Bay Area native and The Athletic columnist Marcus Thompson II joins Sarah to recap Game 7 and the Valkyries’ title win, the role Ballhalla played during this WNBA season, and why the Valks are a model for the future of the league. They also talk about Marcus’ new book “Game Changers: The GOATs Who Revolutionized Basketball” and his effort to connect generations of hoopers. Plus, double isn’t nothing, bad checks, and missing for a good reason. 


Check out the Valkyries’ parade route here


Read the story on Jess Fishlock here


Check out the NWSL visualization here


Check out the new Houston Comets logos here


Read Margaret Fleming’s Front Office Sports reporting on sports spending in the 2026 midterm elections here


Get a copy of Marcus’ new book here


Check out dramatic photos of the New York City marathon here, and a video here


You can now WATCH Sarah’s interviews! Subscribe to @iHeartWomensSports on YouTube and check out the Good Game playlist 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 Threads: @Spain2323


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


Follow producer Bianca Hillier! Bluesky: @biancahillier.bsky.social

Bay Area native and The Athletic columnist Marcus Thompson II joins Sarah to recap Game 7 and the Valkyries&rsquo; title win, the role Ballhalla played during this WNBA season, and why the Valks are a model for the future of the league. They also talk about Marcus&rsquo; new book &ldquo;Game Changers: The GOATs Who Revolutionized Basketball&rdquo; and his effort to connect generations of hoopers. Plus, double isn&rsquo;t nothing, bad checks, and missing for a good reason.&nbsp;
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Check out the Valkyries&rsquo; parade route <a href="https://valkyries.com/playoffs/?utm_content=GSV-Championship-Parade&amp;utm_source=adobe&amp;segCode=Email+-+GSV-ALL-Playoffs-Parade-Announce-20261101&amp;utm_id=a01dab2f-490c-4b55-9be8-b54bdb853e38&amp;cm_em=869c7a50c7bf1caa982f35307cebe260f7c9b7e7efc623f1cc0caaf80cf8ed1e&amp;utm_campaign=GSV-ALL-Playoffs-Parade-Announce-20261101&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;correlationId=17c85ff1-851c-467a-a1fd-59a4eaa29fc8-0#parade" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://valkyries.com/playoffs/?utm_content%3DGSV-Championship-Parade%26utm_source%3Dadobe%26segCode%3DEmail%2B-%2BGSV-ALL-Playoffs-Parade-Announce-20261101%26utm_id%3Da01dab2f-490c-4b55-9be8-b54bdb853e38%26cm_em%3D869c7a50c7bf1caa982f35307cebe260f7c9b7e7efc623f1cc0caaf80cf8ed1e%26utm_campaign%3DGSV-ALL-Playoffs-Parade-Announce-20261101%26utm_medium%3Demail%26correlationId%3D17c85ff1-851c-467a-a1fd-59a4eaa29fc8-0%23parade&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1793674127860000&amp;usg=AOvVaw1xYmlmv69pir_yB0vI73RI">here</a>
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Read the story on Jess Fishlock <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7744519/2026/11/01/jess-fishlock-nwsl-original-retirement/" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7744519/2026/11/01/jess-fishlock-nwsl-original-retirement/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1793674127860000&amp;usg=AOvVaw1aRZk91yhkK0k9TnFO9Crk">here</a>
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Check out the NWSL visualization <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DfF1L2iSZY4/?hl=en" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.instagram.com/p/DfF1L2iSZY4/?hl%3Den&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1793674127860000&amp;usg=AOvVaw0a67ZsidDRxfLKzedZe_y6">here</a>
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Check out the new Houston Comets logos <a href="https://www.espn.com/wnba/story/_/id/50324650/houston-comets-wnba-new-logos" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.espn.com/wnba/story/_/id/50324650/houston-comets-wnba-new-logos&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1793674127860000&amp;usg=AOvVaw0AL_3lChFBsYHms8V60NPX">here</a>
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Read Margaret Fleming&rsquo;s Front Office Sports reporting on sports spending in the 2026 midterm elections <a href="https://frontofficesports.com/article/soccer-biggest-political-donations-2026-midterms/" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://frontofficesports.com/article/soccer-biggest-political-donations-2026-midterms/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1793674127860000&amp;usg=AOvVaw2IJDrIwyASp2lFc1IwOLjf">here</a>
