Shows / Raising the Game: Covering WNBA, NWSL, PWHL & More
Raising the Game: Covering WNBA, NWSL, PWHL & More
Women’s Sports Podcast covering the WNBA, NWSL, PWHL, and NCAA. We explore the business, growth, and future of women's athletics. Hosted by Caitlin and Alex—a husband-and-wife team raising two young daughters. Each week, we highlight the economic impacts, key headlines, and rising stars in women's professional sports and collegiate athletics. We analyze these stories not just as fans, but as parents looking at how today's sports ecosystem is creating real career opportunities for the next…
Episodes
- Raising the Game: Covering WNBA, NWSL, PWHL & More
BONUS EP | The WNBA at 30 Is Right Where the NBA Was at 30
The WNBA Finals tipped Game 6 at 12:30 p.m. on a Thursday, and author Jeff Goldberg says the NBA has been here before. Jeff is back on Raising the Game for a…
- Raising the Game: Covering WNBA, NWSL, PWHL & More
Ep. 44 | Golden State Valkyries Win the WNBA Title in Year 2
The Golden State Valkyries are 2026 WNBA champions, and they did it in year two of the franchise's existence. Golden State beat the Atlanta Dream 68-63 in the…
- Raising the Game: Covering WNBA, NWSL, PWHL & More
Ep. 43 | A WNBA Title Could Be Clinched at 12:30 in the Afternoon
The WNBA could crown a champion at 12:30 in the afternoon on a Thursday, and that tells you most of what you need to know about how women's sports still get…
- Raising the Game: Covering WNBA, NWSL, PWHL & More
Ep. 42 | Nobody on the Valkyries Can Slow Down Angel Reese
Ep. 42: Angel Reese went for 30 points and 16 rebounds on 60%+ shooting to even the WNBA Finals, and Golden State has no obvious answer for her. The Dream and…
- Raising the Game: Covering WNBA, NWSL, PWHL & More
Ep. 41 | It’s a Dream/Valkyries Finals, A'ja's Record Fifth MVP, USWNT Falls to Spain
The Atlanta Dream are headed to the WNBA Finals and might have to play them in Gateway Center, their 3,500 capacity home arena, and not the State Farm Arena…
- Raising the Game: Covering WNBA, NWSL, PWHL & More
Ep. 40 | The College Sports Bill's Title IX Loophole, Angel Reese's DPOY, WNBA Semis
The Protect College Sports Act just cleared the Senate, and the fine print may hand universities a way around Title IX. The bill calls revenue sharing…
- Raising the Game: Covering WNBA, NWSL, PWHL & More
Ep. 39 | The Lynx's Playoff Wake-Up Call, PWHL's First All-Star Game, NWSL Tiebreak Chaos
WNBA playoffs are here, and game one already told us something uncomfortable about the Minnesota Lynx. The one seed dropped its opener to the New York Liberty…
- Raising the Game: Covering WNBA, NWSL, PWHL & More
Ep. 38 | WNBA's Playoff Bracket Is Pure Chaos, Miles Breaks the Record, NWSL's Transparency Problem
The WNBA regular season ends Thursday and the playoff bracket from the four seed down is still completely unsettled, with six teams able to finish almost…
- Raising the Game: Covering WNBA, NWSL, PWHL & More
Ep. 37 | Team USA's Third-Quarter Takeover Wins FIBA Gold, WNBA Seeding Chaos, USWNT vs. Spain Roster Predictions
Team USA won its fifth straight FIBA Women's World Cup gold in Berlin, and the whole thing turned on one quarter of basketball. France led 45-43 at halftime…
- Raising the Game: Covering WNBA, NWSL, PWHL & More
Interview | Jeff Goldberg on UConn's Dynasty Years & the Rivalry That Built Women's Hoops
This bonus episode is our full conversation with Jeff Goldberg, the Hartford Courant writer who covered UConn women's basketball from 2001 to 2006 and whose…
