Ep 24 | NWSL's Bold World Cup Marketing Bet, PWHL Entry Draft Day, WNBA MVP Watch

Ep 24 | NWSL's Bold World Cup Marketing Bet, PWHL Entry Draft Day, WNBA MVP Watch

The Men's World Cup is in the U.S., and the NWSL isn't sitting it out — they're turning 1.42 billion soccer fans into a fan acquisition opportunity. With their "Summer of Soccer" initiative, the NWSL is making one of the most intentional marketing plays in women's sports history. Caitlin and Alex dig into the research on who the women's sports fan actually is — the fluid fan, the new-to-sports fan, the one who learned to navigate a dozen streaming apps because broadcast TV never made room — and why that fan base represents a structural shift in how women's sports grows, not just a short-term spike. The data is genuinely wild: televised women's sports content hit 370 million viewer hours in 2024, up 430% from 2021. The product has always been there. The access is finally catching up. This week we cover: * The NWSL's "Summer of Soccer" marketing push: how the league is using the Men's World Cup as a conversion play for new fans, what CMO Rachel Epstein is actually saying, and the search and app gaps women's sports fans have had to navigate for decades * PWHL Entry Draft (it's today!): coaching updates close out with Christine Bumstead to Seattle and Kim Weiss to Vegas, plus the hosts' take on Pascal Realme's controversial Toronto hire. Then full first-round predictions — starting with KK Harvey going #1 overall to Vancouver, and working through all 12 picks * Lynx vs. Aces, 97-100: a close loss that didn't feel that close until the final minutes, second-chance points as the story of the game, and why the Lynx are still the best team in the league (per Caitlin) * WNBA MVP Watch: the cases for Olivia Miles, Kelsey Plum (seriously, why isn't she getting more attention?), A'ja Wilson, and Breanna Stewart — and whether a rookie can win MVP and Rookie of the Year in the same season * USWNT vs. Brazil in Fortaleza: a 1-0 win with eight red cards all going to Brazil, Sophia Wilson forcing the own goal, Brazilian head coach Arthur Elias getting ejected for putting a pinnie on a referee, and Dudinha's devastating ACL/meniscus diagnosis [NAME CHECK: "Duginia" in transcript — confirmed as Dudinha, San Diego Wave forward] Plus: Serena Williams back on the doubles court at the Berlin Open and eyeing Wimbledon, Wimbledon's record 20% prize money bump to £64.2 million, Kelsey Plum officially signs with Adidas, and Gotham FC breaks ground on a new purpose-built training facility in New Jersey. Follow Raising the Game for weekly women's sports coverage.Instagram/Threads/YouTube: @rtg_podWebsite: rtgpod.comSubstack: substack.com/@raisingthegamepodcastEmail: raisingthegamepod@gmail.com [raisingthegamepod@gmail.com]

Episode 23 | Hilary Knight's PWHL Sign-and-Trade, Lynx on Top, and USWNT drops one to Brazil

Hilary Knight's PWHL expansion saga ended with the wildest move of the process: Vegas signed her via an expansion franchise offer and immediately traded her to Detroit for a first-round pick. It was completely legal, it was a long time coming, and it tells you everything about how expansion teams are already thinking about winning before the draft even happens. Episode 23 breaks down both phases of PWHL expansion in full detail. We cover who got protected (and who got surprisingly left out, including Knight herself by Seattle), how Detroit and Hamilton built rosters that already look like playoff contenders, and what San Jose and Vegas are working with heading into next week's draft. We also react to Nelly Korda's dominant LPGA season and a stunning result at Roland Garros. This week we dig into: * PWHL expansion phases 1 and 2: which players were protected, which teams are winning the early roster race, and the full story behind the Hilary Knight sign-and-trade that landed her in Detroit in exchange for a first-round draft pick * Nelly Korda wins the 2026 US Women's Open at Riviera Country Club for her second consecutive major and fourth overall, finishing first or second in seven of her eight tournament starts this season * Mirra Andreeva wins the French Open at 19 years old, becoming the youngest Roland Garros women's champion since Monica Seles in 1992, with her opponent being a qualifier who had to survive extra matches just to reach the final * USWNT falls 2-1 to Brazil in the first of two friendlies in the 2027 World Cup host nation, with Sophia Wilson scoring her first international goal since returning from maternity leave, and real questions about defensive discipline under the pressure of 31,000 fans * WNBA Commissioner's Cup standings check-in, a bold prediction for the championship game, and why the New York Liberty are quietly lurking in the standings Also on the show: Serena Williams' doubles comeback with Victoria Mboko at the HSBC Championship, the Texas Longhorns winning their second consecutive college softball World Series with 1.5 million viewers per game (up 33% year over year), and Team USA's Women's Basketball 3-on-3 squad claiming the World Cup in Warsaw. Follow Raising the Game for weekly women's sports coverage. Instagram/Threads/YouTube: @rtg_podWebsite: rtgpod.comSubstack: substack.com/@raisingthegamepodcastEmail: raisingthegamepod@gmail.com [raisingthegamepod@gmail.com]