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Get a copy of Marcus&rsquo; new book <a href="https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/marcus-thompson-ii-2/game-changers/9798894140544/?lens=black-dog-leventhal" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/marcus-thompson-ii-2/game-changers/9798894140544/?lens%3Dblack-dog-leventhal&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1793674127860000&amp;usg=AOvVaw09hlR4cjmatyOTI5dKThVW">here</a>
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Check out dramatic photos of the New York City marathon <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DfNQOy7EfLG/?img_index=1" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.instagram.com/p/DfNQOy7EfLG/?img_index%3D1&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1793674127860000&amp;usg=AOvVaw1GBYTyqGqN7B11M_UIT8mf">here</a>, and a video <a href="https://www.instagram.com/reels/DfNJ7uhCOUe/" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.instagram.com/reels/DfNJ7uhCOUe/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1793674127860000&amp;usg=AOvVaw1ZYxWXAnMgrbg9P9KE3BQ6">here</a>
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You can now WATCH Sarah&rsquo;s interviews! Subscribe to <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@iHeartWomensSports" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.youtube.com/@iHeartWomensSports&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1793674127860000&amp;usg=AOvVaw237NVMM1G5W9_CT54Qwh9a">@iHeartWomensSports</a> on YouTube and check out the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL4OH9pWO2GjqQmx_dTNOqMES7gaB3CUEf" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list%3DPL4OH9pWO2GjqQmx_dTNOqMES7gaB3CUEf&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1793674127860000&amp;usg=AOvVaw3R84gfpguZ1DReeBzYZdVL">Good Game playlist here</a>
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Leave us a voicemail at <a href="tel:(872)%20204-5070">872-204-5070</a> or send us a note at <a href="mailto:goodgame@wondermedianetwork.com">goodgame@wondermedianetwork.com</a>&nbsp;
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Follow Sarah on social! Bluesky: <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=1793674127860000&amp;usg=AOvVaw0EY-k2ixTGsoymzM8pXF6g">@sarahspain.com</a> Instagram: <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=1793674127860000&amp;usg=AOvVaw1Ea9xockoXawk0LWgAsm1K">@Spain2323</a> Threads:<a href="https://www.threads.com/@spain2323" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.threads.com/@spain2323&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1793674127860000&amp;usg=AOvVaw1J-pgA9qNC1SU6hcQ6qP4r"> @Spain2323</a>
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Follow producer Alex Azzi! Bluesky: <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=1793674127860000&amp;usg=AOvVaw0nswH4UIg3YfMW-hA3obRW">@byalexazzi.bsky.social</a> Instagram: <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=1793674127860000&amp;usg=AOvVaw1WaI_38XuLFNlO_i7rObNf">@AzziArtwork</a>&nbsp;
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Follow producer Bianca Hillier! Bluesky: <a href="https://bsky.app/profile/biancahillier.bsky.social" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://bsky.app/profile/biancahillier.bsky.social&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1793674127860000&amp;usg=AOvVaw2Mo0_u6cFgCRF2-aTc4RUI">@biancahillier.bsky.social</a>
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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

Bay Area native and The Athletic columnist Marcus Thompson II joins Sarah to recap Game 7 and the Valkyries’ title win, the role Ballhalla played during this WNBA season, and why the Valks are a model for the future of the league. They also talk about Marcus’ new book “Game Changers: The GOATs Who Revolutionized Basketball” and his effort to connect generations of hoopers. Plus, double isn’t nothing, bad checks, and missing for a good reason. 

Up A Title, Down A Laptop with Marcus Thompson II 

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/a8080c35-7d33-4b20-b8f0-b4f6002f67e6/transcript