Legendary soccer player Michelle Akers joins Sarah to talk about Origin Story: The 85ers, a new podcast documenting the first U.S. Women's National Team, the topless surf outing that resulted in a lasting nickname, and the joy, injuries and heartbreak that came with setting into motion 40 years of U.S. women’s soccer dominance. Plus, the field beats the favorite, a caucus teams up with a union, and a quicker-than-quick quadragenarian.


Read Jeff Kassouf’s story on the NWSL's "High Impact Player" mechanism here


Read the feature on Midge Purce in Women’s Health here


Find the ever-updating list of NWSL free agent signings here


Learn more out the podcast Origin Story: The 85ers here


Leave us a voicemail at 872-204-5070 or send us a note at goodgame@wondermedianetwork.com 


Follow Sarah on social! Bluesky: @sarahspain.com Instagram: @Spain2323 TikTok: @Spain.Sarah


Follow producer Alex Azzi! Bluesky: @byalexazzi.bsky.social Instagram: @AzziArtwork 

Legendary soccer player Michelle Akers joins Sarah to talk about&nbsp;Origin Story: The 85ers, a new podcast documenting the first U.S. Women's National Team, the topless surf outing that resulted in a lasting nickname, and the joy, injuries and heartbreak that came with setting into motion 40 years of U.S. women&rsquo;s soccer dominance. Plus, the field beats the favorite, a caucus teams up with a union, and a quicker-than-quick quadragenarian.
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Read Jeff Kassouf&rsquo;s story on the NWSL's "High Impact Player" mechanism&nbsp;<a href="https://www.espn.com/soccer/story/_/id/47281278/nwsl-star-salaries-tied-player-profiles" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.espn.com/soccer/story/_/id/47281278/nwsl-star-salaries-tied-player-profiles&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1765928359662000&amp;usg=AOvVaw069CMmigRqMPP47kAMdVjG">here</a>
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Read the feature on Midge Purce in Women&rsquo;s Health&nbsp;<a href="https://www.womenshealthmag.com/life/a69688939/midge-purce-gotham-fc/" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.womenshealthmag.com/life/a69688939/midge-purce-gotham-fc/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1765928359662000&amp;usg=AOvVaw1eo0o1kOwWybzjie-VvmBW">here</a>
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Find the ever-updating list of NWSL free agent signings&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nwslsoccer.com/news/2026-nwsl-free-agency-tracker" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.nwslsoccer.com/news/2026-nwsl-free-agency-tracker&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1765928359662000&amp;usg=AOvVaw1zkVPQKUvdUqKiu8epsnx7">here</a>
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Learn more out the podcast&nbsp;Origin Story: The 85ers&nbsp;<a href="https://the85ers.org/HomePage" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://the85ers.org/HomePage&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1765928359662000&amp;usg=AOvVaw3BOp9qU3XRYCZrww5I2_qM">here</a>
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Leave us a voicemail at 872-204-5070 or send us a note at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:goodgame@wondermedianetwork.com">goodgame@wondermedianetwork.com</a>&nbsp;
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Follow Sarah on social! Bluesky:&nbsp;<a href="https://bsky.app/profile/sarahspain.com" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://bsky.app/profile/sarahspain.com&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1765928359662000&amp;usg=AOvVaw2r1S7htQLsc0l6NZXR8eW4">@sarahspain.com</a>&nbsp;Instagram:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/spain2323" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.instagram.com/spain2323&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1765928359662000&amp;usg=AOvVaw1fD-_lw1BN5xov1B1WgeDs">@Spain2323</a>&nbsp;TikTok:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@spain.sarah?" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.tiktok.com/@spain.sarah?&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1765928359662000&amp;usg=AOvVaw317FCNgVyy4mFy0Nxmvktb">@Spain.Sarah</a>
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Follow producer Alex Azzi! Bluesky:&nbsp;<a href="https://bsky.app/profile/byalexazzi.bsky.social" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://bsky.app/profile/byalexazzi.bsky.social&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1765928359662000&amp;usg=AOvVaw25x9TXDIJYTqDQbEHcd0aC">@byalexazzi.bsky.social</a>&nbsp;Instagram:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/azziartwork/?hl=en" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.instagram.com/azziartwork/?hl%3Den&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1765928359662000&amp;usg=AOvVaw2A6t7uEWcGGD8bEM69elb1">@AzziArtwork</a>&nbsp;
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Good Game is your one-stop shop for the biggest stories in women’s sports. Every day, host Sarah Spain gives you the stories, stakes, stars and stats to keep up with your favorite women’s teams, leagues and athletes. Through thoughtful insight, witty banter, and an all around good time, Sarah and friends break down the latest news, talk about the games you can’t miss, and debate the issues of the day. Don’t miss interviews with the people of the moment, whether they be athletes, coaches, reporters, or celebrity fans. 

Good Game is your one-stop shop for the biggest stories in women’s sports. Every day, host Sarah Spain gives you the stories, stakes, stars and stats to keep up with your favorite women’s teams, leagues and athletes. Through thoughtful insight, witty banter, and an all around good time, Sarah and friends break down the latest news, talk about the games you can’t miss, and debate the issues of the day. Don’t miss interviews with the people of the moment, whether they be athletes, coaches, reporters, or celebrity fans.

Good Game with Sarah Spain

Legendary soccer player Michelle Akers joins Sarah to talk about Origin Story: The 85ers, a new podcast documenting the first U.S. Women's National Team, the topless surf outing that resulted in a lasting nickname, and the joy, injuries and heartbreak that came with setting into motion 40 years of U.S. women’s soccer dominance. Plus, the field beats the favorite, a caucus teams up with a union, and a quicker-than-quick quadragenarian.

The 85ers: Building What Wasn’t There with Michelle Akers

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/0b4a7d36-cf13-4149-a275-b3b500070205/transcript

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