Leaves are falling, soup season is upon us, and the NWSL Playoffs are back!

On this week's Full Time podcast, hosts Tamerra Griffin and Meg Linehan break down the entire 2025 NWSL Playoffs, from the strengths and weaknesses of the eight teams left competing for the Championship, to how each quarterfinal is poised, and which teams will advance.

Who are the key players and matchups? Will we see any upsets from the lower seeds? Can you read too much into end-of-season form? If each quarterfinal match were a takeout order, what takeout order would it be? This podcast gives you everything you need to know about the 2025 NWSL Playoffs.

PLUS: Tamerra and Meg close out the show with their brackets and picks for who will make it all the way to the Championship Final in San Jose on November 22, as well as some final words and flowers for the six teams who will not be heading to the NWSL postseason.

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Referenced on the show

Racing finished in ninth place the past four NWSL seasons. This year, they broke the curse

Bold NWSL title predictions

USWNT’s Olivia Moultrie agrees to contract extension with Portland Thorns through 2029

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HOSTS: Tamerra Griffin, Meg Linehan

PRODUCER: Theo Lloyd-Hughes

VIDEO PRODUCER: Lia Griffin

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER: Emily Olsen

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Get in touch: ⁠⁠fulltime@theathletic.com⁠⁠

Follow on Instagram and TikTok: @tafulltime

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 a dramatic Decision Day, Racing Louisville has clinched a spot in the NWSL playoffs for the first time in team history. But how did Bev Yanez's team pull it iff on the final day of the regular season and what does it mean for the players, the coach and the fanbase?

On this week's Full Time Review, Tamerra Griffin is joined by Melanie Azidei and Asli Pelit to analyze all the drama from the NWSL's regular season finale. From Ella Hase's historic goal for Racing, to the North Carolina Courage's big win over Gotham, that wasn't enough.

Which teams rotated squads? What emotional goodbyes did we see from retiring legends? How much can we read into the performances of teams heading off to the playoffs? Has the return of Decision Day created a new marquee event for the NWSL?

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HOST: Tamerra Griffin

GUESTS: Asli Pelit, Melanie Anzidei

PRODUCER: Theo Lloyd-Hughes

VIDEO PRODUCER: Lia Griffin

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER: Emily Olsen

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Referenced on the show:

NWSL Decision Day recap: Racing celebrates, Current earns crucial win and an exciting rematch

Chicago Stars are not letting a poor 2025 stop them from dreaming about a stadium and the future

Seattle Reign’s Laura Harvey says ChatGPT inspired NWSL tactics: ‘It said play a back five, so I did’

Bev Yanez on her coaching journey & Racing Louisville's date with destiny

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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.

In 2011, after the Women's Professional Soccer league folded, Bev Yanez flew to Japan to hold onto her dreams of being a soccer player. That journey changed her life and set her on the path to being the person she is today.

On this week's Full Time Review, Jillian Sakovits sits down with Yanez for a special feature interview about her journey from National Women's Soccer League player to head coach of Racing Louisville. The conversation takes place days before the final match of the NWSL regular season that will decide if Racing clinches a spot in the playoffs for the first time in team history. How has Yanez developed as a coach? What are the secrets behind Racing's record-breaking season and the team's identity? How does Yanez balance being a mother and head coach?

PLUS: Jill breaks down what is at stake ahead of NWSL 'Decision Day' and the 1-2-3 of what to watch this weekend.

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HOST: Jillian Sakovits

GUEST: Bev Yanez

PRODUCER: Theo Lloyd-Hughes

VIDEO PRODUCER: Lia Griffin

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER: Emily Olsen

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Referenced on the show:

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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 U.S. women's national team's October window has come to an end. But what did we learn from the trio of friendlies against Portugal and New Zealand?

On this week's Full Time podcast, hosts Tamerra Griffin and Meg Linehan get into the USWNT's October friendlies, the players that stood out, the importance of giving the young players more minutes, why it may be more interesting to see the USWNT lose than dominant, and what opponents Emma Hayes should be booking in for the 2026 SheBelieves Cup.

PLUS: Tamerra and Meg unpack Meg's latest column for The Athletic that responds to an op-ed by NWSL player Elizabeth Eddy that calls for new eligibility rules in the NWSL. What are the league and players association saying on the matter, what players are being unfairly targeted and what danger is on the horizon as a lack of clarity lingers?

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Referenced on the show

Rose Lavelle is a ‘magician’ for USWNT and Gotham – and now her leadership is casting a spell

USWNT 6, New Zealand 0: Emma Sears scores first professional hat trick

NWSL’s lack of gender eligibility policy leaves players vulnerable – just not in the way you think

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HOSTS: Tamerra Griffin, Meg Linehan

PRODUCER: Theo Lloyd-Hughes

VIDEO PRODUCER: Lia Griffin

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER: Emily Olsen

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Get in touch: ⁠⁠fulltime@theathletic.com⁠⁠

Follow on Instagram and TikTok: @tafulltime

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.

Just three days after their worst performance under head coach Emma Hayes, the U.S. women's national team burst back into life with a rejuvenating 3-1 win over Portugal. What made it all the sweeter was the USA's young stars, like Olivia Moultrie and Jaedyn Shaw, stealing the show in that win.

On this week's Full Time Review, Jillian Sakovits catches up with Melanie Azidei and Asli Pelit from Connecticut to talk about what they learned from the USWNT's win over Portugal. Why did Hayes make as many changes as she did? How come Moultrie and Shaw have established such a tight relationship on the pitch? What did it mean for goalkeeping legend Alyssa Naeher to be honored before the game in her home state?

