Play Like a They

Monica and Sara
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🏳️‍⚧️ Diving into sports beyond the binary🔥 Hot takes, guest chats, big laughs🎙️ All things women & ENBY’s in sports

  1. MAR 18

    The NWSL Is Back and the Vibes Are Immaculate: Season Preview

    The 2026 NWSL season is officially underway, and opening weekend delivered plenty to talk about. Monica and Sara break down the biggest moments from week one — from star players returning to the pitch to record-setting crowds showing up for women’s soccer. They also dive into the momentum building across the league, including new expansion teams, major contract headlines, and why the atmosphere around women’s sports just keeps getting better. They’re talking about:  ⚽ Trinity Rodman’s return and record-setting contract 👶 Sophia Wilson back on the pitch six months postpartum 🔥 Portland Thorns vs. Seattle Reign rivalry matchup 📈 Record-breaking opening weekend attendance 🏟️ Boston Legacy’s debut and massive home opener crowd View the transcript here.

    21 min

  2. MAR 18

    It's That Time: Our 2026 WBB March Madness Breakdown

    The bracket is set, the tournament is about to begin, and Monica and Sara are diving into this year’s Women’s March Madness. In this episode, they talk about why the women’s tournament keeps getting bigger every year, what makes March Madness such a unique playoff environment, and why this stage can completely change the trajectory of teams and players. With powerhouse programs returning to the top of the bracket and plenty of potential for upsets, it’s shaping up to be another exciting tournament. They also get into:  🏀 The top seeds  🔥 Key players to watch  📈 Why women’s March Madness continues to grow in viewership, attendance, and cultural impact  🎭 The magic of the tournament: underdogs, upsets, and playoff energy  🏆 Monica and Sara’s early tournament picks View the transcript here.

    14 min

  3. FEB 11

    BONUS EPISODE: Unrivaled, Up Close. Our Miami Takeover

    We’re coming to you live (and slightly sleep-deprived) from Miami. This bonus episode is our full Unrivaled vlog — two nights, all eight teams, and the kind of energy you can’t really capture unless you’re in the building. From the Sephora Arena activations to sold-out crowds, halftime chaos, and last-second free throws, we’re taking you behind the scenes of what felt like a landmark moment for women’s basketball. We walk you through the Unrivaled Village, the fan activations, the merch (yes, jerseys were flying), and what it’s like to watch elite players compete in this 3-on-3 format up close. We get into: 🏀 The 3-on-3 format and how different it feels live🔥 The standout performances (KP going off, Stewie closing, Lexie being a menace)👯‍♀️ Seeing the Stud Buds matchup in person🎟️ Why Unrivaled feels like a turning point for the WNBA offseasonMore than anything, this weekend felt like proof. When women’s sports are invested in, fans travel. They show up. They buy jerseys. They stay for every game. This is what building something new looks like. 🎥 Hit play for the full Miami recap. View the transcript.

    9 min

  4. FEB 5

    Heated Rivalry: Yes We Loved It, And Yes We Have Thoughts

    This week’s episode dives into Heated Rivalry — the hockey romance that’s been everywhere lately — and uses it as a jumping-off point for a bigger conversation about queer representation, sports storytelling, and why certain narratives break through the way they do. Monica and Sara talk through what worked, what felt intentional, and why the emotional tone of the story resonated with so many people. From there, they zoom out to look at the cultural response, the gaps in who gets visibility, and why it’s possible to enjoy something while still having complicated feelings about it. They also get into: 🏒 Why Heated Rivalry landed so hard with mainstream audiences 💔 The Kip and Scott storyline and what it says about visibility and risk in sports 📺 How tenderness and emotional care shaped the show’s appeal ⚖️ The uneven support for queer sports stories — especially those led by women 🎥 Other queer sports projects they’re watching closely It’s a thoughtful, honest conversation about fandom, representation, and the stories we rally behind. Plus a reminder that loving a show doesn’t mean we stop asking questions about the bigger picture. View the transcript here.

    29 min

  5. JAN 3

    How 2025 Raised the Bar for Women’s Sports (Plus Our Favorite Moments)

