u/TheWomensSoccerPod

Hi Northern Super League fans,

Thank you for your support on our past interviews with the league, it has been such a joy to work with such incredible athletes!

Today, AFC Toronto and Canadian National Team goalkeeper Sabrina D'Angelo sits down to discuss life in the Northern Super League!

Olympic Medalist and fearless shot-stopper joins the podcast to share insider insights on AFC Toronto's 2026 season and the Canadian National Team ahead of the upcoming World Cup qualifiers.

She shares what it meant to earn her first international cap, her experience winning a bronze medal at the 2016 Rio Olympics, what standing on that podium meant to her personally, and where that accomplishment ranks among her career milestones as she guides Canada into the 2027 cycle with her seniority and leadership.

Sabrina also talks about the iconic 2016 NWSL Championship final where she won Finals MVP with the Western New York Flash after making three massive penalty saves in the shootout! She takes us into the goalkeeper's mindset ahead of each kick, the role of preparation and scouting the opposition's top shooters, and the unique attributes that make a top goalkeeper so incredible at stopping penalties.

Sabrina shares why the Arsenal project and making the move to the WSL from Sweden's Damallsvenskan was appealing to her, how the chance to compete in the Champions League factored into her decision, and how she maintained her confidence through major career obstacles, including playing through a broken wrist for the Flash and bouncing back from a devastating 2020 ACL tear.

Lastly, she shares how she reflects on the high-pressure 2024 Paris Olympics, her advice to her younger self on handling outside noise, what it means to finally play club football at home in Canada after years of national team advocacy for the NSL, her vision board for her short and long-term career goals, and so much more!

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This is the second part of our three-part series in collaboration with AFC Toronto! Listen to part one with AFC + Nigerian forward Esther Okoronkwo here!

Hey everyone, this is host of The Women’s Soccer Podcast! Thank you all for your support of our coverage throughout the tournament, and after some crazy quarterfinal matches, we recorded this episode and I would love to hear your thoughts on it/the topic in general!

WAFCON's quarterfinals just delivered the deepest week in the tournament's history, and the results prove it: ten-time champion and defending champion Nigeria is out, and Malawi, playing in just their second-ever WAFCON, is through to a World Cup for the first time as the lowest-ranked nation to ever qualify for a Women's World Cup.

In this episode, LDG breaks down what actually happened across all four quarterfinals before making the case that the World Cup slot allocation hasn't caught up to what African women's football has become.

He lays out the numbers first: CAF and UEFA have almost identical membership, 54 nations to 55, yet UEFA gets eleven direct World Cup slots to CAF's four. This year's WAFCON proves how badly that decision missed the mark.

He backs it up with what just happened on the pitch, a 16-team WAFCON field for the first time ever, two debutant nations reaching the tournament, and a group-stage tiebreaker so tight that CAF had to separate Malawi, Nigeria, and Zambia on a rarely-used head-to-head rule.

From there, LDG gets into the storylines carrying the tournament into its final week, including KC Current forward Temwa Chawinga's goal against Ghana that kept Malawi's run alive, and what it means for an NWSL name to be at the center of an African qualifying story.

He previews Wednesday's semifinals, Morocco hosting Cameroon in Rabat and Malawi facing Algeria in Casablanca, and closes on the four teams still fighting for a way into Brazil: Nigeria, South Africa, Ghana, and Ivory Coast all play an extra round on August 13 for a single remaining spot in the FIFA inter-confederation playoff, with two former champions now needing one more result just to stay alive.

I hope that you enjoy this episode and would love to hear your thoughts on what you think about the World Cup spot allocation process currently!

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Hi KC Current fans,

Thank you for your support on our past interviews with the club, it has been such a joy to work with the team!

In today's episode, Kansas City Current II attacker Avery Clark sits down to discuss beginning her professional career in KC and her non-traditional path to the pros!

Rising star and lethal goalscorer Avery Clark joins the podcast to share insider insights on her incredible breakout year with KC Current II and making her debut with the senior squad.

She shares what it meant to establish herself as a premier attacking threat for the Texas Longhorns, winning titles in both the Big 12 and SEC, and what she took from that elite environment as she prepared for the physical and psychological demands of professional soccer. Avery also talks about her iconic professional debut with the first team, coming off the bench as a second-half substitute to score a spectacular 82nd-minute header game-winning goal against Corinthians SC!

