The Women's Soccer Podcast

Liam Greco

How do the stories on the pitch transcend the ninety minutes we watch? I'm Liam Greco, and each week I sit down with the players, coaches, and voices shaping the NWSL and the international game. Our solo episodes dig into the structural stuff most shows skip: roster decisions, tournament slot allocations, the policy fights behind a headline. Our analysis explains why, not just what happened, in a way that is accessible for every level of women's soccer fandom. Some of our biggest episodes surface stories that haven't gotten the coverage they deserve, the kind that change how you see the game once you know them. If you want women's soccer explained clearly and deeply, not just recapped, this is your show. Our interviews feature guests from the top leagues around the world, including the NWSL, WSL, Frauen-Bundesliga, and more, who also represent their nations on the international stage. We've worked directly with the English and Australian FA's and talked to players from the USWNT, Canada, and other national teams competing for a spot at the 2027 World Cup in Brazil. As the tournament approaches, this is where you'll hear from the players who'll be making it happen, learning their stories before the rest of the world learns their names. On our platform, the analysis of the world's game never stops. We’ll share a new solo episode every Monday, unpacking the biggest storylines in women's soccer with analytical twists, diving deep into angles of the story you haven’t heard before. Every Thursday, we will drop a new interview with the people playing and running the sport to hear behind-the-scenes insights. Tune in each week for sharp breakdowns, honest conversation, and a level of attention to women's soccer that matches what's actually happening in it, covering matches in the way they deserve. Follow along on Instagram (@the_womens_soccer_podcast) and Bluesky (@thewomenssoccerpod.bsky.social). New episodes drop every Monday and Thursday, subscribe to make sure you don't miss any one.

  1. 4d ago

    Returning to Germany: Antonia Baaß on Leading SGS Essen’s Promotion Battle

    SGS Essen midfielder Antonia Baaß sits down to discuss her path back to Germany and orchestrating the rebuild of SGS Essen in the Frauen Bundesliga 2. Creative midfield engine and technical dynamo Antonia Baaß joins the podcast to share insider insights on her highly anticipated return to SGS Essen, taking her game to the next level, SGS's Essen's promotion race to return back to the top-flight of German women's football and returning to a club she left that is now in a different division, becoming a part of the team's climb back to the pinnacle of women's soccer. She shares what it meant to enter the international environment at just 15 years old, playing alongside the rising prospects of European football in the 2016 UEFA Development Tournament, where she starred in victories over Scotland and France. Given the stages of those matches, she shared how she learned how to navigate that pressure and having gone through those experiences, the advice she would give to younger self. Antonia also talks about her evolution as a player, reflecting on her initial 50-appearance stint with Essen before completely unlocking her potential at FC Basel, where she racked up an incredible 8 goals and 17 assists across 67 matches. She takes us into the locker room to discuss the delicate balance of pursuing a demanding Sport Science degree alongside her professional schedule, shifting between international leagues, and how her classroom knowledge directly impacts her personal approach to training, tactical thinking, and recovery. Antonia shares why the SGS Essen rebuild project was the perfect step for her current career phase, the exact mindset required to serve as a designated squad centerpiece after returning to a familiar club, and the profound pieces of coaching advice that altered how she views the game. Lastly, she shares what excites her about sporting director Daniel Kraus's ambitious vision for the future, what she believes it will take for the squad to achieve its modern goals, her long and short term goals for her soccer vision board, and so much more! Thank you all for listening! Remember to follow us wherever you get your podcasts, on Instagram (@the_womens_soccer_podcast) and Bluesky (@thewomenssoccerpod.bsky.social). In addition, leave a 5-star review and tell all your friends about our show!

    Returning to Germany: Antonia Baaß on Leading SGS Essen’s Promotion Battle
  2. 6d ago

    The Handcuffs of NWSL's Restrictive Roster Rules: Banda's HIP Re-Signing, Cat Macario SEI, Fabrice Gautrat Out From Houston, NWSL Matchday 21 Comprehensive Breakdown & more!

