We're closing out 2025 with a bang! In this week’s episode, Claire makes a few predictions for 2026, chatting about transfer possibilities, World Cup qualifying, way too early MVP candidates in more. Thanks everyone for listening through a great year of soccer, we’ll see y’all in January.

In this week’s episode, Claire runs down the timeline that’s led to Trinity Rodman’s contract dispute with the NWSL, where the league is falling short and the pressure the ongoing saga places on one of the most exciting talents in the game.

Subscribe: https://pod.link/1563105123 In this week’s episode, Claire breaks down the USWNT friendlies against Italy. Claire shares her biggest takeaways heading into 2026, from what these lineups told us about the midfield, what its means to have Naomi Girma back, and what opponents shouldn't do against his team. Subscribe to The Late Sub to never miss an episode. Follow Claire on Twitter/X (@scoutripley) and sign up for the Just Women’s Sports newsletter at justwomenssports.com/newsletter/ Just Women’s Sports is the leading digital media platform dedicated exclusively to women’s sports. In a world where women’s sports have been historically underfunded and under-promoted, Just Women’s Sports exists to shine a light on all the stories, athletes and moments that define and fuel the space. Through original podcasts, premium video programming, social media, editorial content, a newsletter, and exclusive merchandise and live events, Just Women’s Sports is committed to making it both easy and fun to be a women’s sports fan. Listen to The Late Sub with Claire Watkins here: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-late-sub-with-claire-watkins/id1563105123 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4n4ZxsVs1Ix9DY9E0KPSc6 iHeart: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/1119-the-late-sub-with-claire-81239737/ Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/c457a882-c376-4e46-8380-d7471ed29d4c/the-late-sub-with-claire-watkins Add us on: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/justwomenssports/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/justwsports Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@justwomenssports?

In this week’s episode, Claire breaks down NWSL championship weekend, on getting a sense of both Washington and Gotham’s dynamics going into Saturdays game, and how the Bats put themselves in a position to strike for a second championship in three years. Then, she does a quick breakdown of this week’s USWNT roster, as the team prepares to close out the year against Italy.

In this week’s episode, Claire breaks down last weekend’s semifinal action, and previews a championship game between two of the more ambitious clubs in the entire NWSL. Then, she chats with Bay FC defender Abby Dahlkemper, about Sutter Heath and the club’s support for family planning as she plans for a very exciting 2026.

In this week’s episode, Claire breaks down what she got right and what she got very wrong about the NWSL quarterfinals, which team has the biggest chip on their shoulder, and what may or may not happen when the semifinals hit this weekend.

In this week’s episode, Claire roots for chaos as the NWSL postseason begins by making four bold predictions about the upcoming quarterfinal round. Which underdogs can take it to the full 90, what tactics are most likely to prevail, and yes a bracket buster or two.

On this week’s episode, Claire breaks down the second two matches in the USWNT’s October window: who stood out, what question marks remain, and what the U.S. can take out of three very different performances over the course of the week from both a coaching and a player pool level.

In today's episode, Claire goes long on the USWNT opening the October window with their first-ever loss to Portugal: why the team's setup didn't help players succeed, what went wrong as the US chased the game, and how the team can adjust going into a rematch on Sunday.

*Note: This episode was recorded before Trinity Rodman left Wednesday's game with an injury* This week, Claire breaks down the roster for the USWNT’s upcoming October friendlies. Who made it, who is still on the outside looking in, and Emma Hayes’s comments as the team nears the year-mark until next fall’s World Cup Qualifying tournament.

In today’s episode, Claire breaks down the first week of 2025/26 UWCL action, as the USWNT contingent in the competition grows in size every year. She chats about the level of importance USWNT manager Emma Hayes places on the tournament, and how USWNT players are fairing in the early going of the league phase.

This week, Claire reflects on the retirement of Angel City captain Ali Riley, amidst a larger generational shift in the NWSL that has seen giants of the game step away while young stars rise. How has the league’s new CBA impacted the overall storytelling as the league creates new stars, and has the NWSL taken advantage of a quiet year for the USWNT?

In this week’s episode, Claire reflects on this week’s Ballon d’Or ceremony, breaking down the issues with modern football awards that can leave the women’s game looking like an afterthought, especially for players neither from or playing in Europe.

In this week’s episode, Claire reflects on the news Jaedyn Shaw is making a record NWSL transfer to Gotham FC, breaking down how million dollar trades work within a salary cap system that nonetheless keeps salaries restricted. She chats transfer growth, salaries vs transfer fees, and why certain players earning big ticket salaries doesn’t end the concerns risen by the high profile transfer of Alyssa Thompson to Chelsea.

In this week’s episode, Claire discusses the implications of Alyssa Thompson’s possible impending transfer to Chelsea, with the WSL season upon us primed to have its biggest season ever, and the NWSL trying to keep up in an ever-shifting global market.

In this week’s episode, Claire takes a deeper look at Kansas City’s historic success this season, what on-field tweaks Vlatko Andonovski has implemented to set the team up for long-term consistency after falling just short in 2024, and what an almost assured Shield win might mean for the team’s championship chances.

This week, Claire takes a look around the NWSL and proposes a few suggestions to a hypothetical league-wide trade market after the return from the international break has garnered mostly draws. What should your team do to shore up their roster before the end of the regular season?

In this week's episode, Claire takes a deeper look at the Portland Thorns after their expectation re-setting win over Seattle. She talks through why on their best day the Thorns could be a serious postseason contender, why they still need to raise their floor, and why it matters that one of the founding clubs of the NWSL finds their way.

In this week’s episode, Claire breaks down NWSL Rivalry Week, ranking each of this weekend’s matchups into tiers based on drama potential, national relevance, regional history and more. Which games have the juice, and which ones feel more like they’re being stashed.

The NWSL is back, and we’ve got a lot to catch up on! This week, Claire takes a trip through the NWSL standings, talking first half surprises, disappointments, individual performances, and who could end up hoisting the Shield and Championship trophies at the end of the season.