Laces Out Loud

Laces Out Loud
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Laces Out Loud is an NWSL and women’s soccer podcast about the game on the field and the forces shaping it off the field. The show blends match analysis, supporter passion, and bigger-picture conversations about player welfare, league growth, media coverage, business, technology, and soccer culture. We are here for the goals, the tactics, and the chaos - but also for the questions that determine whether the women’s game can grow with the ambition, care, and investment it deserves.

  1. 4d ago

    Wait, What? Maybe the Fans Don't Know Everything

    Seven teams have punched their playoff tickets, and somehow the NWSL has left us with both a Shield race and a three-team fight for the final postseason spot. This week, Alli, Pamitha, and Gurushabd look ahead to a chaotic final weekend as Seattle controls its own destiny, North Carolina and Denver prepare to fight each other for survival, San Diego tries to steal the Shield from Gotham, and Ashley Sanchez gets one final regular-season chance to make history. For Washington Spirit fans? We’re processing. But with the NWSL Championship coming to Audi Field, there’s still plenty to look forward to.  Then we stumble into a question we did not expect to spend this much time thinking about: What does “attendance” actually mean? After Kansas City announced an 18,000-person crowd for a stadium that seats roughly 11,500, Alli had questions. So instead of simply getting mad on the internet, we brought back our friend Evan to explain how professional teams think about tickets sold, tickets distributed, show rates, corporate seats, comps, average ticket price, revenue, and why the number of people physically sitting in the stadium only tells part of the story. And, inconveniently, he changed our minds. We learn why giving away thousands of tickets can actually hurt a team, how community ticket programs differ from simply “papering the house,” why teams track who shows up even when they don’t report that number publicly, and how Kansas City’s unusual watch-party experiment could provide valuable information as the Current plan for a larger stadium. Turns out, there are a lot of variables behind the numbers fans see—and maybe the healthiest thing we can do is occasionally admit that our first take was wrong. Learning with Laces Out Loud. What a concept. From the fans, for the game—this is Laces Out Loud. Instagram, TikTok & Bluesky: @lacesoutloudlacesoutloudpod@gmail.com

  2. Oct 21

    Pitch, Please: Let the Players Cook

    The NWSL regular season is almost over, the Shield is still up for grabs, Seattle is back above the playoff line—and the Washington Spirit finally beat Gotham. This week, Alli, Pamitha, and Gurushabd break down a massive Week 25 as the Spirit earn a statement 1–0 win at Audi Field, Seattle keeps its postseason hopes alive, San Diego stays right on Gotham’s heels, and Kansas City reminds everyone why nobody wants to see them in the playoffs. For Washington, we dig into what Clara Luvanga is already changing about the Spirit attack, why her physical presence could create even more space for Trinity Rodman, and Lucia Di Guglielmo’s huge performance—including her first NWSL goal. Meanwhile, Ashley Sanchez Watch continues, the Shield race is separated by just three points at the top, and two games remain for everything to get weird. Then we get into the conversation that really fired us up this week. Following the USWNT’s friendlies against Spain, some national soccer coverage turned toward questions about Trinity Rodman’s effort, attitude, “body language,” and whether she was doing enough to prove herself. We have some problems with that. There’s a difference between analyzing a player’s performance and pretending to know what is happening inside her head. There’s a difference between thoughtful criticism and manufacturing controversy. And when commentary about work ethic, attitude, hair, or professionalism repeatedly lands differently on Black players, those words don’t exist in a vacuum. So we ask a broader question: What should fans expect from the people entrusted with covering women’s soccer? Because growing the women’s game isn’t just about getting more cameras on it. It’s about building a media culture worthy of the players, the fans, and the sport itself—one that can criticize performances without reaching for lazy narratives, tired stereotypes, or controversy for controversy’s sake. We shouldn’t settle for recreating the worst parts of the old model just because that’s how sports media has always worked. ⚽ From the fans, for the game—this is Laces Out Loud. 📸 Instagram, TikTok & Bluesky: @lacesoutloud📧 lacesoutloudpod@gmail.com

  3. Oct 14

    A Tie That Felt Like a Win

    What happens when you record a podcast while the USWNT is playing Spain? Apparently: tactical analysis, emotional whiplash, snack discussions, questionable predictions, a little marine biology—and one remarkable comeback. For this special episode of Laces Out Loud, Alli, Pamitha, and Gurushabd hit record during the USA–Spain friendly and react to the match in real time. Early on, things look painfully familiar. Spain’s movement and passing carve open the U.S. defense, communication breaks down, and a 2–0 halftime deficit leaves us wondering why a talented American side suddenly looks so disconnected. Is Spain simply that good? Is the U.S. missing the physical presence and leadership of players like Naomi Girma, Sam Coffey, and Emily Sonnett? Or does Spain’s shared style of development give its players an advantage when they come together at the national-team level? Then Ashley Sanchez happens. By the final whistle, a 2–2 draw against one of the best teams in the world somehow feels like a victory. ⚽ From the fans, for the game—this is Laces Out Loud. 📸 Instagram, TikTok & Bluesky: @lacesoutloud📧 lacesoutloudpod@gmail.com