    How do NWSL clubs remain competitive in the global transfer market despite strict financial restrictions? How can we connect the transfers/transactions we saw at the end of the window to this weekend's results on the pitch? In this episode, LDG examines the systemic issues animating the league's salary cap architecture, a framework forcing front offices to build rosters like a puzzle to survive against the unconstrained spending of Europe, and how it connects to the results we see on the pitch. He explores whether a league with the wealthiest ownership groups in women's sports can achieve global dominance while its administrative rules actively hold ambitious investors back. The discussion begins with the profound paradox playing out in the capital, where Washington Spirit owner Michele Kang deployed millions to secure stars like Claudia Martínez and Clara Luvanga. LDG breaks down how the rigid Net Transfer Threshold penalizes this economic ambition, triggering active reductions to a club's salary cap for non-compliance. He directly contrasts the American system with the European model, comparing the NWSL's manufactured middle class against the uncapped spending power of UEFA giants like Lyon, Barcelona, and Chelsea. He walks through the Washington Spirit’s use of staggered annual installments, explains the loan mechanism utilized by San Diego Wave FC to acquire elite talent, and dissects the internal asset inflation that saw the Utah Royals drop historic transaction funds for forward Jameese Joseph. He also dives into the breaking intra-league transfer of rookie forward Gianna Paul from the Kansas City Current to the North Carolina Courage, analyzing the distinct rationale behind the move for both organizations. Shifting from player management to leadership instability, LDG addresses the breaking news out of Texas, where the Houston Dash fired head coach Fabrice Gautrat and technical director Twila Kilgore. From there, he transitions into a comprehensive matchday roundup across a massive weekend of action, breaking down the fixtures results and tactics, with some insights from coaches and players on Gotham, Washington Spirit, San Diego + Chicago included!

    The Handcuffs of NWSL's Restrictive Roster Rules: Banda's HIP Re-Signing, Cat Macario SEI, Fabrice Gautrat Out From Houston, NWSL Matchday 21 Comprehensive Breakdown & more!
  3. Sep 10

    Lexi Missimo & Rush Olsen on Raising Her Game, USL Super League Pivot & Marseille Loan Move

    Olympique de Marseille midfielder Lexi Missimo and Mint Farm Films producer Rush Olsen sit down to discuss the global launch of their docuseries Raising Her Game and the latest updates in their careers! Lexi shares her earliest soccer memories and how she learned to channel that pressure of being the country's number one collegiate recruit into stardom, becoming the University of Texas' all-time leader in goals, assists, and points. Rush dives into what drew his team at Mint Farm Films to producing this project and the complex process of balancing access and trust with a subject with the directorial responsibility to capture the difficult, less flattering realities of a high-stakes campaign. Lexi also talks about her history with the UTexas program, the decision-making process behind doubling down on her collegiate commitment over lucrative European professional offers from Manchester City and Arsenal out of high school, and how her training stint under Emma Hayes at Chelsea enhanced her game/prepared her for the professional ranks. Lexi also pulls back the curtain on the mental toll of a grueling nine-month injury recovery during her rookie campaign, sharing why she deviated from the traditional NWSL path to sign for Dallas Trinity FC and why her recent loan move to Les Marseillaises in France was an intriguing endeavor. Rush takes us behind the scenes to share how directors must adapt when they do not have total control of an unfolding storyline and how he decides what critical behind-the-scenes material that gets left out of a final cut to protect the player's core story. Lexi and Rush talk about the experience of visiting the National Soccer Hall of Fame to learn the history of the sport, exploring the legacy of Title IX and the local battles fought for female athletic equity decades ago, and the importance of players today learning about the history of the women's game. Lastly, they share what excites them about the future of the sport, what Lexi would include on her personal short-term and long-term soccer vision board, and so much more! Stream the documentary for free on Tubi across the United States, UK, Canada, and Mexico. Website: RHGmovie.com Instagram: @raisinghergame1 TikTok: @raisinghergame Thank you all for listening! Remember to follow us wherever you get your podcasts, on Instagram (@the_womens_soccer_podcast) and Bluesky (@thewomenssoccerpod.bsky.social). In addition, leave a 5-star review and tell all your friends about our show!

