On this week's Full Time Focus, Jillian Sakovits catches up with Racing Louisville and USWNT winger Emma Sears. The 24-year-old talks about her impressive start to the 2025 NWSL season and takes the listener inside the environment that head coach Bev Yanez has fostered in Louisville. Sears also talks about breaking into the USWNT having never played at the youth levels growing up, and the message that head coach Emma Hayes is sending to players who are competing for a place.

PLUS: Jillian has all the latest headlines and stories to watch heading into the soccer weekend, from major USWNT transfer news to a cursed away trip for the Washington Spirit and the rivalry in the USL-Super League final.

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Referenced on the show:

OL Lyonnes in talks with Ajax over transfer of USWNT midfielder Lily Yohannes: Sources

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HOST: Jillian Sakovits

GUEST: Emma Sears

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 the Full Time newsletter ⁠here⁠

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As England prepares to defend its European title, the nation has been rocked by the sudden retirements of high-profile veterans Mary Earps and Fran Kirby, and the withdrawal of vice-captain Mille Bright. As pressure intensifies on head coach Sarina Wiegman ahead of Euro 2025, many are wondering: Is England really in crisis?

On a special edition of Full Time, Tamerra Griffin is joined by The Athletic's Megan Feringa and Jacob Whitehead to unpack how England got to this point, and where Wiegman's team might be heading. What has changed since the Lionesses won Euro 2022? Has opinion soured on Wiegman? Is this amount of noise normal for any high-profile defending champion? Who will step up to be the leaders for England in Switzerland this summer?

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Articles referenced on the show:

England have a strong core despite retirements – Sarina Wiegman seems to know it

Chelsea defender Millie Bright undergoes knee surgery following England withdrawal

Introducing England Women’s Euro 2025 squad: Every player analysed

England manager Sarina Wiegman’s ‘honest conversations’ come with mixed results

In Mary Earps’ departure, Sarina Wiegman faces the toughest challenge of her England tenure

Inside Mary Earps’ shock England retirement: Anger from Wiegman, mixed feelings from team-mates

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HOST: Tamerra Griffin

GUESTS: Megan Feringa, Jacob Whitehead

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 the Full Time newsletter ⁠⁠here⁠⁠

Visit the Yahoo Women's Sports hub ⁠⁠here

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This week on Full Time, hosts Tamerra Griffin and Meg Linehan are joined by friend of the show Sam Mewis, the former USWNT player turned podcaster and editor-in-chief with The Women's Game.

Mewis reflects on the past 18 months since she retired from soccer and stepped into a new role on the media side. How has she evolved as a journalist and presenter over that time? What tensions has she encountered along the way? Where is the evolving media landscape of women's soccer heading?

After a knee injury ended her career prematurely, Mewis also talks about her post-career move to Burlington, Vermont, and how the state "healed all wounds." The trio also talk Vermont Green FC women, where Mewis is currently coaching a summer exhibition series, and the emotions that come when you step back on the pitch again but not as a player. The show closes out with Mewis discussing her current favorite NWSL players and her favorite goal of her career.

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Articles referenced on the show:

Sam Mewis, World Cup winner with USWNT and NWSL champion, retires from professional soccer

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HOSTS: Tamerra Griffin, Meg Linehan

GUEST: Sam Mewis

PRODUCER: Theo Lloyd-Hughes

VIDEO PRODUCER: Lia Griffin

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER: Emily Olsen

_______________

Get in touch: ⁠⁠fulltime@theathletic.com⁠⁠

Follow on Instagram and TikTok: @tafulltime

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.