Full Time: A show about women's soccer

And then there were four. This week, the NWSL playoffs are rolling into the semifinals. Gotham FC have been bounced from their usual home, Sports Illustrated Stadium, over an unsafe pitch, while, thanks to Michele Kang, the Washington Spirit have managed to secure their home fortress of Audi Field despite a booking clash.

So how will the stadium drama affect the NWSL playoff semifinals? On this episode of Full Time, host Jillian Sakovits is joined by The Athletic’s Meg Linehan and Tamerra Griffin to analyze both matchups: The Spirit vs. the Utah Royals and Gotham vs. the KC Current.

PLUS: Tamerra sits down with Spirit leader Andi Sullivan to learn more about the special fanbase and joy of playing at Audi Field, as well as the keys to beating Utah. Then, Jill has an interview with Current veteran Vanessa DiBernado to unpack a season of growth in Kansas City and how they can get revenge on Gotham.
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HOST: Jillian Sakovits
PANEL: Meg Linehan, Tamerra Griffin
GUESTS: Andi Sullivan, Vanessa DiBernado
PRODUCER: Theo Lloyd-Hughes
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Referenced on the show:
Inside the NWSL venue saga: Spirit land Audi Field, Gotham move to 5K-seat Icahn Stadium
Trinity Rodman’s best season yet has Spirit in NWSL semifinals: ‘A nightmare for everybody else’
Gotham FC survives Seattle Reign, rough field conditions to reach NWSL semis
2026 NWSL Awards Predictions Podcast
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Get in touch: ⁠⁠fulltime@theathletic.com⁠⁠
Follow on Instagram and TikTok: @tafulltime
Subscribe to our YouTube channel: here
Subscribe to the Full Time newsletter ⁠⁠here⁠⁠
Visit the Yahoo Women's Sports hub ⁠⁠here
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The quarterfinals of the 2026 NWSL playoffs are in the books. And what a weekend it was, filled with history, upsets, extra-time and plenty of chaos.

On this episode of Full Time, host Jillian Sakovits breaks down all four quarterfinals with our incredible team from The Athletic as they report in from New Jersey, California, and Washington, D.C. From Trinity Rodman’s MVP-level thrashing of the Portland Thorns to Mandy McGlynn’s heroic saves that sealed the Utah Royals’ upset against the San Diego Wave.
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HOST: Jillian Sakovits
PANEL: Meg Linehan, Tamerra Griffin, Melanie Anzidei
PRODUCER: Theo Lloyd-Hughes
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Referenced on the show:
Kansas City secures NWSL quarterfinal win on penalty Angel City coach calls ‘tremendously cheap’
Utah Royals stun San Diego Wave in NWSL playoffs after Mandy McGlynn steals show
Gotham FC could lose home-field advantage in NWSL semifinals due to scheduling conflicts
Trinity Rodman’s best season yet has Spirit in NWSL semifinals: ‘A nightmare for everybody else’

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Get in touch: ⁠⁠fulltime@theathletic.com⁠⁠
Follow on Instagram and TikTok: @tafulltime
Subscribe to our YouTube channel: here
Subscribe to the Full Time newsletter ⁠⁠here⁠⁠
Visit the Yahoo Women's Sports hub ⁠⁠here
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The NWSL playoffs are officially here. Eight teams are left chasing a Championship title that will be handed out at the final in Washington, D.C., on November 21.

On this episode of Full Time, host Jillian Sakovits is joined by The Athletic’s Meg Linehan and Tamerra Griffin to dive into the bracket, the biggest stories of the postseason, and break down all four quarterfinals matchups ahead of the weekend’s action.

PLUS: Tamerra sits down with star striker of the red-hot Angel City FC, Sveindis Jane Jonsdottir, to get the latest on what the mood is like in Los Angeles, the power of momentum, and the secret to their extraordinary second half of the season.

Then, ahead of the team’s historic first-ever playoff game, Utah Royals captain Paige Cronin stops by to talk to Meg about her leadership style, the mentality of an underdog, and the team’s journey from rejoining the league in 2024 to now.
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HOST: Jillian Sakovits
PANEL: Meg Linehan, Tamerra Griffin
PRODUCER: Theo Lloyd-Hughes
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Referenced on the show:
NWSL’s early kickoff times for the quarterfinals harm the game: ‘It’s getting old’
The business of winning: Owners from the 8 NWSL playoff teams share their keys to success
Gotham makes history with first NWSL Shield, but its sights are already set on more
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Get in touch: ⁠⁠fulltime@theathletic.com⁠⁠
Follow on Instagram and TikTok: @tafulltime
Subscribe to our YouTube channel: here
Subscribe to the Full Time newsletter ⁠⁠here⁠⁠
Visit the Yahoo Women's Sports hub ⁠⁠here
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Gotham FC are your 2026 NWSL Shield champions, after topping the standings on the final day of the regular season. So, how did Gotham clinch a first-ever Shield in team history, and what other drama unfolded as the playoff spots were locked in?

On this episode of Full Time, moments after the final whistle on Decision Day, the podcast breaks down Gotham’s historic win, San Diego Wave’s second-place finish, and the Seattle Reign squeaking into the eighth and final playoff spot.

PLUS: With the NWSL regular season complete and ballots due this week, The Athletic’s Meg Linehan and Tamerra Griffin give their picks on who should take home the 2026 NWSL Awards. Can Ashley Sanchez still be MVP even though the NC Courage missed the playoffs? Why does Coach of the Year feel wide open? And, as wild as it sounds, should Defender of the Year be about defending?
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HOST: Theo Lloyd-Hughes
PANEL: Meg Linehan, Tamerra Griffin
PRODUCER: Theo Lloyd-Hughes
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Referenced on the show:
NWSL Decision Day 2026 recap: Gotham FC wins first Shield; Spirit, Wave and Current lock home games
NWSL original Jess Fishlock takes the spotlight after a career of doing quiet work for Seattle
How ESPN is capitalizing on the NWSL’s biggest Decision Day yet
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Get in touch: ⁠⁠fulltime@theathletic.com⁠⁠
Follow on Instagram and TikTok: @tafulltime
Subscribe to our YouTube channel: here
Subscribe to the Full Time newsletter ⁠⁠here⁠⁠
Visit the Yahoo Women's Sports hub ⁠⁠here
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

29 games down, 1 to go. The longest NWSL regular season ever is reaching its climax, and two teams, Gotham FC and the San Diego Wave, are left duking it out for top spot in the standings and the chance to lift the NWSL Shield.

So, on the show today, we’re going to be debating what winning the NWSL Shield really means. Should the regular season title mean more than a Championship? How do we increase the value of this trophy? And what would winning it mean to the two clubs left chasing the glory?

The podcast also breaks down all things Decision Day. From what will happen on Sunday in the Shield race, who will win the final playoff spot, and which teams can claim a spot in the top four and the right to host a playoff game.
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HOST: Theo Lloyd-Hughes
PANEL: Meg Linehan, Tamerra Griffin
PRODUCER: Theo Lloyd-Hughes
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Referenced on the show:
NWSL Decision Day: Explaining what’s at stake on the final day of the regular season
_______________
Get in touch: ⁠⁠fulltime@theathletic.com⁠⁠
Follow on Instagram and TikTok: @tafulltime
Subscribe to our YouTube channel: here
Subscribe to the Full Time newsletter ⁠⁠here⁠⁠
Visit the Yahoo Women's Sports hub ⁠⁠here
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.