- Raising the Game: Covering WNBA, NWSL, PWHL & More
Ep. 36 | UConn's Dynasty With Jeff Goldberg, NWSL Race, FIBA Discussions
Women's basketball has been so busy fighting for its future that it never learned to look after its past. That's Jeff Goldberg's line, and it anchors our…
- Raising the Game: Covering WNBA, NWSL, PWHL & More
Ep. 35 | NWSL's Playoff Scramble, WNBA's FIBA Break, and the Angel Reese Rebound Record Math
Angel Reese just set the WNBA's single-game and single-season rebounding records, and the comment section already has its rebuttal loaded: they're all…
- Raising the Game: Covering WNBA, NWSL, PWHL & More
Ep. 34 | Portland's $150M Bet on Women's Sports, WNBA Top Performances & Playoff Predictions
The Portland Thorns and Portland Fire just opened a $150 million training facility built for two professional women's teams, and it might be the clearest…
- Raising the Game: Covering WNBA, NWSL, PWHL & More
Ep. 33 | The WNBA's Discourse Problem Needs a Fix, Cameroon Wins WAFCON, KMAC's Record Night
The WNBA is in its 30th season, records are falling almost nightly, and the conversation around the league keeps getting uglier. We spend a chunk of this…
- Raising the Game: Covering WNBA, NWSL, PWHL & More
Ep. 32 | Women's Pro Baseball Ends a 70-Year Blackout, NWSL Playoff Race, WNBA Last Two In Predictions
Women's professional baseball is back after more than 70 years, and the new WPBL is playing its entire first season in Springfield, Illinois. We wanted to know…
- Raising the Game: Covering WNBA, NWSL, PWHL & More
Ep. 31 | FIFA's $20 Billion Plan Collapses in 72 Hours, Lynx Win 10 Straight, WPBL Debuts
FIFA tried to sell a piece of the World Cup and world football said no. Gianni Infantino's $20 billion plan died in about three days, and the women's game was…
- Raising the Game: Covering WNBA, NWSL, PWHL & More
Ep. 30 | WNBA All-Star Breaks Records and Gets Messy, Title IX Under Attack, World Cup Qualifiers
The WNBA All-Star Game just made history: 19,783 fans at Chicago's United Center, the biggest All-Star crowd ever and the first to outdraw the NBA's All-Star…
- Raising the Game: Covering WNBA, NWSL, PWHL & More
Ep. 29 | Does the WNBA Need New Leadership?, All-Star Draft Preview, Kelsey Mitchell Is On Fire
The WNBA is having a leadership crisis, and All-Star Weekend is about to put it under a spotlight. This week we dig into whether Commissioner Cathy Engelbert…
- Raising the Game: Covering WNBA, NWSL, PWHL & More
Ep. 28 | Is Pay-to-Play Capping USWNT Dominance?, NWSL's Parity Surge, Paige Bueckers & Wings Spotlight
Is it still fair to assume the U.S. Women's National Team just wins? This week we dig into how six countries develop their women's soccer talent, and why the…
- Raising the Game: Covering WNBA, NWSL, PWHL & More
Episode 27 | WNBA's Officiating Crisis Boils Over, All-Star Snubs, NWSL's Record Return
The WNBA's officiating controversy hit a new level this week, and Alex and Caitlin dig into why the Alyssa Thomas–Caitlin Clark incident is really about years…
- Raising the Game: Covering WNBA, NWSL, PWHL & More
Episode 26 | The Door - Part 2: Ann Meyers Said Yes When the World Laughed, Lisa Leslie's WNBA Legacy, Venus changes Wimbledon
This is The Door Part 2, part of our Trailblazers series — the women's sports history special that picks up where Episode 13 left off, moving into the modern…
- Raising the Game: Covering WNBA, NWSL, PWHL & More
Episode 25 | Serena's Wimbledon Singles Comeback, WNBA Grows to 50 Games, PWHL Draft Drama
