Laces Out Loud is officially expanding! In Episode 31, we celebrate the podcast’s move to Apple Podcasts, Pocket Casts, iHeartRadio, and more before diving into a packed soccer week.

Gotham adds another trophy with a Challenge Cup win over Kansas City, while the NWSL’s new cleat-branding rules spark a bigger conversation about player compensation, endorsement deals, and whether women athletes are finally getting paid for the visibility they provide. We also dig into women-specific footwear design, sneaker culture, and why “shrink it and pink it” should have been left behind a long time ago.

Then it’s on to World Cup drama, FIFA’s science and technology exhibit in Vancouver, goal-line tech, player tracking, VAR experiments, and the NWSL’s return from break — including heat policy questions, Spirit survival plans, San Diego vs. Gotham, Denver vs. Kansas City, and possible debuts to watch.

Find us on Instagram @lacesoutloud or email us at lacesoutloudpod@gmail.com.

The World Cup break continues, but the NWSL news cycle is refusing to rest. This week, Pamitha, Gurushabd, and Alli dig into Angel City’s chaotic week, the Ally Sentnor trade, Kansas City’s next move, and Gotham somehow getting even more Gotham with Sam Kerr’s return to the NWSL.

Then the crew takes on the bigger soccer culture questions: why American chants need an upgrade, how women’s soccer fans can lead the way, and whether World Cup “hydration breaks” are becoming commercial breaks in disguise. Plus: Atlanta’s 2028 NWSL rollout, underdog World Cup bandwagons, the Rocky statue curse, and a passionate rant against the "James Cordenification" of soccer coverage.

From roster chaos to chant culture, this one is peak World Cup break energy.

Follow us on Instagram @lacesoutloud and send us your thoughts at lacesoutloudpod@gmail.com

The Laces Out Loud crew is back and digging into the numbers. This week, Pamitha, Gurushabd, and Alli break down whether the Kansas City Current can actually win without Temwa Chawinga, comparing her impact to other stars like Esther and Barbra Banda while asking bigger questions about coaching, roster construction, and what separates good teams from truly elite ones.

Plus, we recap the USWNT’s spicy Brazil matchup, praise Emma Hayes’ leadership, give flowers to the USMNT, roast American soccer chants, celebrate the NWSL Championship coming to D.C., and manifest a Washington Spirit finals run.

Follow us on Instagram @lacesoutloud and send us your thoughts at lacesoutloudpod@gmail.com