She takes us into that moment to share the emotions running through her head, the single most vivid image she remembers, and how it felt to share that massive stage alongside her fellow Current II teammates. Avery shares why her story is a little bit different than others, pulling back the curtain on the up and down chapters of her journey and how she maintained her conviction when the next step seemed unclear.

She opens up about the groundbreaking importance of NWSL second teams in player development, navigating the transition between the youth/college game to the pros, and how dominating unique modalities like the 3v3 Target Score Time format at TST has sharpened her adaptability.

Beyond the pitch, Avery discusses her strong commitment to growing the game off the field, detailing what the mainstream media still gets wrong about the daily reality of women's soccer players and her mission to change that narrative through her content creation and digital ambassadorship with ByUs Media.

Lastly, she shares the specific technical and physical parts of her game she is sharpening to ensure her next senior team call-up is even more dominant, what is currently on her short and long-term soccer vision board, her answers to our rapid-fire questions, and so much more!

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Hi NSL fans!

Thank you so much for your support on our most recent interview with a NSL athlete, Mya Jones!

In today's episode, AFC Toronto and Super Falcons attacker Esther Okoronkwo sit down to discuss life in the Northern Super League!

WAFCON Champion and lethal goalscorer Esther Okoronkwo joins the podcast to share insider insights on AFC Toronto's first two seasons and the Super Falcons ahead of the upcoming WAFCON competition.

She shares what it meant to receive her first call up to the Nigerian women's national team, her experience playing at her first-ever World Cup in 2023, what she took from that match and her other national team experiences as she joined AFC Toronto, and so much more!

Esther also talks about the iconic comeback that the Super Falcons had in the 2025 Women's African Cup of Nations final, as they were down 2-0 at halftime against Morocco, but Esther scoring a penalty, assisted the second goal, and then assisted the third goal off a free kick to help help team to a 3-2 comeback victory! She takes us into the locker room to share the mindset shift that happened at halftime and the words of encouragement that were exchanged, and she shared how that match ranked for her personally in her career (it was quite high on the list!)

Esther shares why the AFC Toronto project and Northern Super League as a whole was intriguing to her, her decision to re-sign with the team after their inaugural season and why she loves playing in the NSL!

Lastly, she shares what excites her about this current Super Falcons group, the state of the team as they approach WAFCON, what she believes it will take for Nigeria to achieve its goals at the tournament, what it meant to officially secure a place on this roster, what making the 2027 World Cup roster would mean to her, her long and short term goals, and so much more!

It was such an amazing conversation right before WAFCON, I was so honored to get to chat with Esther. I hope you all enjoy the episode!

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Hi WSL fans!

Thank you so much for your support on our most recent interview with a WSL/youth Lionesses athlete Sophia Poor!

In today's episode, Gotham FC forward Princess Ademiluyi and Chelsea FC defender Chloe Sarwie sit down to discuss life in the elite youth international pathway while navigating high-stakes club milestones!

England youth internationals Princess Ademiluyi and Chloe Sarwie open up about their meteoric rise through the footballing ranks. From sharing their earliest childhood football memories to pulling on the English crest across nearly every youth level, Princess and Chloe share what it truly means to represent the Lionesses. They break down how their experiences in the international pipeline have completely reshaped their tactical styles, footballing perspectives, and senior club performances.

Shifting to club milestones, Princess details her fascinating career path from West Ham United to the NWSL with Gotham FC, highlighting what attracted her to their ambitious project. She shares how her tactical loan spells with Fort Lauderdale United in the USL Super League and her current run with Ipswich Town FC in the WSL 2 have prepared her mentally and physically for a top-flight return.

Chloe then takes us inside her unforgettable first-team debut for Chelsea FC in the UEFA Women's Champions League. She walks us through the raw emotions and the most vivid images from stepping onto club football's biggest stage during a tense, high-stakes European tie.

The conversation wraps up with a candid look at the mental fortitude required to handle the whirlwind pressure of being thrust into vital club and international roles as elite teenagers. The discussion ends with an honest talk about how difficult it can be for teenage athletes to handle huge responsibilities at club and national team levels, after which we move on to some fun rapid-fire questions!

I hope you all enjoy!

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Hi NSL fans!