    Lexi Missimo & Rush Olsen on Raising Her Game, USL Super League Pivot & Marseille Loan Move
  4. Sep 3

    Kaylee Hunter: From The NSL To The International Stage

    AFC Toronto and Canadian National Team forward Kaylee Hunter sits down to discuss life in the Northern Super League! The clinical attacker and rising star joins the podcast, in a special episode being released just days before Team Canada and her first match at the U-20 Women's World Cup, to share insider insights on AFC Toronto's 2026 season and the Canadian National Team ahead of the upcoming World Cup qualifiers. She shares what it meant to earn her first senior international cap, her experience debuting against Argentina at the SheBelieves Cup, what representing that badge meant to her personally, and how those milestones shape her perspective as she guides Canada into the 2027 cycle. Kaylee also talks about her iconic 2025 rookie season where she garnered league-wide recognition after scoring 14 remarkable goals and placed second in the Northern Super League golden boot race! She takes us into the attacker's mindset behind her personal "bad day, go play soccer" mantra, the role of compartmentalizing pressure as a teenager thrust into a core role at a brand-new club, and the unique attributes that make an elite forward so devastating on the pitch. Kaylee shares why the Northern Super League project and making the move to AFC Toronto for her first professional club was appealing to her, how the chance to help set a historic club culture factored into her decision, and how she evaluated her future options before inking a massive new contract extension through 2027 with a 2028 club option. Lastly, she shares how she reflects on the high-pressure 2025 NSL final against Vancouver Rise, her advice to her younger self on handling outside noise, what it means to have the opportunity to play professional club football and begin her professional career at home in Canada after years of players advocating for a league the NSL, her vision board for her short and long-term career goals, and so much more! This is the second part of our three-part series in collaboration with AFC Toronto! Listen to part one with AFC + Nigerian international forward Esther Okoronkwo here and part two with AFC + Canadian international goalkeeper Sabrina D'Angelo here. Thank you all for listening! Remember to follow us wherever you get your podcasts, on Instagram (@the_womens_soccer_podcast) and Bluesky (@thewomenssoccerpod.bsky.social). In addition, leave a 5-star review and tell all your friends about our show!

    Kaylee Hunter: From The NSL To The International Stage
  5. Aug 31

    Data vs. Intuition: Charlie Mitchell’s Tactical Blueprint for Linköping FC

    Linköping FC head coach Charlie Mitchell sits down to discuss his path to the touchline and dominating the tactics board! In this exclusive feature, head coach Charlie Mitchell joins the show to detail his data-driven model for long-term player development and building a sustainable culture. Recorded just prior to his departure from Sweden for personal family reasons, this conversation offers a comprehensive look at his footballing philosophy and tactical vision. . He shares what it meant to transition from elite, analytics-centered roles, like serving as the Head of Analysis for the Wales National Team and Performance Analyst for Trinidad & Tobago, to being the man in charge of making final structural decisions on the touchline, and what it took to trust his coaching intuition over raw data in high-pressure moments! Charlie also talks about his foundational coaching career at Bristol City, cultivating elite player development with the Women's U-21 team, and his seamless transition into the pros where he took over Sweden's historic powerhouse following a shocking relegation! He takes us into the locker room to share the mindset shift he made when joining the Elitettan, the vital steps he and his staff implemented to address the club's 2025 drop, and how he managed the outside media noise as the youngest head coach in the league! Charlie shares why the Linköping FC project and the challenge of the league was so intriguing to him, the logistics behind a massive squad overhaul featuring 16 player departures and only 5 returning veterans, and some of his favorite behind-the-scenes moments collaborating to build this brand-new roster from scratch! Lastly, he shares what excited him about Linköping FC throughout their stellar 2026 campaign, what it took to lead a team under strict first-place-or-failure fan expectations, his long and short term career goals, and so much more! Thank you all for listening! Remember to follow us wherever you get your podcasts, on Instagram (@the_womens_soccer_podcast) and Bluesky (@thewomenssoccerpod.bsky.social). In addition, leave a 5-star review and tell all your friends about our show! This is the second part of our three-part series in collaboration with Linköping FC! Listen to part one with Linköping + Swedish international legend Jonna Andersson here!

