Welcome to the Party

Two-time World Cup champion and Olympic gold medalist Alyssa Naeher joins the party and she’s bringing one of the best stories we’ve heard all season. At a moment when she was seriously considering retirement, a chance encounter with tennis legend Billie Jean King delivered a message that changed everything: “You’re not done yet.” Naeher opens up to Julie Foudy and Abby Wambach about that surreal moment, what kept her in the game, and how she’s navigating her 14th season in the NWSL as one of the league’s last original players.

They also talk about the mindset of elite goalkeepers, the importance of leadership inside a locker room, and why the smallest gestures from teammates can shape an entire career. Plus, Julie and Abby break down the upcoming 2026 NWSL season, expansion teams, and the return of the league’s most electric stars. If you’ve ever wondered what it takes to stay at the top of the game for more than a decade this episode is it.

 

Follow @welcometothepartyshow on:

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TikTok — @welcometothepartyshow

Email — [email protected]

  

Thank you to our sponsors:

-Ally’s got you covered. Ally Bank, Member FDIC

-Join us and CARE this International Women’s Day and Women’s History month to help level the playing field for women. Sign the pledge at ⁠care.org/pledge

-Explore the new Peloton Cross Training Tread+ at onepeloton.com https://www.onepeloton.com/

-If you're ready to break the wash-grease-repeat cycle, head to https://hairstory.com/welcometotheparty and use code PARTY15 at checkout for 15% off your first order.

- You can also request a Cologuard prescription today at Cologuard.com
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Olympians Hilary Knight and Brittany Bowe join the party fresh off one of the most surreal weeks of their lives: winning Olympic gold, breaking records, appearing on late night TV…and getting engaged.

Hilary, captain of Team USA hockey, reflects on winning gold while playing through a torn MCL and becoming the all-time leading scorer in U.S. Olympic women’s hockey history. Brittany, a world-record speed skater and four-time Olympian, shares what it was like watching the gold medal game from the stands, and the emotional moment Hilary tied the game with less than two minutes left.

The two also tell the incredible behind-the-scenes story of their Olympic Village proposal, Brittany’s legendary act of sportsmanship that helped teammate Erin Jackson win historic gold in Beijing, and what it’s like watching the person you love compete on the world’s biggest stage.

Plus: a chaotic round of Party Poppers (Couples Edition) where we learn who’s more competitive, who’s the bigger trash talker, and which Olympian might come out of retirement for the 2030 Games.

 

Follow @welcometothepartyshow on:

YouTube — @welcometothepartyshow

Instagram — @welcometothepartyshow

TikTok — @welcometothepartyshow

Email — [email protected]

 

Keep the Party Going:

Pre-order Jordan Robinson’s Court Queens Book: https://www.amazon.com/Court-Queens-Celebrate-Players-Basketball/dp/B0FGX73CKW

Follow Jordan Robinson: Instagram @JordanLigons or TikTok @HeyJordanRobinson 

Paralympics Schedule and Results: https://www.olympics.com/en/milano-cortina-2026/paralympic-games/schedule

Thank you to our sponsors:

-Ally’s got you covered. Ally Bank, Member FDIC

-Find a host or co-host at https://www.airbnb.com/host/homes
-Explore the new Peloton Cross Training Tread+ at onepeloton.com https://www.onepeloton.com/
--Shop SKIMS Fits Everybody collection at https://skims.com/. After your place your order, be sure to let them know we sent you! Select "podcast" in the survey and Welcome to the Party!
-Join us and CARE this International Women’s Day and Women’s History month to help level the playing field for women. Sign the pledge at care.org/pledge
-This episode of Welcome To The Party is brought to you by McDonald’s Big Arch Burger!
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Women’s sports has officially entered its billion-dollar era. The Women's National Basketball Association and the National Women's Soccer League have both crossed the billion-dollar valuation mark shifting the conversation from “Is this sustainable?” to “Who’s next?”

