Welcome to the Party

Party people, Jennifer Rizzotti has never been afraid to bring the fire. The UConn legend and two-time WNBA champion joins Abby Wambach, Julie Foudy, and Billie Jean King to talk about returning to Houston for the Comets’ next chapter—and what it really takes to build a winning team. From the toughness behind UConn’s first national championship to why investing in players matters, Jen shares the lessons she’s taking into the front office. Plus, how Rebecca Lobo recruited her into coaching their sons’ basketball team, the college footage that resurfaced 30 years later, and an impromptu Indigo Girls singalong. Before Jen joins the party, the crew breaks down the NWSL quarterfinals and their busted brackets, debates athlete privacy and double standards around Jessica Pegula’s hot-mic moment, and celebrates JuJu Watkins’ return. Julie also makes the case for putting friendship on the calendar—and adds some incline to her latest Peloton Minute to Win It showdown with Abby. Could this finally be her moment? Follow @welcometothepartyshow on: YouTube — @welcometothepartyshow Instagram — @welcometothepartyshow TikTok — @welcometothepartyshow Email — [email protected] Substack - https://welcometothepartyshow.substack.com Welcome to the Party Merch - https://welcometotheparty.voila.store    Keep the Party Going: FOLLOW JEN RIZZOTTI: @JenRizzotti on X. And if you want to follow the next chapter she’s building, the Houston Comets are officially back for 2027.X: https://x.com/JenRizzotti Houston Comets: https://houstoncomets.com/ ABBY CALLED THIS REQUIRED LISTENING, AND WE AGREE. Amanda Doyle talks with sociologist Nicole Bedera about the Cornell and LSU sexual assault cases, what actually happens inside a university Title IX process, and what parents and students should know before they ever need it. https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/on-cornell-how-to-protect-your-child-when-their-college/id1564530722?i=1000798294551 MORE NATALIE, PLEASE. We promised the full Natalie Nakase conversation, so here it is. Championship culture, “no assholes,” and why she started planning the next one 15 minutes after the buzzer.https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/bonus-how-natalie-nakase-built-the-valkyries/id1835504451?i=1000799793802 UCONN PEOPLE, THIS ONE’S FOR YOU. The Dynasty: UConn Huskies is now streaming on Apple TV, and yes, young Jen Rizzotti makes an appearance. https://tv.apple.com/us/show/the-dynasty-uconn-huskies/umc.cmc.38cvggceyd4sn4sfgl3kus89b NWSL SEMIFINALS ARE SET. Washington hosts Utah on Saturday, and Gotham hosts Kansas City on Sunday. Full schedule and where to watch:https://www.nwslsoccer.com/news/semifinal-round-set-for-2026-nwsl-playoffs-presented-by-google-pixel THE BEST EIGHT IN THE WORLD. Keep up with the WTA Finals schedule, scores and who’s still alive in Indian Wells.https://www.wtatennis.com/tournaments/wta-finals/match-schedule KEEP THE PARTY GOING. Throughout November, a portion of WTTP merch proceeds will support JoshProvides and its work with people and families living with epilepsy. https://joshprovides.org/https://welcometotheparty.voila.store/ November is National Epilepsy Awareness Month, and throughout the month, a portion of Welcome to the Party merch sales will support JoshProvides, which helps people and families living with epilepsy access medical services, seizure detection devices, support groups and other resources: https://joshprovides.org/   Thank you to our sponsors: -Ally’s got you covered. Ally Bank, Member FDIC:  ally.com/party

