In today's episode, LDG is chatting with Tanya Boychuk, forward for the Montreal Roses and Ukrainian women's national team.

With experience playing for Canada's youth squads, Tanya's career spans over two continents, competing across North America and Europe. Tanya began her professional career in Iceland and Sweden before she found herself back in Canada joining the Montreal Roses. Today, Tanya competes for the senior women's national team of Ukraine, after making the switch in March after being called up for training camps with the team, ahead of the upcoming international windows that hold weight in qualifications for major competitions.

In our conversation, Tanya opens up about the switch from college soccer to the professional game, adapting to the footballing cultures while playing club football in foreign countries, and how that experience enhanced her development on and off the pitch.

Tanya also speaks candidly about her decision to switch teams and play for the Montreal Roses when the Northern Super League was still very new, the experience of building a team from scratch, and the role she took on from day 1 after being appealed to the project in discussion with the club's sporting director.

Towards the end of our chat, Tanya shares why she decided to play for Ukraine internationally and her ambitions in the game at the highest level, along with her goals for the future with both her club and national team.

Thank you for listening! Remember to follow us wherever you get your podcasts, on Instagram (@the_womens_soccer_podcast) and Bluesky (@thewomenssoccerpod.bsky.social). In addition, leave a 5-star review and tell all your friends about our show!

In today's episode, LDG breaks down the trio of teams, that among the early leaders in the NWSL season, have proven themselves to be above the rest: the Portland Thorns, Washington Spirit, and San Diego Wave.

On the surface, these teams are delivering good performances through victories and points, but what makes their approach unique is the method by which they are achieving such success. In this episode, LDG examines the various identities that are emerging among the league leaders, including the new balance found in Portland, the offensive fireworks provided by Washington, and the defensive organization of San Diego.

LDG explores the tactics behind these clubs, including the key players and statistics contributing to their current successes, and examine the reason for their emergence as potential standard-bearers of the NWSL. However, the overarching question here remains: is this the dawn of a new era, or just the form of the early season period?

LDG digs deep into what has been motivating each team beyond mere results. In the case of Portland, it is the development of their midfield players as well as a tactical approach to attack that is more fluid and adaptable than ever before. As for Washington, it is the pairing of world-class athletes with an extremely fast-paced game that utilizes its vertical strength to generate high-quality scoring opportunities. Lastly, it is the tactical cohesion of San Diego’s defense and ball control that makes them a nightmare for any opponent looking to find a way past them.

Thank you for listening! Remember to follow us wherever you get your podcasts, on Instagram (@the_womens_soccer_podcast) and Bluesky (@thewomenssoccerpod.bsky.social). In addition, leave a 5-star review and tell all your friends about our show!

In this episode, I am so excited to talk with Sporting Jacksonville and USWNT U-20 forward Ashlyn Puerta, who is currently leading the Gainbridge Super League golden boot race.

A rising force in the professional game, Ashlyn's made an immediate impact in her first season at Sporting Jacksonville, quickly establishing herself as one of the most dangerous attacking players in the Gainbridge Super League. From a standout youth career that included top academy performances, early national team involvement, and exposure to elite training environments, her path to the professional level has been defined by constant challenges and adaptation at every stage.

Ashlyn reflects on her earliest soccer memories, the moments that shaped her development, and how she built the mindset needed to transition from youth standout to professional goalscorer. Ashlyn also breaks down her decision to forgo the traditional college route in favor of joining an expansion project, walking through what ultimately made Sporting Jacksonville the right fit at a pivotal moment in her career.

Now a key figure in the club’s early success, she discusses her adjustment to the professional game, playing in front of growing home crowds, and what it means to be part of a team building its identity from the ground up.

The conversation closes with reflections on her goals for the future, both short-term and long-term, as she continues her breakout season and looks ahead to what’s next in her career.

Thank you for listening! Remember to follow us wherever you get your podcasts, on Instagram (@the_womens_soccer_podcast) and Bluesky (@thewomenssoccerpod.bsky.social). In addition, leave a 5-star review and tell all your friends about our show!

Fresh off one of the most decorated collegiate seasons in the country, rising defender Kolo Suliafu gave her first-ever interview as a professional in an exclusive and in-depth conversation with LDG.

Kolo gives a glimpse into the path that led her to reach a professional level of play. Beginning with childhood memories of playing soccer and being a standout at high school all the way to deciding to join University of Washington and making history by taking the Huskies to an Elite Eight appearance, Kolo shares stories of winning Big Ten Defender of the Year and All-American awards, creating the winning mindset that she is bringing to KC.

Kolo brings listeners behinds the scenes access into what it is like becoming part of Kansas City Current in its new phase, the journey of a rookie navigating a post-draft ecosystem, what made Kansas City the most appealing project to start her professional career, and her experience in her first-ever professional preseason being tasked by achieving the club's lofty goals.

Lastly, Kolo chats about her initial days in Kansas City, the elite amenities of playing for the Current (dedicated stadium and training facilities,) the message she wants to convey to fans, and the objectives/staples on her vision board for 2026 and beyond.

Thank you for listening! Remember to follow us wherever you get your podcasts, on Instagram (@the_womens_soccer_podcast) and Bluesky (@thewomenssoccerpod.bsky.social). In addition, leave a 5-star review and tell all your friends about our show!