Episode 22 | Caitlin Clark's Defense Is a Liability, PWHL Expansion Begins, Triple Espresso Is Back

After a 16-point blowout loss to the Portland Fire, the rest of the WNBA is circling something on the whiteboard: Caitlin Clark's defensive game is a weakness teams are now actively targeting. Alex and Caitlin break down the Fever's recent skid — a viral bench huddle moment, Clark skipping a postgame press conference after the Golden State loss, and Portland's suffocating defensive game plan that turned an 8-2 Fever lead into a 17-2 Portland run. The bigger concern isn't any single game. It's the pattern: teams are ISo-ing whoever Clark is guarding, she's getting blown by or into foul trouble, and the team's offensive firepower can't always bail them out. On the flip side, the Minnesota Lynx are sitting at the top of the WNBA standings, Olivia Miles is already a rookie of the year frontrunner, and Natasha Howard is playing some of the best basketball of her career. This week we cover: * Indiana Fever and Caitlin Clark: The defense problem is real. Gino Auriemma said it years ago, Portland just proved it, and the question is whether Clark can fix it before it costs the Fever a playoff run. Plus: what Becky Hammon's fiery postgame presser after the Aces-Wings game tells us about the WNBA's officiating inconsistency this season. * PWHL expansion draft begins: The PWHL released its first-ever salary transparency data. 66% of the league earns under $60K, with Emily Clark of Ottawa the highest paid at $127,000. Now free agency has opened and the four new expansion teams (San Jose, Hamilton, Detroit, Vegas) are starting to build rosters. Alex and Caitlin walk through phases one and two of the expansion process and why Kendall Coyne Schofield could end up playing for her home-state team. * PWHL awards and coaching: Two goalies — Anne-Renée Desbiens and Erin Frankel — are both in the running for Billie Jean King MVP alongside Kelly Pannek, a first in league history. Also: only three of twelve PWHL head coaches are women, and Caitlin is not letting that slide. * Triple Espresso reunites: Mallory Swanson, Trinity Rodman, and Sophia Wilson are all back on the USWNT roster for the Brazil friendlies. Their first time together since the 2024 Olympic gold medal match. With the 2027 Women's World Cup qualification window approaching, Emma Hayes has made it clear: there's no time to waste. * NWSL June break breakdown: Utah Royals are unbeaten in 10 games, San Diego Wave look like the most complete team in the league, and the break might be the one thing that can stop Utah's momentum. Also: the Chicago Stars fired GM Richard Fuez after a 0-9-3 start and a minus-19 goal differential. Plus: Alexia Putellas leaves Barcelona after 14 seasons and 232 goals, Bunny Shaw becomes the highest-paid women's footballer at $2.3M per year after signing a new deal with Man City, Serena Williams is returning to doubles, and Holly Rowe live-streamed the College Softball World Series after ESPN cut the feed. Dense week. Follow Raising the Game for weekly women's sports coverage.Instagram/Threads/YouTube: @rtg_podWebsite: rtgpod.comSubstack: substack.com/@raisingthegamepodcastEmail: raisingthegamepod@gmail.com [raisingthegamepod@gmail.com]

Episode 21 | Caitlin Clark's Back Is a Red Flag, Montreal Wins the Walter Cup, Utah Stays Unbeaten