Get your brackets ready, party people! The NWSL playoffs are here, and former NWSL player, broadcaster and Denver Summit FC minority owner Jordan Angeli joins Julie Foudy and Abby Wambach to break down all four win-or-go-home quarterfinals. Can Seattle knock off top-seeded Gotham FC? Can Angel City get past the Kansas City Current? With San Diego Wave facing Utah Royals and Washington Spirit taking on Portland Thorns, Jordan gives each team a key to winning, Abby picks the players she’d trust with the game on the line, and everyone has to sum up each matchup with an emoji. ⚽️ Plus, Julie remembers breaking the news to her USWNT teammates that their pro league had folded, and Abby and Jordan tell the story of the night Abby met Glennon Doyle. Yes, the one with 5,000 librarians. Turns out Jordan played a part in that love story, too. This episode is presented by Google Pixel.   Follow @welcometothepartyshow on: YouTube — @welcometothepartyshow Instagram — @welcometothepartyshow TikTok — @welcometothepartyshow Email — [email protected] Substack - https://welcometothepartyshow.substack.com Welcome to the Party Merch - https://welcometotheparty.voila.store    Keep the Party Going: FOLLOW JORDAN ANGELI: @jordangeliInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/jordangeli/X: https://x.com/jordangeli MORE JORDAN PLAYOFF BRAIN, PLEASE. Jordan co-hosts SoccerWise, and she and David Gass just did a full NWSL quarterfinal preview. Apple Podcastshttps://podcasts.apple.com/na/podcast/soccerwise-u-s-soccer-mls-nwsl/id1752138229 BRACKETS, BABY. The NWSL quarterfinals are here. Four games, no second chances. Full schedule, matchups and where to watch: NWSLhttps://www.nwslsoccer.com/news/quarterfinal-round-set-ahead-of-2026-nwsl-playoffs-presented-by-google-pixel JORDAN SAID GO BACK AND WATCH IT, SO WE’RE DOING AS TOLD. Portland’s build-up on Sophia Wilson’s goal against Houston was a beauty. Watch the match highlights here: NWSLhttps://www.nwslsoccer.com/match/957badcf899e40fc9fa3e1009df3c679/houston-dash-vs-portland-thorns   Thank you to our sponsor: Learn more about Google Pixel 11 at googlestore.com

Party people, we’re deep in our violet haze and the coach is joining the party! Fresh off the Golden State Valkyries’ first WNBA championship, head coach Natalie Nakase joins Abby Wambach and Julie Foudy for a special bonus episode on building a team that wins with love, trust, and a strict “no assholes” rule. Natalie takes us inside the honest conversations that changed her approach during the Finals, why listening to her players mattered more than yelling louder, and how a roster with something to prove became champions in just the franchise’s second season. Plus: the magic of Valhalla, Glennon’s Valkyries obsession, and why Natalie was planning her next championship just 15 minutes after the buzzer.   Follow @welcometothepartyshow on: YouTube — @welcometothepartyshow Instagram — @welcometothepartyshow TikTok — @welcometothepartyshow Email — [email protected] Substack - https://welcometothepartyshow.substack.com Welcome to the Party Merch - https://welcometotheparty.voila.store    Keep the Party Going: November is National Epilepsy Awareness Month, and throughout the month, a portion of Welcome to the Party merch sales will support JoshProvides, which helps people and families living with epilepsy access medical services, seizure detection devices, support groups and other resources:  https://joshprovides.org/   Thank you to our sponsors: -Ally’s got you covered. Ally Bank, Member FDIC:  ally.com/party

Glennon Doyle is back at the party—and taking a victory lap! She joins Abby Wambach, Julie Foudy, and Billie Jean King to celebrate her winning WNBA bracket and the Golden State Valkyries’ championship run. From Gabby Williams’ Game 7 takeover to Glennon’s very physical experience of watching basketball, the crew breaks down what happens when investment, love, and team culture come together. Then it’s NWSL Decision Day drama: Gotham’s Shield, Jess Fishlock’s emotional send-off, Angel City’s playoff path, and the big question of what’s next for Marta. Plus, the women who helped change the New York City Marathon, why joy deserves a spot on your calendar, and Glennon’s story about the unexpected matchmaker behind her relationship with Abby. In honor of Abby’s brother Peter and National Epilepsy Awareness Month, a portion of November WTTP merch proceeds will support JoshProvides and families living with epilepsy.   