Good Sport NYC

We’re three months and 30+ games into the 2026 WNBA season. Naturally, it was time I asked long-time Liberty loyal and WNBA reporter Kenny Saint-Vil an important question: Are we okay? Kenny’s take was a lot more balanced than what a casual fan might see in the comment sections after a loss (or ugly win, like last night’s against the LA Sparks). He’s in the building every week, so I’m inclined to trust his read, which felt like a hopeful reality check.Here’s what we got into:* Why it’s a Championship or bust situation for the 2026 NY Liberty* Placing our record in the context of player injuries and looming playoffs* The situation with Betnijah Laney-Hamilton and her ultimate release* This season’s standout performances from Pauline Astier and Marine Johannes* Insights into Head Coach Chris DeMarco’s relationships with players, and whether or not he’s passed the vibe check yetEnioy, and let us know your takes in the comments. Links below to keep in touch with Kenny’s reporting on the Libs.LINKSSubscribe to Good Sport NYC on SubstackFollow Good Sport NYC on Instagram, TikTokFollow Kenny and NYLFTV on Instagram, X and YouTubeFollow Christiana on Instagram, Substack Get full access to Good Sport NYC at www.goodsportnyc.com/subscribe

After 70+ years, women’s pro baseball is back. The inaugural season of the WPBL kicks off tomorrow, August 1st. My perfect girlfriend and GS alum Sabine joined me to talk through a brief history of women’s pro ball, what we know about the WPBL so far, and an overview of the NY Heights’ roster. Here’s what we covered:* The All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (1943–1954), and the racism and femininity requirements baked into the organization* Toni Stone, Mamie “Peanut” Johnson, and Connie Morgan, the three women who played in the Negro Leagues* Effa Manley, the first woman inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame* How A League of Their Own (the 1992 film and 2022 A24 series) depicted women’s pro baseball in pop culture and media* Paths to the WPBL: Switching to softball, playing in the Banana Ball, and the US National Team bringing women like Kelsey Whitmore, Mo’ne Davis, and Ashton Lansdell into the spotlight* A full breakdown of our team, the New York Heights: our head coach (the league’s only woman manager) and our rosterI read and listened to a lot of good stuff in prep for this episode, which I’ll link below as always. Enjoy, and watch women’s baseball this weekend!LINKSSubscribe to Good Sport NYC on SubstackFollow the WPBL on InstagramFollow the NY Heights on InstagramFollow Good Sport NYC on Instagram, TikTokFollow Christiana on Instagram, SubstackRESOURCES USED:Crying In Baseball from the You’re Wrong About PodcastStoried: Women of the Negro Leagues from the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum Dorothy Height by Arlisha Norwood from the National Women’s History Museum Get full access to Good Sport NYC at www.goodsportnyc.com/subscribe

Good Sport friends and family: I am here with a long-awaited fashion x women’s basketball episode!I talked with Olivia Nielsen, the founder of DAMECORE, a fashion and media brand built for women's basketball. As a competitive athlete, and someone who knew herself and her fashion sense from a young age, Olivia was not satisfied with the options—or lack thereof—when it came to basketball gear and brands that treated women like an afterthought. So she decided to build a basketball fashion universe built for women from the start.Here’s what we covered:* Olivia’s journey from competitive basketball in the DMV to the fashion world in Paris, where she merged her two passions and started DAMECORE at just 18 years old* Why the “shrink it and pink it” playbook pushed her to build something made for women from the ground up* How the brand has grown from media to apparel to consulting, including styling for WNBA players* The athletes killing it style-wise and Olivia’s takes on the fashion partnerships we’re seeing in the WNBA* What’s next for DAMECORE and the fashion x women’s sports spaceDAMECORE launched its latest drop of shorts TODAY. Check it out here. Enjoy the episode LINKSSubscribe to Good Sport NYC on SubstackFollow Good Sport NYC on Instagram, TikTokShop DAMECORE’s latest drop and follow them on Instagram, SubstackFollow Christiana on Instagram, SubstackFollow Olivia on Instagram Get full access to Good Sport NYC at www.goodsportnyc.com/subscribe