Thank you so much for your support on our most recent interview with a Northern Super League athlete Naya Cardoza!

In this episode, Calgary Wild forward Mya Jones sits down to discuss life in the Northern Super League!

From dominating youth pitches in Alberta to making history as the first-ever University of Memphis women's soccer graduate selected in the NWSL Draft, Mya’s journey is defined by grit and elite competitiveness.

Mya opens up about the cultural and physical adjustments of transitioning to NCAA Division 1 soccer. She also reflects on her early international debut for Canada's U-15 national team at just 12 years old under Bev Priestman, sharing how those elite youth tournament experiences prepared her for the professional ranks.

Shifting to her professional career, Mya details her 2024 NWSL Draft experience with the San Diego Wave and the reputation she built as a fierce, high-intensity competitor on the pitch. She candidly shares the mental and physical hurdles of overcoming a severe broken foot injury during an NSL loan spell with AFC Toronto.

The conversation wraps up with an inside look at the launch of the Northern Super League and why Mya chose to return home to sign with Calgary Wild FC for the 2026 season. She explains how the squad is navigating heavy roster turnover and a coaching change following Lydia Bedford's departure, all while building a distinct new team identity. Finally, Mya shares her short-term goals, senior Canada national team aspirations, and fields a fun round of TWSP-classic rapid-fire questions.

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Hi NSL fans!

Thank you so much for your support on our most recent interview with a Northern Super League athlete Jaylyn Wright!

In this episode, Halifax Tides defender Naya Cardoza joins the show to take us inside her journey from Ivy League collegiate powerhouse to the historic Northern Super League in Canadian soccer.

In this episode, the former Brown University captain opens up about what it takes to defend the world's best attackers. She shares firsthand insights from her international caps with the Jamaica Women’s National Team (or Reggae Girlz), breaking down the tactical mindset needed to shut down global superstars like Alessia Russo, Chloe Kelly, Lizbeth Ovalle, and Marta.

Naya also talks about why the Halifax Tides FC and the club’s long-term project was a great fit for her first professional contract and club, the responsibility she feels to inspire the next generation of Canadian soccer talent, and how she navigated the hurdles on the road to going pro that are not always highlighted.

Plus, we look ahead to Jamaica’s vital 2027 Women’s World Cup qualifying campaign and close things out with a rapid-fire Q&A!

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Hi USL fans!

Thank you so much for your support on our most recent interview with a Gainbridge Super League athlete Ashlyn Puerta!

In this episode, Carolina Ascent midfielder Shea Groom sits down to discuss life in the Gainbridge Super League!

NWSL Champion and veteran midfielder Shea Groom joins the podcast to share insider insights from her eleven top-flight professional seasons. Discover how her recent transition to Carolina Ascent FC is shaping her veteran leadership role in a new league landscape and uncover her proven strategies for locker room culture, tactical execution, and maintaining a competitive edge at the highest levels of women's soccer.'

She shares her initial reaction hearing about a second professional women’s soccer league coming to the United States, what specifically made the Carolina Ascent the right fit, winning the inaugural NWSL Challenge Cup title in the COVID-19 bubble with a very special Houston Dash group.

Shea also talks about how she has seen the women’s soccer landscape evolve since her rookie season and what stands out most when you compare the American women’s soccer landscape, NWSL and USL included, then versus where it is today and how both the high's of trophies and lows of injuries taught her resilience, leadership, and maintaining confidence through adversity.

Additionally, Shea elaborates on how her team's identity continues to develop, playing in front of the avid Carolina fanbase, how she has stepped into a more prominent leadership/mentorship role of her younger teammates in Carolina, her time in NCAA women's college soccer with Texas Tech, and so much more!

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Hi Chicago fans!

Thank you so much for your support on our last interview with a Chicago Stars FC player

In this episode, Chicago Stars FC midfielder Emma Egizii sits down to discuss life in the NWSL as a rookie!

Emma breaks down her journey from winning an NCAA National Championship with the UCLA Bruins to signing her first multi-year professional contract. Learn how the All-American playmaker overcame multiple major knee injuries to break out as a top rookie talent in the National Women's Soccer League and hear her expert tactical advice on navigating the transition from college soccer to the pro game.

In today's incredible conversation, Emma shares what specifically made the Chicago Stars the right fit, and her first-ever professional preseason being highlighted by a training camp in Spain.

