Raising the Game: A Women’s Sports Podcast

Angel Reese just set the WNBA's single-game and single-season rebounding records, and the comment section already has its rebuttal loaded: they're all "me-bounds." So we ran the numbers.Alex pulled every rebound Reese has this season, stripped out the putbacks off her own miss, and the answer is not what the discourse wants it to be. We walk through the math, the league-average baseline, and what's actually left of the argument. From there it's the last week of WNBA basketball before the FIBA World Cup break, with all eight playoff teams locked in and the seeding still a real fight, plus an NWSL playoff race where five teams are scrapping over one spot.This week we dig into:- The Angel Reese "me-bounds" math: 26 rebounds in a game to break Chamique Holdsclaw's 23-year-old record, past A'ja Wilson's single-season mark, 29 double-doubles to pass Alyssa Thomas, and what her rebounding numbers look like with every putback off her own miss removed- WNBA playoff picture heading into the FIBA break: four games left for everybody, the odds each team holds the seed it's sitting in, and why the actual movement is all in the five-through-eight range- Kelsey Mitchell becoming the second player in WNBA history to score 1,000 points in a season, and Caitlin Clark's back-to-back 30-point, 10-assist games, a first in league history- Golden State's 10-2 August: a defense holding opponents under 45% from the floor, one of the deepest benches in the league, and why nobody wants to draw the Valkyries in a playoff series- NWSL playoff race with six match weeks left: Gotham's refusal to lose, the North Carolina Courage leading the league in goals from sixth place, and Seattle, Denver, LA, Houston, Orlando and Angel City fighting over the last spotWe also get to Unrivaled's $650 million valuation after an oversubscribed Series C raise, A'ja Wilson and Kelsey Plum out of the FIBA World Cup with Sonia Citron and Kiki Iriafen called in, the Williams sisters' US Open doubles wild card, the 2027 National Soccer Hall of Fame ballot, the Global Alliance for Female Athletes expanding from four countries to nine, Boston Legacy FC's 2028 move into White Stadium, Masai Russell's 12.09 world record in Zurich, and the first Upshot League championship.Follow Raising the Game for weekly women's sports coverage.Instagram/Threads/YouTube: @rtg_podWebsite: rtgpod.comEmail: [email protected]

The Portland Thorns and Portland Fire just opened a $150 million training facility built for two professional women's teams, and it might be the clearest answer yet to the "nobody watches women's sports" crowd.The Kaiser Permanente Performance Center in Hillsboro, Oregon is 100,000 square feet on a 12-acre campus, and it's the first facility in the world designed to house two pro women's teams from two different sports under one roof. We use it as a jumping-off point to walk through what NWSL clubs are actually spending on training facilities right now, and the total is not small. Then we get into the WNBA playoff picture, our full bracket predictions, and the harassment that keeps hijacking games the league should be celebrating.This week we dig into:- Women's sports facility investment: inside the Thorns and Fire's new home, from two full-size pitches and a 17,000-square-foot practice gym to family lounges and full-service dining, plus a rundown of what Denver, Chicago, Gotham, Atlanta, Columbus and Manchester City are building. Alex's quick math on the NWSL projects alone lands somewhere north of $240 million.- WNBA playoff predictions: all but one spot is claimed, the seeding fight is really a home-court fight, and we give you our full bracket. Lynx over the Liberty in five, and we explain why NaLyssa Smith's knee injury may have flipped the Aces-Liberty series before it starts.- The harassment problem in the W: objects thrown onto courts, a man who walked onto the baseline to make himself the story, racist messages sent to Dearica Hamby, and our case for lifetime bans and actual leadership from the league office.- Standout performances: Angel Reese's 31 and 14 against the Mercury, Kelsey Mitchell's 20-point streak now at 23 straight games after passing A'ja Wilson's record, Natasha Cloud's career night against the Liberty, Awak Kuier's seven blocks, and Sydney Taylor's second game-winner of the month.- NWSL playoff race: eighth through eleventh separated by two points, Gotham's nine-game unbeaten run, Washington's winless August, and a game-by-game look at whose remaining schedule is actually survivable.We also get to Nneka Ogwumike's retirement after 15 seasons, Tobin Heath's jersey retirement in Portland, Georgia drawing an NCAA-record 25,433 for women's soccer, San Francisco landing the 2027 WNBA All-Star Game, Team USA's FIBA World Cup roster, Coco Gauff's Cincinnati title, Miyu Yamashita's record-tying nine-shot win in Canada, and 12-year-old Kinley Rasmus tying Mo'ne Davis' Little League World Series strikeout record.Follow Raising the Game for weekly women's sports coverage.Instagram/Threads/YouTube: @rtg_podWebsite: rtgpod.comSubstack: substack.com/@raisingthegamepodcastEmail: [email protected]

The WNBA is in its 30th season, records are falling almost nightly, and the conversation around the league keeps getting uglier. We spend a chunk of this episode on why that is and what could actually fix it.We're back from vacation with two weeks of catching up to do. Caitlin lays out the pattern: the Stephanie White press conference walkout, the Sophie Cunningham and DiJonai Carrington flagrant, a Dallas reporter and his family threatened online over Azzi Fudd coverage, fans removed from Gainbridge. Then she names three causes and four possible fixes, and we argue about a couple of them. We also got to our first live NWSL game in Denver, and we left the stadium at exactly the wrong moment.This week we dig into:- The WNBA discourse problem: why criticism of play keeps turning into name-calling, the correlation between the new-fan influx and online vitriol, the case for new league leadership before Cathy Engelbert's contract is up in December, an NWSL-style digital code of conduct the WNBA could copy, and Caitlin's argument that active players shouldn't be running podcasts about their own league in season- WAFCON: Cameroon beat debutants Malawi 3-0 in the final for their first ever title, 22-year-old goalkeeper Michaely Bihina's absurd tournament including nine saves against Nigeria and four penalty saves against Morocco, Nigeria missing a World Cup for the first time in ten tries, and Malawi qualifying for 2027 ranked 153rd in the world- Standout WNBA performances: Kayla McBride's WNBA-record 10 three-pointers and 43 points at 34 years old while leading the league's toughest defensive assignments, Rae Burrell's 20 points in a 40-point Sparks fourth quarter, Kelsey Mitchell's 18 straight 20-point games, Shakira Austin's post-All-Star run in Washington, and the case for Nia Coffey as Sixth Woman of the Year- NWSL playoff race: Gotham pulling away on 43 points, Denver trending up at the right time with home games left, Chicago firing Martin Sjögren with nine goals all season, Olivia Moultrie's season-ending ACL as the 18th knee injury in the league this year, and three players chasing 10 goals and 10 assists- Our first live NWSL game: Denver Summit vs Utah Royals, kickoff moved to 8 p.m. for wildfire smoke and 98-degree heat, a genuinely temporary stadium, two kids under eight, and walking to the car in the 90th minute right before Janine Sonis' free kick winner in stoppage timeWe also get to Diana Taurasi's jersey retirement in Phoenix, Alyssa Thomas making the second three-pointer of her career, Iga Świątek's first title of 2026 in Toronto, the Williams sisters back in doubles at the Cincinnati Open, Mark Walter selling the Lakers and what it might mean for the PWHL, Kaleigh Kurtz's 132-match ironwoman streak, and the weekend What to Watch.Follow Raising the Game for weekly women's sports coverage.Instagram/Threads/YouTube: @rtg_podWebsite: rtgpod.comEmail: [email protected]

