In 2010, Jessica McDonald is drafted by the Chicago Red Stars of WPS, the women’s professional soccer league. The WPS acts as a feeder system for the larger U.S. national team, and McDonald is poised to become the fresh blood the USWNT needs. But in her first pro start, McDonald tears the patellar tendon in her left knee. The best-case prognosis: an 18-month-long recovery. Worst-case? Her soccer career is over. Then, during rehabilitation, perhaps the biggest surprise of the 23-year-old McDonald's life: an unplanned pregnancy.

New episodes coming each Tuesday, through May 17.

To continue supporting journalism like this, visit charlotteobserver.com/payback or newsobserver.com/payback . 

Payback is hosted by Alex Andrejev. It's produced by Kata Stevens, Casey Toth, Julia Wall, and executive producer Davin Coburn. The executive producer for iHeartRadio is Sean Titone.

In 2010, Jessica McDonald&nbsp;is drafted by the Chicago Red Stars of WPS, the women&rsquo;s professional soccer league. The WPS acts as a feeder system for the larger U.S. national team, and McDonald is poised to become the fresh blood the USWNT needs. But in her first pro start, McDonald tears the patellar tendon in her left knee. The best-case prognosis: an 18-month-long recovery. Worst-case? Her soccer career is over. Then, during rehabilitation, perhaps the biggest surprise of the 23-year-old McDonald's life: an unplanned pregnancy.
New episodes coming each Tuesday, through May 17.
To continue supporting journalism like this, visit charlotteobserver.com/payback or newsobserver.com/payback&nbsp;.&nbsp;
Payback is hosted by Alex Andrejev. It's produced by Kata Stevens, Casey Toth, Julia Wall, and executive producer Davin Coburn. The executive producer for iHeartRadio is Sean Titone.

In 2019, U.S. women’s national soccer team striker Jessica McDonald capped a World Cup journey few could have imagined. A teen runaway who became a single mom, McDonald tells The Charlotte Observer and Raleigh News & Observer for the first time how she rose from a broken home in Phoenix to the pinnacle of sports in Lyon, France — and how today, she’s using her voice to battle systemic inequalities in soccer, including as part of the U.S. women’s national team’s recent settlement in their landmark fight for equal pay. Hosted by Alex Andrejev. 

In 2019, U.S. women&rsquo;s national soccer team striker Jessica McDonald capped a World Cup journey few could have imagined. A teen runaway who became a single mom, McDonald tells The Charlotte Observer and Raleigh News &amp; Observer for the first time how she rose from a broken home in Phoenix to the pinnacle of sports in Lyon, France &mdash; and how today, she&rsquo;s using her voice to battle systemic inequalities in soccer, including as part of the U.S. women&rsquo;s national team&rsquo;s recent settlement in their landmark fight for equal pay. Hosted by Alex Andrejev.&nbsp;

Longshot: Payback

In 2019, U.S. women’s national soccer team striker Jessica McDonald capped a World Cup journey few could have imagined. A teen runaway who became a single mom, McDonald tells The Charlotte Observer and Raleigh News & Observer for the first time how she rose from a broken home in Phoenix to the pinnacle of sports in Lyon, France — and how today, she’s using her voice to battle systemic inequalities in soccer, including as part of the U.S. women’s national team’s recent settlement in their landmark fight for equal pay. Coming March 15. Hosted by Alex Andrejev. 

In 2019, U.S. women&rsquo;s national soccer team striker Jessica McDonald capped a World Cup journey few could have imagined. A teen runaway who became a single mom, McDonald tells The Charlotte Observer and Raleigh News &amp; Observer for the first time how she rose from a broken home in Phoenix to the pinnacle of sports in Lyon, France &mdash; and how today, she&rsquo;s using her voice to battle systemic inequalities in soccer, including as part of the U.S. women&rsquo;s national team&rsquo;s recent settlement in their landmark fight for equal pay. Coming March 15. Hosted by Alex Andrejev.&nbsp;

Part 5: The Tiny Prophet

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/01c6b637-54d8-4320-b99a-ae7100f2e6c9/transcript

Shortly after the publication of Payback, Part 10, the U.S. Soccer Federation announced it had ratified groundbreaking collective bargaining agreements (CBAs) with both the U.S. men’s and women’s national teams, guaranteeing the players equal pay—the resolution of a decades-long fight by Jessica McDonald the women’s team for gender equality. In this extended interview, Alex Andrejev speaks with Dan Lust, an attorney for Geragos & Geragos and the Sports Law professor at New York Law School, about surprising components of those CBAs, unexpected reasons the women’s team might have thought this was a bad deal, and the potential ripple effects of this contract across the sports landscape.

To continue supporting journalism like this, visit charlotteobserver.com/payback or newsobserver.com/payback .

