Welcome to the Party

Welcome back to the party, Party People 🎉

This week, we’re joined by one of the most fearless and fascinating young stars in the game, Olivia Moultrie, and trust us, she’s not waiting her turn…she’s taking it.

At just 20 years old, Olivia is already in her sixth professional season with the Portland Thorns FC, but her story goes way beyond the stats. She opens up about the mentality that’s fueled her rise, from training with pros as a kid, to suing the National Women's Soccer League at 15 to change the rules, and winning.

We get into the mindset behind her confidence (“whatever I decide my reality is… that can be the truth”), the competitive fire that’s been there since day one, and the role her dad played in building that belief system from the ground up.

Then things get interesting…

Abby challenges Olivia on what it really means to be a forward, pushing her to embrace the responsibility of impacting every single game. And Olivia doesn’t shy away. Instead, she leans in, revealing the internal standard she already holds herself to, and how close she is to unlocking another level.

Plus:


The moment she knew she belonged at 15 


Why she’s never been fazed by her age


The mentality that separates good players from great ones


And whether she’s coming for Christine Sinclair’s all-time international goal record 👀


This is a conversation about confidence, pressure, leadership—and what it actually takes to become the best in the world.

Let’s get into it.

 

Follow @welcometothepartyshow on:

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Instagram — @welcometothepartyshow

TikTok — @welcometothepartyshow

Email — [email protected]

 

Keep the Party Going:

More on the award Billie Jean King received from Harvard: https://www.hks.harvard.edu/centers/cpl/leaders-in-practice/gleitsman-program-leadership-and-social-change

Sebastian Sawe SAY WHAT! Marathon record shattered.

https://www.espn.com/olympics/trackandfield/story/_/id/48598786/sabastian-sawe-wins-london-marathon-record-1st-finish-2-hours

PWHL Playoff Schedule: https://www.thepwhl.com/en/news/2026/april/26/2026-pwhl-walter-cup-playoff-matchups

ESPN’s Jeff Kassouf’s article about the NWSL flipping it’s schedule: https://www.espn.com/soccer/story/_/id/48516363/nwsl-players-calendar-flip-womens-soccer

The WNBA is everywhere! Here’s where you can find them this season:https://www.wnba.com/schedule?season=2026&month=all

ESPN article detailing how Olivie Moultrie paved the way for young soccer players: https://www.espn.com/soccer/story/_/id/39946072/olivia-moultrie-paved-way-nwsls-youth-movement

Follow Olivia Moultrie: https://www.instagram.com/olivia_moultrie/reels/

Heather O’Reilly’s rise with COMO 1907’S Women’s Team:https://comofootball.com/en/heather-oreilly-shaping-como-1907s-womens-squad/

Support and follow the Somoa Women’s Football Team: https://www.instagram.com/samoawnt/

 

Thank you to our sponsors:

-Ally’s got you covered. Ally Bank, Member FDIC

From Stagecoach chaos and teenage parenting dilemmas to one of the fastest-growing sports in the worldthis episode takes a turn in the best way possible.

Julie and Abby kick things off with a very real conversation about parenting teens, festival price tags, and the absolute logistics nightmare that is Stagecoach. (Spoiler: someone is absolutely on pickup duty.) But then, the party pivots…

Because women’s rugby is having a moment and it’s bigger than you think.

With nearly half of fans brand new in the last two years and record-breaking growth across the board, Julie and Abby sit down with Carly Waters (Denver Onyx) and Lesley Paterson (WER board member, 5x world champion triathlete & Oscar-nominated screenwriter) to break down why this sport is exploding right now.

They get into:

* Why rugby is built for every body

* The culture that makes it one of the most inclusive sports in the world

* What actually happens in a scrum (we finally understand it… kinda)

* The rise of Women’s Elite Rugby (WER) and what’s next in the U.S.

* And why this sport might be the next obsession for Party People everywhere

By the end, you won’t just know what a scrum half is, you’ll be debating lineouts and planning your first rugby match watch.

 

Follow @welcometothepartyshow on:

YouTube — @welcometothepartyshow

Instagram — @welcometothepartyshow

TikTok — @welcometothepartyshow

Email — [email protected]

 

Keep the Party Going:

Follow WER all season long: https://www.instagram.com/rugbyevolved/

WER Schedule: https://www.womenseliterugby.us/2026-schedule

WER Statement on Transgender Athletes: https://www.instagram.com/p/DXK4bTTgZQK/

Rugby Explained, thank you to the Leicester Tigers for this explainer video:Rugby Explained: Rugby Players and Positions

 

Thank you to our sponsors:

-Ally’s got you covered. Ally Bank, Member FDIC

Get flavorful, high-quality proteins delivered by visiting OmahaSteaks.com, plus $35 off when you use promo code WELCOMETOTHEPARTY at checkout.Get 10% off your first order sitewide with code WELCOMETOTHEPARTY at OSEAMalibu.com

Party People… this one had EVERYTHING.
From a sold-out crowd and championship energy at the LOVB Championship, to a full-on momentum swing, this match came down to the smallest margins and the biggest moments. LOVB Austin was down, backs against the wall, and somehow forced a golden set with the entire season on the line.