Solo episode! I covered two hot-off-the-press news items from this week: 1) Gotham FC is officially coming to NYC and moving the team to Etihad Park in Queens, NYCFC's new $780M stadium. 2) The Women’s Professional Baseball League revealed team names and logos ahead of opening day on August 1st. Our team is the NY Heights, in honor of civil rights leader Dorothy Height.On the big Gotham move, we hit on:* Why now: The team’s vision of becoming an elite club, and overcoming Gotham’s attendance issues, which lag behind NWSL averages despite two championships in three years* The New Jersey of it all: Empathy for longtime NJ fans, and what I hope Gotham does to honor them and the club’s Garden State roots* This announcement as a crown jewel in a collection of buzzy moments: the new $35 million dedicated training facility, signing Sam Kerr, and the Queen’s Classic happening on July 15th* The people behind the vision: Yael Averbuch West and Carolyn Tisch BlodgettAs for our WPBL team, the NY Heights, I talked about the woman who inspired our team name and identity: Dorothy Height, a lifelong leader in the women’s and civil rights movements.Height’s contributions and legacy can’t be overstated, but of course she didn’t get nearly the same recognition for her work as her male counterparts. The league honoring her in this way feels extremely special; I’m really proud of the WPBL with this rollout. I plan to do a deep dive on Height and the other legends the league chose as namesakes in the coming weeks.Hope you enjoy this episode! Links below to things I mentioned, as always.LINKSSubscribe to Good Sport NYC on SubstackGotham’s announcement videoLearn more about Dorothy Height and her legacyFollow Good Sport NYC on Instagram, TikTokFollow Christiana on Instagram, Substack Get full access to Good Sport NYC at www.goodsportnyc.com/subscribe

This week I talked with sports journalist Frankie de la Cretaz, who writes at the intersection of sports and gender through their newsletter Out of Your League. They’re also the author of Hail Mary: The Rise and Fall of the National Women's Football League.When it comes to what happens in women’s sports around and on top of actual gameplay, Frankie is prolific. They’re also deft at threading the needle between the joy and legacy of women’s sports, while saying the quiet part out loud about things like the consequences of hypergrowth, corporate interests in the women’s game, and racism and homophobia in media coverage, just to name a few. Here’s what we covered:* Frankie’s pivot from MLB reporter to women’s sports culture journalist* Telling the (very gay) story of the women behind the National Women’s Football League with their book Hail Mary* Inclusivity attracting fans rather than alienating them in women’s sports* The gentrification of the WNBA and what the Liberty need to do better* Misogynoir in ESPN's WNBA coverage* How fans can help keep the magic and safety of women’s sports alive* Frankie’s all-sport, all-gay starting 5 I could’ve talked to Frankie for hours, and the good news is they have a treasure trove of pieces that make me feel smarter about this space I love so much. All the links to keep in touch with their work are below. Enjoy!Stay in touch with Good Sport NYC on SubstackSubscribe to Out of Your LeagueFollow Frankie on Instagram, BlueSkyFollow Good Sport NYC on Instagram, TikTokFollow Christiana on Instagram, Substack Get full access to Good Sport NYC at www.goodsportnyc.com/subscribe

Solo episode alert! Here’s what I covered:* Good Sport’s first event: Recapping Big Gay Knockout* Sam Kerr is coming to Gotham FC (& what we gave up to get her)* Gotham’s $35M training facility* The Queen’s Classic: Gotham FC vs. Washington Spirit, the first women’s sporting event at Citi Field, happening July 15th* Gotham midfielder Emily Sonnett extended through 2028* Liberty check-in: the 30th anniversary game and Nneka’s buzzer beater, a W over the Aces, and an L in Seattle* New York Charging lacrosse: the only undefeated team in the WLLHope you enjoy this ep :) LINKSSubscribe to Good Sport NYC on SubstackFollow Good Sport NYC on Instagram, TikTokFollow Christiana on Instagram, Substack Get full access to Good Sport NYC at www.goodsportnyc.com/subscribe

