The Women's Soccer Podcast

Bay FC goalkeeper Jordan Silkowitz sits down to discuss her rise to the international stage and anchoring the defensive foundation of Bay FC in the NWSL. The goalkeeper and rising star joins the podcast, in a special episode being released just days before USWNTs first match against Spain in the October window, a roster Jordan's a part of, to share insider insights on her historic journey as the first Iowa State player ever drafted into the league, taking her game to the next level, Bay FC's high-stakes playoff race under a new tactical reset, and stepping into the undisputed number-one goalkeeper role, becoming a part of the team's climb to the pinnacle of women's soccer. She shares what it meant to enter the professional ranks as a young player, tracing her journey back to her earliest soccer memories and her crucial developmental loan stint overseas with Australian club Brisbane Roar. Jordan also talks about her evolution as a player, reflecting on her historic trade to Bay FC, where she has been in spectacular personal form, leading the league in goals prevented and setting a historic penalty-saving record. She takes us into the locker room to discuss the delicate balance of stepping into a vital leadership role while still developing as a young pro, navigating a grueling NWSL schedule alongside her first senior USWNT call-up ahead of friendlies against Italy, and how her preparation with the analytics staff directly impacts her squad's on-field cohesion and defensive chemistry. Jordan shares why the Bay FC project was the perfect step for her current career phase, the exact mindset required to serve as a designated squad centerpiece after back-to-back contract extensions, and the profound pieces of coaching advice that altered how she views the game, including how goalkeeper coach Daniel Ball helped her rediscover her joy for soccer at a time when she seriously questioned whether she wanted to keep playing. She walks us through the importance of the U-23 national team program as a fundamental international entry point, detailing what was going through her head when she achieved the "I will get called into a USWNT camp" flashcard inside her locker. Lastly, she shares what excites her about the club's new direction under head coach Emma Coates, the short and long term goals on her career vision board, and so much more! Thank you all 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! Hey! I'd love to hear your thoughts or any listener questions, send me a voice note.

What are the key storylines to watch as the USWNT prepares for its upcoming friendlies against Spain? How will roster changes, injuries, and selection questions shape the U.S. squad ahead of this defining stretch ahead of Women's World Cup qualifying and the 2027 World Cup in Brazil? In this episode, LDG previews a major international window for the USWNT, previewing its upcoming friendlies against Spain. He breaks down the key roster changes, injuries, and selection questions shaping the U.S. squad as it prepares for a crucial stretch of matches. LDG unpacks how injuries have dramatically reshaped the U.S. roster, explaining how the sudden absences of established key players have forced Emma Hayes to test the program's depth, and explores how these newly-opened slots have created major opportunities for newer and uncapped faces, including Kate Del Fava, Pietra Tordin, Evelyn Shores, and Trinity Byars. As a group who are looking to strengthen their World Cup cases less than a year out from the World Cup, LDG gets into why Emma Hayes choose to call them up, disrupting the previous trend on no uncapped players being called up, and what she sees in each of them LDG takes a closer look at the biggest unsettled positional battles on the pitch, left back, center back, goalkeeper, and striker, and he covers the evolving dynamics of the player pool + analyzing Ashley Sanchez’s highly anticipated return. On the Spain side, LDG examines notable absences, the world-class depth still available in its midfield and attack, and why this matchup should be a strict tactical test rather than a purely physical contest. He walks through the strategic adjustments required from the U.S., detailing how they must deploy their pressing game to manage Spain’s possession, wide progression, and ability to play through pressure while simultaneously testing new defensive backline combinations. Finally, LDG transitions into a broader global watch guide for five other international fixtures worth watching during the window, detailing the specific players and tactical storylines to follow across Canada vs. Denmark, Mexico vs. Jamaica, Germany vs. Japan, and more! Hear our full interviews with Avery Patterson and Kaylee Hunter, as spoken about in the episode, they are two players to watch this upcoming international window! Thank you all 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! Hey! I'd love to hear your thoughts or any listener questions, send me a voice note.

