On this week's Full Time Focus, Jillian Sakovits is joined by Elizabeth Ball to talk about life at the top of the NWSL standings with the Kansas City Current.

The experienced defender is one of the longest tenured players at the Current. On the show, she shares what it has been like to see the team rise over the past half decade. Ball calls into the show from her soon-to-be-opened coffeeshop in Kansas City, Pitchside Coffee, and reflects on what her adopted home means to her, as well as how her team is preparing to welcome the defending NWSL Champions, the Orlando Pride, to CPKC Stadium this upcoming weekend.

PLUS: Hear new Chicago Stars head coach Martin Sjögren talking about why he joined the NWSL club. And, get focused with Full Time's 1-2-3 of what to watch this weekend in the NWSL, from that mouthwatering top-of-the-table clash on the banks of the Missouri River, to a desperation game in Utah, and a meeting of old friends in New Jersey.

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Referenced on the show:

NWSL’s Chicago Stars name Martin Sjögren as new head coach

Unbeaten streaks and league-leading goalscorers: Why Current vs. Pride is the match of the season

Marta delivers GOAT goal to lift Orlando Pride to NWSL Championship

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HOST: Jillian Sakovits

GUESTS: Elizabeth Ball

PRODUCER: Theo Lloyd-Hughes

VIDEO PRODUCER: Lia Griffin

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER: Emily Olsen

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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.

Being head coach of Angel City FC might just be one of the biggest jobs in soccer. How do you take one of the most well established and highest-performing brands off the pitch and turn them into a winner on the pitch?

Well, this week on Full Time, Tamerra Griffin and Meg Linehan are joined by ACFC head coach Alex Straus to go inside his vision for the team. Starting with Straus' journey to Los Angeles, from growing up in Norway, the "coincidence" that led to his coaching career, and the three consecutive league titles in the Frauen Bundesliga with Bayern Munich. Straus even touches on the similarities between Bayern and ACFC, what his new life is like in LA, and the difficult task of shaping his NWSL's team's mentality.

Articles referenced on the show:

Curiosity and a new challenge drew former Bayern Munich Women’s coach to Angel City

Angel City bets on future, signing Evelyn Shores: ‘When we break through, it’s going to be spectacular’

How Riley Tiernan’s close relationship with her sister helped the NWSL rookie find success early

Angel City FC moves into ‘new era,’ signing Iceland forward Sveindís Jónsdóttir through 2027

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HOSTS: Tamerra Griffin, Meg Linehan

GUEST: Alex Straus

PRODUCER: Theo Lloyd-Hughes

VIDEO PRODUCER: Lia Griffin

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER: Emily Olsen

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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.

The NWSL's first official Rivalry Weekend is in the books. It was a mixed bag until the Portland Thorns took the roof with a 4-2 win over the Seattle Reign, cementing the Cascadia Clash as the must-watch rivalry in the league. On this week's Full Time Review, Jillian Sakovits is joined by Tamerra Griffin to break down that record-breaking rivalry win, and how the young Thorns are coming into their own this season, and dismantled their fiercest rival in a memorable win.

Tamerra also reports from San Diego, where she took vibes of the SoCal Derby at Snapdragon Stadium. Did the San Diego Wave throw away three points? What did we learn about Angel City's potential mentality shift despite the team's winless run?

PLUS: Jillian gets you caught up on all the other major talking points, performances and records from the NWSL weekend, and then closes out the show with her moment of the weekend.

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Articles mentioned on the show:

Courage cite reasons for firing coach Sean Nahas: ‘Performance issues, culture issues’

North Carolina Courage terminates head coach Sean Nahas’ contract ‘effective immediately’

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HOST: Jillian Sakovits

GUEST: Tamerra Griffin

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.