OM DENNE EPISODE
In the final episode of Play Like A They for 2025, Monica and Sara look back on a massive year in women’s sports — the moments that made them laugh, scream, book flights, and believe even harder in where these leagues are headed.
They reflect on the year's throughline: new leagues launching, expansion teams finding their footing, record-breaking crowds, and players shaping culture both on and off the field. Across sports, the message was the same: when women’s sports are invested in, fans show up.
They also get into:
🏀 A’ja Wilson’s historic WNBA season and continued dominance
🏒 The PWHL’s expansion into Seattle and Vancouver and record-breaking attendance
⚽ Gotham FC’s underdog NWSL championship run
🥎 Expansion and viewership growth across AUSL and women’s pro softball
⚾ The launch of the Women’s Professional Baseball League draft
🎿 Lindsey Vonn’s comeback and Olympic qualification
It’s a celebratory, wide-angle look at a year that proved women’s sports aren’t “up and coming” anymore. They’re here, they’re thriving, and 2026 is already shaping up to be even bigger.
Fact Check Notes
Unrivaled One-on-One Tournament Prize
Unrivaled hosted a one-on-one tournament during its inaugural season with a reported top prize of $500,000, making it one of the largest single payouts in a women’s basketball competition.
Golden State Valkyries Inaugural Season
The Golden State Valkyries became the first WNBA expansion team to make the playoffs in its inaugural season and sold out all regular-season home games.
Bay FC at Oracle Park Attendance
Bay FC hosted a regular-season match at Oracle Park that drew over 40,000 fans, one of the largest single-game crowds in NWSL history.
Sophia Smith Wilson Contract
Sophia Smith Wilson signed a contract with a reported $1 million player option, the highest publicly known contract value in NWSL history at the time.
PWHL Seattle Home Opener Attendance
Seattle’s PWHL home opener drew over 16,000 fans, setting a U.S. attendance record for the league.
USA vs. Canada Rivalry Series Sweep
The U.S. women’s national hockey team recorded its first-ever sweep of Canada in the current rivalry series format.
Transcript: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1aLWzMHhK0Wanlr328dmGmYWQVgucnD_DKmioIJk0gfQ/edit?usp=sharing
