Over the last few weeks, U.S. women's national team head coach Emma Hayes has toured the NWSL, attending matches, playing the drums and holding babies. While it's not out of the ordinary for coaches to do such scouting trips, the central role Hayes is taking is certainly a different approach. With the 2027 Women's World Cup more than a year away, are these trips relationship-building, marketing-driven, or football-driven? Or a combination of all three.

On this episode of Full Time, hosts Jillian Sakovits and Tamerra Griffin were joined by former U.S. international and current analyst Lori Lindsey to discuss what it's like to have your national team coach watch you perform for your club, especially as a player hoping to jump up the depth chart. The group also takes a look at Hayes' approach and ponders her role as the face of the U.S. women's national team. They also review what she might have seen from certain players along the way and preview her final stop, Saturday's Gotham FC vs. Boston Legacy match.

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HOSTS: Jillian Sakovits, Tamerra Griffin

GUEST: Lori Lindsey

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

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Gird your loins because the UEFA Women's Champions League final is set between rivals FC Barcelona and OL Lyonnes and the only word to describe it is cinematic. But how did we get here?

Host Jillian Sakovits is joined by The Athletic’s Tamerra Griffin to break down the semifinal results. Our experts on the ground also chime in. Megan Feringa is talking all things Lyon, and our resident Spanish expert Laia Cervelló Herrero explains the uncertainty that remains despite Barcelona's dominance. Will this year's European final be Alexia Putellas' last with the Spanish giants? Meanwhile, Megan discusses why Michele Kang's vision is going exactly as planned in France.

PLUS: Jill and Tamerra discuss Boston Legacy's first NWSL victory and a pair of legends inducted into the National Soccer Hall of Fame.

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HOST: Jillian Sakovits, Tamerra Griffin

GUEST: Megan Feringa, Laia Cervelló Herrero

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 our Youtube channel: here

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.

On this episode of Full Time Focus, host Jillian Sakovits and The Athletic's UK soccer writer Cerys Jones discuss Chelsea defender Millie Bright's retirement. Bright has been a key figure in women's soccer, especially in England, across a period of great evolution. The duo discusses the former England and Women's Super League defender's legacy and what yet another departure means for Chelsea as the club continues to navigate a period of transition.

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HOST: Jillian Sakovits

GUEST: Cerys Jones

PRODUCER: Theo Lloyd-Hughes

VIDEO PRODUCER: Lia Griffin

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER: Emily Olsen

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Referenced on the show:

Chelsea’s Millie Bright retires with immediate effect: How she’ll be remembered

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Get in touch: ⁠⁠fulltime@theathletic.com⁠⁠

Follow on Instagram and TikTok: @tafulltime

Subscribe to our Youtube channel: here

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.