups of fans and sports fans in general that they have yet to unlock, sports betting is a very tempting path to walk down, and that's exactly why I'm so nervous about it, right?
Because I just also think, like, this country has really yet to reckon with its obsession with sports betting.
And- Yeah honestly, I think what it has done to a generation of young male sports fans in particular.
Mm-hmm.
And so I think there is something really I mean, it's a fascinating conversation when it comes to how women's sports for the most part have danced around this- Yeah as an issue.
But I, I do think it is a conversation that's going to become a lot more pressing over the next few years because it's gonna be really hard to resist both that money and the attention economy that comes with sports betting.
Amanda, thanks for the question.
She used the word, slippery slope, and I think we, we are all, in agreement there.
All right, let's go on to our next question.
This one comes from Kay, and the headline is, "Does the US Women's National Team need more competitive games and/or tournaments?"
Kay writes in, quote, "Love the show.
I've had a question about the US Women's National Team and the tournaments.
It seems like other fed- federations have fairly regular tournaments that mean something outside of the World Cup."
And the Olympics.
But the US has been in no real tournaments besides She Believes, which is a friendly, and like two games, since the Olympics.
Even World Cup qualifiers, they now get to skip the group stage, just play three games max to the final.
Do you think this hurts them in any way compared to the teams who are experiencing the pressure and pace of tournaments more regularly?
I feel like the US played in more tournaments during the previous cycle, and this go around there's almost nothing.
Kay.
Yeah.
I mean, I think the biggest comp where you see this disparity, most prominently is in Europe, right?
Because now they have UEFA Nations League.
Mm-hmm, mm-hmm.
And it's like those girls are always trying to qualify for something- through the Nations League, whether it's Women's Euros, Olympics, or the World Cup.
I mean, that's three years- Yeah right there.
Yeah.
And when I made that connection, I was just like, okay, because Kay might be thinking of the US, Netherlands game- Mm-hmm from a couple of years ago, or when the US made what felt like it might have become an annual trip to Wembley at the end of the season, you know?
Yeah.
Those were such important matches for obvious reasons.
Being able to play against top 10 competition anytime, especially away, is invaluable.
Now, I will say this year has been refreshing, and I credit a lot of that to US Women's National Team head coach Emma Hayes, because we're just past the midway point of the year, and already the US has played Japan three times.
They played Brazil twice in Brazil, which is something that has not happened in a couple of decades outside of major competitions.
And those, I mean, goes without saying how important those games were.
So- Yeah I actually asked Emma Hayes about that, ahead of the Brazil friendlies, and it does sound like there could be a little bit more collaboration between US Soccer and NWSL potentially to change that, because the simple answer to the question, Kay, is, yeah, I do think that the US is losing out by not being able to match the ki- the level of competition that they, have in their international friendlies compared to what we see in Europe.
And it's gonna be really interesting to see if or how that plays out in 2027, given the US qualifies.
I mean, 2026 is probably one of the strongest years the US Women's National Team is gonna have in terms of strength of opponent, right?
Because- Yeah to Tamara's point, Japan, Brazil, Spain is coming up in October.
Mm-hmm.
Like, these are your three primary competitors in my books for the next World Cup.
Yeah.
So 2026 is actually not that much of a problem.
It is actually, to me, a CONCACAF issue- more than a US women's soccer problem, because UEFA, I think, is a lot more structured, right?
And that's part of- Yeah the problem why the US has not been able to schedule games is because, to your point, Tamara, UEFA is busy all the time doing something.
Mm-hmm.
And just playing, playing with each other and not, you know, be- oh, we're good.
We don't need to go anywhere.
But Spain is- Right out, is, is qualified, so, like, they're freed up for the, those October games.
So CONCACAF, I think, is more preoccupied with teams outside of USA, Canada, and Mexico, and how to get them more meaningful games, especially around big competitions.
And so that's why the US, you know, yes, they're gonna have to go through World Cup qualifying basically through a single game, because CONCACAF isn't worried about them.
So that to me is- That's where the problem is, is CONCACAF and not necessarily US Soccer.
So in a nutshell, is it a yes or a no that we would need, more competitive matches in general?
