The Women's Soccer Podcast

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.Thank you for listening! Remember to follow us wherever you get your podcasts, on Instagram (@the_womens_soccer_podcast) and Bluesky (@thewomenssoccerpod.bsky.social). In addition, leave a 5-star review and tell all your friends about our show!

In today's episode, LDG does a topic that is a little different from recent episodes (revisiting the show's roots from episode 65 when this same concept was done in the 2024 season, and 1 athlete in particular Claire Hutton has excelled since its recording, so take note of the 6 players LDG mentions today for the future!)LDG focuses on six players across the NWSL that he thinks are having a much bigger impact than the attention they’re getting right now. From buildup structure and pressing to midfield control and connective attacking play, this episode looks beyond just goals and assists and into the roles that actually shape matches week to week.LDG break down the style of the games of Mina Tanaka, Kat Rader and more: why they’ve stood out to him this season and why their archetype of a player consistently get overlooked in mainstream media conversations. He gets into tactical roles, development, game-state impact, and what these players reveal about where the NWSL is heading stylistically as the league continues to evolve.(podcaster's note: I hope this is as insightfully as an episode for you all as it was for me while researching! I learned a lot more about the tactics and numbers behind six incredible athletes in the NWSL that I had not gotten to talk much about on the pod before. I am proud of the final product, and I hope you all like it! - LDGThank you for listening! Remember to follow us wherever you get your podcasts, on Instagram (@the_womens_soccer_podcast) and Bluesky (@thewomenssoccerpod.bsky.social). In addition, leave a 5-star review and tell all your friends about our show!

In today's episode, LDG breaks down the trio of teams, that among the early leaders in the NWSL season, have proven themselves to be above the rest: the Portland Thorns, Washington Spirit, and San Diego Wave.On the surface, these teams are delivering good performances through victories and points, but what makes their approach unique is the method by which they are achieving such success. In this episode, LDG examines the various identities that are emerging among the league leaders, including the new balance found in Portland, the offensive fireworks provided by Washington, and the defensive organization of San Diego.LDG explores the tactics behind these clubs, including the key players and statistics contributing to their current successes, and examine the reason for their emergence as potential standard-bearers of the NWSL. However, the overarching question here remains: is this the dawn of a new era, or just the form of the early season period?LDG digs deep into what has been motivating each team beyond mere results. In the case of Portland, it is the development of their midfield players as well as a tactical approach to attack that is more fluid and adaptable than ever before. As for Washington, it is the pairing of world-class athletes with an extremely fast-paced game that utilizes its vertical strength to generate high-quality scoring opportunities. Lastly, it is the tactical cohesion of San Diego’s defense and ball control that makes them a nightmare for any opponent looking to find a way past them.Thank you for listening! Remember to follow us wherever you get your podcasts, on Instagram (@the_womens_soccer_podcast) and Bluesky (@thewomenssoccerpod.bsky.social). In addition, leave a 5-star review and tell all your friends about our show!

In today's episode, LDG is joined by SGS Essen and Belgium WNT defender Shari Van Belle!Shari talks about her first senior national team call-up, the emotions involved, and what stood out for her as she transitioned into the senior national team. From there, she shares her transition from the Belgian league to Germany, and what drew her to the Frauen Bundesliga and SGS Essen.The conversation will also dive deeper into Shari’s development as a footballer, as well as SGS Essen’s development as a team, with Shari sharing her goals in preseason and the skills she has worked hardest to improve. Additionally, Shari talks about how the Bundesliga is continuing to test her versatility and her thoughts on how the league is investing in women’s football.Outside of football, Shari shares her experience being an ambassador for various campaigns to increase the participation of young girls in football, as well as what it means to play for her country as part of the Belgian setup.Thank you for listening! Remember to follow us wherever you get your podcasts, on Instagram (@the_womens_soccer_podcast) and Bluesky (@thewomenssoccerpod.bsky.social). In addition, leave a 5-star review and tell all your friends about our show!

In today's episode, LDG is joined by Brooklyn FC midfielder Jess Garziano!Jess discusses her time with St. John’s University’s women’s soccer team, where she was able to make an immediate impact and finish her career as the program’s all-time assist leader. She shares how her experience in college soccer prepared her for her professional journey and how experiences like playing in the USL W-League helped her bridge the gap to the next level of competition.Additionally. Jess also shares her experience in the 2024 draft with Angel City FC and how that ultimately led her to start her professional journey with Brooklyn FC in the USL Super League. She discusses the excitement of joining a new Division-1 league, why Brooklyn was the perfect place to start her professional journey, and so much more!Thank you for listening! Remember to follow us wherever you get your podcasts, on Instagram (@the_womens_soccer_podcast) and Bluesky (@thewomenssoccerpod.bsky.social). In addition, leave a 5-star review and tell all your friends about our show!