Caitlin Clark missed a game this week with a reported back injury, and the Fever's "strategic management" framing — announced less than two hours before tip — raised more questions than it answered. We dig into what it means for her, for the league, and for fans who bought tickets expecting to see her play. Also this week: Montreal Victoire made PWHL history, becoming the first Canadian team to win the Walter Cup. They closed out Ottawa in four games, with Ann-Renée Desbiens posting a shutout, Abby Roque scoring twice in the clincher (including one that deserves a replay or five), and Marie-Philip Poulin finally adding the one award missing from her trophy cabinet: Ilana Kloss Playoff MVP. The Ottawa Charge crowd showed out all series long, with over 53,000 fans through the doors of Canadian Tire Center and a record finals crowd of nearly 17,000. This week we dig into: * Caitlin Clark injury and WNBA load management: the timeline, the Fever's communication, whether this is a one-off or something more persistent, and what it means for fans and the league * PWHL Walter Cup recap: Victoire over the Charge in four, Abby Roque's two-goal performance, Ann-Renée Desbiens' shutout, MPP's long-overdue playoff MVP, and a tribute to the Ottawa fanbase that showed up even down 4-0 in the clincher * PWHL expansion and coaching shake-up: all four expansion teams have their GMs, five of twelve head coaching jobs are now open, and Troy Ryan moves to San Jose as both GM and head coach * WNBA ups and downs: Kelsey Plum drops 38 on 70%+ shooting against her former Aces, Natasha Howard is quietly one of the best stories of the early season for the Lynx, Azzi Fudd breaks the rookie record for threes in a quarter, and Rickea Jackson's ACL tear is confirmed as season-ending for Chicago * NWSL week 9: Utah Royals extend their unbeaten run to nine games, Mal Swanson scores her first goal back from parental leave to lift Chicago off the basement, and Washington Spirit and Gotham FC both fall to Liga MX Femenil sides in the CONCACAF W Championship Follow Raising the Game for weekly women's sports coverage. Instagram/Threads/YouTube: @rtg_podWebsite: rtgpod.comSubstack: substack.com/@raisingthegamepodcastEmail: raisingthegamepod@gmail.com [raisingthegamepod@gmail.com]

Episode 20 | Walter Cup Game 3, WNBA Opens Hot/Officiating Overhaul, NWSL Week 8

The Ottawa Charge pulled off a stunning late comeback to stay alive in the Walter Cup Finals, and the WNBA's new foul-calling emphasis is already reshaping games just days into the season. Episode 20 has a lot going on. Caitlin and Alex recorded this one right after Game 3 wrapped, so the energy is real. They walk through Ottawa's dramatic third-period rally against the Montreal Victoire, break down PWHL's wave of expansion announcements, dig into WNBA opening weekend numbers (spoiler: the league is doing great), and then get into the officiating overhaul that has players, coaches, and fans still figuring out what basketball is supposed to look like now. NWSL Week 8 rounds things out with Mallory Swanson back on the pitch and a couple of league storylines that deserve more attention. This week they cover: * PWHL Walter Cup Finals: Ottawa staves off elimination in Game 3 on a dramatic final-minute goal, with goaltenders Gwyneth Philips and Ann-Renée Desbiens putting on a clinic. Series tied, Game 4 on the way. Plus a breakdown of what a Canadian champion means for the league and Carla McLeod's steady hand coaching Ottawa through adversity. * PWHL Expansion: Las Vegas and Hamilton officially join Detroit for the 2026-27 season, with San Jose expected to follow. A staggering 236 players from 15 countries applied to the entry draft, making the "can we fill these rosters?" question pretty easy to answer. * WNBA opening weekend: Sellouts across the league, 2.5 million viewers for the Fever-Wings opener (second most-watched regular season game in ESPN history), A'ja Wilson drops 45 points, and the Connecticut Sun officially relocating to Houston as the Comets. * WNBA officiating overhaul: The off-season task force, the freedom-of-movement emphasis, the foul rate spike that has 12 of 15 teams averaging 20-plus fouls per game, and the real question of how long the adjustment period lasts before it settles into something that feels like basketball again. * NWSL Week 8: Mallory Swanson returns from maternity leave for the Chicago Stars, Gotham FC in talks to move from New Jersey into Queens, and the Rodman Rule already getting amended before it even takes effect. Also in the mix: Elina Svitolina wins her 20th career title at the Italian Open over Coco Gauff, Sam Kerr confirms her Chelsea departure after 115 goals and five WSL titles, and an NCAA softball super regional field heavy with SEC teams. Follow Raising the Game for weekly women's sports coverage. Instagram/Threads/YouTube: @rtg_podWebsite: rtgpod.comSubstack: substack.com/@raisingthegamepodcastEmail: raisingthegamepod@gmail.com [raisingthegamepod@gmail.com]