the BIG LIFE Girls Soccer Network

In this episode of The BIG LIFE, Jordyn and Sam answer viewers’ questions and share their insights on fitness, and mental health programs for college-athletes. If you’re a senior entering college in the fall, you don’t want to miss this! Discover summer training and academic tips to prepare new college freshmen for the exciting challenges ahead.

They delve into the merits of sleep scheduling, nutrition, hydration, and mental health assistance programs and understand the essential role these factors play in enhancing the overall performance and mental well-being of athletes.

The episode also highlights the potential of digital platforms and ID camps in providing visibility and recruiting opportunities for aspiring college-level soccer players.

At the end of the day, Episode 3 underscores the joy and fulfillment derived from being part of a team. Tune in for an enlightening conversation brimming with practical tips, personal anecdotes, and an unwavering passion for soccer!

Welcome back! In this episode, we delve into the heart of soccer—exploring the unique journey of Maya Antoine, who transitioned from a Canadian youth national player to a college player at Vanderbilt University and is now playing professionally in Sweden with Sam! Learn about the differences between the Canadian and U.S. sports systems and get a closer look at the shifting landscape of youth soccer.

The discussion is a deep dive into the larger aspects of professional sports - the opportunities that international soccer provides, the controversy of high school soccer, and the challenges athletes face, such as recovery from injuries. Both Maya and Jordyn share how painful it is to be an injured player on a team but also the personal growth one can gain by pushing through such a difficult experience.

The BIG LIFE is back baby! Sam and Jordyn return for Season 2, and their lives look quite a bit different from when they left off back in November.

In this first episode, Jordyn dives into what spring season looks like at Michigan State. She suffered a knee injury, but things look bright for the rising senior. Sam recounts her whirlwind of a life since the last episode of season 1, including entering the 2024 NWSL draft and moving across the world to Sweden to play professional soccer (yes, you read that right!). 

Through ups and downs, Sam and Jordyn are thrilled to be back for season two! Make sure to listen to Episode 1 and tune in each Thursday for new releases.

You know when you set out to accomplish something but have no idea what you’ve gotten yourself into? That’s a little bit about how the BIG LIFE came to be. Like many of the beautiful things that seem to blossom at Girls Soccer Network, the BIG LIFE started with a DM from Jordyn, who pitched the idea of a podcast focused on college women’s soccer, specifically around the Big Ten. She wanted to talk about things she would have wanted to hear about when she was in high school. Had she ever podcasted? Of course not, but Jen (GSN founder) could sense she was passionate about it. Jen came up with pairing her with Sam because, of course, two people not knowing how to podcast is always better than one! To say it’s been a digital journey feels like an understatement. Having gone through each step–and misstep–both on and off the field with Sam and Jordyn, this season has not just been exciting but has filled a need in the world of content that was just not being addressed: honest, soul-bearing young women competing in the top division of soccer in this country. Each week, they showed up, win, lose, broken nose, on the bench, elated, angry, and even seemingly going bald (yes, this happened). Sam and Jordyn never faltered. While it seems they started to like each other...they always kept the greater purpose of the BIG LIFE in mind: to show the next generation of players what it is REALLY like to play D1 ball.Sam has been trying to get her coach, Dave DiIanni, on the BIG LIFE all season, and he finally acquiesced. It was super interesting to hear about how Dilanni has built this Iowa women’s soccer program into something the school and players can be proud of. Like coach Jeff Hosler of Michigan State (Episode 12), Dilanni came from D2 school Grand Valley and was able to transition and seriously elevate their program’s profile. The relationship Sam and Coach Dilanni have formed throughout Sam’s five-year Iowa career is special, to say the least. It’s a testament to their love for the game and their investment in its future.We at GSN are extremely grateful to be able to end this season and honor both of our incredible hosts with a heartfelt sendoff.
Thank you to our amazing and wonderful sponsor, IDA SPORTS. Not only do they make incredible footwear, they are a company that truly walks the walk (pun intended) in their desire to elevate women's sports. We are honored to be associated with them and grateful for their sponsorship. 
OUR LINKS: 
Follow Sam Cary IG: @samcary Follow Jordyn Wickes IG: @jordyn_wickes
The BIG LIFE is a Girls Soccer Network podcast. Check out our website here.
Subscribe to Girls Soccer Network's Newsletter to stay posted about upcoming episodes. Follow us on Instagram/FB/Threads (@girlssoccernetwork) Follow us on Twitter @girlssoccernet

With the season over for all but for the four teams playing in the College Cup on Friday, it's prediction time. Who's it going to be? BYU, Stanford, Florida State or Clemson? We won't tell you who they picked but you can be sure they did not agree on the outcome.
Iowa Hawkeye Kelli McGroarty shares valuable experience about the process of entering the transfer portal. As a new player on the team late in her college career, Kelli had to learn what her role was and accept that it was different than on previous teams. She talks about evolving into the Hawkeye women's soccer program and, based on her stats this past season - did incredibly well to make an impact in such a short time. Sam and Kelli share about their late-season bonding and the laser focus they had in the post-season.
OUR LINKS: Donate to the Big Life to help us to produce this kickoff season and receive a brand new Big Life sticker. DonorboxPlease subscribe to the BIG LIFE wherever you love to listen.
Follow Sam Cary IG: @samcary Follow Jordyn Wickes IG: @jordyn_wickes
Have questions? Go ahead and ask! Send it to scary@girlssoccernetwork.com
The BIG LIFE is a Girls Soccer Network podcast. 
Subscribe to Girls Soccer Network's Newsletter to stay posted about upcoming episodes. Follow us on Instagram/FB/Threads (@girlssoccernetwork) Follow us on Twitter @girlssoccernetSubscribe to our YouTube channel @girlssoccernetwork6137
 
Check out GSN’s other podcast, Give N’ Go with Rohtas Wadera. A new episode just dropped with Alyssa Thompson and Angelina Anderson of Angel City FC.

"Episode Sweet 16, but not completely sweet. Sam and Jordyn’s seasons are over, and they reflect on the wild ride of the last few months. Sam’s college soccer journey is officially done and she looks back on her incredible, history-making career as an Iowa Hawkeye. Jordyn, meanwhile, has another year in East Lansing. She is part of a Spartan program that has seen tremendous growth during her time and she has another year to soak up all that Michigan State’s women’s soccer program has to offer.We’re lucky to have IDA Sports as our sponsor. All season they have supported our efforts with the BIG LIFE podcast, and we can’t thank them enough. If you ever wondered if there was really a difference between men’s and women’s soccer footwear, you need to hear Emelia Funnell talk about the amount of thought and research that goes into designing IDA products. we love them because they don’t just have our feet; they have our backs."
 
Please subscribe to the BIG LIFE wherever you love to listen.
Follow Sam Cary IG: @samcary Follow Jordyn Wickes IG: @jordyn_wickes
Have questions? Go ahead and ask! Send it to scary@girlssoccernetwork.com
The BIG LIFE is a Girls Soccer Network podcast. 
Subscribe to Girls Soccer Network's Newsletter to stay posted about upcoming episodes. Follow us on Instagram/FB/Threads (@girlssoccernetwork) Follow us on Twitter @girlssoccernetSubscribe to our YouTube channel @girlssoccernetwork6137