I think we're in agreement that, that this year they've done a good job- Yeah figuring it, it out.
I don't know if there would be, like, a global Nations League of sorts.
The next W Gold Cup, isn't scheduled until 2029.
Oof, yeah.
Oof.
Yeah, that's a long time.
But yeah, I like the idea of putting pressure, honestly, on- Yeah on CONCACAF there To be fair, I do think, like, Emma Hayes wants that too.
Yeah.
Like, it's a known issue, I'll put it that way.
Yeah.
Okay, let's move on to the US Women's National Team roster.
Thanks, Kay.
Quinn asks, "As Emma starts thinking seriously about that 2027 World Cup roster, what do you think Cat Macario, Lynn Wiandolo, and now Emily Sonnet will have to do to make that team?"
Emily Sonnet now out, not officially, but the injury, to your patella is six to 12 months, which obviously is really tough when there's a World Cup in 10 months.
Lynn Wiandolo coming back from her maternity leave, and, Cat Macario kind of continuing to sit out in San Diego and nurse this injury.
Ooh, I guess, you know what?
I'll pose this question with Quinn.
Who do we think of those three has the best chance of being on the plane in, in 2027?
I mean, to me, that's Cat Macario.
Mm-hmm.
And that, and that's also w- with a complete information void- Yeah it's, like, about, like, Cat Macario.
Yeah.
Maybe that's why we're saying Cat Macario 'cause we don't know.
I, but I, I, for Lynn Wiandolo, I think part of it too is you look at the last couple rosters that she made, and she was basically the last player across the line, right?
Mm-hmm.
And so I think the depth h- chart has- Yeah changed- Mm-hmm in her absence.
So I think for her, there is a real journey to get back into this team.
With Emily Sonnet, to be fair, we do not know what that injury return is gonna be like, but I think, and it You can't do a one-to-one comparison against Mal Swanson, who had essentially the same injury because Mal Swanson also had- Right like a septic infection- after, which really set- Right back her rehab and went through an off-season, although Sonnet will go through an off-season.
Mal's was 10 months- And her- just to, yeah, just to know.
Yeah.
When all is said, including that infection, so she ended at, at, at 10 months at, from game to game.
Right.
So I, I mean, like, I don't wanna rule out Emily Sonnet also because I think she is one of the key veteran voices for Emma Hayes with this US Women's National Team.
But I, I do think that there is still potentially something intangible about Cat Macario being in Brazil for a World Cup, and right at the moment has, in theory, a faster path back probably to more significant games than just getting back in form and, you know, being in camp right at the moment, assuming that this injury somehow resolves itself.
But yeah, she is just kind of a giant question mark right at the moment.
And for Cat, it has been this ongoing h- heel injury.
Yeah, in the past she had- Right knee irritation after the ACL tear in, in 2022, et cetera.
But this has been this, like, e- elusive heel injury that she came over to San Diego with, and now we're sitting here still in August, and that seems to be the source of, of the sidelining.
Yeah, I agree, and it's interesting because the thing that I see Cat Macario and Emily Sonnet having in common is their centrality to this US Women's National Team core.
But of course, Cat, in theory, as far as we know, she's a little bit further along, or a lot further along in her recovery than Emily Sonnet, who just picked that up a couple of weeks ago.
And then what Cat and Lynn have in common is that distance from the initial thing that took them off the pitch, whether it was pregnancy- Mm-hmm or the heel injury, to now.
But Lynn, as you mentioned, Meg, hasn't been quite as central, as Cat was when she was healthy last year.
And I mean- Right she was the US Women's National Team top goal scorer in 2025.
Mm-hmm, mm-hmm.
So, I agree.
I do find it a bit worrying how little we're even, even in terms of whispers, um- Yes of her coming back to the Wave, let alone the US Women's National Team.
So this, you know, second half of the season really is s- that question is, you know, turning from, like, a regular black question mark into a kind of red one, or the kind that you, like, outline over and over out of stress for me.
Yeah.
But let's see.
You know, the Wave are in a good spot in the table, so I can see them wanting to allow her as much time as possible.
But from a US Women's National Team perspective, it's like, you, do you really wanna wait until the start of next season?