    Data vs. Intuition: Charlie Mitchell’s Tactical Blueprint for Linköping FC
  6. Aug 27

    Lia Godfrey on Making Waves in Her Breakout Rookie Season

    San Diego Wave FC midfielder Lia Godfrey sits down to discuss her path to the NWSL and dominating the NWSL! Four-time All-American and lethal midfield dynamo Lia Godfrey joins the podcast to share insider insights on her explosive breakout season with the San Diego Wave and making history on the global stage. She shares what it meant to receive her historic first call-up to a U.S. Youth National Team at just 14 years old, making global headlines as the youngest player in USWNT youth national team history to suit up for a youth team World Cup, and what she took from that and her other national team experiences to college and as she joined the professional ranks! Lia also talks about her legendary collegiate career at Virginia, dominating the ACC for six seasons, and her seamless transition into the pros where she locked down NWSL Rookie of the Month honors after scoring three jaw-dropping goals in her first four professional matches, all in the span of one week! She takes us into the locker room to share the mindset shift she's made since joining the NWSL, the words of encouragement manager Jonas Eidevall told her, and she shares how her immediate game-winning impact ranks for her personally in her career (it is quite high on the list!) Lia shares why the San Diego Wave FC project and the growth of the NWSL as a whole was intriguing to her, the transition from college (and being an East Coast. person) to living on the West Coast, and why she loves playing in front of the Wave faithful at Snapdragon Stadium! Lastly, she shares what excites her about this current San Diego group as they continue their stellar 2026 campaign, what she believes it will take for the team to achieve its goals this season, her long and short term goals, and so much more! Thank you all for listening! Remember to follow us wherever you get your podcasts, on Instagram (@the_womens_soccer_podcast) and Bluesky (@thewomenssoccerpod.bsky.social). In addition, leave a 5-star review and tell all your friends about our show!

    Lia Godfrey on Making Waves in Her Breakout Rookie Season
  7. Aug 24

    The NWSL's Youth World Cup Dilemma: Why Informal Negotiation Makes Everyone Lose

    Should FIFA mandate NWSL player releases for the youth World Cup tournaments? Why is this current system of informal negotiation over player release so detrimental for all parties involved? Is it possible to create a system that doesn't hurt players, coaches, club and national teams? In this episode, LDG tries to answer those questions that he has been pondering since the US women's national team dropped their U-20 World Cup roster, with a lot of recognizable names, but with some of the biggest names in the age group and talking points being those who were left off the roster entirely. He breaks down why the growing tug-of-war between club obligations and international development is creating a massive structural gap across women's football. LDG gets at the Youth World Cup release rules for clubs, what power the clubs hold in discussion and how these discussions are the byproduct and cost of the packed football calendar. He walks through the contrasting realities first: on the U.S. side, the 21 USWNT U-20 World Cup roster spots lack the plethora of skilled, eligible NWSL talent, with Claire Hutton, Lily Yohannes, Melanie Barcenas, Jordyn Bugg and Kimmi Ascanio all left off the squad due to their clubs not releasing them. LDG examines why several U20 players were left out of the US roster, and why the issue is bigger than one tournament. The discussion connects youth development, NWSL club leverage, FIFA release rules, and the growing tension between club and country as the game keeps expanding, and he discusses how Emma Hayes, US Soccer, and clubs all have competing incentives, why youth tournaments are different from senior international windows, and why the player is the one who often loses out when calendars collide. He contrasts that directly with the England side, where North Carolina Courage teammates Erica Meg Parkinson and Lauryn Thompson secured a partial-release compromise to stay with the Courage and miss the Lionesses' prep camp but play in the actual tournament, showing how collaboration is possible. He argues that this same league producing two completely different outcomes within weeks of each other is proof of a system currently running on informal negotiation rather than enforceable rules. From there, LDG gets into the policy routes to fix this chaos, dissecting Emma Hayes's ask for the youth World Cups to be included in the overall FIFA calendar that includes the senior competitions and implement all-encompassing mandates on player release, unilateral NWSL CBA adjustments, and the realistic necessity of a FIFA-backed insurance load-management backstop. He also doesn't shy away from the flaws in each path, showing how a domestic-only rule leaves European-based Americans untouched and fails to address the strongest club objections. He ends by proposing what he believes is the best solution to this dilemma. Thank you all for listening! Remember to follow us wherever you get your podcasts, on Instagram (@the_womens_soccer_podcast) and Bluesky (@thewomenssoccerpod.bsky.social). In addition, leave a 5-star review and tell all your friends about our show!