Enter Logan Eggleston.
Fresh off a dominant performance (15 kills, 14 digs 💅), the LOVB Austin star joins us to break down what it actually feels like inside that chaos, how her team stayed locked in, why they never thought they were out of it, and how they turned pressure into back-to-back championships in League One Volleyball (LOVB).

We’re talking:
The insanity of the LOVB golden set (15 points for EVERYTHING)
The moment the momentum flipped in the LOVB Championship match
Why LOVB Austin’s team culture hits different
And yes… the trophy’s trip to In-N-Out 🍔

Plus, in our Party Starter:
USWNT vs Japan recap as the Emma Hayes era builds momentum
USA Women’s Rugby takes down Australia in the Pacific Four Series ahead of the Women’s Rugby World Cup
Major WNBA contract shakeups with A’ja Wilson and Aliyah Boston landing record-breaking deals + new expansion teams announced
And a wild Pickleball Slam update featuring Anna Leigh Waters vs Andre Agassi
Trust us, you don’t need to be a volleyball fan to feel this one.

Follow @welcometothepartyshow on:
YouTube — @welcometothepartyshow
Instagram — @welcometothepartyshow
TikTok — @welcometothepartyshow
Email — [email protected]

Keep the Party Going:
What is Billie Jean King’s award she is receiving from Harvard: https://www.hks.harvard.edu/centers/cpl/leaders-in-practice/gleitsman-program-leadership-and-social-change
USA Rugby’s Pacific Four Schedule: https://usa.rugby/pac4

Follow Logan Eggleston on Social: https://www.instagram.com/loganeggleston_/
Follow LOVB Austin on social: https://www.instagram.com/lovbatx/

Thank you to our sponsors:
-Ally’s got you covered. Ally Bank, Member FDIC
-Use Yahoo Mail. It’s new feature, Planner brings your tasks and events together in one place, so everything stays organized and you don’t miss what matters.
Find a host or co-host at https://www.airbnb.com/host/homes
-Shop deals and member-exclusive savings all season long at https://www.shipt.com/

Fresh off a national championship and straight into the WNBA, Lauren Betts is back, and her life has officially gone bonkers (in the best way).

In just a few weeks, Lauren led UCLA to its first-ever title, became a top-five WNBA draft pick, signed major deals, and somehow stayed grounded through it all. She joins Julie Foudy and Abby Wambach to break down the whirlwind: winning it all, draft night with her teammates, and stepping into the next chapter with the Washington Mystics.

They also get into the real stuff—team culture, confidence, handling pressure, and why vulnerability has been her biggest superpower.

Plus: WNBA Draft chaos, UCLA’s historic takeover, and the emotional moments that made this week unforgettable.

 

Follow @welcometothepartyshow on:

YouTube — @welcometothepartyshow

Instagram — @welcometothepartyshow

TikTok — @welcometothepartyshow

Email — [email protected]

 

Keep the Party Going:

Follow Sophia Wilson’s instagram to see the cutest baby on the planet: https://www.instagram.com/sophiawilson/

Bruce Springsteen Land of Hope and Dreams Tour: https://brucespringsteen.net/

Follow Lauren Betts:https://www.instagram.com/laurenmariebetts/

Watch the LOVB Championships this weekend: https://lovb.com/tournaments

Thank you to our sponsors:

-Ally’s got you covered. Ally Bank, Member FDIC

-Shop SKIMS Fits Everybody collection at https://skims.com/. After your place your order, be sure to let them know we sent you! Select "podcast" in the survey and Welcome to the Party!

-Head to https://www.quince.com/Welcometotheparty for free shipping and 365-day returns.

Julie, Abby, and Billie Jean King sit down with pickleball phenom Anna Leigh Waters, the undisputed GOAT of the fastest-growing sport in America. She’s already out-earning the men, dominating singles, doubles, and mixed, and now she’s taking on tennis legends Andre Agassi and James Blake in a pickleball “Battle of the Sexes.”

From turning pro at 12 to becoming the face of a global movement, Anna Leigh breaks down her rise, her mindset (hint: she talks to herself a lot), and why pickleball’s culture got something very right from the start: pay equity.

Plus: WNBA chaos, a historic coaching hire in Europe, and a Party Starter stacked with headlines across women’s sports.

Party People… this one’s different. And it’s just getting started.

 

Follow @welcometothepartyshow on:

YouTube — @welcometothepartyshow

Instagram — @welcometothepartyshow

TikTok — @welcometothepartyshow

Email — [email protected]

 

Keep the Party Going:

WNBA Draft Results: https://www.espn.com/wnba/draft/rounds

LOVB Positional Awards: https://lovb.com/news/260410-lovb-announces-2026-season-awards

Follow Anna Leigh: https://www.instagram.com/anna.leigh.waters/?hl=en and https://www.tiktok.com/@anna.leigh.waters

 

Thank you to our sponsors:

-Ally’s got you covered. Ally Bank, Member FDIC