In today's episode, LDG previews the Gotham FC 2026 NWSL season alongside Cloud 9 members Nat and Marge!Over the course of today's conversation, Nat, Marge and I talk about Gotham’s incredible championship run and break down everything that’s happened since the final whistle in San Jose and the NYC victory parade.First off, we’ll look back at the rollercoaster ride that was last season, from making the playoffs on the goal differential tiebreaker to knocking off shield-winners KC Current and reigning champions Orlando Pride en route to winning the NWSL Championship against Washington. Then we’ll react to the Jaedyn Shaw signing and what it means immediately for Gotham and what it could mean in the future.Next up, we dig into Gotham's offseason, talking about expectations and hopes we had going into the offseason, and what surprises occurred.We looked at the signings of NWSL veteran Sav McCaskill, rookies like Andrea Kitahata and Jordynn Dudley, as well as the importance of Midge Purce staying with the team and the re-signings of Kayla Duran and Katie Stengel.With every offseason, players also depart the club, and we talked about how those players' departures impact the club, specifically touching upon Ella Stevens and Josefine Hasbo moving to expansion side Boston Legacy, Gabi Portilho to San Diego Wave FC, and Stella Nyamekye to Brann.We then look ahead to the future and play a fun game, determining which three players whose contracts will expire beyond the 2026 season we would want the club to re-sign, with stars like Ann-Katrin Berger, Rose Lavelle, Jess Carter, and more included.To wrap up the episode, we bring back our classic 5-4-3-2-1 format as a series of quick questions that provide us with some predictions and wishes as we head into the new season.Thank you for listening! Remember to follow us wherever you get your podcasts, on Instagram (@the_womens_soccer_podcast) and Bluesky (@thewomenssoccerpod.bsky.social). In addition, leave a 5-star review and tell all your friends about our show!

In today's episode, Liam analyzes the USWNT's opening match of the 2026 She Believes Cup, with a 2–0 win over Argentina that extended their unbeaten start to the year and recorded a third straight clean sheet.This episode breaks down the performance through a tactical lens, looking at the evolving shape of the team in and out of possession, Lindsey Heaps dropping into build-up, the role fullbacks played pushing high, and how the team's pressing strategy under Emma Hayes evolves with new figures on the pitch.LDG also assesses defensive structure, second-ball control, and what Kennedy Wesley’s composure on the ball might mean for the center-back depth chart. In midfield, we examine how the Heaps–Yohannes–Moultrie trio functioned and what that says about the evolving hierarchy.Finally, LDG turns to the upcoming Canada match, which, after their 4–1 win over Colombia, will pose very different tactical problems to the USWNT with stronger midfield duels and a greater threat in transition. He outlines where the U.S. build-up patterns could be stressed, how the wide channels may decide the match, and what rotation decisions could shape the group.Thank you for listening! Remember to follow us wherever you get your podcasts, on Instagram (@the_womens_soccer_podcast) and Bluesky (@thewomenssoccerpod.bsky.social). In addition, leave a 5-star review and tell all your friends about our show!ICYMI, here are some of our recent episodes you should bookmark for later!The Ten Big Questions LDG's Asking Ahead of the Year of International Women's Soccer in 2026 (USWNT, 2027 Women's World Cup Qualifying, Spain WNT + more!)We reviewed the 15 biggest moves of the NWSL offseason so far, an episode that perfectly serves as a comprehensive yet not too detailed analysis of the moves that have shaken up the league this offseason.We recently interviewed Charlton Athletic Women Forward Karin Muya. It was such a great conversation, I was honored to work with such a big club, so be sure to check it out!Music Credit: From Riverside (my podcast recording platform's) available to use audio library

In this episode, LDG looks ahead to the jam-packed year of international women's soccer that 2026 poses by curating a list of the 10 most pressing questions and storylines he is going to keep a finger on this year, and providing his best guess as to how these dilemmas will play out in 2026. He touches upon his thoughts and queries surrounding the USWNT, 2027 Women's World Cup qualifying, the Spain WNT + more!Some examples of the questions he asked included:Have the shifts in tactics, structure, and strategy we have seen under Emma Hayes' tenure become a permanent fixture within the USWNT system?To what extent will the women's World Cup qualifying roster and starting 11 clarify Hayes' vision for 2027?How much of an emphasis should we place on a nation's club league competitiveness for international success?To hear the rest of the questions, tune into the episode, and let us know what questions you have ahead of this year's international soccer!Thank you for listening! Remember to follow us wherever you get your podcasts, on Instagram (@the_womens_soccer_podcast) and Bluesky (@thewomenssoccerpod.bsky.social). In addition, leave a 5-star review and tell all your friends about our show!NEW ANNOUNCEMENT: If you didn't see the promo on our social media for it, be sure to subscribe to our podcast's newsletter to receive all episodes and additional TWSP content right in your inbox!ICYMI, here are some of our recent episodes you should bookmark for later!We reviewed the 15 biggest moves of the NWSL offseason so far, an episode that perfectly serves as a comprehensive yet not too detailed analysis of the moves that have shaken up the league this offseason.We recently interviewed Charlton Athletic Women Forward Karin Muya. It was such a great conversation, I was honored to work with such a big club, so be sure to check it out!