Follow @welcometothepartyshow on: YouTube — @welcometothepartyshow Instagram — @welcometothepartyshow TikTok — @welcometothepartyshow Email — [email protected] Substack - https://welcometothepartyshow.substack.com Welcome to the Party Merch - https://welcometotheparty.voila.store    Keep the Party Going: Come party with us in D.C.! We’re taking Welcome to the Party live to Ally House for NWSL Championship Weekend. If you’re in town, come hang with us, talk soccer and be part of the show. RSVP to save your spot: https://www.ally.com/ally-house?CP=TPM-NWSLCHAMP-RECAP-ALLYHOUSE THIS ONE IS CLOSE TO OUR HEARTS. November is National Epilepsy Awareness Month, and a portion of WTTP merch proceeds this month will support JoshProvides, helping individuals and families living with epilepsy access medical care, seizure detection devices and other resources.Learn more: https://joshprovides.org/ WTTP merch: https://welcometotheparty.voila.store/ THE NWSL PLAYOFFS ARE HERE. Eight teams. One trophy. Plenty of chaos coming. Check out the full playoff schedule, bracket and where to watch: https://www.nwslsoccer.com/playoffs COLLEGE HOOPS IS BACK, BABY. Keep up with the full women’s college basketball schedule and scores here: https://www.ncaa.com/scoreboard/basketball-women/d1 THE BEST EIGHT IN THE WORLD. Follow the WTA Finals schedule and results here: https://www.wtatennis.com/tournaments/wta-finals/match-schedule   Thank you to our sponsors: -Ally’s got you covered. Ally Bank, Member FDIC

Andraya Carter is at the party, and she has thoughts! The ESPN analyst joins Julie Foudy and Abby Wambach to break down the WNBA Finals: what Angel Reese and the Atlanta Dream need to force a Game 7, why the Golden State Valkyries are so tough to beat, and how a potential championship-clinching game ended up with a lunchtime tip. Yes, Abby has some words about that. Plus, Dre previews JuJu Watkins’ return, shares what she’s seeing from her Tennessee Lady Vols, and makes her pick to win the college national championship. Then, she gets real about finding confidence on camera, whose feedback actually matters, and her “post and ghost” approach to social media. Come for the hoops. Stay for the Halloween costumes and a surprisingly persuasive case for cuddling a python.   Follow @welcometothepartyshow on: YouTube — @welcometothepartyshow Instagram — @welcometothepartyshow TikTok — @welcometothepartyshow Email — [email protected] Substack - https://welcometothepartyshow.substack.com Welcome to the Party Merch - https://welcometotheparty.voila.store    Keep the Party Going: Follow Andraya Carter: @andraya_carter on Instagram and @Andraya_Carter on X. Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/andraya_carter/X: https://x.com/Andraya_Carter Want to understand why Angel Reese is such a ridiculous rebounder? Abby’s rabbit hole started with Katie Barnes’ ESPN feature breaking down the instincts, positioning, strength and anticipation behind Reese’s rebounding.https://abc7chicago.com/post/secrets-behind-angel-reeses-legendary-rebounding/19682352/ And yes, someone actually studied the “mebounds.” Data scientist Chester Ismay analyzed how often Reese rebounds her own misses compared with the rest of the league.https://ismayc.github.io/mebounds/ Missed our Sheroes episode? Go back and meet the women who inspired Julie and Abby to ask Party People to send in their own sheroes.She Ran Into a Collapsing Building to Save a Child (Then Lost Her Legs) Who’s your shero, Party People? Keep them [email protected]   Thank you to our sponsors: -Ally’s got you covered. Ally Bank, Member FDIC  

What does it take to build a championship team and who do you become along the way? UCLA women’s basketball head coach Cori Close joins Julie Foudy, Abby Wambach and Billie Jean King to reflect on a historic title run and why her definition of success goes far beyond the trophy. From lessons learned in John Wooden’s den to the voice memo from Abby she’ll keep forever, Cori shares the power of having people who believe in you before you believe in yourself. She also gets candid about rebuilding trust with Lauren Betts, owning her mistakes and helping a new roster write its own story. It’s a conversation about leadership, accountability and proving that kindness and competitive greatness can coexist—with a little evidence of Abby’s completely unhinged UCLA fandom. Plus, the Party Starter dives into the WNBA Finals, the NWSL’s Decision Day drama and Catherine Breed’s extraordinary swim along the California coastline.   