PLUS: Jill and Producer Theo talk Brazil's statement win over the Lionesses in Manchester, what it means for the European Champions and the 2027 World Cup hosts. Jill then closes out the show with her moment of the week.

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HOST: Jillian Sakovits

GUESTS: Asli Pelit, Melanie Anzidei

PRODUCER: Theo Lloyd-Hughes

VIDEO PRODUCER: Lia Griffin

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER: Emily Olsen

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Referenced on the show:

USWNT bounces back against Portugal with 2 goals from 20-year-old Olivia Moultrie

Maya Le Tissier has made case for England centre-back role – her talent there should not be wasted

England’s soft underbelly has been exposed. Again

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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.

Did the USWNT just put in its worst performance under head coach Emma Hayes?

On this week's Full Time Focus, host Jillian Sakovits is joined by The Athletic's Henry Bushnell to unpack the USWNT's 2-1 defeat to Portugal on Thursday night. The duo break down what went wrong for the USWNT, who does the blame should fall on and whether there is any panic in the squad. Henry also gets into what the atmosphere was like at Subaru Park as U.S. Soccer honored retired legend Alex Morgan, as well as what he learned about the Americans' performance after talking to Hayes and several USWNT stars post-match.

PLUS: Jill has latest roster updates for the USWNT and beyond, as well as the Full Time's 1-2-3 of what to watch this international weekend from a Wales legend's final bow in her hometown, to an intercontinental battle of the ages.

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Referenced on the show:

The USWNT just gave its worst performance under Emma Hayes. What went wrong against Portugal?

Gotham FC forward Jaedyn Shaw on her road back to the USWNT: ‘I feel very free’

USWNT’s Alyssa Thompson on her Chelsea move: ‘I was expecting it to be more scary’

USWNT 1, Portugal 2: Uncharacteristic mistakes leave the U.S. disappointed in loss

USWNT celebrates Alex Morgan’s ‘legendary’ career as she passes the torch to next generation

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HOST: Jillian Sakovits

GUEST: Henry Bushnell

PRODUCER: Theo Lloyd-Hughes

VIDEO PRODUCER: Lia Griffin

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER: Emily Olsen

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Get in touch: ⁠fulltime@theathletic.com⁠

Follow on Instagram and TikTok: @tafulltime

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.

For months now, U.S. women's national team head coach Emma Hayes has stated that she wanted to identify her core group for the 2027 World Cup cycle by the October 2025 international window. Well, here we are.

On this week's Full Time podcast, hosts Tamerra Griffin and Meg Linehan get out their crystal balls and debate their first drafts of what they believe will be Hayes's USWNT roster in two summers time at the 2027 World Cup in Brazil. Who will Tamerra and Meg select? Who will they leave off the roster? Where will the two differ in their picks? Which absent stars will be predicted to return? How big is Hayes's roster bubble right now?

PLUS: Melanie Anzidei and Asli Pelit join the show fresh from U.S. soccer, alongside the Mexican, Costa Rican and Jamaican soccer federations, presenting their 2031 Women's World Cup bid to the media. The duo get into what they learned from speaking with the federations this week, as well as legends Kelley O'Hara and Abby Wambach. How many teams will compete? Why did these four nations join forces as hosts? What exciting prospects and challenges lie ahead?

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Referenced on the show

U.S. Soccer, largely uninvolved in 2026 men’s World Cup, wants to help 2031 Women’s World Cup leave ‘legacy’

United States, Mexico, Costa Rica and Jamaica announce joint 2031 Women’s World Cup bid

USWNT’s Lily Yohannes scores long-range stunner, Alyssa Thompson taps in first Champions League goal

USWNT’s Alyssa Thompson on her Chelsea move: ‘I was expecting it to be more scary’

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HOSTS: Tamerra Griffin, Meg Linehan

GUESTS: Melanie Anzidei, Asli Pelit

PRODUCER: Theo Lloyd-Hughes

VIDEO PRODUCER: Lia Griffin

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER: Emily Olsen

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Get in touch: ⁠⁠fulltime@theathletic.com⁠⁠

Follow on Instagram and TikTok: @tafulltime

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 and soccer world held their collective breaths when Temwa Chawinga went down in Saturday's upset defeat of the KC Current by the Houston Dash. What happened in Texas? And, what does it mean for the MVP frontrunner and the Current, by far number one team in the country?

On this week's Full Time Review, Jillian Sakovits and Producer Theo get into the scenes that saw Chawinga limp off and then get wheeled out of Shell Energy Stadium as well as discuss where this leaves the Current's forward options. The duo also break down everything else that went down on the penultimate weekend of the NWSL regular season, from which teams have clinched a spot into the postseason and which young record-breaking international has put herself into the MVP shortlist conversation.

PLUS: Asli Pelit joins the show from New York, fresh from seeing Rose Lavelle score a stunning free-kick to clinch a playoff spot for NJ/NY Gotham FC. How are Gotham shaping up ahead of the postseason? What was it like watching the game alongside the team owners? Asli also gets into why she wrote about the deep friendship between budding USWNT stars Claire Hutton and Ally Sentnor.

Jill closes out the show with an emotional moment of the week that zones in on the many tears and tributes that poured in following the final home matches for Christen Press, Ali Riley and Lauren Barnes.

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HOST: Jillian Sakovits

GUEST: Asli Pelit

PRODUCER: Theo Lloyd-Hughes

VIDEO PRODUCER: Lia Griffin

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER: Emily Olsen

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Referenced on the show:

NWSL executive committee approves 3-year extension for commissioner Jessica Berman: Sources

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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.