    In the final episode of Play Like A They for 2025, Monica and Sara look back on a massive year in women’s sports — the moments that made them laugh, scream, book flights, and believe even harder in where these leagues are headed. They reflect on the year's throughline: new leagues launching, expansion teams finding their footing, record-breaking crowds, and players shaping culture both on and off the field. Across sports, the message was the same: when women’s sports are invested in, fans show up. They also get into: 🏀 A’ja Wilson’s historic WNBA season and continued dominance 🏒 The PWHL’s expansion into Seattle and Vancouver and record-breaking attendance ⚽ Gotham FC’s underdog NWSL championship run 🥎 Expansion and viewership growth across AUSL and women’s pro softball ⚾ The launch of the Women’s Professional Baseball League draft 🎿 Lindsey Vonn’s comeback and Olympic qualification It’s a celebratory, wide-angle look at a year that proved women’s sports aren’t “up and coming” anymore. They’re here, they’re thriving, and 2026 is already shaping up to be even bigger. Fact Check Notes Unrivaled One-on-One Tournament Prize Unrivaled hosted a one-on-one tournament during its inaugural season with a reported top prize of $500,000, making it one of the largest single payouts in a women’s basketball competition. Golden State Valkyries Inaugural Season The Golden State Valkyries became the first WNBA expansion team to make the playoffs in its inaugural season and sold out all regular-season home games. Bay FC at Oracle Park Attendance Bay FC hosted a regular-season match at Oracle Park that drew over 40,000 fans, one of the largest single-game crowds in NWSL history. Sophia Smith Wilson Contract Sophia Smith Wilson signed a contract with a reported $1 million player option, the highest publicly known contract value in NWSL history at the time. PWHL Seattle Home Opener Attendance Seattle’s PWHL home opener drew over 16,000 fans, setting a U.S. attendance record for the league. USA vs. Canada Rivalry Series Sweep The U.S. women’s national hockey team recorded its first-ever sweep of Canada in the current rivalry series format. Transcript: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1aLWzMHhK0Wanlr328dmGmYWQVgucnD_DKmioIJk0gfQ/edit?usp=sharing

    36 min

  6. 12/03/2025

    So You Want to Get Into the PWHL? Start Here.

    This week’s episode is a quick guide to the Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) — and a check-in on what’s been an electric few weeks for women’s sports. Consider it your crash course in the PWHL: where to start, who to follow, and why this league is already changing the game for women’s hockey. Monica and Sara kick things off with Gotham FC’s underdog championship win in the NWSL, before jumping into a recap of the PWHL’s third season, expansion updates, and what made the Seattle Torrent’s sold-out home opener such a big deal. They also talk about the energy building around the league, the growing fanbase, and why this is the perfect time to start following if you’re new to hockey. Between record-breaking attendance, Brandi Carlile singalongs, and fans in Kraken jerseys cheering their hearts out, the excitement for the PWHL is only getting louder. They also get into:  🏆 Gotham FC’s championship run and why they’ll always root for an underdog  🏒 The PWHL’s new Seattle Torrent and Vancouver Golden Eyes  🎟️ Record-breaking crowds and what they tell us about the future of women’s sports  🍸 The opening of Wilka’s, a women’s sports bar in NYC 📣 A call for Seattle to pack out Storm games the same way they’re showing up for hockey Read the transcript here.

    23 min

  7. 11/13/2025

    NWSL Playoff Preview: Upsets, Underdogs, and Unstoppable Energy

    It’s playoff time, and we’re talking football. (The global kind.) ️ This week, Monica and Sara dive into the 2025 NWSL Playoffs—who made it, who’s out, and what to expect as the chase for the championship heats up. From Kansas City’s dominant regular season to Gotham FC’s underdog moment, they break down the top storylines, key players, and why single elimination makes every game feel like a final. They also get into:   -Kansas City’s all-women training facility and what happens when teams invest in women’s sports   -Portland Thorns’ playoff run without Sophia Smith   -The Boston expansion rebrand (bye bye Boss Nation, hello Boston Legacy)   -The Elizabeth Eddy controversy and why calling out racism and transphobia in women’s sports matters   -The NWSL’s new streaming deal and what it could mean for visibility and pay It’s an episode that celebrates how far women’s soccer has come while calling out the work that still needs to be done. A mix of playoff hype, real talk, and plenty of love for the game.

    35 min

  8. 10/30/2025

    Full-Court Feelings: The 2025 WNBA Recap

    The 2025 WNBA season has officially wrapped, and Monica and Sara are here to break it all down: finals, coaching chaos, and what’s next for women’s basketball. They recap the Las Vegas Aces’ dominant championship run, the Phoenix Mercury’s collapse, and how injuries and confidence shifts changed the playoff landscape. From Alyssa Thomas’s tough series to A’ja Wilson’s continued dynasty-level play, they unpack what made this postseason exciting, frustrating, and a little bit historic. They also get into: 💬 The growing tension between players and WNBA leadership heading into the 2026 CBA negotiations 🏀 Napheesa Collier’s public statement calling out Commissioner Cathy Engelbert—and the fallout that followed 💸 Why the new Unrivaled league could be a game-changer for player pay and visibility 👟 Expansion updates: Sandy Brondello to the Toronto Tempo, and Portland Fire’s questionable coaching hire 🤔 A conversation on men coaching in women’s sports, Title IX history, and why “progress” isn’t always what it seems It’s an honest, passionate, and slightly chaotic wrap-up—the kind of conversation that reminds you why we love this league and the people fighting to make it better.

    29 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
2 Ratings

About

🏳️‍⚧️ Diving into sports beyond the binary🔥 Hot takes, guest chats, big laughs🎙️ All things women & ENBY’s in sports

Information

  • Creator
    Monica and Sara
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    32
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Play Like a They
  • Show Website
    Play Like a They