Ish Islam, the creative behind Game Griot, isn’t the only man who’s found his sport’s home in women’s basketball. But I’d personally take the odds that he’s one of the most dedicated. The Brooklyn native built Game Griot as a creative broadcasting outlet for the world of women’s hoops. He joined me on the podcast to talk:* What 30 years of the WNBA mean for the game* Standout 2026 rookies* Who’s taking a step in their game this season* Players we don’t play about* What it means to show up for the Black women who lead women’s basketball* A progress report on our NY Liberty 10+ games into the 2026 seasonThis convo with Ish felt special. We chatted about WBB and this season tactically, but also ventured into the intangible aspects of women’s sports that made me want to start Good Sport in the first place. Links below to keep in touch with Ish and his work at Game Griot. Enjoy!LINKSSubscribe to Good Sport NYC on SubstackFollow Good Sport NYC on Instagram, TikTokFollow Game Griot on Instagram, TikTok, and ThreadsFollow Christiana on Instagram, Substack Get full access to Good Sport NYC at www.goodsportnyc.com/subscribe

“Honestly, I’m trying to fulfill what I wanted when I was a kid.”That’s what artist Sophia Mitropoulos had to say when I asked what inspired her to create Snatch, a queer-first women’s sports magazine. There’s a rebelliousness to building an indie publication from scratch, especially when that publication is fiercely gay and unapologetically dedicated to women’s sports.Sophia was an artist who found herself in the weight room and a competitive athlete who found herself in art school, and she built a world where all of her identities and passions could coalesce.Sophia joined me on the podcast this week to talk about her athletic, artistic, and queer roots, how Snatch transformed from a DIY zine about weightlifting into a full-scale women’s sports magazine, what makes New York’s women’s sports scene special, and what’s next for Snatch.On the other side of the rebelliousness it takes to create art and media dedicated to queerness and women’s sports is the joy that a lot of us could only dream of as kids. I can’t think of a more worthwhile project.I absolutely loved this conversation with Sophia. Enjoy!LINKS:Subscribe to Good Sport NYC on SubstackFollow Good Sport NYC on Instagram, TikTokCheck out the Snatch website and follow on InstagramFollow Sophia on Instagram, TikTokRead The Athletic’s article on SnatchFollow Christiana on Instagram, Substack Get full access to Good Sport NYC at www.goodsportnyc.com/subscribe

Like many D1 athletes, Tori Keghlian felt lost after leaving her college volleyball program. After spending years dedicated to her sport, it was time to find out who she was outside of it. After going on her own journey to find purpose beyond her identity as an athlete, she found her way back to volleyball and her love for the sport.That’s why Tori founded Spykes—NYC’s sapphic volleyball community. Just a few months after launching the group, Spykes hosts volleyball sessions every month, bringing dozens of folks out to play at all skill levels.Tori and I talked through her journey as an athlete, building Spykes, the gorgeous crossover of queerness and sports, the joy of building WLW community, and what makes the NYC women’s sports scene so special.I hope you enjoy this episode with Tori, and please check out Spykes and give this awesome community some love!LINKS:Subscribe to Good Sport NYC on Substack for the podcast + the weekly newsletterFollow Good Sport NYC on Instagram, TikTokFollow Christiana on Instagram, SubstackFollow Spykes on Instagram and check out upcoming sessionsFollow Tori Kegs on Instagram Get full access to Good Sport NYC at www.goodsportnyc.com/subscribe

