A Touch More with Sue Bird & Megan Rapinoe

As part of her special World Cup series, Megan sits down with USWNT head coach Emma Hayes. Emma discusses why she’s inspired by the men’s game, but sees women’s soccer as different, what her hopes are for the 2027 women’s World Cup, and why she thinks soccer is the only truly global sport. Plus, Megan introduces a new guest at the top of the show who asks some burning questions from the World Cup’s opening week, both on and off the field. The biggest question: is the USA going to win it all? A Touch More: The Beautiful Game is produced in partnership with VOX MEDIA and TOGETHXR. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sarah Strong, UCONN’s sophomore star, joins us to talk about what it’s really like to deal with Coach Auriemma, how her TikToks come together with teammates KK Arnold, Paige Bueckers, and Azzi Fudd, and what’s her favorite song to play on the piano. Fresh back from Milan, Sue and Megan have a lot of thoughts about what they saw at the Winter Olympics, including why crashes seem so devastating, the media’s responsibility in covering Olympic stars, and what you miss when you’re not watching the games on TV. And, better late than never: Megan and Sue celebrate the Seahawks winning the Super Bowl and try to pick their favorite part of Bad Bunny’s performance. Plus, they recap the highlights of the NBA’s All-Star Game and Unrivaled’s 1-on-1 Tournament. A Touch More: The Podcast is produced in partnership with VOX MEDIA and TOGETHXR. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Gotham FC’s Rose Lavelle joins us fresh off the FIFA’s inaugural Women’s Champions Cup to talk about her whirlwind of a year: from injury, to NWSL Championship, to being crowned U.S. Soccer's Female Player of the Year for 2025. She describes what it’s like to have your childhood dream come true (at eight years old, she wrote a book report on Mia Hamm and dressed up as her for the occasion); and what she thinks about Gotham’s underwhelming regular season. Megan and Sue also remember some of the best and most embarrassing pranks Rose has played on them over the years. Also on the show: Megan breaks down why nobody was happy with when the Women’s Champions Cup was scheduled, and compares the latest news on the CBA negotiations to her experience negotiating for equal pay. And Sue has a touch more time for Reggie Miller comparing Caitlin Clark to Peyton Pritchard. A Touch More: The Podcast is produced in partnership with VOX MEDIA and TOGETHXR. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Figure skating legend Tara Lipinski joins us to talk about the upcoming Winter Olympics and the US women’s figure skating’s chances for ending their medal drought; and what she learned about herself after appearing on the reality show The Traitors. She also tells us how she prepares and packs for the games as NBC’s lead figure skating analyst, and who she’s most looking forward to watching perform. In keeping with the Winter Olympics theme, Megan and Sue take a look at the roster shakeup for the USA women’s ice hockey team, prompting them to consider what is the best vet-to-newcomer ratio on a national team. Plus, Megan and Sue catch you up on the latest with the NWSL’s High Impact Player Rule (aka the Trinity Rodman rule) and why the players’ union is against it. A Touch More: The Podcast is produced in partnership with VOX MEDIA and TOGETHXR. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It’s a new year, and Megan and Sue have a new set of intentions for 2026 to share. But first they’re checking in on how they did on last year’s intentions: Did Megan develop her green thumb? Did Sue read more consistently? Then, 2026 is shaping up to be a banner year in women’s sports. Several leagues are expanding AND women’s sports are getting a full season of professional lacrosse and the first women’s professional baseball league since the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League featured in A League of Their Own). Given all these new and burgeoning leagues, Megan and Sue reminisce on being part of young, brand new, and – in Megan’s case – folding leagues. Plus, Sue tells us if she’d been forced to choose between playing overseas (where the salaries were much higher) and staying stateside, which one she’d choose. A Touch More: The Podcast is produced in partnership with VOX MEDIA and TOGETHXR. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices