In today's episode, LDG is joined by Racing Louisville FC goalkeeper Jordyn Bloomer!

Jordyn walks us down memory lane to her earliest memory playing soccer before moving on to share how her success at Wisconsin, earning Big Ten Conference Goalkeeper of the Year honors twice and first-team All-American honors, helped prepare her for the professional ranks.

Jordyn talks about her experience going on loan to the A-League and playing alongside world-class players, which helped her grow confidence in the pros ahead of returning to Racing. Coming off an incredible year in Australia, Jordyn was ready to return to Racing to compete for the number 1 spot, but suffered a season ending injury, and she shares how that struggle made the return to the pitch (and claim of Racing's number 1 goalkeeper spot) that much more special.

Lastly, Jordyn unpacks her star season and the team making the playoffs for the first time in the cub's history, how she prepares so successfully to stop penalty kicks from the opposition, why she re-signed with Racing, how preseason this year went, + 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!

ICYMI, here are some of our recent episodes you should bookmark for later!

1. Ep. 177: Why the NWSL Is More Unpredictable Than Ever And Top Teams Are Paying for It (LDG's NWSL Matchday 4.5 Recap)
2. We recently interviewed Club América Femenil and Mexico WNT Defender Karina Rodriguez. It was such a great conversation, I was honored to work with such a big club, so be sure to check it out!

In this week's episode, LDG discusses the reasons behind the return of the NWSL's vast unpredictability and why the league's stalwart super teams are beginning to face the consequences of it in a longer season with a more condensed schedule against higher-quality opposition.

As the balance shifts among the league's teams and even the best-performing clubs experience inconsistency, tune in to find out LDG's unraveling of what's really behind the chaos and whether this is beneficial for the league as a whole, as he shares the tangible impacts of the High Impact Rule and longer yet condensed schedule on the pitch.

Finally, LDG looks at matchday (4.5?) and shares everything you need to know from the latest round of play, but also the overarching storylines that will carry into the return of play after the upcoming international break.

Lastly, he looks at a few of the league's established teams who are experiencing early-season struggles and asks whether this is just bad luck or if bigger problems lie ahead, and also shines a light on clubs that have performed well this year, perhaps above the expectations he had set in his NWSL preview episode.

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 this episode, LDG is honored to be joined by FC Union Berlin and Belgium WNT Midfielder Hannah Euerlings!

Hannah walks us down memory lane to her earliest memory playing soccer before moving on to the day she was called up to the national team in 2020. She opens up about the experience playing her first cap in a 4-0 win over Switzerland to playing in the UEFA Women’s Euros in 2022 and 2025. She also shares her experience playing in the Belgian league and the process she went through to end up in the German top-flight league.

Currently at Union Berlin in a special moment for the club, Euerlings talks openly about her adjustment to life in the Frauen Bundesliga, the challenges faced by attacking-minded players in one of the most competitive leagues in Europe, and her development as a player since arriving in Berlin. With record-breaking crowds and a fanbase growing exponentially behind the team, she shares what it is like playing in front of the special atmosphere at club's home matches. and what can be expected from her going forward as she steps back into the starting 11 after injury.

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 honored to chat with Dallas Trinity and USWNT U-23 defender, Lauren Flynn!

Lauren is a standout defender who had an incredibly successful college career at Florida State University, winning the 2023 College Cup Most Outstanding Defensive Player. With her extensive experience in competitive environments, including the US Women's Youth National Teams, the Utah Royalsand her recent transition to the Dallas Trinity, Lauren embodies the determination and skills needed for success at the highest level in women's football.

Lauren shares what made Florida State an appealing endeavor for college, her NWSL draft day experience, how she views her footballing Gainbridge Super League experiences in comparison to the NCAA, NWSL, and youth international landscape, her reaction to the founding of a second division 1 professional women's soccer league in the US, and so much more!

Then, we chat about Lauren's transfer to Dallas Trinity. Lauren reveals why Dallas Trinity's project caught her attention, how she's adapting to playing in a new league. She also shares how the mini-preseason went ahead of the spring league of this season, and how the team continues to build cohesion, with new star signings like herself, Heather Stainbrook and Bethany Bos adding even more talent to the star-studded Dallas Trinity side.

LDG ends the conversation by looking ahead, as Lauren's Dallas Trinity side is striving to lift silverware for the first time in club history as they contend for Gainbridge Super League championships!

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 honored to be joined by Mexican WNT and Club América Femenil defender, Karina Rodriguez!

Karina discusses her first senior national team call-up, the emotions involved, and what stood out to her as she transitioned into the senior national team. She also shares her experience of playing alongside her sister, Anika Rodriguez, in college and with the Mexican national team, but now playing against her at the club level, as Anika plays for one of Club América's rival clubs, Tigres.

Then, we chat about Karina's transfer to Club América in 2023. Karina reveals why Club América's project caught her attention, how she adapted to playing in a new league, and what it meant for her to be a key player in winning the Clausura 2023 Championship. She also shares how the preseason went ahead of this season's Clausura team campaign, and how the team continues to build cohesion, with new star signings like Geyse and Isa Haas adding even more talent to the star-studded Club América side.

LDG ends the conversation by looking ahead, as Karina's Club América side is striving to lift silverware in the Clausura campaign, and at the national team level, Karina looks ahead to World Cup Qualifying later this year, where El Tri Femenil looks to qualify for the Women's World Cup for the first time in 12 years.

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!

What does it really mean to be part of a supporter’s group? Why are they so important to the evolving soccer culture in the US, in women's soccer, + the NWSL specifically, and what does Cloud 9 do on a day-to-day basis, but also to push the sport forward through advocacy outside of cheering on Gotham for 90 minutes?

In this episode, LDG asks these questions and is honored to be joined by the two people who can answer them best, Cloud 9 members Nat and Marge!

LDG, Marge, and Nat go behind the scenes of Cloud 9, as three members of Gotham's official supporters’ group, and delve into the passion and community that make the match-day atmosphere at Red Bull Arena, wait, Sports Illustrated Stadium so electric.

Nat and Marge open up about what it means for them personally to be part of the supporter group Cloud 9 and walk us through what a match day looks like behind the drums, the tifos, the banners, and the chants, breaking down their roles in the match-day atmosphere.

LDG also shares his experience as a Cloud 9 member, carrying the iconic torch ahead of a match last season on the pitch, and participating in the Cloud 9 Prideraiser for the Ali Forney Center.

We also dispel some of the biggest myths about supporters’ groups, especially for those who have attended matches but are unsure of what being part of the supporters’ group really entails.

Finally, we reflect on Gotham FC's journey from the old Sky Blue days at Yurcak Field to becoming one of the most successful teams in the league, and what the team has done to maintain its identity and success on the field.

This conversation gives you an inside look at what makes Cloud 9 such an integral part of the Gotham culture, highlighting the people who helped turn a soccer club into something much bigger.

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 this episode, LDG breaks down every aspect of the NWSL opening weekend!

LDG goes match by match across the weekend of play, in chronological order, and focuses on the smallest details you might have missed in each match, as well as the overarching themes and early storylines to keep an eye on.

He analyzes what the first weekend of games revealed about the teams’ identities, especially expansion teams/sides with new coaches, highlighting the tactical trends he found and the biggest surprises in the results (looking at you, Thorns and Seattle for winning in a very impressive fashion against two perennial teams, respectively!)

LDG also points out the key players who impressed, from new signings to the league, like Lucia di Guglielmo and Leah Klenke, to goalkeepers in net who put in superhuman performances, saved far more chances than typical, Abby Smith and Jane Campbell.

After all, it is only the opening weekend, so LDG examines what these results indicate tactically and personnel-wise for the losing and winning sides moving forward, and which teams may need to make adjustments ahead of future matches.

LDG ends by exploring the overarching imbalance in investment across the league, shares his hopes for those franchises in the future, and explains how economic and strategic investment off the pitch has mirrored the franchise's success on the pitch.

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!