The Sports Moment

Behind the boom in U.S. women's pro soccer

This Saturday, the two best teams in the National Women’s Soccer League face off in the championship. The NWSL is booming after years of scandal and struggle. Today on this special episode of "Post Reports," how the league became so successful and what it shows about the potential for women’s sports. Read more: Just a few years ago, the National Women’s Soccer League was a relatively small business. Now, it’s becoming a financial juggernaut with multimillion-dollar investments, a big TV deal and huge attendance. Hundreds of thousands of people are expected to tune in this weekend for the big game: the championship match between the Washington Spirit and the Orlando Pride. Guest host and sports writer Ava Wallace speaks with soccer reporter Steve Goff and sports editor Ella Brockway about how the NWSL emerged from years of scandal and underinvestment.  Today’s show was produced by Bishop Sand with help from Lucas Trevor. It was edited by Maggie Penman and Alison MacAdam and mixed by Justin Gerrish. Subscribe to The Washington Post here [https://subscribe.washingtonpost.com/acquisition/?s_l=OFFSITE_PODCAST&p=s_v&s_dt=yearly&utm%5B%E2%80%A6%5De-podcast&utm_medium=acq-nat&utm_campaign=podcast-subs].

Good luck, L.A.

After two-plus weeks of the Games, the Closing Ceremonies arrive today. Between the Parisian backdrop, the incredible athletic performances and celebrity buzz, these Olympics will stand apart – especially from the pandemic-era ones that preceded it. The Washington Post’s Ava Wallace speaks with reporter Rick Maese and columnist Jerry Brewer about their favorite moments covering the Games. This is our last episode from Paris. There will be more to come from The Post, so stay tuned to this feed, and to Ava’s Sports Moment newsletter, which you can subscribe to here [https://www.washingtonpost.com/newsletters/sportsmoment/?method=NMP_SURL&&utm_source=podcasts&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=the-sports-moment;location=podcasts]. Thank you to everyone who’s followed along these last couple of weeks. If you want to show your support for shows like this, please subscribe to The Washington Post. Subscribe to The Washington Post here [https://subscribe.washingtonpost.com/acquisition/?s_l=OFFSITE_PODCAST&p=s_v&s_dt=yearly&utm%5B%E2%80%A6%5De-podcast&utm_medium=acq-nat&utm_campaign=podcast-subs]. Today’s show was produced and mixed by Ted Muldoon. It was edited by Joe Tone.

The per-capita winners of Paris

The Paris Olympics have been an incredible success story for the southern Caribbean islands of Dominica, Saint Lucia and Grenada. Most of those wins came on a single night in track.  The meaning of the Olympics from Grenadian bronze-medalist Lindon Victor. Plus: Host Ava Wallace gives a rundown of the latest news from Paris. Subscribe to Ava’s newsletter here [https://www.washingtonpost.com/newsletters/sportsmoment/?method=NMP_SURL&&utm_source=podcasts&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=the-sports-moment;location=podcasts].  Subscribe to The Washington Post here [https://subscribe.washingtonpost.com/acquisition/?s_l=OFFSITE_PODCAST&p=s_v&s_dt=yearly&utm%5B%E2%80%A6%5De-podcast&utm_medium=acq-nat&utm_campaign=podcast-subs]. Today’s show was produced and mixed by Ted Muldoon. It was edited by Joe Tone.

A covid surprise on the track

It was a blockbuster day at the track on Thursday, and it was supposed to begin with Noah Lyles being anointed with his second gold medal – this time in his signature event, the men’s 200 meters. But as the sprinters turned the corner on the track, it was clear something was wrong. The Washington Post’s Ava Wallace speaks with Post reporter Adam Kilgore and Post columnist Barry Svrluga about the atmosphere at yesterday’s meet and its significance as the Games near their end. Subscribe to Ava’s newsletter here [https://www.washingtonpost.com/newsletters/sportsmoment/?method=NMP_SURL&&utm_source=podcasts&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=the-sports-moment;location=podcasts].  Subscribe to The Washington Post here [https://subscribe.washingtonpost.com/acquisition/?s_l=OFFSITE_PODCAST&p=s_v&s_dt=yearly&utm%5B%E2%80%A6%5De-podcast&utm_medium=acq-nat&utm_campaign=podcast-subs]. Today’s show was produced and mixed by Ted Muldoon. It was edited by Joe Tone.

Crying at the race walk

Snoop Dogg, Flavor Flav, pins: The Paris Games are a bounty of cultural weirdness. And for people attending the Games in person, you can add to the list “hospitality houses” – party houses where people can pay a fee to watch sporting events with their countrymen [https://www.washingtonpost.com/style/of-interest/2024/08/06/olympics-paris-party-house-hospitality-2024/?utm_source=podcasts&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=the-sports-moment]. The Washington Post’s Ava Wallace talks with Post features writer Dan Zak about his experience of covering the Olympics as a cultural event. Subscribe to Ava’s newsletter here [https://www.washingtonpost.com/newsletters/sportsmoment/?method=NMP_SURL&&utm_source=podcasts&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=the-sports-moment;location=podcasts].  Subscribe to The Washington Post here [https://subscribe.washingtonpost.com/acquisition/?s_l=OFFSITE_PODCAST&p=s_v&s_dt=yearly&utm%5B%E2%80%A6%5De-podcast&utm_medium=acq-nat&utm_campaign=podcast-subs]. Today’s show was produced and mixed by Ted Muldoon. It was edited by Joe Tone.