Women's professional baseball is back after more than 70 years, and the new WPBL is playing its entire first season in Springfield, Illinois. We wanted to know how we got here.This is a history episode with a purpose. Caitlin walks through 160 years of women trying to get on a baseball field, from college teams in the 1860s to a league that finally stuck in 2026, and then we get into how the Women's Pro Baseball League is actually built, funded, and staffed. After that, playoff math: who grabs the last two spots in the NWSL and the WNBA.This week we dig into:- The long history: Vassar's Resolutes fielding a team in 1866, the first known paid women's game in Springfield in 1875, the barnstorming era of the Bloomer Girls and the Dolly Vardens, and Jackie Mitchell striking out Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig in a 1931 exhibition before commissioner Kenesaw Mountain Landis voided her contract for being "too strenuous" for women- The AAGPBL and everything "A League of Their Own" skipped: the charm school and skirts, 910,000 fans at the 1948 peak, the Negro Leagues players like Toni Stone, Mamie "Peanut" Johnson and Connie Morgan who were shut out of it, and Maria Pepe's Little League fight that opened youth baseball to girls in 1974- Inside the WPBL: co-founders Justine Siegal and Keith Stein, four teams named for women pioneers (Boston Hunters, New York Heights, Los Angeles Queens, San Francisco Firebells), a 30-game season at Robin Roberts Stadium, seven innings and aluminum bats, draft names like Kelsie Whitmore, Ayami Sato and Mo'ne Davis, and why MLB's total silence is getting noticed by fans- NWSL playoff race: North Carolina's brutal closing slate, Angel City's streakiness, why Seattle Reign are suddenly live with Jess Fishlock back and Lumen Field theirs again, and Orlando's Barbra Banda dependency problem- WNBA playoff picture: New York hanging on by Breanna Stewart's health, a surging Washington Mystics team leaning on very young players, Chicago's inability to close one-score games, Kelsey Plum's move to Phoenix, and why Indiana is the top-six team we think is most likely to slideWe also get into the 17-day FIBA World Cup break and what it does to momentum, the WAFCON semifinals and World Cup qualifying stakes, and the weekend What to Watch, including the first WPBL games we've put on the list.Follow Raising the Game for weekly women's sports coverage.Instagram/Threads/YouTube: @rtg_podWebsite: rtgpod.comSubstack: substack.com/@raisingthegamepodcastEmail: [email protected]

FIFA tried to sell a piece of the World Cup and world football said no. Gianni Infantino's $20 billion plan died in about three days, and the women's game was squarely in the blast radius.Episode 31 walks through the whole timeline: the FIFA Forward Enterprises pitch, UEFA's 55 member associations voting unanimously to boycott, CONCACAF and the Asian Football Confederation following, and the resignations inside FIFA that made it look less like strategy and more like one person's project. We also get into what almost got canceled, including the U-20 Women's World Cup in Poland and 2027 Women's World Cup qualifying. Then it's WAFCON, a tightening NWSL playoff race, the WNBA trade deadline, and a Lynx-Fever game we watched from the Target Center stands.This week we dig into:- FIFA's $20 billion collapse: the FIFA Forward Enterprises proposal, UEFA's unanimous boycott vote, 143 of 211 member nations lined up against it, and the two women, UEFA vice president Laura McAllister and Norway's Lise Klaveness, who moved fastest- WAFCON in Morocco and the coverage problem: Malawi's Temwa and Tabitha Chawinga taking down record champions Nigeria, Barbra Banda's four-goal game in Zambia's 6-0 win over Egypt, and a tournament almost nobody in the U.S. can legally watch or even get live scores for- WNBA trade deadline and playoff math: Kelsey Plum from the Sparks to the Mercury, Aneesah Morrow to the Toronto Tempo, a five-game gap between the top eight and bottom seven, and why Minnesota has the toughest remaining strength of schedule- Lynx 108-100 over the Fever at Target Center: Kelsey Mitchell's 37 points, Olivia Miles' "welcome to the W" moment, Napheesa Collier at 4-0 since returning, and Cheryl Reeve handling the off-court noise the way you'd want a coach to- NWSL playoff race: seventh through tenth separated by a single point, Jess Fishlock scoring seconds into her return for the Reign, Sam Kerr on the board for Gotham, and Utah putting five past PortlandAlso in this one: the Women's Pro Baseball League's sold-out opening weekend, the Los Angeles Queens beating the New York Heights 10-8 and the San Francisco Firebells beating the Boston Hunters 11-3, the WNBA hitting 73 million unique viewers with a third of the season still to play, Netflix paying a reported $200 million for 2027 Women's World Cup rights, the NWSL terminating its Victory+ streaming deal, Athletes Unlimited pausing pro basketball and volleyball for 2027, Marina Mabrey's three-point contest raising $6,500 for the Black Women's Institute for Health, girls high school flag football drawing 1.12 million viewers, and Alex Eala becoming the first Filipina to win a WTA Tour title by beating Jessica Pegula at the DC Open.Follow Raising the Game for weekly women's sports coverage.Instagram/Threads/YouTube: @rtg_podWebsite: rtgpod.comSubstack: substack.com/@raisingthegamepodcastEmail: [email protected]

The WNBA All-Star Game just made history: 19,783 fans at Chicago's United Center, the biggest All-Star crowd ever and the first to outdraw the NBA's All-Star Game.Episode 30 covers a packed week in women's sports. All-Star weekend delivered record attendance, a rookie shooting star, and some genuinely messy moments, from invite confusion to a game where nobody wanted to play defense. We also take a hard look at the coordinated attacks on Title IX and trans athletes, and reboot your guide to 2027 Women's World Cup qualifying.Content note: our Title IX segment includes discussion of anti-trans legislation, abuse in sports, and youth suicide statistics. If you or someone you love is struggling, call or text 988, or reach The Trevor Project at 1-866-488-7386.This week we dig into:- WNBA All-Star weekend: the record crowd, Azzi Fudd becoming the first rookie to win the 3-point contest, Jonquel Jones completing her MVP collection (regular season, Finals, Commissioner's Cup, and now All-Star), plus the invite miscommunication with Sabrina Ionescu and Kayla McBride- Title IX under attack: inside the Heritage Foundation report, the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act, and what the actual numbers say about trans athletes in high school and college sports. Our question: protect young girls from who?- WAFCON is underway in Morocco: Nigeria defending their title, World Cup spots on the line, and the NWSL stars playing for their nations, including Temwa Chawinga, Barbra Banda, and Rosemonde Kouassi- 2027 Women's World Cup qualifying explained: who's already in, England and Sweden still waiting on UEFA playoffs, and how the 10-team inter-confederation playoff works- NWSL check-in: a brutal week of ACL injuries (Jordyn Huitema, Trinity Armstrong), Denver Summit's stadium delay, and a playoff race where the top five sit within five pointsPlus: Napheesa Collier returns for the Lynx with 24 points and 10 rebounds, the WNBA announces a centralized replay center for 2027, NWSL viewership jumps 41.7% on YouTube, Gotham FC coach Juan Carlos Amorós takes paternity leave, Brazil announces discounted World Cup tickets, and the Minnesota Vixen bring home a football championship.Follow Raising the Game for weekly women's sports coverage.Instagram/Threads/YouTube: @rtg_podWebsite: rtgpod.comSubstack: substack.com/@raisingthegamepodcastEmail: [email protected]