This week on The Women’s Soccer Podcast, LDG breaks down what everyone in women’s soccer is missing right now beyond the weekend headlines and instant reactions.

From Arsenal’s statement win over Lyon and Bayern pushing Barcelona in the UWCL, to Manchester City’s costly slip in the WSL title race, to the early-season identity trends already forming in the NWSL, this episode looks at the deeper patterns shaping the game across multiple leagues.

LDG also dives into detailed player analysis on Lindsey Heaps’ evolving role with the USWNT, why context matters more than surface-level narratives, and how role fit can change the perception of a player.

Plus, Gotham FC's iconic ticket partnership with Mayor Mamdani, why fans should be careful with overreactions this time of year, what these recent results actually mean moving forward, the biggest storylines and matches to keep an eye on next week, and LDG's good vibes/what he is nerding out on right now.

Thank you for listening! Remember to follow us wherever you get your podcasts, on Instagram (@the_womens_soccer_podcast) and Bluesky (@thewomenssoccerpod.bsky.social). In addition, leave a 5-star review and tell all your friends about our show!

In today's episode, LDG is joined by Fort Lauderdale United and Matildas (Australia WNT) forward Sophie Harding!

We sit down with one of Australia’s rising stars to trace her journey from childhood to the professional game. She reflects on her earliest soccer memories and growing up between England and Australia, sharing how her family and multicultural background shaped her identity and approach to the sport. The conversation follows her rise through Australia’s system, from standout form in the second division to becoming a key figure in the A-League with Newcastle Jets and Western Sydney Wanderers, while offering insight into how those early professional years developed her game and perspective.

We also dive into her first call-up to the Australian national team, what that moment meant, and the jump in level she experienced on the international stage. From there, she discusses her move to the Gainbridge Super League, what initially drew her to the new league, and why Fort Lauderdale United stood out as the right next step in her career. She closes by giving a look inside preseason with a new-look squad, making the case for why fans should tune in, and outlining both her short-term goals for the season and her long-term ambitions in the game.

Thank you for listening! Remember to follow us wherever you get your podcasts, on Instagram (@the_womens_soccer_podcast) and Bluesky (@thewomenssoccerpod.bsky.social). In addition, leave a 5-star review and tell all your friends about our show!

In today's episode, LDG is joined by Tampa Bay Sun FC defender Brooke Hendrix!

From childhood memories that instilled an enduring love of the game to dealing with the unknowns of post-graduation trial periods for clubs like the Dutch powerhouse AFC Ajax, the United States, and making her way from there to Glasgow City, Brooke tells the story of perseverance needed to build a career when the road ahead seemed uncertain. We talk about what the experiences meant for Brooke's mindset development, but also how playing in countries as diverse as Italy, England, and Australia, including winning an A-League championship with Melbourne Victory, impacted her skills and character on and off the field.

Finally, we talk to Brooke about the current state of the women's footballing landscape, the differences between the NWSL and WSL, and the importance of being one of the founding players of the new league in USL Super League. At the moment, she is at Tampa Bay Sun FC and explains what made her want to join the club, the challenges of the transitional year, and how to establish chemistry among a constantly changing team trying to make it to playoffs. In closing, Brooke talks about her aspirations for the rest of the year, along with a rapid-fire segment that reveals the personality behind the player.

Thank you for listening! Remember to follow us wherever you get your podcasts, on Instagram (@the_womens_soccer_podcast) and Bluesky (@thewomenssoccerpod.bsky.social). In addition, leave a 5-star review and tell all your friends about our show!

In today's episode, LDG is joined by Racing Louisville FC goalkeeper Jordyn Bloomer!

Jordyn walks us down memory lane to her earliest memory playing soccer before moving on to share how her success at Wisconsin, earning Big Ten Conference Goalkeeper of the Year honors twice and first-team All-American honors, helped prepare her for the professional ranks.

Jordyn talks about her experience going on loan to the A-League and playing alongside world-class players, which helped her grow confidence in the pros ahead of returning to Racing. Coming off an incredible year in Australia, Jordyn was ready to return to Racing to compete for the number 1 spot, but suffered a season ending injury, and she shares how that struggle made the return to the pitch (and claim of Racing's number 1 goalkeeper spot) that much more special.

Lastly, Jordyn unpacks her star season and the team making the playoffs for the first time in the cub's history, how she prepares so successfully to stop penalty kicks from the opposition, why she re-signed with Racing, how preseason this year went, + so much more!

Thank you for listening! Remember to follow us wherever you get your podcasts, on Instagram (@the_womens_soccer_podcast) and Bluesky (@thewomenssoccerpod.bsky.social). In addition, leave a 5-star review and tell all your friends about our show!

ICYMI, here are some of our recent episodes you should bookmark for later!

1. Ep. 177: Why the NWSL Is More Unpredictable Than Ever And Top Teams Are Paying for It (LDG's NWSL Matchday 4.5 Recap)
2. We recently interviewed Club América Femenil and Mexico WNT Defender Karina Rodriguez. It was such a great conversation, I was honored to work with such a big club, so be sure to check it out!