I don't know.
But still, she's in the, she's in the front, of that line among those three players for me too.
Listener Matt Solomon emailed in the perfect follow-up to this whole conversation, which was, "What's going to happen in central defense- now that Emily Sonnet will sadly be out for a while?
Is Naomi Girma ready to play?
Who would slot in next to Tierna Davidson if not?"
Also, he threw in there, "Has Croy played herself back into the squad?"
Thanks.
Thanks, Matt.
Some good food for, for thought there from Matt.
Yeah, my cheeks are full.
Ah, so I'm gonna take this opportunity to invoke the name of Utah Royal center back Kate Del Fava, who I think is having, like, an MVP candidate level season.
She was most recently called up, not to the senior US Women's National Team, but the U23s, who also traveled to and played in Brazil.
They played against local Brazilian teams, not the, the national team the way the senior team did.
But, and this of course, was before the Sonnet injury.
So I am really curious what that center back depth chart looks like right now considering, you know, if we're to assume that Tara Rudd is still there, considering that Kennedy Wesley- Emily Sams Emily Sams, another player that Ah, the conundrum of Emily Sams on the US Women's National Team.
Can't talk enough about that.
And we also haven't I mean, the WSL season is starting in a couple of weeks, which is really exciting, and of course, will give us some answers to the Naomi Girma question.
But I think for now, based on if we're sort of just to take the last window and that roster that went to Brazil, alongside Tierna, I'm thinking if not Naomi right now it's probably Kennedy Wesley.
But of course, you're gonna wanna bring one or two, maybe more center backs, or at least a sort of fluid player like a Sams, who's been known to be employed on the, on the outside as a fullback, under Emma Hayes.
But what do you think, Meg?
I, I mean, like, I do feel like Tara Rudd a year ago would've been the obvious answer, right?
Like, this is the thing is she's floated through a lot of different combos, and also now we're at the point in the year where, or in the cycle really, where you should have a locked center back pairing, and that's the opposite of where this team is going.
So, I mean, in many ways I feel like this team is now blessed that Tierna Davidson is fully back and can be sort of that sort of through line of a defense for the US Women's National Team, but I don't know if there is a really clear answer right at the moment, and I do think Naomi Girma is the very hopeful pencil in answer.
She's on the plane to Australia, or was, you know, a day ago, with Chelsea, and so I do think there's at least some time to figure out before even the Spain games, I think, is where we're truly gonna get an answer to this question.
Tara, to back up your, case for Del Fava, she's been an iron woman.
When we're talking about all these players with injuries, are they ready?
Will they be fully fit?
This is somebody who is played every single minute for the Utah Royals since they came back into the NWSL 2024, 2025, and she's on pace to do the same, this year.
So, hey, things can happen, but she's consistent.
And she scores goals.
She's consistent.
Yeah.
We do love an attacking center back.
We do.
Like- Wild.
Yeah.
And as for Croy, yes.
Like, I feel like- Oh, yeah yeah.
Sorry, Matt.
Like, yeah, Croy- I'm, I'm shaking my head yes to Croy Bethune working here.
Yeah.
Like, I feel like that's a I mean, and Croy does at least, I think, provide some coverage if Cat Macario, right, is not- ready.
Like, there is this sort of, I think, little weird clump of players, a Croy, Cat Macario, Jaden Shaw, right, who are all kind of in a very similar bucket for Emma, and so it is kind of a who's got next?
Like, who's, who's ready?
Who's in form?
And so that to me feels like the current sort of competition, even though Macario's position f- like she can play multiple, so it- it's kind of, you know, like, and they all, I think, can kind of play any sort of central attacking role, so.
All right.
Next up we've got Maddie with a real zinger.
Short and sweet.
Quote, I love this, "Is Trinity Rodman overrated, underrated, or rated just right?"
It's interesting 'cause I feel like if we got this question at the start of the season, which, you know, she was coming back from an injury, which was on full display even in the championship last year.
Yes.
I probably would have had a different answer, but I think given that she is ostensibly, you know, for all intents and purposes, the face of the NWSL, she's rated just right right now.