1. FC Union Berlin defender Amber Tysiak sits down to discuss her football journey and orchestrating a backline in the Frauen-Bundesliga. Amber joins the podcast to share insider insights on her high-profile January transfer window move to Berlin, taking her game to the next level, Union Berlin's high-stakes campaign to compete at the absolute peak of German women's soccer, and entering an ambitious club at an unprecedented turning point, becoming a part of the team's climb to the pinnacle of European soccer. She shares what it meant to enter the international environment as a rising star, tracing her journey back to her earliest soccer memories and her senior Red Flames debut against the Netherlands. Given her major tournament experiences representing Belgium at 2 European Championships, she shares how she learned to navigate that elite pressure and the advice she would give to her younger self. Amber also talks about her evolution as a player, reflecting on her initial time in the Belgian domestic league with OH Leuven, navigating the tactical hurdles of razor-thin second-place finishes, before unlocking her potential in the English WSL with West Ham United, and now thriving in Germany in front of Union Berlin's jaw-dropping, record-breaking crowds of over 17,000 supporters. She takes us into the locker room to discuss the delicate balance of adjusting to the unique physical demands of the Frauen-Bundesliga and how a highly anticipated club reunion with international teammate Hannah Eurlings directly impacts her squad's on-field cohesion and defensive chemistry. Amber shares why the Union Berlin long-term project was the perfect step for her career, with the club heavily investing into world-class infrastructure, the exact mindset required to serve as a focal point in the squad, and the profound pieces of wisdom that altered how she views the game, including how a defender channels the confidence of scoring an international hat-trick on the world stage. She walks us through her 50-cap milestone with the Red Flames, detailing the evolution of her leadership role on the backline and the legacy she aims to leave behind for country and club alike. Lastly, she shares what excites her about the upcoming international playoffs and World Cup qualifiers, her short and long term goals for her personal soccer vision board, and so much more! Thank you all 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! Hey! I'd love to hear your thoughts or any listener questions, send me a voice note.

Linköping FC midfielder Noelle Bond-Flasza sits down to discuss her path to Sweden and orchestrating the rebuild of Linköping FC in the Elitettan. Tenacious midfield engine and technical dynamo Noelle Bond-Flasza joins the podcast to share insider insights on her first professional contract, taking her game to the next level, Linköping's high-stakes race to return back to the top-flight of Swedish women's soccer, and entering a historic club at a unique turning point, becoming a part of the team's climb back to the pinnacle of European soccer. She shares what it meant to get an abrupt introduction to the international stage via a late invitation to the Jamaica U-20 National Team, training in a high-intensity environment before returning to campus. Given her historic final season as captain for the California Golden Bears, she shares how she learned to navigate elite pressure, conquer long-term injury setbacks, and the resilience advice she would give to her younger self. Noelle also talks about her evolution as a player, reflecting on her initial trial stint with the Utah Royals before completely unlocking her professional potential in Sweden, where she has been a model of world-class consistency, starting every single match and playing a staggering 90 minutes night in and night out. She takes us into the locker room to discuss the delicate balance of adjusting to the structural and physical defensive discipline of European club football, navigating the club searching process with a level head, and how her household's historic family soccer legacy, including her sister Dominique’s legendary World Cup-qualifying penalty shootout goal for the Reggae Girlz. directly impacts her own senior international ambitions. Noelle shares why the Linköping FC project was the perfect step for her current career phase, the exact mindset required to thrive under lofty first-place-or-failure fan expectations, and the profound lessons of mental fortitude that altered how she views the game after transitioning from the collegiate ranks to Europe. Lastly, she shares what excites her about her first professional appearance and full 90-minute debut victory, what she believes it will take for the squad to achieve its modern goals while establishing the standard that their ceiling should be their floor, her short and long term goals for her career vision board, and so much more! This is the third part of our three-part series in collaboration with Linköping FC! Listen to part one with Linköping + Swedish international legend Jonna Andersson and Linköping FC's former head coach Charlie Mitchell here! Hey! I'd love to hear your thoughts or any listener questions, send me a voice note.

Houston Dash wingback and rising USWNT star Avery Patterson sits down to discuss the USWNT's upcoming fixtures (+ the 2027 Women's World Cup in Brazil), her long-term future in Houston and orchestrating the tactical rebuild of the Dash in the NWSL. Avery Patterson joins the podcast to share insider insights on her contract extension through 2028, taking her game to the next level, the Dash's high-stakes playoff race, and becoming a part of the team's climb to the pinnacle of women's soccer. She shares what it meant to enter the sport as a young girl watching the national team from the stands, tracing her journey back to her earliest soccer memories filled with family chaos, food-based performance incentives, and a ball at her feet. She shares how she learned to navigate pressure at UNC and the retrospective advice she would give to her younger self. Avery shares why the Houston Dash project was the perfect step for her current career phase, the exact mindset required to serve as a designated squad centerpiece after the front office made a massive statement of belief in her leadership, and the profound pieces of coaching advice that altered how she views the game, including why pressure is a privilege and why failing at the highest level is an honor. She walks us through her chaotic first national team camp, detailing what was going through her head while stuck in an elevator for an hour and a half with Becky Sauerbrunn and Alana Cook, and later dealing with a black eye that medical staff feared would require emergency surgery. Avery also talks about her evolution as a player, reflecting on her initial transition to the pros before unlocking her potential as an active playmaker, where she has been in spectacular personal form logging crucial back-to-back assists against North Carolina and Chicago. Lastly, she shares what excites her about upcoming fixtures against reigning World Champions Spain, what it will take for the squad to achieve its goals while establishing the standard that their ceiling should be their floor, her short and long term goals for her personal soccer vision board of trophies, family, and travel, and so much more! Thank you all 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! Hey! I'd love to hear your thoughts or any listener questions, send me a voice note.