Welcome to the Party – Details, episodes & analysis

Track and field legend Allyson Felix didn’t settle for crumbs—she took the whole darn cake. She joins the party with Abby Wambach, Billie Jean King, and Julie Foudy to get real about the Nike showdown that reset maternity protections, the women-first power plays behind Saysh and Always Alpha, and what’s next for track & field. And because it’s a party, we brought friends: GOATs Ask the GOAT—Mia Hamm, Coco Gauff, and Mikaela Shiffrin pop in with surprise questions for “The Kinger”. Thank you @Miahamm we didn’t see this one coming. Show Notes: A huge thank you to our presenting sponsor Ally - the bank that’s your ally. Ally Bank, Member FDIC.  ⁠https://www.ally.com Join the Party Follow @welcometothepartyshow on: YouTube — ⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@WelcomeToThePartyShow⁠ Instagram — ⁠https://www.instagram.com/welcometothepartyshow/⁠ TikTok — ⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@welcometothepartyshow⁠ Go Deeper Saysh — Allyson’s women-first shoe brand: ⁠https://saysh.com/⁠ Always Alpha — Allyson’s management company for women athletes and coaches: ⁠https://always-alpha.com/⁠ She Runs the World — Allyson’s documentary (Tribeca): ⁠https://tribecafilm.com/films/she-runs-the-world-2025⁠ The Next Day — by Melinda French Gates: ⁠https://www.melindafrenchgates.com/⁠ Abby post-game interview vs. Japan: ⁠https://youtu.be/kwAMN1-1p_c?si=MZDQ0KkoamVOS6YR⁠ Julie’s Party Starter summer highlight: Marta’s two goals in Copa América Femenina — ⁠https://youtu.be/tiUWtL0vYVc?si=9Bt9FebPKDeEXwoX⁠ Billie’s Party Starter summer highlight: Mboko wins the Canadian Open - ⁠https://www.wtatennis.com/videos/4336505/champions-reel-how-victoria-mboko-won-montreal-2025⁠ Abby’s Party Starter summer highlight: Katie’s 7th consecutive 800m freestyle gold —https://youtu.be/UHRbHxeEexM?si=lFFAVnEVSJmm72GE #AllysonFelix #BillieJeanKing #AbbyWambach #JulieFoudy #WomensSports #Nike #EqualityInSports #Olympics #TrackAndField

Welcome to the Party! Hosted by Abby Wambach, Julie Foudy, and the legend herself Billie Jean King, this is the women’s sports party you’ve been waiting for. Twice a week we’re diving into the biggest moments, boldest conversations, and brightest stars in women’s sports - all while having a sh*t ton of fun.First episode launching Thursday, September 4th! New episodes drop every Tuesday & Thursday after that. Come celebrate, elevate, and join the Party. Because this one’s for YOU. Subscribe on YouTube, Apple, Spotify 👉 http://bit.ly/4mKrnwb

From center court to center stage, she’s rolling straight from Saturday’s win into today’s party — and we get the front-row seat. 2-Time US Open champion Aryna Sabalenka joins Abby Wambach, Billie Jean King, and Julie Foudy fresh off defending her crown in New York — the first woman since Serena Williams in 2014 to pull it off.    Welcome to the Party gets the inside scoop on how Aryna is redefining power tennis-- what sportscaster Mary Carillo termed "Big Babe Tennis"-- and how she turned Slam heartbreaks into fuel, went from not being ready for the fight to bringing it when everything was on the line, and why learning to control her emotions was the key to breaking through. So pull up a chair and pop the cork — the US Open champ just rolled into the party. Show Notes: A huge thank you to our presenting sponsor Ally - the bank that’s your ally. Ally Bank, Member FDIC. https://www.ally.com Join the Party: Follow @welcometothepartyshow on: YouTube —⁠ https://www.youtube.com/@WelcomeToThePartyShow ⁠Instagram —⁠ https://www.instagram.com/welcometothepartyshow/ ⁠TikTok —⁠ https://www.tiktok.com/@welcometothepartyshow⁠ Go Deeper: Aryna Sabalenka vs. Amanda Anisimova Extended Highlights | 2025 US Open Final: https://youtu.be/clVU6bPiwbY?si=qgLvrnFr_bqh9uZX Naomi Osaka and her Labubus Billie Jean Bling ⁠https://youtube.com/shorts/vKXijWxgbE8?si=N21zKID_cso3y2aB⁠ Althea Glitterson ⁠https://youtube.com/shorts/98_Rd0MLTkQ?si=OXQw-Az85gNF96jP ⁠LaBillieBu  ⁠https://youtube.com/shorts/2CU9jZaVd_Y?si=IErc-6wZlb3LPG7S⁠ Andre Swagassi ⁠https://youtube.com/shorts/ERiG02_lLnk?si=iQm7nqY7WqbD3Hfb⁠ Arthur flash ⁠https://youtube.com/shorts/FkvCggWLhKA?si=GeUnlcYyM_oaATio⁠ Kerin Rose Gold - The creator of Osaka’s Labubus  ⁠https://www.instagram.com/kerinrosegold⁠ The Book Sabalenka credits helped her with mindset change: ⁠https://www.jamesrdotymd.com/magicshop⁠ Time Stamps: 00:00 Begin Interview  02:42 Billie Jean King’s US Open Highlights and Experiences 04:59 Big Babe Tennis 05:30 Sabalenka’s Journey to Victory 08:45 Our Party Starter presented by Ally 11:29 Welcome to the party Sabalenka 12:57 Big Babe Tennis 14:20 Self-Talk and Emotional Control 16:30 Is Being a Professional Athlete Hard or Easy? 17:30 Her Love of the Game 20:22 Closing Thoughts

