The 2025 NWSL Playoffs are here, and they’re bigger than ever. And that means, on this episode of Full Time Focus, host Jillian Sakovits is joined by not one but two special guests preparing to kick off the postseason.

First up, Jill talks to NWSL veteran and Gotham FC co-captain Mandy Freeman. How is Gotham preparing for another underdog playoff run on the road? What does it mean to go play the No.1 seed Kansas City Current, who haven't lost a home game in 490 days? And, what is the secret behind Freeman's famous off-the-pitch fashion sense?

After that, Jill says bienvenue to Kenza Dali – the French San Diego Wave midfielder who has taken the league by storm in her first season in the NWSL. What's it like to be a European player in your first American-style playoffs? How does the English Women's Super League compare to the NWSL? Why did the Wave drop off in the second half of the 2025 regular season? And, Dali talks about the importance of playing entertaining soccer while winning.

_______________

HOST: Jillian Sakovits

GUESTS: Mandy Freeman, Kenza Dali

PRODUCER: Theo Lloyd-Hughes

VIDEO PRODUCER: Lia Griffin

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER: Emily Olsen

_______________

Referenced on the show:

NWSL playoff preview: How to watch, key matchups and bold predictions

San Diego Wave signs France midfielder Kenza Dali from Aston Villa

_______________

Get in touch: ⁠⁠fulltime@theathletic.com⁠⁠

Follow on Instagram and TikTok: @tafulltime

Subscribe to our Youtube channel: here

Subscribe to the Full Time newsletter ⁠⁠here⁠⁠

Visit the Yahoo Women's Sports hub ⁠⁠here

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Leaves are falling, soup season is upon us, and the NWSL Playoffs are back!

On this week's Full Time podcast, hosts Tamerra Griffin and Meg Linehan break down the entire 2025 NWSL Playoffs, from the strengths and weaknesses of the eight teams left competing for the Championship, to how each quarterfinal is poised, and which teams will advance.

Who are the key players and matchups? Will we see any upsets from the lower seeds? Can you read too much into end-of-season form? If each quarterfinal match were a takeout order, what takeout order would it be? This podcast gives you everything you need to know about the 2025 NWSL Playoffs.

PLUS: Tamerra and Meg close out the show with their brackets and picks for who will make it all the way to the Championship Final in San Jose on November 22, as well as some final words and flowers for the six teams who will not be heading to the NWSL postseason.

_______________

Referenced on the show

Racing finished in ninth place the past four NWSL seasons. This year, they broke the curse

Bold NWSL title predictions

USWNT’s Olivia Moultrie agrees to contract extension with Portland Thorns through 2029

______________

HOSTS: Tamerra Griffin, Meg Linehan

PRODUCER: Theo Lloyd-Hughes

VIDEO PRODUCER: Lia Griffin

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER: Emily Olsen

_______________

Get in touch: ⁠⁠fulltime@theathletic.com⁠⁠

Follow on Instagram and TikTok: @tafulltime

Subscribe to the Full Time newsletter ⁠⁠here⁠⁠

Visit the Yahoo Women's Sports hub ⁠⁠here

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On a dramatic Decision Day, Racing Louisville has clinched a spot in the NWSL playoffs for the first time in team history. But how did Bev Yanez's team pull it iff on the final day of the regular season and what does it mean for the players, the coach and the fanbase?

On this week's Full Time Review, Tamerra Griffin is joined by Melanie Azidei and Asli Pelit to analyze all the drama from the NWSL's regular season finale. From Ella Hase's historic goal for Racing, to the North Carolina Courage's big win over Gotham, that wasn't enough.

Which teams rotated squads? What emotional goodbyes did we see from retiring legends? How much can we read into the performances of teams heading off to the playoffs? Has the return of Decision Day created a new marquee event for the NWSL?

_______________

HOST: Tamerra Griffin

GUESTS: Asli Pelit, Melanie Anzidei

PRODUCER: Theo Lloyd-Hughes

VIDEO PRODUCER: Lia Griffin

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER: Emily Olsen

_______________

Referenced on the show:

NWSL Decision Day recap: Racing celebrates, Current earns crucial win and an exciting rematch

Chicago Stars are not letting a poor 2025 stop them from dreaming about a stadium and the future

Seattle Reign’s Laura Harvey says ChatGPT inspired NWSL tactics: ‘It said play a back five, so I did’

Bev Yanez on her coaching journey & Racing Louisville's date with destiny

_______________

Get in touch: ⁠⁠fulltime@theathletic.com⁠⁠

Follow on Instagram and TikTok: @tafulltime

Subscribe to our Youtube channel: here

Subscribe to the Full Time newsletter ⁠⁠here⁠⁠

Visit the Yahoo Women's Sports hub ⁠⁠here

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.