Serena Williams is back in Grand Slam singles for the first time since 2022, and she's doing it at Wimbledon, on the grass, with a wild card and no ranking. At…
- Raising the Game: Covering WNBA, NWSL, PWHL & More
Ep 24 | NWSL's Bold World Cup Marketing Bet, PWHL Entry Draft Day, WNBA MVP Watch
The Men's World Cup is in the U.S., and the NWSL isn't sitting it out — they're turning 1.42 billion soccer fans into a fan acquisition opportunity. With their…
- Raising the Game: Covering WNBA, NWSL, PWHL & More
Episode 23 | Hilary Knight's PWHL Sign-and-Trade, Lynx on Top, and USWNT drops one to Brazil
Hilary Knight's PWHL expansion saga ended with the wildest move of the process: Vegas signed her via an expansion franchise offer and immediately traded her to…
- Raising the Game: Covering WNBA, NWSL, PWHL & More
Episode 22 | Caitlin Clark's Defense Is a Liability, PWHL Expansion Begins, Triple Espresso Is Back
After a 16-point blowout loss to the Portland Fire, the rest of the WNBA is circling something on the whiteboard: Caitlin Clark's defensive game is a weakness…
- Raising the Game: Covering WNBA, NWSL, PWHL & More
Episode 21 | Caitlin Clark's Back Is a Red Flag, Montreal Wins the Walter Cup, Utah Stays Unbeaten
Caitlin Clark missed a game this week with a reported back injury, and the Fever's "strategic management" framing — announced less than two hours before tip —…
- Raising the Game: Covering WNBA, NWSL, PWHL & More
Episode 20 | Walter Cup Game 3, WNBA Opens Hot/Officiating Overhaul, NWSL Week 8
The Ottawa Charge pulled off a stunning late comeback to stay alive in the Walter Cup Finals, and the WNBA's new foul-calling emphasis is already reshaping…
- Raising the Game: Covering WNBA, NWSL, PWHL & More
Episode 19 | PWHL Playoffs Chaos, Detroit Expansion, WNBA Season 30 Opens, NWSL Week 7
The PWHL playoffs have been an absolute mess in the best possible way, and the path to the Walter Cup Final is still wide open heading into a postponed Game 5…
- Raising the Game: Covering WNBA, NWSL, PWHL & More
Episode 18 | PWHL Playoffs and Expansion, WNBA Season 30 Tips Off, Derby History, NWSL Schedule Debate
The PWHL playoffs are delivering drama on both sides of the bracket, the WNBA's 30th season is officially here, and women's sports infrastructure is growing…
- Raising the Game: Covering WNBA, NWSL, PWHL & More
Episode 17 | PWHL Playoffs Are Set, NWSL Week 5, WNBA Preseason Begins
The PWHL playoffs are here, and Montreal made a pick that has Frost fans cautiously optimistic. The PWHL wrapped its regular season with Kelly Pannek setting a…
- Raising the Game: Covering WNBA, NWSL, PWHL & More
Episode 16 | WNBA Season Preview, USWNT vs. Japan, PWHL Playoff Push
The WNBA is officially back, and Episode 16 is your full preview of the 2026 season — from A'ja Wilson's record-breaking supermax to the teams you need to…
- Raising the Game: Covering WNBA, NWSL, PWHL & More
Episode 15 | Deloitte $3B Report, WNBA Draft, USWNT vs. Japan, PWHL Playoff Race
The 2026 WNBA Draft just happened live as we recorded, and women's sports is officially a $3 billion industry. There's a lot to unpack. Azzi Fudd went No. 1…
- Raising the Game: Covering WNBA, NWSL, PWHL & More
Episode 14 | UCLA Wins It All, Connecticut Sun to Houston, WNBA Free Agency, USWNT vs. Japan
UCLA just won the national championship, and they did it convincingly. Episode 14 covers the Bruins' blowout over South Carolina, the Geno-Dawn Staley postgame…
- Raising the Game: Covering WNBA, NWSL, PWHL & More
Episode 13 | What's the Story: The Door, Part 1 — Pioneers of Women's Sports