Like, she is actually And in ways that I think might not always be super obvious because she's also playing for an extremely in-form Washington Spirit where most of her teammates are firing on all cylinders and having, you know, incredible seasons, but 18 appearances, eight goals, and five assists this year, which is incredible.
I think she is incredibly She's feeling it, you know?
And Trinity Rodman, I think, is the kind of player who is at her best when she's feeling it, when she's enjoying her football, as they like to say.
I wouldn't say that she's underrated just because the rate of Trinity Rodman has always been extremely high, and it's been really nice to see her game and her performances actually align with the sort of vessel that the NWSL created with her vis-a-vis the HIP, um- Yeah that we've s- Yeah ended the year with and started this calendar year with.
Yeah.
I definitely think it's, it's just right, and I think part of that too is she has had to, I wouldn't say reinvent herself, but adapt- Yeah her game following that injury, and the fact that, A, she has figured out how to do that- Mm-hmm and I think that she has found other levels to climb into during a game rather than just relying on sheer, you know, like the trend spin- Yeah right, to get her out of situations, to me means she is a truly elite player who deserves the reputation that she has.
Mm-hmm.
And to back up Tamara's numbers that, that you mentioned, the eight goals, five assists in 18 appearances, that is tied for the co-lead in the NWSL in goal contributions.
Barbara Banda is tied at 13 as well, but hers are 12 goals and one assist.
Mm-hmm.
Rodman is on pace to have a career season.
Eight goals would be her career max.
She had it back in 2024.
She just had one more assist.
She had six assists in 23 appearances and, and Rodman's got a, a another few months, another couple months to go to add that in.
So yes, Rodman is on pace for a career season after making those record numbers in terms of money.
All right.
Let's move on now to injuries/free agency.
This question comes from our friend Ross.
Ross messaged in to say, "In the NFL, it is common to see impending free agents sit out games to avoid getting injured without a contract.
In the NWSL, you have players like Sophia Wilson, Rose Lavelle, who do not have contracts in place for 2027.
Lavelle is 31, playing some of the best ball of her life, and likely signing her last big deal in the league.
Wilson's 25, has a whole bunch of options in front of her.
Both were on the field when Emily Son- Sonnett tore her patella tendon this weekend, and I cannot help but wonder what Rose is thinking when this could happen to her at any time, and she still has no contract going into next year."
Meg, given this is a new era for the NWSL with this CBA, seems really risky and I wonder how it affects veteran players who still haven't signed.
What do you say to our friend Ross?
First of all, I just don't think that's how players operate in general.
Like, I, I don't You can get hurt at any time, right?
And I also do kind of fundamentally disagree with the premise that Rose Lavelle's only got one major contract left.
I don't know if there's any sign of that in the near future because also knowing the NWSL values veteran players in a way that maybe they always shouldn't.
But, especially with, you know, expansion teams coming in, there's potential there for, for something to happen.
But I, I do think the other main point that I would make around this conversation is, A, well, you don't know if they have a contract yet for next year.
The conversations are ongoing all of the time.
It could be trending in one direction, and it's just not a- across the line yet.
But B, you're playing in the NWSL for more than just your NWSL club.
You're playing to stay in form for U.S. Women's National Team games, and that is the real key point to me, right?
Like, I think we always think about NWSL games and, like, praying that people don't get hurt ahead of international duty or the other way around, that you're praying that people don't get hurt during games and then going back to NWSL clubs hurt.
But it could happen at any time, so I just don't know if that's the right way of looking at it through this lens.
I think so, too.
I appreciate the, the illustration of that moment at that Providence Park game, between Gotham and Thorns, and honestly, I'm redirecting your question a bit, Ross, to sort of announce that I am joining the Roman Empire question of when Or will Providence Park put some grass on that stadium?
Because we could even extend the sort of injury history or historical context of that pitch further.
That was also the game that Morgan Weaver returned after tearing her ACL.
M- Midge Purce had an injury on that field, at Providence Park.
And when I think about everyth- the potential, of Providence Park to maybe host some 2031 World Cup games and what that would require, that's what I am thinking about, in that illustration that you presented with your question.
But yeah, I agree with Meg.