  4. Oct 7

    Everything Is Still Up for Grabs

    Three games remain in the NWSL regular season, only two teams have clinched playoff spots, and almost nothing about the postseason picture feels settled. This week, Alli, Pamitha, and Gurushabd break down a wild Week 24 as Kansas City climbs, Portland tumbles, North Carolina jumps back above the playoff line, and Seattle suddenly finds itself on the outside looking in. With just four points separating fifth from ninth, the race to Decision Day is setting up for absolute chaos. We also celebrate Savannah DeMelo’s remarkable return to the field, check in on Ashley Sanchez Watch 2026, debate whether sending your goalkeeper into the attack should become the next great soccer innovation, and discuss the hair pull that could prove incredibly costly for Portland’s playoff hopes. Then the international break arrives at exactly the right time, because Ashley Sanchez is finally back with the USWNT. We talk about what her return means after the disappointment of the 2023 World Cup, why her incredible NWSL season is about far more than goals, and what Emma Hayes appears to be building as she brings Sanchez, Jaelin Howell, Kate Del Fava and other players into an increasingly competitive national-team pool. With the World Cup getting closer, the question isn’t simply who the best 23 players are today. It’s whether Hayes can build enough depth that injuries, retirements, or changes in form don’t leave the U.S. scrambling when the games matter most. And with Spain waiting, we’ll get a pretty serious test of just how deep that pool really is. We make our predictions for the upcoming USWNT matches—and announce something a little different for next week: Laces Out Loud will record live during the national-team match, capturing our reactions before kickoff, at halftime, and after the final whistle. Oh, and before any of that, Gurushabd introduces us to the apparently very real world of single-speed cyclocross championships, costumes, oil wrestling, and naked cycling. We promise the soccer eventually starts. From the fans, for the game—this is Laces Out Loud. 📸 Instagram, TikTok & Bluesky: @lacesoutloud📧 lacesoutloudpod@gmail.com

  5. Sep 30

    Everybody Wants a Future Star. Who’s Building One?

    Signing young talent is one thing. Helping that talent thrive is another. With Alli back in the lineup, the Laces Out Loud crew digs into what happens after teenagers turn pro—and whether the NWSL’s reported new development pathway could give its youngest prospects a better shot at success. From playing time and coaching changes to keeping college options open, what does investing in a player’s future actually look like? Plus, Washington’s home struggles spark a conversation about fan expectations, Ashley Sanchez gets her USWNT call, and Emma Hayes keeps widening the national team pipeline. We also weigh in on Atlanta City FC’s brand reveal: bold colors, plenty of symbolism, and a name that leaves us wanting more. The band is back together, and a little soccer group therapy is in order. From the fans, for the game, this is Laces Out Loud. 📸 Instagram, TikTok & BlueSky: @lacesoutloud📧 lacesoutloudpod@gmail.com

  6. Sep 23

    The Women’s Game Has Outgrown the Excuses

    Five games remain, the NWSL playoff race is getting ridiculous, and apparently being able to see the game you’re watching on television is still too much to ask. This week, Pamitha and Gurushabd break down a chaotic Week 22 that saw Angel City surge three places up the table, Seattle fall outside the playoff line, Kansas City cling to eighth, Washington get back on track, and the middle of the standings tighten into one enormous postseason traffic jam. Plus, Ashley Sanchez remains one goal away from tying the NWSL single-season scoring record. Then we need to talk about #RainGate! The Spirit’s 3–0 win over Chicago came with one small problem: for most of the first half, ESPN viewers could barely see it. A rain-covered camera turned a nationally televised professional soccer match into a blurry mess—and raises a much bigger question than whether somebody should have simply wiped the lens. Why are women’s sports still fighting for the basic production standards routinely expected elsewhere in professional sports? And if networks, leagues, and media companies say they believe in the growth of the women’s game, when should fans expect that belief to show up in the product? That leads us into another debate about how the NWSL is covered: Do fans have a right to know why a player is unavailable? We respond to calls for greater transparency around injuries, absences, and potential transfers—and make the case that league growth shouldn’t come at the expense of player privacy, medical confidentiality, or bargaining power. The NWSL’s own collective bargaining agreement gives players significant control over the disclosure of their medical information, and we ask whether better journalism—not more disclosure from players—is the real answer. And because apparently we weren’t ambitious enough already, Pamitha tries to turn Gurushabd into an Australian Rules Football fan before Alli makes her triumphant return to help us preview NWSL Championship Weekend in Washington, D.C. We run through the awards, Skills Challenge, 5K, Fan Fest, championship match at Audi Field—and briefly discover that Pamitha may need to relearn the geography of his own city. Five matches to go. Everything to play for. And plenty left to fix off the field. From the fans, for the game—this is Laces Out Loud. 📸 Instagram, TikTok & Bluesky: @lacesoutloud📧 lacesoutloudpod@gmail.com