The pioneers who broke down the doors in women's sports didn't just play the game. They rewrote the rules, fought segregation, and built the infrastructure…
- Raising the Game: Covering WNBA, NWSL, PWHL & More
Episode 12 | WNBA CBA Transformational Deal, Women's Tackle Football, Women's Leagues Roundup
The WNBA just agreed to a transformational new CBA — and the numbers are staggering. Salary caps jumped from $1.5 million to $7 million, super maxes hit $1.4…
- Raising the Game: Covering WNBA, NWSL, PWHL & More
Episode 11 | WNBA CBA Deadline Day, NWSL Is Back, PWHL Playoff Push, March Madness
It's a big week for women's sports — and we happened to record on the night the WNBA CBA was supposed to get done. This week: The WNBA CBA hits its deadline…
- Raising the Game: Covering WNBA, NWSL, PWHL & More
Episode 10 | She Believes Cup Wrap, NWSL League History & Season Preview
The NWSL season is officially here, and we spent most of this episode getting you ready for it. This week: She Believes Cup is a wrap: USWNT takes their 8th…
- Raising the Game: Covering WNBA, NWSL, PWHL & More
Raising the Game Trailer
Get an idea of the women's sports topics we talk about with this trailer.
- Raising the Game: Covering WNBA, NWSL, PWHL & More
Episode 9 | PWHL is Back, WNBA CBA Crunch Time, She Believes Cup, NCAA Tourney Preview
It's March and women's sports is absolutely delivering. This week: - The PWHL is back and riding a massive Olympic wave. We dig into the attendance records…
- Raising the Game: Covering WNBA, NWSL, PWHL & More
Episode 8: Olympic Glory, She Believes Cup, & The WNBA CBA Standoff Continues
This week we go through a comprehensive breakdown of Team USA's historic Winter Olympic performance—where women won 61% of all American medals. Emma Hayes'…
- Raising the Game: Covering WNBA, NWSL, PWHL & More
Episode 7: USA Women's Hockey Dominance, WNBA CBA Talks, Angel Reese Returns & NWSL Roster Moves
This week, we dive into the overwhelming dominance of the U.S. Women's Olympic Ice Hockey team, outscoring opponents 26-1 as they head toward a showdown with…
- Raising the Game: Covering WNBA, NWSL, PWHL & More
Episode 6: 2026 Winter Women's Olympics, Lindsey Vonn & Our Favorite Black Women Athletes
The 2026 Winter Games in Milano Cortina have begun with a record 47% female participation rate . We analyze the massive viewership shift toward women's events…
- Raising the Game: Covering WNBA, NWSL, PWHL & More
Episode 5: WNBA Collective Bargaining Breakdown, NCCA Roundup & Winter Olympics Preview
Caitlin and Alex are back to break down one of the biggest story in women's sports: the WNBA CBA negotiations. We crunch the numbers on the revenue sharing…
- Raising the Game: Covering WNBA, NWSL, PWHL & More
Episode 4: The PWHL Explained, Rodman’s Record Millions, & USWNT Youth Movement
Caitlin and Alex deep dive into the Professional Women's Hockey League (PWHL), explaining the "Jailbreak" rule, special league rules, and the league's…
- Raising the Game: Covering WNBA, NWSL, PWHL & More
Episode 3: NWSL "Rodman Rule" Saga, WNBA Labor Standoff & 2026 Olympics Preview (1/21/2026)
Caitlin and Alex tackle the NWSL's complex offseason, discussing the new "Rodman Rule," the Players Association's demand for rescission, and major moves for…
- Raising the Game: Covering WNBA, NWSL, PWHL & More
Episode 2: WNBA Labor Standoff, Unrivaled’s Electric Debut, & Volleyball’s Big Business (1/14/2026)
Caitlin and Alex break down the WNBA's uncertain offseason following the CBA deadline, discussing the "status quo" implications and Napheesa Collier’s call for…