Rebecca Lowe, NBC’s Premier League host and Olympic broadcaster, joins a special youth sports edition of the party with Julie Foudy and Abby Wambach to swap survival tips on the chaos of parenting athletes. From snack duty and car-ride confessions to sideline drama, they break down the do’s and don’ts every parent needs — surviving youth sports is always better with a party. Plus, Julie and Abby talk WNBA playoff stunners, Billie Jean King Cup winners, NWSL solidarity, and more!Go Deeper:-Rebecca Lowe’s Youth Sports Instagram post that inspired this talk:https://www.instagram.com/reel/DHi-wT-p-LQ/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link-NWSL Supports WNBA with “Pay Them What You Owe Them” Shirts:https://www.instagram.com/p/DOmtSSYjabC/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link-Where to watch the Women’s Rugby World Cup Championship – Saturday, September 27:https://www.rugbyworldcup.com/2025/en/where-to-watchThank You to Our Sponsors:-Ally’s got you covered. Ally Bank, Member FDIC-Find a host or co-host at http://airbnb.com/host

Party people, the debate is on! Julie Foudy and Abby Wambach take on the ultimate question: Is being a professional athlete hard — yes or no? To settle it once and for all, they texted a who’s who of sporting legends and friends — from Mia Hamm, Brandi Chastain, and Alex Morgan to Sue Bird, Crystal Dunn, Midge Purce, Peyton Manning, Kerri Walsh Jennings, Hilary Knight and more. Now it’s your turn to weigh in: Are you Team Abby or Team Julie? The Party People will be the ultimate decider. No pressure. (Join the debate on Instagram @ Welcometothepartyshow) Join the Party Follow @welcometothepartyshow on: YouTube — @welcometothepartyshow Instagram — @welcometothepartyshow TikTok — @welcometothepartyshow Email — partypeoplequestions@gmail.com Thank you to our sponsors! A huge thank you to our presenting sponsor Ally — Ally’s got you covered. Ally Bank, Member FDIC. Get started today with Growtherapy.com http://www.growtherapy.com/welcometotheparty Get 25% off your first month at Ritual.com  http://www.ritual.com/welcometotheparty

The legend herself joins the party! Billie Jean King sits down with Julie Foudy and Abby Wambach to talk about the Billie Jean King Cup — the World Cup of tennis. From its founding in 1963 to today’s $7 million prize pool, the Cup has become one of the most important stages in women’s sports. Plus, a surprise Ask the Kinger segment; Brandi Chastain and Kendall Coyne Schofield drop in to the party. Join the Party: Follow @welcometothepartyshow on: YouTube — @welcometothepartyshow Instagram — @welcometothepartyshow TikTok — @welcometothepartyshow Email — partypeoplequestions@gmail.com Go Deeper Billie Jean King Cup – Official Site https://www.billiejeankingcup.com/en Where to Watch the Billie Jean King Cup – Tennis Channel Broadcast Info https://www.tennischannel.com/en-us/tournaments/all/151 History of the Billie Jean King Cup https://www.billiejeankingcup.com/en/about/history Tory Burch “Billie Blue” Jackets https://www.billiejeankingcup.com/en/news/tory-burch-returns-as-official-outfitter-of-the-billie-jean-king-cup-winners-jackethttps://youtu.be/j22DnEqXPiM?si=5oRGOsqhPtQX9gd1 Corretta Scott King Quotes https://parade.com/1331167/shameikarhymes/coretta-scott-king-quotes/ About Leonardo da Vinci https://www.history.com/articles/leonardo-da-vinci The Complete History of the signature shoe https://www.forbes.com/sites/timnewcomb/2023/03/28/the-complete-history-of-signature-shoes-in-tennis/ Thank you to our sponsors: *A huge thank you to our presenting sponsor Ally — Ally’s got you covered. Ally Bank, Member FDIC. *Start your career coaching today at http://www.strawberry.me/welcometotheparty  *Find a host or co-host at http://airbnb.com/host *Get 25% off your first month at http://www.ritual.com/welcometotheparty