Emma talks about how she looks back upon her time with NCAA women's college soccer powerhouse UCLA Bruins, recovering from two season-ending injuries in college/the resilience required and adversity faced by athletes playing at the highest level of soccer, and how Emma hopes that being a part of the Stars’ environment will help to continue to cultivate and develop attributes in her game as she enters the professional ranks.

Additionally, Emma elaborates on how her team's identity continues to develop, making her professional debut in front of the avid (and her hometown) Angel City team/fanbase that her parents are season ticket-holders of, her goals on her career vision board, and her message to the fans of the Stars!

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Hi Houston Dash Fans,

Thank you so much for your support on our last two interviews with Houston Dash players, Clarissa Larisey and Maggie Graham.

In this episode, we interview Cate Hardin, a defender/midfielder for the Houston Dash.

Cate reflects on her experience in preseason as a trialist with the Dash, debuting in the NWSL in front of more than 10,000 home fans, the budding young core that the Dash is building around Cate and her fellow rookies, plus so much more!

Cate also discusses the journey of navigating the process of coordinating with professional clubs after graduation, her goals in football moving forward, her time with the Georgia Bulldogs in college soccer, how the Dash's environment has and will help continue to grow her game.

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Hi NC Courage fans!

Thank you for your support on our last NC Courage interview with Riley Jackson!

In today’s episode, Liam is joined by Cameron Brooks, one of the newest signings for the North Carolina Courage and one of the most inspiring stories in women’s soccer right now.

In this engaging discussion, Cameron reflects on her journey: from starring at the University of Texas alongside future professional and international players like Holly Ward, Emma Regan, and Trinity Byars, to suffering a devastating ACL injury after college that forced her to navigate rehab independently while working multiple jobs to continue chasing her dream of becoming a professional footballer.

Cameron opens up about moving overseas to Spain, training with the academies of the Portland Thorns and San Diego Wave, working at a gym in New York City for access to equipment, and continuing her development with Brooklyn FC’s boys academy and the Long Island Rough Riders before eventually signing her first professional contract with Fort Lauderdale United ahead of the inaugural Gainbridge Super League season.

The conversation also dives into her breakout rookie campaign with Fort Lauderdale United, the club’s run to the playoffs, and how her move overseas to Napoli Femminile helped elevate both her technical ability and mentality in possession-based systems.

Lastly, Cameron also discusses why the Courage project under Mak Lind appealed to her, how preseason has gone with so many new faces in the squad, the goals she has for the 2026 NWSL season, and so much more!

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Hi r/WomensSoccer members. Thanks so much for your support of our show so far this year! Today, we released an episode about the growth of Liga MX Femenil, in and out of the context of the recent CONCACAF Champions Cup, and wanted to make sure it made its way to the biggest fans of the sport!

In this episode, LDG discusses Club América’s dominant Concacaf W Champions Cup run, which sparked a much larger conversation about the future of women’s soccer in North America.

After emphatic wins over Gotham FC and the Washington Spirit, LDG debates whether Liga MX Femenil has closed the gap on the NWSL faster than many expected, what these results reveal tactically and structurally, and why growing competition between leagues may ultimately strengthen the global women’s game.

LDG breaks down Club América’s tactical approach, the role of investment and club infrastructure, whether parity helps or hurts the NWSL internationally, the importance of atmosphere and fan culture, and what this rivalry could mean for the future of women’s club soccer.

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Hi Matildas fans!

In today’s episode, LDG sits down with a true history-maker: Sydney FC defender and Junior Matildas captain, Willa Pearson!

Besides becoming the first guest in the history of our podcast who is younger than LDG himself, despite her youth, her pedigree on the pitch and list of records broken off it is immense.

Willa made global headlines after playing the full 90 minutes in Sydney FC’s opening match at just 14 years and 312 days old, officially becoming the youngest debutant in A-Leagues history. She followed that up by shattering Sam Kerr’s long-standing record to become the league's youngest-ever goalscorer at 15!

Willa has quickly gained attention for her composure, defensive awareness, and maturity playing against experienced professional competition. In this conversation, we talk about her journey into the professional game, balancing soccer at such a young age, her development with Sydney FC and Australia’s youth national team setup, and what she’s learned from her rapid rise in the sport so far.