The WNBA is having a leadership crisis, and All-Star Weekend is about to put it under a spotlight. This week we dig into whether Commissioner Cathy Engelbert is the right person to lead the league through its current moment.The reporting is not flattering: Sports Business Journal says Engelbert wasn't going to suspend Alyssa Thomas until NBA commissioner Adam Silver stepped in and pushed her to act. Meanwhile players are fielding online harassment and death threats, and the players association had to request the meeting with the commissioner rather than the league leading from the front. We lay out why a business-first commissioner may not be built for a player-safety moment. Then we flip to the fun stuff: the 30th-anniversary All-Star draft, a stacked three-point contest field, and some of the best individual runs we've seen all season.This week we get into:The WNBA commissioner question: the Alyssa Thomas suspension and Adam Silver's involvement, online harassment and player safety, and why Engelbert's consulting-era, revenue-first approach may not fit the league's new fan baseWNBA All-Star Weekend preview: Cynthia Cooper's Team Coop vs. Teresa Weatherspoon's Team Spoon, Becky Hammon and Cheryl Reeve on the benches, and our full three-point contest and skills contest breakdownKelsey Mitchell's historic tear: 25-plus points in six straight games (never done by a guard), plus Kayla McBride's climb up the Lynx record books and a Jordan Canada appreciation segmentThe Queen's Classic: Gotham FC and the Washington Spirit drawing 42,175 to Citi Field, the largest women's sports crowd in New York City history, and what Gotham's 2028 move to Queens could unlockNWSL parity watch: the top five separated by three points, Trinity Rodman's four-goals-in-four-games run, and the returns of Sam Kerr and Lindsey HeapsWe also cover the NBA/WNBA TikTok partnership, the 2027 NCAA tournament expanding to 76 teams and ditching conference protection, the European Broadcasting Union's new guidance to stop filming female athletes through an objectifying lens, Michele Kang's plan to own a women's soccer club on every continent, and the women's sports merchandising gap. Plenty to chew on before the All-Star break.Follow Raising the Game for weekly women's sports coverage.Instagram/Threads/YouTube: @rtg_podWebsite: rtgpod.comSubstack: substack.com/@raisingthegamepodcastEmail: [email protected]

Is it still fair to assume the U.S. Women's National Team just wins? This week we dig into how six countries develop their women's soccer talent, and why the American pay-to-play system might be quietly capping the USWNT's ceiling heading into the 2027 World Cup.With men's World Cup fever in the air, we run a full comparison of the development pipelines in the U.S., Spain, Japan, England, Brazil, and Colombia, from cost and coaching philosophy to participation numbers, and ask whether the rest of the world is finally closing the gap. We also cover a wide-open NWSL race, an Orlando Pride statement win, and a Dallas Wings team that suddenly looks dangerous.This week we dig into:- The pay-to-play problem: why elite U.S. youth clubs can run $5,000 to $20,000 a year, how Title IX and college soccer became America's de facto academy system, and whether that ceiling is letting Spain and England catch up- How the top programs build players: Spain's subsidized club academies, England's federation-funded emerging talent centers, Japan's school-based dual-track model, and Brazil and Colombia growing from a much thinner foundation- NWSL parity check: bottom-table teams knocking off contenders, Barbara Banda and Marta powering Orlando Pride past Kansas City, and a playoff picture nobody can call- WNBA roundup: Paige Bueckers making the case as the best guard in the league, Azzi Fudd's two-way rookie surge for the Dallas Wings, and expansion teams Portland and Toronto refusing to be punching bags- Momentum and setbacks: Marina Mabrey's scorching stretch for the Toronto Tempo, the negativity clouding the WNBA's 30th season, and Utah's worrying skidWe also hit the week's headlines, from the USWNT's $6.4 million equal-pay World Cup payout and 11 members of Congress writing the WNBA over Caitlin Clark's safety, to Gotham FC's move to Queens, ESPN's "Life in the W" docuseries, PWHL roster-format changes, and the launch of the Women's Pro Baseball League. Plus our full What to Watch slate across the WNBA, NWSL, and Women's Elite Rugby.Follow Raising the Game for weekly women's sports coverage.Instagram/Threads/YouTube: @rtg_podWebsite: rtgpod.comSubstack: substack.com/@raisingthegamepodcastEmail: [email protected]

The WNBA's officiating controversy hit a new level this week, and Alex and Caitlin dig into why the Alyssa Thomas–Caitlin Clark incident is really about years of inconsistent officiating, not one bad night.A viral still frame of Alyssa Thomas's hand landing on Caitlin Clark's neck during a loose-ball scramble turned into a media firestorm, complete with a flagrant-two review, a one-game suspension, and a wave of racist threats directed at Thomas and her partner DeWanna Bonner. Alex and Caitlin unpack what actually happened on the floor, why the missed call in real time is the real story, and what it says about the WNBA's ongoing struggle to get officiating right heading into the All-Star break.This week we dig into:The Alyssa Thomas–Caitlin Clark officiating controversy: the flagrant-two review, the suspension, the online abuse that followed, and why "we're playing a game" doesn't excuse any of itWNBA All-Star starter breakdown: the fan-vote-heavy formula that put three Indiana Fever players in the starting lineup, and why Kelsey Plum and Jackie Young missed out on starter spots despite elite numbersWNBA standings check-in: Minnesota's hot start, Golden State's four-game win streak under Natalie Nakase, and Atlanta's five-game slide right before the breakNWSL's return from the World Cup window: Gotham FC's Challenge Cup win, a sold-out 30,000-ticket Queens Classic, and new rules including a 10-second substitution clock and a fan code of conduct with real consequencesNWSL results: San Diego stays on top and Utah Royals' 10-match unbeaten streak finally snapsWe also cover Wimbledon's wild week (Naomi Osaka's upset of Aryna Sabalenka, Coco Gauff's curfew-beating comeback), Michele Kang becoming Lyon's sole majority owner, Alexia Putellas signing with London City Lionesses, and Marie-Philippe Poulin's upcoming knee surgery.Follow Raising the Game for weekly women's sports coverage.Instagram/Threads/YouTube: @rtg_podWebsite: rtgpod.comSubstack: substack.com/@raisingthegamepodcastEmail: [email protected]

This is The Door Part 2, part of our Trailblazers series — the women's sports history special that picks up where Episode 13 left off, moving into the modern era with six athletes who each forced a renegotiation of the terms the sports world handed them.Timely on two fronts: Venus and Serena Williams are playing Wimbledon doubles together as this drops, and the WNBA is celebrating its 30th anniversary. From a 1979 NBA training camp in Indiana to Simone Biles on the floor in Paris, this episode traces what "opening the door" actually cost — and what it made possible.This week we cover:Ann Meyers Drysdale and the 1979 Indiana Pacers tryout: The Pacers signed a woman to a $50,000 free agent contract and invited her to training camp. She didn't make the team — but the tryout reframed what was considered possible. She went on to pioneer women's sports broadcasting in men's leagues and front office leadership for an NBA franchise, all at a time when neither was supposed to exist.Lisa Leslie and the founding of the WNBA: When Leslie signed with the Los Angeles Sparks in 1997, she passed on better-paying overseas contracts to help build the league from scratch. Twelve seasons, two championships, three MVPs, and the first dunk in WNBA history. She understood personal brand before the term existed, and Caitlin Clark's arrival in 2024 traces directly back to what Leslie chose to build and stay for.Venus Williams and equal pay at Wimbledon: Venus published an op-ed in the Times of London in 2006 — with data — and Wimbledon equalized prize money in 2007. She and Serena, back on the doubles court this week, have been among the most dominant forces in the sport for 30 years running.Megan Rapinoe and the USWNT equal pay lawsuit: Filed in March 2019, three months before the World Cup. Settled for $24 million in February 2022. The legal blueprint the team created is now being referenced by federations around the world.Simone Biles and the right to say no: Her withdrawal at the Tokyo 2021 team final — citing the twisties — was polarizing at the time. Her Paris 2024 comeback, three gold medals, reframed the conversation entirely around athlete mental health and what it looks like to set a boundary on the world's biggest stage.The episode also covers Caitlin Clark's impact on WNBA attendance (up nearly 50% year-over-year in 2024) and the hosts' honest take on the complicated narrative forming around her heading into the 2025 season.Follow Raising the Game for weekly women's sports coverage.Instagram/Threads/YouTube: @rtg_podWebsite: rtgpod.comSubstack: substack.com/@raisingthegamepodcastEmail: [email protected]