The WNBA playoffs kick off this weekend, and labor negotiations are heating up with an October 31 deadline looming. So who else would we call to the pod but Breanna Stewart — three-time WNBA champ, Olympic gold medalist, four-time NCAA champ, MVP, mom, co-founder of Unrivaled, and oh yeah… VP of the players’ union. Stewie breaks it all down with Julie and Abby: the Liberty’s title chase, the state of the league, being a mom of two, and how she juggles it all! Show Notes A huge thank you to our presenting sponsor Ally — the bank that’s your ally. Ally Bank, Member FDIC. ⁠https://www.ally.com/⁠ Join the Party Follow @welcometothepartyshow on: YouTube — https://www.youtube.com/@WelcomeToThePartyShow Instagram — https://www.instagram.com/welcometothepartyshow/ TikTok — https://www.tiktok.com/@welcometothepartyshow Email — partypeoplequestions@gmail.com Go Deeper Stewie’s World https://shop.stewiesworld.com/ The WNBA Playoff Picture https://bleacherreport.com/articles/25242125-updated-2025-wnba-playoff-bracket-standings-after-storm-clinch-playoff-spot The latest on the CBA in the WNBA  https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/wnba/2025/07/25/breanna-stewart-wnba-cba-negotiations/85345157007/#:~:text=The%20Liberty%20forward%20is%20also,level%20is%20depending%20on%20them. #BreannaStewart #BillieJeanKing #AbbyWambach #JulieFoudy #WNBA #WNBAPlayoffs #WomensBasketball #Unrivaled #Liberty #CBA

This is the first episode where Abby and Julie give ALL the power to the party people! In this special family edition, they hand control over to the people closest to them — Glennon Doyle, their kids, and even Julie’s sister. When family takes over, all bets are off! Join the Party:Follow @welcometothepartyshow on:YouTube — @welcometothepartyshowInstagram — @welcometothepartyshowTikTok — @welcometothepartyshowEmail — partypeoplequestions@gmail.com Thank you to our sponsors:Ally’s got you covered. Ally Bank, Member FDICHead to Quince.com/WELCOMETOTHEPARTY for free shipping and 365-day returns. #family #BillieJeanKing #AbbyWambach #JulieFoudy #GlennonDoyle

The WNBA Finals are about to begin, but at Welcome to the Party we’re running our own 2025 WNBA Dream Team Mock Finals. Abby and Julie go head-to-head by picking their best 8 players from the 2025 season (assuming all players are healthy. ??) Hall of Famer and WNBA Legend Sue Bird stops by the Party to judge who wins in a best of ONE series, Team Julie or Team Abby. Let’s just say the loser has to wear a special hat ??. Join the Party: Follow @welcometothepartyshow on: YouTube — @welcometothepartyshow Instagram — @welcometothepartyshow TikTok — @welcometothepartyshow Email — partypeoplequestions@gmail.com Go Deeper: Listen to Sue Bird: * A Touch More Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/a-touch-more-with-sue-bird-megan-rapinoe/id1510142364 * A Bird’s Eye View Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@SueBird  * Sue Statue Reveal: https://abcnews.go.com/GMA/Living/retired-wnba-star-sue-bird-makes-history-1st/story?id=124741140  Thank you to our sponsors: * Ally’s got you covered. Ally Bank, Member FDIC Head to https://moshlife.com/welcometotheparty to save 20% off plus free shipping.  Start your therapy journey today by visiting:  https://growtherapy.com/start/welcometotheparty Visit https://www.wayfair.com to get your go to items for game day.  #WNBA #WNBAPlayoffs #WNBAFinals #WNBADraft #WNBABasketball #WomenInSports 

Call it planned, call it necessary, call it a meltdown — Cheryl Reeve gave us an all-time WNBA moment. Three f-bombs, a suspension, and the internet divided. Was she making a calculated stand for her team, or did she just lose it in the moment? Julie Foudy, Abby Wambach, and Billie Jean King dive into the chaos — and can you guess which one of us secretly kind of loved it? We debate it all in this episode of Welcome to the Party. Join the Party: Follow @welcometothepartyshow on: YouTube — @welcometothepartyshow Instagram — @welcometothepartyshow TikTok — @welcometothepartyshow Email — partypeoplequestions@gmail.com Go Deeper  Cheryl Reeve Debate Video of Cheryl Reeve storming the court (Game 3 vs. Mercury): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YMzcrp8tieA Cheryl Reeve’s full post-game presser: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TMsIHSUsZNM WNBA’s official statement on her suspension:https://www.wnba.com/news/minnesota-lyx-head-coach-cheryl-reeve-suspended WNBA Playoffs Game 5 timing: Tuesday at 9:30 PM ET on ESPN2. Where to watch: ESPN2 (linear), ESPN app/ESPN+ (stream). Finals start: Friday, October 3. Other Sports   Cricket: link to information about the Women’s Cricket World Cup: https://www.icc-cricket.com/index Rugby World Cup / World Championships extended highlights: https://youtu.be/uh4k1KBR1KE?si=ihTiQ4m-3yWS4m2v BJK Cup Results (China): https://www.billiejeankingcup.com/en/news/bjk-cup-finals-attendance-up-15-year-on-year Athletes Unlimited Volleyball: link to schedule, how/where to watch - https://auprosports.com/volleyball/ Thank you to our sponsors: *Ally’s got you covered. Ally Bank, Member FDIC * Find a host or co-host at https://www.airbnb.com/host/ * Head to https://www.quince.com/Welcometotheparty for free shipping and 365-day returns. #WNBA #WNBAPlayoffs #WNBAFinals #MinnesotaLynx #PhoenixMercury #CherylReeve