The Late Sub with Claire Watkins Just Women's Sports

This week, Claire discusses WNBA All-Star weekend, which felt both like a celebration of how the league has grown over the past year and set Team USA up for a particularly competitive Olympics. Then, she reviews the field for the Olympic soccer tournament, pointing out her personal Group of Death and seeing how the U.S. might still be in the medal conversation despite their current rebuild under Emma Hayes.

This week, Claire breaks down in depth the days prior to the USWNT’s first send-off series game, also discussing performances, what worked and what still needs developing, as the team moves towards a crucial Olympic competition that will dictate the future of the team. She then turns toward WNBA All-Star weekend, with a short chat with Gatorade women’s basketball player of the year Joyce Edwards alongside former WNBA All-Star and Dallas Wings star Satou Sabally.

This week, Claire takes the solo mic to break down a beautiful new rivalry between the Orlando Pride and the Kansas City Current, while taking stock of where every NWSL team has landed going into the leagues regular season Olympic break. Then, she does the same with the WNBA, looking at small shifts that could impact the standings after Paris. She takes stock of individual performances in the context of the two WNBA all-star teams, and takes the temperature for just how prepared both the NWSL and WNBA have gotten their athletes for the Olympics.

This week, Claire hones in on the upcoming marquee NWSL matchup between Orlando and Kansas City by pondering the question: how did the Orlando Pride transform into a contender? She speaks with Pride general manager Haley Carter about the construction of Orlando’s turnaround, and then chats with Pride forward Ally Watt about the team’s transformation on the field. Off the soccer field, Claire then does a check in on where the WNBA is trending as they near a significant Olympic break.

Claire hops on to react to the 2024 USWNT Olympic roster, with one big omission marking a new era of the team. She chats through the benefits of experience vs potential, versatility and fitness, and how this team will continue to gel while meeting the internal expectations of new manager Emma Hayes, which might not always coincide with what the fans want out of a major tournament.

In today’s episode, Claire talks through the widening gap between top NWSL contenders and the rest of the pack after more statement performances from Kansas City and Orlando. Then, she chats with Rookie of the Year (and possibly MVP?) frontrunner Croix Bethune about playing with joy, what makes the Washington midfield tick and more. And then finally she breaks down the current state of the WNBA, where mid-standings rivalries are just as exciting as the title contenders.