    The NWSL's Youth World Cup Dilemma: Why Informal Negotiation Makes Everyone Lose
  8. Aug 20

    Lena Petermann on World Cup Brace, Frauen Bundesliga Growth & Werder Bremen's Rise

    Werder Bremen and German national team striker Lena Petermann sit down to discuss life in the Frauen-Bundesliga! Frauen-Bundesliga star and elite finisher Lena Petermann joins the podcast to share insider insights on SV Werder Bremen's current season and her extensive career across Europe and North America. She shares what it meant to receive her first senior call-up to the German women's national team, her experience playing at her first-ever senior World Cup in 2015, what she took from those international tournaments as she returned to Germany last season, and so much more! Lena also talks about the iconic U-20 World Cup final that Germany had in 2014, as she scored the dramatic tournament-winning goal in extra time against Nigeria to capture the trophy! She takes us back to that monumental tournament to share the mindset shift that happened as her career trajectory altered in real-time, and she shared how that specific goal and championship rank for her personally in her career! Lena shares why the SV Werder Bremen project and the vastly improved Frauen-Bundesliga infrastructure as a whole was intriguing to her, her decision to return to German soil after a five-year stint playing in France and England, and why she loves the internal setup and philosophy at Werder! Lastly, she shares what excites her about advising the younger generation of German players on the NCAA college route, the state of the club as they look toward the future, what she believes it takes to build a lasting culture in the locker room, what making those historic World Cup rosters meant to her, her long and short term goals, and so much more! Thank you all for listening! Remember to follow us wherever you get your podcasts, on Instagram (@the_womens_soccer_podcast) and Bluesky (@thewomenssoccerpod.bsky.social). In addition, leave a 5-star review and tell all your friends about our show!

    Lena Petermann on World Cup Brace, Frauen Bundesliga Growth & Werder Bremen's Rise
4.9
out of 5
40 Ratings

About

How do the stories on the pitch transcend the ninety minutes we watch? I'm Liam Greco, and each week I sit down with the players, coaches, and voices shaping the NWSL and the international game. Our solo episodes dig into the structural stuff most shows skip: roster decisions, tournament slot allocations, the policy fights behind a headline. Our analysis explains why, not just what happened, in a way that is accessible for every level of women's soccer fandom. Some of our biggest episodes surface stories that haven't gotten the coverage they deserve, the kind that change how you see the game once you know them. If you want women's soccer explained clearly and deeply, not just recapped, this is your show. Our interviews feature guests from the top leagues around the world, including the NWSL, WSL, Frauen-Bundesliga, and more, who also represent their nations on the international stage. We've worked directly with the English and Australian FA's and talked to players from the USWNT, Canada, and other national teams competing for a spot at the 2027 World Cup in Brazil. As the tournament approaches, this is where you'll hear from the players who'll be making it happen, learning their stories before the rest of the world learns their names. On our platform, the analysis of the world's game never stops. We’ll share a new solo episode every Monday, unpacking the biggest storylines in women's soccer with analytical twists, diving deep into angles of the story you haven’t heard before. Every Thursday, we will drop a new interview with the people playing and running the sport to hear behind-the-scenes insights. Tune in each week for sharp breakdowns, honest conversation, and a level of attention to women's soccer that matches what's actually happening in it, covering matches in the way they deserve. Follow along on Instagram (@the_womens_soccer_podcast) and Bluesky (@thewomenssoccerpod.bsky.social). New episodes drop every Monday and Thursday, subscribe to make sure you don't miss any one.

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