Follow @welcometothepartyshow on: YouTube — @welcometothepartyshow Instagram — @welcometothepartyshow TikTok — @welcometothepartyshow Email — [email protected] Substack - https://welcometothepartyshow.substack.com Welcome to the Party Merch - https://welcometotheparty.voila.store    Keep the Party Going: Cori Close was recently honored with UCLA Anderson’s John Wooden Global Leadership Award, which feels especially fitting after hearing how much Wooden shaped the way she leads.https://www.anderson.ucla.edu/news-and-events/signature-events/john-wooden-global-leadership-awards The book Cori referenced: Chop Wood Carry Water by Joshua Medcalf, all about falling in love with the process instead of obsessing over the outcome. https://books.google.com/books/about/Chop_Wood_Carry_Water.html?id=RPPdnAAACAAJ Want to go down the Catherine Breed rabbit hole with us? Catherine just completed her 900-mile swim of the California coast, and her nonprofit Sea Dreamers is focused on getting more women and girls into the ocean while protecting the coastline. https://www.swimcalifornia.com/https://www.seadreamers.org/ Kinger’s documentary is coming. Give Me The Ball! premieres November 22 on ESPN and looks at Billie Jean King’s life, career and impact far beyond tennis. https://espnpressroom.com/press-release/espn-films-award-winning-documentary-give-me-the-ball-to-premiere-november-22-on-espn/ Follow UCLA Women’s Basketball: @UCLAWBBInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/uclawbb/X: https://x.com/UCLAWBBWebsite: https://www.uclawbb.com/ Follow Coach Cori Close: @coachcoricloseInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/coachcoriclose/X: https://x.com/coachcoriclose   Thank you to our sponsors: -Ally’s got you covered. Ally Bank, Member FDIC  

Behind every betting app, ad and winning parlay are real people and sometimes, a cost no one else can see. In Part 2 of our series on sports gambling, Abby Wambach and Julie Foudy move from the business of betting to the personal toll, welcoming Saul Malek to share how a love of sports and fantasy baseball spiraled into a gambling addiction that consumed his college years. Saul opens up about chasing bets, hiding debt, the strain on his family and the support that helped him find recovery. Drawing on her own sobriety, Abby joins him for an honest conversation about shame, secrecy and why getting help is rarely a straight line. Together, they explore the warning signs parents can miss, the pull of betting culture for young people, and why prevention needs to start long before someone hits a crisis. It’s a conversation about what gambling can take and what it means to build a life beyond it. Missed Part 1? Start with our conversation with sports historian Dr. Victoria Jackson about how we got here and what’s at stake for women’s sports. Content warning: This episode includes discussion of gambling addiction and suicidal thoughts.   Follow @welcometothepartyshow on: YouTube — @welcometothepartyshow Instagram — @welcometothepartyshow TikTok — @welcometothepartyshow Email — [email protected] Substack - https://welcometothepartyshow.substack.com Welcome to the Party Merch - https://welcometotheparty.voila.store    Keep the Party Going: If gambling is becoming a problem for you or someone you love, there are places to start. National Problem Gambling HelplineCall or text 1-800-MY-RESET https://www.ncpgambling.org/help-treatment/about-the-national-problem-gambling-helpline/ Gamblers Anonymous Find in-person, virtual and telephone meetings.https://gamblersanonymous.org/find-a-meeting/ Gam-Anon Support for family members and loved ones affected by someone else’s gambling.https://gam-anon.org/ Follow Saul Malek’s work on gambling harm, prevention and recovery. https://saulmalek.com/  https://www.instagram.com/saulmalekspeaking/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/saulmalek/ If you or someone you know is in crisis or thinking about suicide, call or text 988. https://988lifeline.org/   Thank you to our sponsors: -Ally’s got you covered. Ally Bank, Member FDIC