NFL, as much as Commissioner Berman might want, comparisons to NWSL are a slippery slope.
Totally different priorities, different landscapes, and- Different money different money.
Right?
Like, it's, yeah.
It- I think it's a really hard one-to-one.
And the Portland, grass question I think is a really important one, right?
Because also the Men's World Cup forced that in a lot of stadiums- Right for the NWSL anyway this summer.
Yeah.
Portland, in particular, is now a very, I almost said thorny issue- so we'll just roll with it.
But- Cute they are, they are now tenants of that building, right?
Yeah.
Mm-hmm.
So it's gotta be a Timbers/City of Portland decision, and that, I think, is gonna make it just I, I don't think it's gonna happen, at least anytime soon.
Oof.
So it's tough.
Tragic.
It's just a tough situation, yeah.
If Providence Park had grass, that would be one of the few stadia in North America that I would have absolutely no notes for, zero.
Right.
Not a note.
Not a note.
Right.
Yeah.
Yeah.
I mean, it is already, yeah, it's, it's so close to a perfect stadium and I just also think that there are I wanna say I read something about there's, like, a culvert or some- like, they've built over something that would make it really hard to maintain- a natural grass pitch on top of it.
I mean, I, I don't think it's impossible, but just it would probably be a wild investment for a permanent decision.
And so it is just, it's really tough because that stadium is Like, to me, that's NWSL heritage in, in every single way.
Yeah.
So.
Platonic ideal, nearly.
Mm-hmm.
Okay, let's move on to this question from Emily.
This is about the Utah Royals.
Talk about a little U-turn.
"With Utah, are we seeing the benefits of letting a head coach get settled despite not making the playoffs?
Waiting things out for Jimmy Conrad is paying off.
As a Royals fan, not even I could have predicted being near the bo- near the top..." Oh my gosh, so disrespectful.
The Freudian slip of it all, though.
I know.
To Emily's point.
Just, yeah, me too, Emily.
Near the, excuse me, top of the table.
Additionally, should Angel City follow Utah and actually, stick with a coach?
We were having this conversation, off, off-camera, off-mic the other day, amongst ourselves a- about Jimmy and the fact that he is 31 years old.
And he comes into this job at 29 a- and he's given a little bit of time, and look at what the Royals have done.
Yeah.
It's interesting because at the time, Utah was dealing with so many injuries.
And it's weird to Like, what I'm about to say is gonna sound a bit absurd, but- Mm-hmm I do wonder if in addition to the implication of Emily's question about giving a manager time to get settled in, I also wonder if the context of having these big name signings like Chloe Lacasse, who is- Yeah red hot right now, you know?
Coming off thr- a three assist game.
A hat trick of assists, that, oof.
That Utah-Portland game.
Yeah.
Girl.
Anyway.
But she was dealing with an ACL injury, when she, when she first arrived at Utah.
And so I do wonder if in addition perhaps to Utah's front office wanting to let Jimmy get settled, there was also a little bit of more grace, given how many injuries they were dealing with.
And I remember at, before this NWSL season started, one of our talking points was can Utah actually continue the momentum that they tend to finish their seasons with into the start of the season?
We're seeing what that looks like.
They don't tend to make a ton of splashy signings, and I do wonder how much the sort of lifestyle component of the Utah Royals sell, affects that, especially for players who are coming from, I don't know, Madrid, Paris, all of these, you know, romantic, beautiful European cities, with struggling home teams.
Salt Lake's nice.
Salt Lake's nice.
They have dirty soda, Tamme.
It's pretty.
Dirty soda.
I mean- how do you compete with that?
Sangria could never.
But, but I do think that And I, we also talk a lot about the, the high turnover that we have seen in the NWSL of head coaches.
So I do think that Utah, for all of the shock that even its own supporters are experiencing right now with their successful season, could be a testament to f- just trusting the process, you know?
It's been really interesting and honestly very fun.
It's been a minute, well, maybe not so much, but maybe.
I mean, I'm thinking of, like, the tw- last, the worst to first sort of storylines that we've seen with, like, Kansas City Current, um- Yeah.
But this still feels different.
Gotham, but also Orlando too, right?