Writer and data enthusiast Anumita Jain of The Bat Signal joined me this week for a deep dive on Gotham FC, our NWSL soccer team that’s brought home two Championship trophies in the last three years.We reviewed our roster, covering Gotham’s veterans like Rose Lavelle, Tierna Davidson, Anne-Katrin Berger, Emily Sonnett, Esther González, and Midge Purce, as well as our rising stars like Jaedyn Shaw, Lily Reale, and Jordan Dudley. We discussed our strengths and weaknesses as a team, and I was left with the impression that we have a pretty damn good soccer team. And the gleaming trophies from winning it all seem to back that up, too.So then why does Gotham struggle with low attendance at our home games? Anumita and I tried to answer that, too, and discussed the concept of Gotham moving from New Jersey to Queens in the future. TLDR: We need more casual fans. I hope that Good Sport can help with that for Gotham, and all of our women’s teams here in NYC.I had a great time recording this with Anumita. She’s smart, great at explaining sports and data concepts, and really good at true-or-false questions. Enjoy, and listen through the end for a bonus mini convo with me, myself, and I about the latest losing streak for our beloved NY Liberty…Don’t panic!LINKS:Subscribe to Good Sport NYC on Substack for the podcast + the weekly newsletterFollow Good Sport NYC on InstagramFollow Christiana on Instagram, SubstackFollow our guest Anumita Jain on BlueSky and InstagramSubscribe to The Bat Signal newsletter Get full access to Good Sport NYC at www.goodsportnyc.com/subscribe

I bravely went solo on this week’s podcast episode. What’s more empowering than speaking into a microphone alone in your apartment? Speaking about women’s sports into a microphone alone in your apartment, of course!Here’s what I covered: Liberty’s 3-1 hot start and Satou Sabally FINALLY back on the court, Gotham’s potential move from Jersey to Queens, and Mayor Mamdani’s fight to keep soccer accessible for New Yorkers with $5 Gotham tickets and a big FIFA World Cup lottery win.Plus: Goalie Anne-Katrin Berger’s injury + how she makes up 1/2 of a power couple on Gotham with Jess Carter, Charging and Exiles getting their first wins, and I gave out paper plate awards for May. Enjoy! Let me know what you think in the comments.LINKS:Subscribe to Good Sport NYC on Substack for the podcast + the weekly newsletterFollow Good Sport NYC on InstagramFollow Christiana on Instagram, Substack Get full access to Good Sport NYC at www.goodsportnyc.com/subscribe

New York City women’s sports fans are some of the best fed in the country: We have eight professional women’s teams we get to support. But that’s new! Six of our eight teams were founded within the last three years. You know what that means: Get in early. It’s the perfect time to become a fan of our lesser-known teams as they establish themselves and their fan bases. All while keeping the energy going for our long-timers with the Liberty and Gotham FC, of course!I learned about teams I didn’t know we had while I prepared for this episode, which rocked. I hope you will, too! Thank you to my amazing girlfriend Sabine for gracing the pod this week Enjoy and let me know what you think!LINKS:Subscribe to Good Sport NYC on Substack for the podcast + the weekly newsletterFollow Good Sport NYC on InstagramFollow Christiana on Instagram, SubstackFollow our guest Sabine Pigg on Instagram Get full access to Good Sport NYC at www.goodsportnyc.com/subscribe

First episode alert!!! Is the NY Liberty so back? We think so!Women's basketball creator Christina Cooper joins the show for a 2026 Liberty Season Preview. Christiana and Christina break down the Liberty's Big Three — Sabrina Ionescu, Jonquel Jones, and Breanna Stewart — the Satou Sabally pickup, Natasha Cloud 's free agency situation, key re-signings (Leonie Fiebich, Marine Johannes, Han Xu, Becky Allen), and the vibes around our new head coach Chris DeMarco.Christiana closes the show with a watch guide for the Liberty, Gotham FC, and the Exiles for the weekend of May 8th, 2026.Join the Good Sport community:Subscribe to Good Sport NYC on Substack for the podcast + the weekly newsletterFollow Good Sport NYC on InstagramFollow Christiana on Instagram, SubstackFollow our guest Christina Cooper on Instagram, TikTok Get full access to Good Sport NYC at www.goodsportnyc.com/subscribe