Fresh off her second match at the AFC U-17 Women’s Asian Cup, Willa joins the pod to take listeners behind the scenes of her historic rise.

We chat about her earliest soccer memories, how navigating a high-level dual-sport background in both soccer and cricket enhanced her athletic abilities, and the exact thoughts running through her mind during her record-breaking pro debut.

Willa also opens up about adjusting to the pressure of top-flight football, what it meant to receive the Junior Matildas call-up, and how she processes taking on a massive leadership role as the squad’s captain.

To wrap things up, we look ahead to her short- and long-term objectives with Sydney FC and the Matildas youth setup, followed by a must-listen rapid-fire section where we find out her locker room DJ picks, favorite kits, and her one-word preview for her massive 2026 calendar!

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Hey NSL Fans,

In today's episode, LDG is chatting with Tanya Boychuk, forward for the Montreal Roses and Ukrainian women's national team.

With experience playing for Canada's youth squads, Tanya's career spans over two continents, competing across North America and Europe. Tanya began her professional career in Iceland and Sweden before she found herself back in Canada joining the Montreal Roses. Today, Tanya competes for the senior women's national team of Ukraine, after making the switch in March after being called up for training camps with the team, ahead of the upcoming international windows that hold weight in qualifications for major competitions.

In our conversation, Tanya opens up about the switch from college soccer to the professional game, adapting to the footballing cultures while playing club football in foreign countries, and how that experience enhanced her development on and off the pitch.

Tanya also speaks candidly about her decision to switch teams and play for the Montreal Roses when the Northern Super League was still very new, the experience of building a team from scratch, and the role she took on from day 1 after being appealed to the project in discussion with the club's sporting director.

Towards the end of our chat, Tanya shares why she decided to play for Ukraine internationally and her ambitions in the game at the highest level, along with her goals for the future with both her club and national team.

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USL fans,

Thank you for your support on our last Gainbridge Super League interview with Sophie Harding!

In this episode, I am so excited to talk with Sporting Jacksonville and USWNT U-20 forward Ashlyn Puerta, who is currently leading the Gainbridge Super League golden boot race.

A rising force in the professional game, Ashlyn's made an immediate impact in her first season at Sporting Jacksonville, quickly establishing herself as one of the most dangerous attacking players in the Gainbridge Super League. From a standout youth career that included top academy performances, early national team involvement, and exposure to elite training environments, her path to the professional level has been defined by constant challenges and adaptation at every stage.

In this episode, Ashlyn reflects on her earliest soccer memories, the moments that shaped her development, and how she built the mindset needed to transition from youth standout to professional goalscorer. Ashlyn also breaks down her decision to forgo the traditional college route in favor of joining an expansion project, walking through what ultimately made Sporting Jacksonville the right fit at a pivotal moment in her career. Now a key figure in the club’s early success, she discusses her adjustment to the professional game, playing in front of growing home crowds, and what it means to be part of a team building its identity from the ground up.

The conversation closes with reflections on her goals for the future, both short-term and long-term, as she continues her breakout season and looks ahead to what’s next in her career.

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KC Current fans,

Thank you for your support on our last KC Current interviews from last season with Izzy Rodriguez + Bayley Feist and Rocky Rodriguez + Laurel Ivory.

Fresh off one of the most decorated collegiate seasons in the country, in today's episode of The Women's Soccer Podcast, rising defender Kolo Suliafu gave her first-ever interview as a professional in an exclusive and in-depth conversation with LDG.

Kolo gives a glimpse into the path that led her to reach a professional level of play. Beginning with childhood memories of playing soccer and being a standout at high school all the way to deciding to join University of Washington and making history by taking the Huskies to an Elite Eight appearance, Kolo shares stories of winning Big Ten Defender of the Year and All-American awards, creating the winning mindset that she is bringing to KC.

Kolo brings listeners behinds the scenes access into what it is like becoming part of Kansas City Current in its new phase, the journey of a rookie navigating a post-draft ecosystem, what made Kansas City the most appealing project to start her professional career, and her experience in her first-ever professional preseason being tasked by achieving the club's lofty goals.

Lastly, Kolo chats about her initial days in Kansas City, the elite amenities of playing for the Current (dedicated stadium and training facilities,) the message she wants to convey to fans, and the objectives/staples on her vision board for 2026 and beyond.

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