Like, it, it, it has some Orlando vibes maybe to me of, like, Orlando being this team where you could see the building blocks in place and then it really took, you know, like, one breakout year for it to all go right.
But for me, it's yes, giving a coach time to actually have time with players and to, to figure out what they wanna be, but I also think, you know, yeah, we talked about Utah always finishing seasons really strong and, like, being the spoiler to every other single team on the table, but part of that too is This was a team that I think everybody thought should play better than what they were playing for the most part, right?
And then you would see it come, come together for these little spells.
And so to, to put together what is currently looking like could be a really complete season, especially, you know, you think about that Portland Thorns result, it's I think it's just, it's a whole bunch of things coming together.
But yes, giving a head coach actual time with players feels like it's a useful thing in general.
So I, I loved what Emily threw in there at the end, and this is where I want to end this question with the two of you.
Right.
Should Angel City follow And I, I'm sure Angel City's not loving- loving to take some directive from Utah, but should Angel City be following in the Utah Royals' footsteps?
Imagine putting that in a letter and sending it to Angel City ownership.
Like, "You guys should be more like Utah."
Right.
I mean, I don't think Angel City has intended to have the- Yeah um- Yeah my mind is blanking, the revolving door of, of managers that they've had.
I mean, I personally was really surprised to see Strauss leave, even with the form that Angel City was in, just because there had been so much talk about, and continues to be about, five and seven-year plans that we hear from sporting director Mark Parsons.
Yeah, that team needs some consistency, and I'm not even really sure what the vision is right now, and I think that sometimes that is directly reflected in the results.
But, I mean, the fact that they are just so up and down still, I don't know if the plan is to sort of try and revive things for the rest of the season or if they're just starting to plan already for 2027, which doesn't seem advisable.
But yeah, they need some consistency, for sure.
That's all I have to say about Angel City right now, I'm afraid.
Meg, yes or- I would even wait Yes or no?
I won't even wait until I mean, but yes, I do think, and this is what they keep saying, right, is that they will hire a head coach and then be like, "This is our answer."
Yeah.
"And we will give them time," and then that's not what happens.
So at one point they do have to finally, like, live by that promise and give a head coach some time, even though it might be painful.
Like, it was certainly painful for Utah.
Like, no- Yeah no one in Utah is gonna say that wasn't painful.
Right.
So Yeah.
Imagine being, Jimmy Conrad's, who gets there in, in 2024.
Chlo Lacasse, who Tamara brilliantly brought up, scores a hat trick in her eighth game for the Royals and then tears her ACL in her ninth game, and they, they weather that storm and they stick with their manager, and they are sitting in third place in the NWSL standings and even had a 10-game unbeaten streak earlier this year.
All right, let's move on now to Benjamin's question.
He asks, "Does it seem like the NWSL has been watered down by expansion a bit this season when WSL fans are talking about using the NWSL to develop young English players who can't get into the WSL and so many top NWSL prospects jump to Europe at the first chance they get, it feels like the wrong trajectory."
Now, just, you know, quick numbers here.
The NWSL is set to expand, to, in 2028, to 18 teams.
That would enter Atlanta, that would enter Columbus as well, and the WSL sits at 14 teams.
Meg, what's your reaction to Benjamin's question?
I mean, my short answer is yes.
Like, that is just the nature of expansion, is that generally And to be fair, I think expansion maybe has not necessarily watered down the NWSL, but I think it has maybe undone some of the words about parity a little bit, just in terms of, like, we're relying on star power in the US a little bit more or, like, these really top-heavy rosters.
So, like, my instinct is to agree, but I also think the point about WSL talent coming over slash, you know, American talent going over there, that's a separate conversation that does actually feel kind of unrelated to the sort of existential questions around expansion and what it does to the quality of a league.
But, I mean, this is why I think expansion is an issue, but also And to be fair, we got a question about Racing Louisville that was not in the show simply because this is an ongoing situation that, trust me, I think everybody is very aware of.
But, like, you have both expansion and then teams that just aren't serious.
Yeah.
Right?
And that's where we're seeing this kind of, like, watered-down nature, and we have more parity this season than compared to, you know, KC or Orlando- Mm-hmm running away with it over the past couple of years.