Serena Williams is back in Grand Slam singles for the first time since 2022, and she's doing it at Wimbledon, on the grass, with a wild card and no ranking. At 44, she's entering the draw at its most unpredictable entry point while also teaming up with Venus (who just turned 46) for doubles, where the two have won six Wimbledon titles together. The Queens Club already showed what her presence means: sellout days, a 300% spike in social media engagement, and capacity at 95%. All eyes are heading to the All England Club.This week also brings major news from the WNBA, which announced a 50-game regular season beginning in 2027, and the NWSL resumes from its World Cup break with one of the busiest transfer windows the league has seen.This episode covers:Serena's Wimbledon return: the wild card, the Venus doubles reunion, and the business case — what her presence does to ticket sales, attendance, and broadcast attention at a Grand SlamWNBA expands to 50 games: what jumping from 44 games means for scheduling, salaries, broadcast deals, and the possibility of international WNBA games on the horizonNWSL returns from the World Cup break: Sam Kerr signs with Gotham FC, Angel City fires their head coach and reshuffles the roster, Wave star Dudinha tears her ACL, Denver Summit gains Lindsey Heaps coming off her Lyon career, and Bay FC fighting to stay relevantThe NWSL's Men's World Cup moment: how the NWSL and US Soccer are using the tournament as a marketing springboard — from sidewalk stencils to Emma Hayes tactics breakdowns — and why right now may matter more than the Women's World Cup next yearPWHL Draft recap: Detroit builds a veteran powerhouse (Hillary Knight via sign-and-trade, Daryl Watts, Brenda Curl), while Seattle Torrent loses its biggest names and selects Abbey Murphy, dividing a fanbase that takes inclusion seriouslyWe also run the WNBA heat check at 15 games, break the league into contenders, challengers, and disruptors, and preview the All-Star game in Chicago on July 25th. Plus, it's Episode 25 — we celebrate with stats from 24 episodes of covering women's sports.Follow Raising the Game for weekly women's sports coverage.Instagram/Threads/YouTube: @rtg_podWebsite: rtgpod.comSubstack: substack.com/@raisingthegamepodcastEmail: [email protected]

The Men's World Cup is in the U.S., and the NWSL isn't sitting it out — they're turning 1.42 billion soccer fans into a fan acquisition opportunity.With their "Summer of Soccer" initiative, the NWSL is making one of the most intentional marketing plays in women's sports history. Caitlin and Alex dig into the research on who the women's sports fan actually is — the fluid fan, the new-to-sports fan, the one who learned to navigate a dozen streaming apps because broadcast TV never made room — and why that fan base represents a structural shift in how women's sports grows, not just a short-term spike. The data is genuinely wild: televised women's sports content hit 370 million viewer hours in 2024, up 430% from 2021. The product has always been there. The access is finally catching up.This week we cover:The NWSL's "Summer of Soccer" marketing push: how the league is using the Men's World Cup as a conversion play for new fans, what CMO Rachel Epstein is actually saying, and the search and app gaps women's sports fans have had to navigate for decadesPWHL Entry Draft (it's today!): coaching updates close out with Christine Bumstead to Seattle and Kim Weiss to Vegas, plus the hosts' take on Pascal Realme's controversial Toronto hire. Then full first-round predictions — starting with KK Harvey going #1 overall to Vancouver, and working through all 12 picksLynx vs. Aces, 97-100: a close loss that didn't feel that close until the final minutes, second-chance points as the story of the game, and why the Lynx are still the best team in the league (per Caitlin)WNBA MVP Watch: the cases for Olivia Miles, Kelsey Plum (seriously, why isn't she getting more attention?), A'ja Wilson, and Breanna Stewart — and whether a rookie can win MVP and Rookie of the Year in the same seasonUSWNT vs. Brazil in Fortaleza: a 1-0 win with eight red cards all going to Brazil, Sophia Wilson forcing the own goal, Brazilian head coach Arthur Elias getting ejected for putting a pinnie on a referee, and Dudinha's devastating ACL/meniscus diagnosis [NAME CHECK: "Duginia" in transcript — confirmed as Dudinha, San Diego Wave forward]Plus: Serena Williams back on the doubles court at the Berlin Open and eyeing Wimbledon, Wimbledon's record 20% prize money bump to £64.2 million, Kelsey Plum officially signs with Adidas, and Gotham FC breaks ground on a new purpose-built training facility in New Jersey.Follow Raising the Game for weekly women's sports coverage.Instagram/Threads/YouTube: @rtg_podWebsite: rtgpod.comSubstack: substack.com/@raisingthegamepodcastEmail: [email protected]

Hilary Knight's PWHL expansion saga ended with the wildest move of the process: Vegas signed her via an expansion franchise offer and immediately traded her to Detroit for a first-round pick. It was completely legal, it was a long time coming, and it tells you everything about how expansion teams are already thinking about winning before the draft even happens.Episode 23 breaks down both phases of PWHL expansion in full detail. We cover who got protected (and who got surprisingly left out, including Knight herself by Seattle), how Detroit and Hamilton built rosters that already look like playoff contenders, and what San Jose and Vegas are working with heading into next week's draft. We also react to Nelly Korda's dominant LPGA season and a stunning result at Roland Garros.This week we dig into:PWHL expansion phases 1 and 2: which players were protected, which teams are winning the early roster race, and the full story behind the Hilary Knight sign-and-trade that landed her in Detroit in exchange for a first-round draft pickNelly Korda wins the 2026 US Women's Open at Riviera Country Club for her second consecutive major and fourth overall, finishing first or second in seven of her eight tournament starts this seasonMirra Andreeva wins the French Open at 19 years old, becoming the youngest Roland Garros women's champion since Monica Seles in 1992, with her opponent being a qualifier who had to survive extra matches just to reach the finalUSWNT falls 2-1 to Brazil in the first of two friendlies in the 2027 World Cup host nation, with Sophia Wilson scoring her first international goal since returning from maternity leave, and real questions about defensive discipline under the pressure of 31,000 fansWNBA Commissioner's Cup standings check-in, a bold prediction for the championship game, and why the New York Liberty are quietly lurking in the standingsAlso on the show: Serena Williams' doubles comeback with Victoria Mboko at the HSBC Championship, the Texas Longhorns winning their second consecutive college softball World Series with 1.5 million viewers per game (up 33% year over year), and Team USA's Women's Basketball 3-on-3 squad claiming the World Cup in Warsaw.Follow Raising the Game for weekly women's sports coverage.Instagram/Threads/YouTube: @rtg_podWebsite: rtgpod.comSubstack: substack.com/@raisingthegamepodcastEmail: [email protected]