Women’s sports are growing and the gambling industry wants in. But what’s the real cost of all that new money? In Part 1 of this two-part series, Abby Wambach and Julie Foudy welcome sports historian Dr. Victoria Jackson to unpack how sports betting went from something leagues opposed to something they actively promote. From betting apps and prediction markets to broadcasters with a financial stake in the action, they explore how gambling is reshaping the way we watch, cover and experience sports. Together, they dig into the consequences for young fans, the harassment athletes face, and the responsibility leagues have to protect the people who make their businesses possible. As women’s sports enter a new era of investment and opportunity, can they chart a different path? Plus, a look ahead to Part 2, when Saul Malek joins Abby and Julie to share his personal experience with gambling addiction. That will be this Friday 10/22.   Follow @welcometothepartyshow on: YouTube — @welcometothepartyshow Instagram — @welcometothepartyshow TikTok — @welcometothepartyshow Email — [email protected] Substack - https://welcometothepartyshow.substack.com Welcome to the Party Merch - https://welcometotheparty.voila.store    Keep the Party Going: The article Julie referenced of longtime ESPN investigative producer Nicole Noren explains why the network’s embrace of sports betting ultimately led her to leave after 24 years. READ: “I’m Not Going to Have Blood on My Hands” https://www.cjr.org/the-interview/nicole-noren-espn-producer-quit-protest-sports-betting-gambling-addiction-draftkings-im-not-going-to-have-blood-on-my-hands.php The athlete harassment is real, and women are taking a disproportionate amount of it. The NCAA’s online-abuse study found that 12% of verified abuse was directly tied to sports betting, and women’s basketball players received roughly three times more threats than men’s basketball players:https://www.ncaa.org/news/media-center-ncaa-calls-on-fans-social-media-platforms-to-curb-abuse-as-it-releases-first-online-harassment-study/ “This is our normal after every game.” We played Natasha Cloud talking about the abuse WNBA players receive from angry bettors and her call for leagues to do more to protect players. MORE ON NATASHA CLOUD + BETTING HARASSMENT: https://frontofficesports.com/article/natasha-cloud-calls-engelbert-silver-address-sports-betting-threats/ Who actually wins on prediction markets? Julie referenced The Wall Street Journal’s investigation into prediction markets, which found profits heavily concentrated among a tiny fraction of sophisticated traders while most users lost money. READ THE WALL STREET JOURNAL INVESTIGATION https://www.wsj.com/finance/investing/polymarket-kalshi-betting-profits-prediction-markets-eb23ac11 And the leagues are starting to react. The NBA announced tighter restrictions around certain types of sports betting, while the WNBA was ultimately added to the leagues’ effort pushing for tougher action against bettors who threaten or harass athletes. NBA BETTING RESTRICTIONS https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/nba/2026/10/16/nba-sports-betting/3f77053e-c97b-11f1-aefb-abe4112d087e_story.html WNBA + ATHLETE HARASSMENT EFFORT https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/nba-players-unions-amend-betting-200106272.html If gambling is becoming a problem for you or someone you love, there are places to start. National Problem Gambling Helpline Call or text 1-800-MY-RESET https://www.ncpgambling.org/help-treatment/about-the-national-problem-gambling-helpline/ Gamblers Anonymous Find in-person, virtual and telephone meetings.https://gamblersanonymous.org/find-a-meeting/ Gam-Anon Support for family members and loved ones affected by someone else’s gambling.https://gam-anon.org/ Follow Saul Malek’s work on gambling harm, prevention and recovery. https://saulmalek.com/  https://www.instagram.com/saulmalekspeaking/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/saulmalek/ If you or someone you know is in crisis or thinking about suicide, call or text 988. https://988lifeline.org/