  7. Sep 16

    Moneyball or Mismanagement? Ashley Sanchez’s Record Chase & NWSL Coaching Chaos

    Week 21 of the NWSL season brought chaos, milestones, questionable decisions—and one very important question: Can Moneyball actually work in soccer? We start on the pitch, where Boston stunned Washington 3–0 at Audi Field, Chicago stole a stoppage-time point from Portland, Denver and Angel City delivered a six-goal thriller, and Seattle kept its playoff hopes firmly alive. With the postseason race tightening, we look at the risers, the fallers, and the teams with the best chance to crash the top eight. Then: GOAL WATCH 2026. Ashley Sanchez has reached 19 goals and is closing in on Temwa Chawinga’s single-season NWSL record of 20—with plenty of games left to make history. We ask why Sanchez’s remarkable season isn’t generating even more attention and look ahead to a massive showdown with Gotham. Plus, Seattle captain Sofia Huerta joins some seriously elite company with her 40th career NWSL regular-season goal. And somehow, another NWSL coach has lost their job. Houston’s latest changes send us down a much bigger rabbit hole: When teams repeatedly struggle, how much responsibility really belongs with the coach—and when should we start looking at ownership and the front office instead? That brings us to Chicago and Moneyball. We break down what the famous baseball strategy actually means, why simply spending less money isn’t Moneyball, and whether analytics can help NWSL clubs identify undervalued talent. But finding those players is only half the equation. Eventually, you have to invest enough to keep them. That leads to an even bigger question about the future of the league: What happens when ownership’s definition of success doesn’t necessarily match the fans’? And how long should supporters keep investing in a club if they aren't convinced ownership is investing back? Plus: Costco winter wardrobes, TiVo nostalgia, the dangers of protecting a 1–0 lead, and some unsolicited life advice for our younger listeners: wear sunscreen, stretch, and take care of your knees. ⚽ Laces Out Loud — from the fans, for the game. 📸 Instagram & Bluesky: @lacesoutloud📧 lacesoutloudpod@gmail.com

  8. Sep 9

    History, Hat Tricks & Labor Power

    Week 20 gave us history, statement wins, unexpected exits, and another reminder that absolutely nothing in the NWSL stays predictable for long. Ashley Sanchez puts the league on notice with a spectacular hat trick as the Courage keep climbing. Denver Summit shocks league-leading Gotham with three goals against the seemingly impenetrable AKB. Seattle takes down San Diego, and the Washington Spirit finally—finally—do something they’ve never done before: win in Portland, keeping the Shield race very much alive. We also dig into the mysterious departure of Vlatko Andonovski from the Kansas City Current, ask whether NWSL officiating is becoming a little too reliant on VAR, and debate whether young players should be able to choose between representing their countries at the U-20 World Cup and staying with their clubs. And with Labor Day behind us, we spend some time on something fundamental to the growth of professional sports: labor. We look at why unions and player associations matter, how collective bargaining has transformed athletes’ careers, and why organizations like the NWSLPA and WNBPA have been especially important in giving women athletes greater control, protection, and power. Plus: a roaming Bellingham T-Rex, Croix Bethune doing Croix Bethune things, and Jenn Hildreth giving us a mantra we plan to keep going all season: Let’s love the game. 🎧 From the fans, for the game—this is Laces Out Loud. 📸 Instagram: @lacesoutloud📧 lacesoutloudpod@gmail.com

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About

Laces Out Loud is an NWSL and women’s soccer podcast about the game on the field and the forces shaping it off the field. The show blends match analysis, supporter passion, and bigger-picture conversations about player welfare, league growth, media coverage, business, technology, and soccer culture. We are here for the goals, the tactics, and the chaos - but also for the questions that determine whether the women’s game can grow with the ambition, care, and investment it deserves.

Information

  • Creator
    Laces Out Loud
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    46
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Laces Out Loud
  • Show Website
    Laces Out Loud