After a 16-point blowout loss to the Portland Fire, the rest of the WNBA is circling something on the whiteboard: Caitlin Clark's defensive game is a weakness teams are now actively targeting.Alex and Caitlin break down the Fever's recent skid — a viral bench huddle moment, Clark skipping a postgame press conference after the Golden State loss, and Portland's suffocating defensive game plan that turned an 8-2 Fever lead into a 17-2 Portland run. The bigger concern isn't any single game. It's the pattern: teams are ISo-ing whoever Clark is guarding, she's getting blown by or into foul trouble, and the team's offensive firepower can't always bail them out. On the flip side, the Minnesota Lynx are sitting at the top of the WNBA standings, Olivia Miles is already a rookie of the year frontrunner, and Natasha Howard is playing some of the best basketball of her career.This week we cover:Indiana Fever and Caitlin Clark: The defense problem is real. Gino Auriemma said it years ago, Portland just proved it, and the question is whether Clark can fix it before it costs the Fever a playoff run. Plus: what Becky Hammon's fiery postgame presser after the Aces-Wings game tells us about the WNBA's officiating inconsistency this season.PWHL expansion draft begins: The PWHL released its first-ever salary transparency data. 66% of the league earns under $60K, with Emily Clark of Ottawa the highest paid at $127,000. Now free agency has opened and the four new expansion teams (San Jose, Hamilton, Detroit, Vegas) are starting to build rosters. Alex and Caitlin walk through phases one and two of the expansion process and why Kendall Coyne Schofield could end up playing for her home-state team.PWHL awards and coaching: Two goalies — Anne-Renée Desbiens and Erin Frankel — are both in the running for Billie Jean King MVP alongside Kelly Pannek, a first in league history. Also: only three of twelve PWHL head coaches are women, and Caitlin is not letting that slide.Triple Espresso reunites: Mallory Swanson, Trinity Rodman, and Sophia Wilson are all back on the USWNT roster for the Brazil friendlies. Their first time together since the 2024 Olympic gold medal match. With the 2027 Women's World Cup qualification window approaching, Emma Hayes has made it clear: there's no time to waste.NWSL June break breakdown: Utah Royals are unbeaten in 10 games, San Diego Wave look like the most complete team in the league, and the break might be the one thing that can stop Utah's momentum. Also: the Chicago Stars fired GM Richard Fuez after a 0-9-3 start and a minus-19 goal differential.Plus: Alexia Putellas leaves Barcelona after 14 seasons and 232 goals, Bunny Shaw becomes the highest-paid women's footballer at $2.3M per year after signing a new deal with Man City, Serena Williams is returning to doubles, and Holly Rowe live-streamed the College Softball World Series after ESPN cut the feed. Dense week.Follow Raising the Game for weekly women's sports coverage.Instagram/Threads/YouTube: @rtg_podWebsite: rtgpod.comSubstack: substack.com/@raisingthegamepodcastEmail: [email protected]

Caitlin Clark missed a game this week with a reported back injury, and the Fever's "strategic management" framing — announced less than two hours before tip — raised more questions than it answered. We dig into what it means for her, for the league, and for fans who bought tickets expecting to see her play.Also this week: Montreal Victoire made PWHL history, becoming the first Canadian team to win the Walter Cup. They closed out Ottawa in four games, with Ann-Renée Desbiens posting a shutout, Abby Roque scoring twice in the clincher (including one that deserves a replay or five), and Marie-Philip Poulin finally adding the one award missing from her trophy cabinet: Ilana Kloss Playoff MVP. The Ottawa Charge crowd showed out all series long, with over 53,000 fans through the doors of Canadian Tire Center and a record finals crowd of nearly 17,000.This week we dig into:Caitlin Clark injury and WNBA load management: the timeline, the Fever's communication, whether this is a one-off or something more persistent, and what it means for fans and the leaguePWHL Walter Cup recap: Victoire over the Charge in four, Abby Roque's two-goal performance, Ann-Renée Desbiens' shutout, MPP's long-overdue playoff MVP, and a tribute to the Ottawa fanbase that showed up even down 4-0 in the clincherPWHL expansion and coaching shake-up: all four expansion teams have their GMs, five of twelve head coaching jobs are now open, and Troy Ryan moves to San Jose as both GM and head coachWNBA ups and downs: Kelsey Plum drops 38 on 70%+ shooting against her former Aces, Natasha Howard is quietly one of the best stories of the early season for the Lynx, Azzi Fudd breaks the rookie record for threes in a quarter, and Rickea Jackson's ACL tear is confirmed as season-ending for ChicagoNWSL week 9: Utah Royals extend their unbeaten run to nine games, Mal Swanson scores her first goal back from parental leave to lift Chicago off the basement, and Washington Spirit and Gotham FC both fall to Liga MX Femenil sides in the CONCACAF W ChampionshipFollow Raising the Game for weekly women's sports coverage.Instagram/Threads/YouTube: @rtg_podWebsite: rtgpod.comSubstack: substack.com/@raisingthegamepodcastEmail: [email protected]

The Ottawa Charge pulled off a stunning late comeback to stay alive in the Walter Cup Finals, and the WNBA's new foul-calling emphasis is already reshaping games just days into the season. Episode 20 has a lot going on.Caitlin and Alex recorded this one right after Game 3 wrapped, so the energy is real. They walk through Ottawa's dramatic third-period rally against the Montreal Victoire, break down PWHL's wave of expansion announcements, dig into WNBA opening weekend numbers (spoiler: the league is doing great), and then get into the officiating overhaul that has players, coaches, and fans still figuring out what basketball is supposed to look like now. NWSL Week 8 rounds things out with Mallory Swanson back on the pitch and a couple of league storylines that deserve more attention.This week they cover:PWHL Walter Cup Finals: Ottawa staves off elimination in Game 3 on a dramatic final-minute goal, with goaltenders Gwyneth Philips and Ann-Renée Desbiens putting on a clinic. Series tied, Game 4 on the way. Plus a breakdown of what a Canadian champion means for the league and Carla McLeod's steady hand coaching Ottawa through adversity.PWHL Expansion: Las Vegas and Hamilton officially join Detroit for the 2026-27 season, with San Jose expected to follow. A staggering 236 players from 15 countries applied to the entry draft, making the "can we fill these rosters?" question pretty easy to answer.WNBA opening weekend: Sellouts across the league, 2.5 million viewers for the Fever-Wings opener (second most-watched regular season game in ESPN history), A'ja Wilson drops 45 points, and the Connecticut Sun officially relocating to Houston as the Comets.WNBA officiating overhaul: The off-season task force, the freedom-of-movement emphasis, the foul rate spike that has 12 of 15 teams averaging 20-plus fouls per game, and the real question of how long the adjustment period lasts before it settles into something that feels like basketball again.NWSL Week 8: Mallory Swanson returns from maternity leave for the Chicago Stars, Gotham FC in talks to move from New Jersey into Queens, and the Rodman Rule already getting amended before it even takes effect.Also in the mix: Elina Svitolina wins her 20th career title at the Italian Open over Coco Gauff, Sam Kerr confirms her Chelsea departure after 115 goals and five WSL titles, and an NCAA softball super regional field heavy with SEC teams.Follow Raising the Game for weekly women's sports coverage.Instagram/Threads/YouTube: @rtg_podWebsite: rtgpod.comSubstack: substack.com/@raisingthegamepodcastEmail: [email protected]

The PWHL playoffs have been an absolute mess in the best possible way, and the path to the Walter Cup Final is still wide open heading into a postponed Game 5.Ottawa pulled off one of the bigger upsets in PWHL postseason history, eliminating the Boston Fleet in four games despite being outshot 142 to 94 for the series. Meanwhile, the Minnesota-Montreal semifinal has been everything: a triple-overtime thriller, back-to-back games that raised serious player safety concerns, a suspension, and now a Game 5 postponed due to illness running through the Victoire. And on top of all that, the PWHL officially announced Detroit as its ninth team, with Las Vegas, Hamilton, and San Jose reportedly next in line.This week on Raising the Game:- PWHL playoffs recap: Ottawa's gritty run to the Walter Cup Final, Gwyneth Phillips standing on her head, and why the low seed has won every single PWHL semifinal so far- Minnesota-Montreal series breakdown: scheduling injustice, discipline moments with Laura Stacey and a Frost forward suspension, and what a postponed Game 5 means for both teams- PWHL expansion draft: We go team-by-team with our mock protected player picks, plus the NHL venue complications that knocked Washington and Denver out of contention- WNBA Season 30 opener: Olivia Miles posts a historic debut (21 points, 8 assists) for the Lynx, the Aces get blown out by 30 on ring night, Azzi Fudd starts quietly in Dallas, and the GM survey crowns Paige Bueckers as the player GMs would build a franchise around- NWSL Week 7: Temwa Chawinga's hat trick (first in Kansas City Current history) sparks a table surge, Utah's shutout streak hits six consecutive games and 465-plus minutes, and we ask whether Barbara Banda can carry Orlando aloneWe also hit the Portland Fire's 19,000-plus WNBA home opener record, Kwanzaa Jones' historic Padres ownership bid, Marie-Louise Eta making Bundesliga history as the first woman to win a match managing a men's top-five European league team, LOVB's 113% viewership jump in year two, Rachel Entriken's outright win at a 250-plus mile ultra marathon, and Women's Elite Rugby on this weekend's watch list.Follow Raising the Game for weekly women's sports coverage.Instagram/Threads/YouTube: @rtg_podWebsite: rtgpod.comSubstack: substack.com/@raisingthegamepodcastEmail: [email protected]

