Full Time: A show about women's soccer

Ashley Sanchez has been one of the best players of the 2026 NWSL season. In a career year for the 27-year-old North Carolina Courage attacker, the conversation is turning to whether it is time for a return to the U.S. women’s national team.

On this episode of Full Time, Jillian Sakovits is joined by Sanchez to talk all about her incredible 2026. From what new head coach Mak Lind has brought to North Carolina, to how she has refined her game on the pitch, and enjoyed major life changes off of it. She also unpacks what it would mean to win a first-ever NWSL Golden Boot trophy and the latest on whether USWNT head coach Emma Hayes has been in touch.

PLUS: The news that the Chicago Stars have parted ways with head coach Martin Sjögren after just 18 matches in charge.
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HOST: Jillian Sakovits
GUEST: Ashley Sanchez
PRODUCER: Theo Lloyd-Hughes
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Referenced on the show:
NWSL Golden Boot race: Can anyone overtake Temwa Chawinga or Barbra Banda?
Chicago Stars fire Martin Sjögren, name Karina Báez interim head coach
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Get in touch: ⁠⁠fulltime@theathletic.com⁠⁠
Follow on Instagram and TikTok: @tafulltime
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On this week’s Full Time, hosts Jillian Sakovits, Meg Linehan, and Tamerra Griffin dive into the emerging world of web-based women’s soccer mini-games. The pod talks to the people behind viral soccer mini-games ‘Road to 75’, ‘Immaculate Footy', as well as someone who helped develop Fantasy NWSL.

What does it take to launch a mini-game? How do they work, and in what ways do they educate fans on women’s soccer data and history? Can these games shape the culture and the fandom of the sport?
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HOSTS: Jillian Sakovits, Meg Linehan, Tamerra Griffin
GUESTS: Kieran Doyle, Emily Anderson, Izzy Duddy
PRODUCER: Theo Lloyd-Hughes
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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 Kansas City Current’s Temwa Chawinga and Malawi are heading to the 2027 Women’s World Cup in Brazil.

In a thriller on Sunday night, Malawi – the lowest-ranked team at the 2026 Women’s African Cup of Nations – came from behind to defeat Ghana 2-1 in the quarterfinals in Casablanca, Morocco.

On this episode of Full Time, Jillian Sakovits is joined by The Athletic’s Tamerra Griffin to unpack Malawi’s incredible run to the semifinals and what it means for the nation and their players to reach a first World Cup. Will powerhouse Nigeria miss a women’s World Cup for the first time? What happened to Barbra Banda and Zambia?

PLUS: All the best moments from the NWSL weekend, including goals galore as Pietra Tordin scores the fastest-ever hat-trick in NWSL history and the North Carolina Courage stun the Washington Spirit at Audi Field.
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HOST: Jillian Sakovits
GUEST: Tamerra Griffin
PRODUCER: Theo Lloyd-Hughes
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Referenced on the show:
WAFCON 2026: Cameroon shocks Nigeria, Algeria and Malawi qualify for first Women’s World Cup
NWSL stars at WAFCON feel a responsibility to elevate teammates to similar opportunities
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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.

On Wednesday, at a press conference in New York City, NWSL commissioner Jess Berman officially unveiled the league’s 2027 calendar outline. In what will be the NWSL’s historic 15th season, the league will have its earliest-ever kickoff on February 11, the same week as the Super Bowl.

On this episode of Full Time, Jillian Sakovits is joined by The Athletic’s Melanie Anzidei and Asli Pelit to break down what we learned from the NWSL’s midseason press conference, how the league went about deciding the best way to allow for a lengthy break during the 2027 Women’s World Cup next summer and will the NWSL benefit from the KC Current’s involvement in the new season of Apple TV show Ted Lasso.
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HOST: Jillian Sakovits
GUESTS: Asli Pelit, Melanie Anzidei
PRODUCER: Theo Lloyd-Hughes
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Reference on the show:
NWSL to start 2027 season in February ahead of Women’s World Cup next summer
NWSL commissioner Jessica Berman talks 2027 calendar, media rights deal and weather protocol
Will ‘Ted Lasso’ shine a light on the evolution of women’s soccer?
Racing Louisville owner seeks new investment, says relocation not off the table
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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.

Is Trinity Rodman overrated? Do the U.S. women’s national team need to be playing in more competitive tournaments? Should more NWSL teams follow the Utah Royals and give head coaches more time?

This week’s Full Time is a Summer Mailbag special, where hosts Jillian Sakovits, Meg Linehan and Tamerra Griffin answer listener questions on everything and anything about the global women’s game. From 2027 World Cup roster conundrums to picking WAFCON 5-a-side teams and everything in between.
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HOSTS: Jillian Sakovits, Meg Linehan, Tamerra Griffin
PRODUCER: Theo Lloyd-Hughes
______________
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.