Has the balance of power in women’s soccer officially shifted? After the USWNT’s 2-0 loss and dramatic 2-2 comeback draw against reigning World Cup champions Spain, Julie Foudy and Abby Wambach are breaking down the good, the bad, and the big questions facing Emma Hayes’ squad ahead of the 2027 Women’s World Cup in Brazil. From defensive struggles and goalkeeping concerns to physicality, leadership, and the return of Mallory Swanson and Ashley Sanchez, Abby and Julie get candid about what the US needs to fix, why Spain has set a new standard, and which players need to step up when it matters most. Is there reason to panic, or could these tough lessons be exactly what the USWNT needs? Plus, the WNBA Finals are heating up, the NWSL playoff race is coming down to the wire, and Steph Curry shows some love to Valkyries star Veronica Burton. Abby and Julie also revisit some hilariously iconic women’s soccer commercials from the ‘90s, and answer Party People questions about dreaming big and which athletes from other sports they’d recruit to the USWNT.   Follow @welcometothepartyshow on: YouTube — @welcometothepartyshow Instagram — @welcometothepartyshow TikTok — @welcometothepartyshow Email — [email protected] Substack - https://welcometothepartyshow.substack.com Welcome to the Party Merch - https://welcometotheparty.voila.store    Keep the Party Going: Before they were legends… Three absolute gems from the archives:  Abby nails an innocent bystander: https://www.instagram.com/p/Deh69NIMdyH/  Julie in her Starsky & Hutch era: https://www.instagram.com/p/Dej3b8rkSH2/?img_index=3  and the iconic Nike “I will have two Filling” ad campaign: https://www.instagram.com/p/Dej3b8rkSH2/?img_index=4  Steph Curry in a Veronica Burton jersey? We love to see it. Steph warmed up in Burton’s No. 22 Valkyries jersey, which sent us straight down the rabbit hole on the family history behind that number:https://x.com/NBCSWarriors/status/2111259600569909471   Thank you to our sponsors: -Ally’s got you covered. Ally Bank, Member FDIC  

What makes a hero? In this special episode, Julie Foudy, Abby Wambach and Billie Jean King celebrate two extraordinary women who stepped up when it mattered most. Rose Veldman was just 10 years old when she risked her life to save a three-year-old girl during Haiti’s devastating 2010 earthquake. After losing both legs when the building collapsed, Rose went on to become a champion adaptive golfer. Then, UC Davis water polo player Lillie Vehling shares how she instinctively jumped into Lake Washington to rescue three drowning girls. Through these remarkable stories, the hosts reflect on everyday heroes, the power of service and what it means to be the person who steps in to help. Because making a difference doesn’t require fame or recognition—just the courage to act. Follow @welcometothepartyshow on: YouTube — @welcometothepartyshow Instagram — @welcometothepartyshow TikTok — @welcometothepartyshow Email — [email protected] Substack - https://welcometothepartyshow.substack.com Welcome to the Party Merch - https://welcometotheparty.voila.store    Keep the Party Going: Who’s your shero, Party People? We want to keep this parade of sheroes going. Tell us about the woman who showed up for you, believed in you, pulled you up or changed your life. Email us at [email protected].  Meet Rose Veldman. Rose survived the 2010 Haiti earthquake after running back into a collapsing building to save a three-year-old girl, losing both of her legs in the aftermath. Today, she’s one of the top adaptive golfers in the country and a three-time winner of the women’s Multiple Limb Amputee category at the U.S. Adaptive Open. Learn more about US Adaptive Golf: https://www.usaga.org/ Lillie Vehling didn’t just save three girls from drowning. She’s working to prevent the next one. Lillie and UC Davis teammate Sadie Henry co-founded SWAG, Swim AGs, which provides free water-safety and swim instruction for adults in the UC Davis community:https://swagswimags.org/ Be a scooper, not a pointer. Julie brought up The Dog Poop Initiative, Kirk Weisler’s very real children’s book about the difference between pointing out a problem and actually stepping up to fix it. Very on brand for our sheroes: https://kirkweisler.com/product/the-dog-poop-initiative Thank you to our sponsors: -Ally’s got you covered. Ally Bank, Member FDIC