The PWHL playoffs are delivering drama on both sides of the bracket, the WNBA's 30th season is officially here, and women's sports infrastructure is growing faster than ever, a lot to unpack this week.Ottawa stole a road win in Boston to even their series 1-1, then headed to a sold-out Canadian Tire Center with a freshly repainted PWHL logo under the ice. Minnesota took game one against top-seeded Montreal and we saw the first playoff hat trick in PWHL history from Montreal's Laura Stacey. And the league quietly dropped a detailed five-phase expansion plan with no official teams yet, but a Detroit press conference looming.This week we get into:PWHL playoffs and expansion: Ottawa's road win, the Boston-Ottawa series outlook, Minnesota's gritty game one, and a full breakdown of the league's five-phase roster-building plan designed to protect player choice while giving expansion teams a real shot at competing from day oneWNBA 30th season: the new 15-team structure (hello Toronto Tempo and Portland Fire), the $2.2 billion broadcast deal, Sportico's valuation report with Golden State Valkyries topping the list at $850M and average franchise values up 59%, and what to watch as newly reshuffled rosters find their footingNWSL calendar debate: the WSL announces it will keep its spring-to-fall schedule until 2030. Caitlin makes the case for why the NWSL should not follow suit, and why the league is not in the same position as MLS was when it made that shiftCherie DeVaux becomes the first woman to train a Kentucky Derby winner, guiding Golden Tempo from the worst post position in the field all the way through the outside to a historic win in the 152nd running of the raceNelly Korda goes back-to-back, winning the Riviera Maya Open a week after the Chevron Championship to reach 18 career LPGA victories and land four points from Hall of Fame inductionWe also cover Hailey Baptiste's comeback win over world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka at the Madrid Open, Olivia Moultrie's 100th NWSL cap with a goal and assist, Brighton's plans for the first purpose-built women's stadium in England, Lyon reaching the UWCL final, the MNBA's long-overdue SNL cameo, and expansion city predictions.Follow Raising the Game for weekly women's sports coverage.Instagram/Threads/YouTube: @rtg_podWebsite: www.rtgpod.comSubstack: substack.com/@raisingthegamepodcastEmail: [email protected]

The PWHL playoffs are here, and Montreal made a pick that has Frost fans cautiously optimistic.The PWHL wrapped its regular season with Kelly Pannek setting a new single-season points record (33 in 30 games), the league surpassing one million fans for the first time, and Montreal selecting Minnesota as their first-round opponent instead of the weaker Ottawa Charge. We break down why that may have been the wrong call, what to expect from the Boston-Ottawa matchup, and who has the star power to make a deep run.This week we dig into:PWHL playoff bracket analysis: Montreal's controversial seed pick, Minnesota Frost vs. the top seed, and whether Ottawa can pull off a Boston upset behind goalie Gwyneth Phillips. Plus: PWHL expansion is imminent, with Vegas and San Diego reportedly in the mix alongside two-year phased rollout plans.NWSL Week 5 results and standings: San Diego Wave sitting at the top with 15 points and Brazilian flair to spare. Kansas City Current struggling badly under new head coach Chris Armis, and Boston's new expansion side scoring just one goal in five games. Plus the Columbus NWSL expansion controversy over McCoy Park.WNBA preseason first look: Caitlin Clark back on the court, Raven Johnson impressing for Indiana, Olivia Miles debuting for Minnesota, and a deeper conversation about rookie durability and what the W's record broadcast deal means for the sport's growth.Allyson Felix's comeback: The most decorated American track and field athlete in history announced she's targeting the 2028 LA Olympics at age 42, framing it as a "live experiment in human potential" and a challenge to the idea that women should shrink as they get older.Headlines across women's sports: NWSL adds an 18th team in Columbus for 2028 with a record $205 million expansion fee, the USWNT draws El Salvador in CONCACAF World Cup qualifying, Arsenal leads OL Lyonnais in the UWCL semis, and Nelly Korda wins the Chevron Championship LPGA major.We also touch on Jess Fishlock's retirement announcement and devastating injury, the ACL research initiative launched by the NWSL and NWSLPA, and Sophia Wilson's emotional first goal back from maternity leave.Follow Raising the Game for weekly women's sports coverage.Instagram/Threads/YouTube: @rtg_podWebsite: rtgpod.comSubstack: substack.com/@raisingthegamepodcastEmail: [email protected]

The WNBA is officially back, and Episode 16 is your full preview of the 2026 season — from A'ja Wilson's record-breaking supermax to the teams you need to watch on opening weekend.The Las Vegas Aces re-signed their entire core four (A'ja Wilson, Chelsea Gray, Jackie Young, and Jewell Loyd), and Wilson's three-year, $5 million deal is the largest contract in women's professional basketball history. The 30th WNBA season tips off May 9th across five broadcast platforms, and the league has never been more watchable. We break down the scary contenders, the sleeper teams, and the biggest questions heading into the year.We also dig deep into the U.S. Women's National Team's three-game series against Japan — a 2-1 series win that told us a lot more than the scoreline suggests. Emma Hayes played the long game in every sense of the phrase, and we cannot stop talking about her coaching philosophy and what it means for the 2027 World Cup.This week we cover:- A'ja Wilson's $5M supermax and the Aces dynasty: reigning champions return 90% of their scoring, with Becky Hammon running the show again- WNBA season preview: our scary contenders (Las Vegas, New York Liberty, Dallas Wings), honorable mentions, and the teams with the highest upside- USWNT vs. Japan series breakdown: Rose Lavelle's 100th cap, Sophia Wilson's return from maternity leave, record attendance in Seattle, and Emma Hayes' masterclass in building for the World Cup- Emma Hayes deep dive: her possession-first tactical shift, her relational leadership style, and why she is the best coach in the modern era- PWHL playoff picture: Montreal, Boston, and Minnesota are in — but the fourth seed battle between Ottawa, Toronto, and New York is going down to the literal last game of the regular seasonWe also cover the 2026 WNBA Draft viewership numbers (1.5M average, up 20% year-over-year), the PWHL hitting 1 million in-person fans faster than projected, the NWSL calendar shift debate, Oklahoma's back-to-back NCAA gymnastics title, and LOVB Austin's golden-set championship win.Follow Raising the Game for weekly women's sports coverage.Instagram/Threads/YouTube: @rtg_podWebsite: rtgpod.comSubstack: substack.com/@raisingthegamepodcastEmail: [email protected]