But I don't always know that, like, NWSL chaos equals parity.
So- There's, there's a lot going on here.
I think this is a question that actually, like, is gonna sit in the back of my brain for, like, a month, and then, like, a month later I'm gonna have something really good to say about it.
But right now my instinct is mostly, like, I've, for the most part, agree with you that the NWSL feels watered down in a way.
All right, Benjamin, so keep, keep your, ears out for that when, when Meg has, has part two of that- It was a process.
Yeah part two of that answer.
A process.
That means you asked the right question, Benjamin.
Mm-hmm.
All right, let's move on now.
Friend of the show, Courtney, is talking NWSL dark horse.
All right, here's the question: Which team in the bottom four of the standings can make a run to the playoffs?
Tamara, at the very bottom of the table we have 16th place Chicago Star sitting 11 points back.
Then after that it goes Racing Louisville, Bay FC, and the Houston Dash in 13th.
This is a bit of a boring answer because they're at the top of the bottom four, but Houston Might be able to do the thing.
I think that for all of the challenges that they have faced this season, I mean, let's not forget how they started the season first of all.
Remember when Houston played Angel City and it was, like, number one versus number two or something kind of unimaginable right now?
They did have a strong start, I don't think we should forget that.
I also think that Houston did a really brilliant job recruiting some top NCAA talent into their team.
I think players like Kat Rader have been really impressive, have scored some bangers.
The fact that K- Kiki VanZanten is back from injury I think is gonna be a huge boost to them.
Always having Jane Campbell between the sticks is good security.
I think that it's gonna be difficult of course, because when I look at the top half, the players who are currently, in playoff contention if the season were to end now, I think a lot of those teams are also trending upward.
But I do feel most hopeful between these four teams about the Dash at the moment.
Houston, did win their first two games of 2026, went 3- 1 and 0 through those first four weeks, and they have won just twice since then, so we'll see what this, final third of the season holds for the Houston Dash.
Moving on to our final question, this one from Mike.
Okay.
"What is the best or funniest result you've gotten from American Soccer Analysis' Road to 25- to 75 game?"
Yeah, so first of all, I should say I've for- I've forced everyone into this.
Um- Yeah, we need some context here I've- I was happy to be forced yeah, so- it wa- it's basically, you know, there- there's I don't know if anyone else has played the 82 and 0, the NBA spinner game, which is also- Ooh a real addiction for me.
But it's basically, you know, there's an automatic generator that gives you a year and a team, so 2025 KC, right?
Or 2024 LA, whatever it is.
If you're unlucky you get 2017 Breakers, which is one that I seem to get at an absurd hit rate.
Ah.
And then you have to pick, 11 players, goalkeeper, and then you can choose your formation.
You then get an option of three head coaches to pick from, and then it simulates a season.
And so the mission is to earn 75 points and win the NWSL championship.
I have spent too much time- playing this.
I have only maxed out at 73 points, and then I was out in the semifinals.
I'll be mad at the Denver Summit for that forever even though it didn't actually happen.
And yeah, I mean, but, like, you also get this crazy lineup where for that team I think I had Temwa Shinga, Barbara Banda, and Midge Purce as my front line.
Like- Love it who wouldn't wanna see it, right?
Yeah.
I am not I mean, this is not even, like, a, the type of game that a gamer would, like, own, but I don't play soccer games.
I watch soccer games, but I don't play games like this, so this was very new territory for me.
I was asking Meg extremely 101 questions- about how it all worked, like, "Okay, so if I choose 2022 Kate Del Fava, that means that it's not 2026 Kate Del Fava, right?"
Well, I'm picking her anyway.
And, it was educational, and it was also sometimes d- depending on the roster that you got, a nice walk down memory lane where it's like, oh my God, I forgot when Ali Long was in form with Sky Blue- Aw or whatever, you know?
Mm-hmm.
Um- Mm-hmm so there's a lot to, like, process as you're going through this.
I personally found the wait process as the game takes you through the season after you've made your picks extremely anxiety inducing.
Like, I would rather just, like, watch the games than tell me, you know, what the results are.