In this episode, Julie Foudy and Abby Wambach debate which women’s league will be the next to break through. Abby makes the case for pro volleyball, pointing to the rapid rise of League One Volleyball and surging NCAA viewership. Julie argues for flag football, fueled by backing from the National Football League and its inclusion in the 2028 Summer Olympics. To strengthen their cases, they’re joined by Olympic medalist Kelsey Robinson Cook and world champion quarterback Diana Flores.

It’s a spirited debate but it’s also a bigger conversation about growth, investment, and what it takes to build lasting power in women’s sports. Because when one league wins, the entire ecosystem moves forward.

 

Follow @welcometothepartyshow on:

YouTube — @welcometothepartyshow

Instagram — @welcometothepartyshow

TikTok — @welcometothepartyshow

Email — [email protected]

 

Keep the Party Going:

International Women’s Day Gift Directory

Paralympics schedule

Follow Diana Flores

Diana’s Flag Football For Dummies

Follow Kelsey Robinson Cook

 

Thank you to our sponsors:

-Ally’s got you covered. Ally Bank, Member FDIC

-Join us and CARE this International Women’s Day and Women’s History month to help level the playing field for women. Sign the pledge at care.org/pledge

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Four years after the loss of their daughter, Stanford soccer captain Katie Meyer, Steve and Gina Meyer join us to talk about grief, justice, and what comes next. With the lawsuit now settled, they share how they’re working alongside Stanford, expanding the impact of Katie Meyer’s Law, and turning unimaginable pain into protection for students everywhere. This is about legacy, accountability, and making sure no family walks this road alone.

 

Follow @welcometothepartyshow on:

YouTube — @welcometothepartyshow

Instagram — @welcometothepartyshow

TikTok — @welcometothepartyshow

Email — [email protected]

Keep the Party Going:

Katie's Save

How to contact your local representative to help pass Katie Meyer’s Law ​​https://katiessave.org/hr5545/

Watch: Save: The Katie Meyer Story

Suicide prevention hotline: 📞988

National Women’s History Museum

National Women’s History Museum videos: 

-She Is Not a Footnote

-Women’s contributions being overlooked

-Women are represented in less than 15% of all history taught

-Lyda Hill Philanthropies - Science is the answer

Unrivaled Championship

Learn more about Athlete’s Unlimited and Odyssey Sims Championship: https://auprosports.com/basketball/

Hilary Knight and Megan Keller on Saturday Night Live

Thank you to our sponsors:

-Ally’s got you covered. Ally Bank, Member FDIC

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What can a country of 5 million teach the U.S. about winning? After Norway’s 18-gold domination at the Winter Games, Julie, Abby, and Billie Jean King sit down with legendary performance psychologist Dr. Colleen Hacker to unpack the real secret sauce: joy, autonomy, multiple sports and a radically different approach to youth athletics. From “Five Ring Fever” to Olympic pressure, this is a masterclass in mindset, mental health, and why the path to greatness might start with simply loving the game. 

 

Follow @welcometothepartyshow on:

YouTube — @welcometothepartyshow

Instagram — @welcometothepartyshow

TikTok — @welcometothepartyshow

Email — [email protected]

 

Keep the Party Going:

From Norway to the American Way:

https://www.aspeninstitute.org/blog-posts/from-norway-to-the-american-way/

About Dr.Colleen Hacker:

https://sites.google.com/a/plu.edu/colleen-hacker/

Olympic Pressure: https://www.theatlantic.com/culture/2026/02/pressure-olympics-malinin-shiffrin/686097/

 

Thank you to our sponsors:

-Ally’s got you covered. Ally Bank, Member FDIC

-Explore the new Peloton Cross Training Tread+ at onepeloton.com  https://www.onepeloton.com/

-Get your business data all in one place using Intuit Quickbooks. Visit https://quickbooks.intuit.com/ to learn more.

-Go to hairstory.com/welcometotheparty and use code PARTY15 at checkout for 15% off your order.  

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