The 2026 WNBA Draft just happened live as we recorded, and women's sports is officially a $3 billion industry. There's a lot to unpack.Azzi Fudd went No. 1 overall to the Dallas Wings, reuniting with former UConn teammate Paige Bueckers and picking up a historic $500,000 rookie salary under the new CBA. The draft class was stacked, UCLA made history with six players selected, and free agency has teams looking very different heading into the 30th WNBA season. We break down the winners, the head-scratchers, and what the new CBA era means for the league.For a good chunk of this episode we dive deep into Deloitte's 2026 "Game Changers" report, which projects global women's sports revenue to exceed $3 billion this year, a 340% increase since 2022. We go beyond the headline number and get into what actually got us here: Title IX, the 1999 Women's World Cup, the Wubble, the NCAA weight room moment, Caitlin Clark, the Paris Olympics. And then we talk about what makes women's sports grow differently than men's sports ever did.This week we dig into:The Deloitte Game Changers report: commercial revenue hitting $1.4B, matchday climbing to $911M, broadcast up to $765M, and why the industry has outpaced its own projections every year since 2022The 2026 WNBA Draft and free agency: Azzi Fudd to Dallas, Olivia Miles to Minnesota, Angel Reese to Atlanta, and which teams are building something real vs. quietly implodingUSWNT vs. Japan: Sophia Wilson's return, Rose Lavelle's goal and assist, what we're watching in the back line, and how Emma Hayes is likely to rotate through the three-game seriesPWHL playoff race: three teams chasing one spot, what the Frost game at the double-attack end felt like in person, and why an expansion and broadcast deal announcement feels imminentWhat makes women's sports different: cultural ambassadorship over celebrity, athletes building leagues rather than leagues building stars, and fan experience as identity rather than transactionWe also cover the White House stalling the US's 2031 Women's World Cup bid, SI Swimsuit featuring WNBA stars Napheesa Collier and Sophie Cunningham, Sue Bird joining NBC's WNBA desk, and the WNBA formally approving expansion teams in Cleveland, Detroit, and Philadelphia.Follow Raising the Game for weekly women's sports coverage.Instagram/Threads/YouTube: @rtg_podWebsite: rtgpod.comSubstack: substack.com/@raisingthegamepodcastEmail: [email protected]

UCLA just won the national championship, and they did it convincingly. Episode 14 covers the Bruins' blowout over South Carolina, the Geno-Dawn Staley postgame controversy, and what Cori Close's transformational coaching style says about the future of the program.From there, the WNBA news is wall-to-wall this week. The Connecticut Sun are officially moving to Houston as the Houston Comets in 2027, ending a 23-year run in New England under circumstances that raised serious questions about how the league handled the sale. Angel Reese landed in Atlanta. Free agency is live. The WNBA draft is days away. And amid all of it, the league just announced a long-term broadcast deal with CBS Sports.This week we get into:NCAA Women's Basketball Championship: How UCLA won the title with dominant defense, a five-senior starting lineup bound for the WNBA draft, and why Cori Close's John Wooden-influenced coaching philosophy stood in sharp contrast to what we saw from Geno Auriemma after the lossConnecticut Sun relocation: Why the WNBA passed on higher offers to move the franchise to Houston, what Adam Silver's reported involvement signals about NBA influence over the league, and what fans in New England lostWNBA free agency and expansion draft: Angel Reese to Atlanta, the Portland Fire and Toronto Tempo making their first picks, and a full breakdown of the WNBA draft order with five UCLA players in the top 15USWNT vs. Japan: Three friendlies against the reigning AFC Champions coming up, Sophia Wilson returning after 17 months away, and what Emma Hayes is actually evaluating heading into World Cup qualifyingNWSL and Denver Summit: A record 63,000 fans at the inaugural NWSL home opener, plus the Summit's $40M bond financing for a new training center, marking a first for the leaguePWHL playoff push: The Minnesota Frost chasing home ice advantage, Kelly Pannek one point from the single-season scoring record, and attendance records falling across the league including a sellout at MSGWe also hit the figure skating World Championships (Kaori Sakamoto's fourth world title and retirement, Amber Glenn's redemption skate), Sabalenka's Miami Open win over Coco Gauff, the NFL's women's flag football league launch, NCAA gymnastics nationals bracket, and LOVB playoffs.Follow Raising the Game for weekly women's sports coverage.Instagram/Threads/YouTube: @rtg_podWebsite: rtgpod.comSubstack: substack.com/@raisingthegamepodcastEmail: [email protected]

The pioneers who broke down the doors in women's sports didn't just play the game. They rewrote the rules, fought segregation, and built the infrastructure that every female athlete walks through today.This is Part 1 of "The Door," the first installment in a new series called "What's the Story" from Raising the Game. For Women's History Month, we trace the origin stories of five women who each faced a different kind of barrier and refused to let it stand. From Althea Gibson breaking tennis's color line in 1950 to Donna Lopiano transforming a $57,000 women's athletic budget into a national model at the University of Texas, these are the stories behind the sports we cover every week.This episode covers:Althea Gibson's journey from Harlem paddle courts to back-to-back Wimbledon championships and being handed the trophy by Queen Elizabeth II, all while navigating segregation and the U.S. State Department using her as a symbol of American excellence abroadWilma Rudolph overcoming polio, a seven-year leg brace, and a sprained ankle to win three gold medals at the 1960 Rome Olympics, then demanding her homecoming parade be integratedPatsy Mink, the first woman of color elected to Congress, who authored the 37 words of Title IX that changed women's sports forever, taking participation from 1-in-27 girls to 1-in-2 in fifty yearsBillie Jean King's fight for equal pay in tennis, co-founding the WTA, and beating Bobby Riggs in the Battle of the Sexes in front of 90 million viewers worldwideDonna Lopiano's 18-year transformation of the University of Texas women's athletics from a $57,000 budget to 18 national championships and a blueprint for every major university in the countryStay tuned for Part 2, where will break in to more of the modern era and cover six more pioneering women athletes.Follow Raising the Game for weekly women's sports coverage:Instagram/Threads/YouTube: @rtg_podWebsite: rtgpod.comSubstack: substack.com/@raisingthegamepodcastEmail: [email protected]

The WNBA just agreed to a transformational new CBA — and the numbers are staggering. Salary caps jumped from $1.5 million to $7 million, super maxes hit $1.4 million, and minimum salaries now exceed last year's super max. This changes everything.After months of tense negotiations and over 100 hours of face-to-face bargaining in New York City, the WNBA and WNBPA reached a landmark seven-year deal that ties player compensation to league revenue for the first time. We break down the key provisions, the EPIC rule that rewards breakout rookies, and what a chaotic April of expansion drafts and free agency is about to look like.This week we dig into:The WNBA CBA agreement — salary cap details, revenue sharing, the EPIC rule and how it could benefit the likes of Caitlin Clark, Paige Bueckers, and Aliyah Boston, plus the wild upcoming expansion draft and free agency periodThe Women's National Football Conference — a six-year-old full-contact tackle football league with 17 teams, players from 20+ countries, and a medical advisory board dedicated to female athlete healthMinnesota Gophers March Madness — Amaya Battle's buzzer beater, 10,700 fans in the Barn, Peps Neuman the Blanket Lady, and the first Sweet 16 since 2005NWSL attendance records shattering week after week, Denver Summit's 50,000+ ticket home opener, and Sam Kerr rumored to be heading stateside from ChelseaPWHL playoff push with Minnesota Frost leading a tight three-way race, plus a national broadcast deal for the playoffs on IonWe also cover NCAA women's gymnastics conference championships, Jessie Diggins' retirement, the Kara Lawson coaching phenomenon at Duke, and why Vanderbilt's Mikayla Blakes is must-watch basketball.Follow Raising the Game for weekly women's sports coverage.Instagram/Threads/YouTube: @rtg_podSubstack: https://substack.com/@raisingthegamepodcastWebsite: https://rtgpod.com Email: [email protected]