I only played once though, but I, I won the championship.
I finished second.
My team was the Fresno Flex.
Shout out Lindy Ndolo.
Fresno native.
But I only got 56 points out of the 75- Wow so it's like I won, but not really.
Yeah.
No, it's definitely addicting.
I feel interested and confused at the same time.
Yeah, same.
And are you calling Meg a gamer?
I am- No, I just- No.
I'm so not a gamer that, like- I'm picturing Meg, like, sitting there today and doing, like, Call of Duty anytime I encounter a game, I am not.
No, no, no.
I am absolutely not that person.
Any type of game- I- is what gamers play in my mind.
That's how non That's how far I am from that world.
So sorry real gamers out there.
I do think, like, if people, if people are playing it, I will say after I posted it, everybody's kind of been sending me their results- Oh, nice so it's been really enjoyable to watch.
But I think, you know, we could have a little full-time, you know, best of round over this week.
So, I mean, if you manage to get 75 points and win the championship, let us know.
We wanna see that team.
We wanna see what this- Yeah hypothetical bananas perfect NWSL squad is.
It would be fun.
Uh-huh.
All right.
Thanks for that, Mike.
As I said, I am interested and confused.
To close out the show today, it is time for this week's speed round sponsored by Amazon Prime.
Tamara, you have the floor.
The time is yours.
The question is- Oof from Blue Hootie, "Who is in your WAFCON five-a-side draft please?"
I will time you.
Okay.
Let me know when to start.
60 seconds, Tamara Griffin.
Are you ready?
Ready as I'll ever be.
You guys know I struggle with these timed deliveries, but let's go.
Go.
All right.
Starting from back to front, which I think is gonna be really fun because I have chosen Senegalese goalkeeper/striker Aji Ndiaye, who at the U20 level was an incredible striker and has been just as impressive as Senegal's number two, who became number one goalkeeper.
I don't know if you watched their g- their last group game because they are not advancing in WAFCON against Morocco, but Ndiaye saved a penalty, technically twice.
The first time she jumped off her line, but that's goalkeeper.
Name more players, Tamara.
Name more players.
Okay, sorry, sorry.
Okay.
Defender we have Nouhaila Benzina from Morocco.
She is- So safe.
She makes me feel so safe back there.
Midfielders, Grace- Grace Ruth Sary from Cote d'Ivoire, Qatar Assraf from Morocco- I got time.
Forwards, Temwa Shawinga, of course, and from Ghana, Doris Bodua, who's scored a couple goals for Ghana.
Manager, Reynald Pedros, Ivory Coast.
Ding, ding, ding.
And she did it with one second to spare, people.
I like the sound effect.
That was not too bad 'cause I just had to name six people, but I just had to give Jaiye her flowers because if you watch that game- Exclusion oh my gosh.
Semi-exclusion.
Also, obviously a lot of history there, too.
It's your time.
You are 100%- entitled to disperse it how you see fit.
Goalkeepers don't get enough love as it is, you know?
That's fair.
All right.
This week's speed round is sponsored by Amazon Prime same-day delivery.
It's on Prime, available in select areas, and terms apply.
Thank you so much- for sending in all of your questions to make this week's episode so chaotic and so fun.
Hopefully we got to as many as we could, we promise.
But keep sending them in.
We keep track of 'em.
We try to answer 'em throughout the show.
You can always reach us at fulltime@theathletic.com, or you can shoot us a DM on Instagram or on one of our accounts.
We're @tafulltime.
If you're not already following us, again, it is @tafulltime.
Yes, and if you didn't know, The Athletic has partnered with Yahoo Sports to deliver free, best-in-class coverage of women's sports.
As you know, there is never a dull moment on our side of the world, and we're always having the best time.
Make sure you read our stories at Women's at the Women's Sports Hub at sports.yahoo.com/women-sports.
All right.
That does it for our summer mail bag today.
Thank you to everybody who took the time not only to listen to this episode but to, to write us in.
I'm Jillian Sackewitz.
That is Tamara Griffin.
That is Meg Linehan.
As always, Full Time was produced by Theo Lloyd-Hughes.
For more coverage, just head over to theathletic.com.