Payback is hosted by Alex Andrejev. It's produced by Kata Stevens, Casey Toth, Julia Wall, and executive producer Davin Coburn. The executive producer for iHeartRadio is Sean Titone.

Shortly after the publication of Payback, Part 10, the U.S. Soccer Federation announced it had ratified groundbreaking collective bargaining agreements (CBAs) with both the U.S. men&rsquo;s and women&rsquo;s national teams, guaranteeing the players equal pay&mdash;the resolution of a decades-long fight by Jessica McDonald the women&rsquo;s team for gender equality. In this extended interview, Alex Andrejev speaks with Dan Lust, an attorney for Geragos &amp; Geragos and the Sports Law professor at New York Law School, about surprising components of those CBAs, unexpected reasons the women&rsquo;s team might have thought this was a bad deal, and the potential ripple effects of this contract across the sports landscape.
To continue supporting journalism like this, visit charlotteobserver.com/payback or newsobserver.com/payback .
Payback is hosted by Alex Andrejev. It's produced by Kata Stevens, Casey Toth, Julia Wall, and executive producer Davin Coburn. The executive producer for iHeartRadio is Sean Titone.

Part 10 Bonus: Dan Lust

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/79db7f4e-86dc-4cb7-ba9c-ae9e0181b91d/transcript

In late 2020, something unusual happens: Jessica McDonald and her USWNT teammates lose—this time in court, as the players’ lawsuit against the U.S. Soccer Federation suffers a major setback. Yet, with a new president of U.S. Soccer on their side, the groundwork is laid for a breakthrough, including equal payments for the men's and women's teams. At the same time, the National Women’s Soccer League signs a collective bargaining agreement with its own players, as veterans like McDonald help set the league — and women’s soccer in America — on a path toward a more equitable, even more successful future.

To continue supporting journalism like this, visit charlotteobserver.com/payback or newsobserver.com/payback .

Payback is hosted by Alex Andrejev. It's produced by Kata Stevens, Casey Toth, Julia Wall, and executive producer Davin Coburn. The executive producer for iHeartRadio is Sean Titone.

In late 2020, something unusual happens: Jessica McDonald and her USWNT teammates lose&mdash;this time in court, as the players&rsquo; lawsuit against the U.S. Soccer Federation suffers a major setback. Yet, with a new president of U.S. Soccer on their side, the groundwork is laid for a breakthrough, including equal payments for the men's and women's teams. At the same time, the National Women&rsquo;s Soccer League signs a collective bargaining agreement with its own players, as veterans like McDonald help set the league &mdash; and women&rsquo;s soccer in America &mdash; on a path toward a more equitable, even more successful future.
To continue supporting journalism like this, visit charlotteobserver.com/payback or newsobserver.com/payback .
Payback is hosted by Alex Andrejev. It's produced by Kata Stevens, Casey Toth, Julia Wall, and executive producer Davin Coburn. The executive producer for iHeartRadio is Sean Titone.

Part 10: Pay Up

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/aad9cca1-147a-4475-8bce-ae97013acd1a/transcript

As listeners heard in Part 9 of Payback, the role of athletes acting as advocates has never been more prevalent—or more polarizing. That’s particularly true for women athletes of color. In this extended interview, Alex Andrejev speaks with Dr. Leeja Carter, an associate professor of exercise psychology at Temple University, about the intersection of racism, sexism and classism in sport; historical and contemporary representations of Black women’s “strength;” and culturally sensitive health and physical activity approaches for women of color.

New episodes coming each Tuesday, through May 17.

To continue supporting journalism like this, visit charlotteobserver.com/payback or newsobserver.com/payback .

Payback is hosted by Alex Andrejev. It's produced by Kata Stevens, Casey Toth, Julia Wall, and executive producer Davin Coburn. The executive producer for iHeartRadio is Sean Titone.

As listeners heard in Part 9 of Payback, the role of athletes acting as advocates has never been more prevalent&mdash;or more polarizing. That&rsquo;s particularly true for women athletes of color. In this extended interview, Alex Andrejev speaks with Dr. Leeja Carter, an associate professor of exercise psychology at Temple University, about the intersection of racism, sexism and classism in sport; historical and contemporary representations of Black women&rsquo;s &ldquo;strength;&rdquo; and culturally sensitive health and physical activity approaches for women of color.
New episodes coming each Tuesday, through May 17.
To continue supporting journalism like this, visit charlotteobserver.com/payback or newsobserver.com/payback .
Payback is hosted by Alex Andrejev. It's produced by Kata Stevens, Casey Toth, Julia Wall, and executive producer Davin Coburn. The executive producer for iHeartRadio is Sean Titone.

Part 9 Bonus: Dr. Leeja Carter

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/cf5511cd-5883-4c4e-add4-ae900159558a/transcript

Part 5: The Tiny Prophet

Longshot: Payback

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Longshot: Payback

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