It's a big week for women's sports — and we happened to record on the night the WNBA CBA was supposed to get done.This week:The WNBA CBA hits its deadline with the league and union still apart on revenue sharing — 70% of net vs. ~25% of gross — and we get into why that distinction matters, why the league dragged its feet for months, and why the players are absolutely right to hold the line.The NWSL is back in spectacular fashion: 129K fans across opening weekend, 30K in Boston, 50K tickets sold for Denver's March 28 home opener, Sophia Wilson (Gigi's mom!) returning from maternity leave, and Savy King back on the pitch in an emotional moment for Angel City.The PWHL is in its playoff push — we break down the standings (spoiler: Minnesota is in second), expansion city contenders, and the first-ever national broadcast on ION on March 28.Plus:Catarina Macario signs an $8M record deal with San Diego Wave making her the highest-paid women's footballer in the world, NCAA women's basketball brackets are out and we are doing brackets, the Frozen Four is set with Northeastern upsetting Minnesota, college gymnastics conference tournaments, Aryna Sabalenka wins Indian Wells, Oksana Masters dominates the 2026 Winter Paralympics with four golds, Team USA rolling 4-0 in FIBA World Cup qualifying, and Sephora cements itself as the women's sports sponsor to know.Instagram/Threads/YouTube: @rtg_podEmail: [email protected]

The NWSL season is officially here, and we spent most of this episode getting you ready for it.This week:​She Believes Cup is a wrap: USWNT takes their 8th title, but real questions remain at left back, the nine position, and playing without a true six.​Complete NWSL history, current season teams & players to watch: From the WUSA's $100M collapse to a $2.5 billion league today, we dig into the history, finances, players to watch, and our title picks heading into Season 14.​Unrivaled Season 2 closes strong: Mist BC wins the championship over Phantom BC, Brianna Stewart takes MVP honors, and the league posts 66% year-over-year revenue growth to $45M.​WNBA CBA deadline hits: Offers have been bouncing back and forth with nothing resolved as of taping. Let's hope there's good news by the time this airs!Plus:StubHub launches Her Sports Hub with data showing 215% post-Olympics ticket purchase growth, Team USA Women's Basketball tips off World Cup qualifying in Puerto Rico with Caitlin Clark and crew, a chaotic NCAA conference tournament weekend, the Boston Fleet and New York Sirens heading to TD Garden and MSG, Oksana Masters winning her 20th Paralympic medal, and the Women's Africa Cup of Nations postponed just two weeks before it was supposed to start.Instagram/Threads/YouTube: @rtg_podEmail: [email protected]

Get an idea of the women's sports topics we talk about with this trailer.

It's March and women's sports is absolutely delivering. This week: - The PWHL is back and riding a massive Olympic wave. We dig into the attendance records, injury news (Hilary Knight, Kendall Coyne-Schofield), and expansion chatter. - The WNBA CBA hits a March 10th deadline with players divided and Kelsey Plum suggesting a strike might not be the move. - We break down the U.S. Women's National Team's She Believes Cup opener with a youth-heavy lineup, questionable officiating, Trinity Rodman scare, and preview USA vs. Canada. Plus: UConn's perfect season, who can actually challenge them, NCAA hockey, Unrivaled playoffs heading to Brooklyn, and the fallout from the presidential phone call to the men's hockey team, and why we had to say something about it.Instagram/Threads/YouTube: @rtg_podEmail: [email protected] to help our Minneapolis community:========================https://www.standwithminnesota.com/https://www.marnaseatery.com/https://mexicocitycafe-slp.com/https://www.brasa.us/https://www.victors1959cafe.com/https://www.holaarepa.com/========================qZ9ctgFNW3acwMIfn96Q

This week we go through a comprehensive breakdown of Team USA's historic Winter Olympic performance—where women won 61% of all American medals. Emma Hayes' strategic roster selections for the upcoming She Believes Cup. And a critical look at the WNBA's stalled collective bargaining agreement and ownership's refusal to open their books to the players union. Instagram/Threads/YouTube: @rtg_podLinks to help our Minneapolis community:========================https://www.standwithminnesota.com/https://www.marnaseatery.com/https://mexicocitycafe-slp.com/https://www.brasa.us/https://www.victors1959cafe.com/https://www.holaarepa.com/========================

This week, we dive into the overwhelming dominance of the U.S. Women's Olympic Ice Hockey team, outscoring opponents 26-1 as they head toward a showdown with Canada. We also analyze the stalled WNBA CBA negotiations and the potential impact on the upcoming season, including expansion drafts and free agency. Finally, we discuss Angel Reese's return to the court in Unrivaled and major roster moves in the NWSL.Instagram/Threads/YouTube: @rtg_podLinks to help our Minneapolis community:========================https://www.standwithminnesota.com/https://www.marnaseatery.com/https://mexicocitycafe-slp.com/https://www.brasa.us/https://www.victors1959cafe.com/https://www.holaarepa.com/========================

The 2026 Winter Games in Milano Cortina have begun with a record 47% female participation rate . We analyze the massive viewership shift toward women's events before diving deep into the historic roster of Black female athletes representing Team USA, including Laila Edwards and Erin Jackson . Finally, we address the polarizing reaction to Lindsey Vonn’s downhill crash and why the criticism regarding her return is unfounded .Instagram/Threads/YouTube: @rtg_pod========================Links to help our Minneapolis community:https://www.standwithminnesota.com/https://www.marnaseatery.com/https://mexicocitycafe-slp.com/https://www.brasa.us/https://www.victors1959cafe.com/https://www.holaarepa.com/========================

Caitlin and Alex are back to break down one of the biggest story in women's sports: the WNBA CBA negotiations. We crunch the numbers on the revenue sharing dispute and discuss the possibility of a work stoppage or strike. We also cover different women's collegiate sports story lines. Plus, get your full preview of the 2026 Winter Olympics, including schedules for Team USA Hockey, figure skating, and alpine skiing.Instagram/Threads/YouTube: @rtg_pod========================Links to help our Minneapolis community:https://www.standwithminnesota.com/https://www.marnaseatery.com/https://mexicocitycafe-slp.com/https://www.brasa.us/https://www.victors1959cafe.com/https://www.holaarepa.com/========================

Caitlin and Alex deep dive into the Professional Women's Hockey League (PWHL), explaining the "Jailbreak" rule, special league rules, and the league's expansion plans. They analyze Trinity Rodman's record-breaking contract with the Washington Spirit and recap the USWNT's first match of 2026. Plus: Unrivaled's first in-game dunk, and Australian Open quarterfinalists.Instagram/Threads/YouTube: @rtg_pod========================Links to help our Minneapolis community:https://www.standwithminnesota.com/https://www.marnaseatery.com/https://mexicocitycafe-slp.com/https://www.brasa.us/https://www.victors1959cafe.com/https://www.holaarepa.com/========================

Caitlin and Alex tackle the NWSL's complex offseason, discussing the new "Rodman Rule," the Players Association's demand for rescission, and major moves for Sam Coffey and Lindsey Heaps. This episode also covers the current WNBA free agency moratorium and potential strike, alongside a countdown to the 2026 Winter Olympics featuring updates on Mikaela Shiffrin, Chloe Kim, and Team USA Hockey. Plus: 2027 World Cup contenders and weekly Winners & Losers.Instagram/Threads/YouTube: @rtg_pod========================Links to help our Minneapolis community:https://www.standwithminnesota.com/https://www.marnaseatery.com/https://mexicocitycafe-slp.com/https://www.brasa.us/https://www.victors1959cafe.com/https://www.holaarepa.com/========================

Caitlin and Alex break down the WNBA's uncertain offseason following the CBA deadline, discussing the "status quo" implications and Napheesa Collier’s call for a sustainable business model. This episode also recaps the Unrivaled League’s debut weekend and innovative player-equity structure, alongside a deep dive into League One Volleyball’s (LOVB) holistic ecosystem backed by icons like Billie Jean King. Plus: PWHL standings ahead of the Olympic break, Amber Glenn’s historic third U.S. title, and our top watch picks for the week.Instagram/Threads/YouTube: @rtg_pod