Welcome to the Party

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

Julie, Abby, and Billie Jean King kick things off with the Billie Jean King Cup, the “World Cup of women’s tennis”, and what makes playing for your country hit different, from pressure to pride to full-on chaos in the locker room.

Then, U.S. Women’s National Team head coach Emma Hayes joins the party, and this one goes way beyond X’s and O’s.

From building a dynasty at Chelsea to winning Olympic gold in her first 10 games with the USWNT, Emma is now focused on something even bigger: completely redefining how women’s soccer is built. She breaks down her “female lens” approach, why 95% of sports science is still based on men, how that impacts everything from injuries to performance, and what it actually takes to design systems that work for women.

We get into her groundbreaking approach to supporting athletes through pregnancy, the return of stars like Sophia Wilson and Tierna Davidson, and how she’s building a scalable blueprint that could change the entire future of the women’s game.

Plus: the personal side of Emma, balancing motherhood, coaching at the highest level, and why this job isn’t just about winning…it’s about legacy.

 

Follow @welcometothepartyshow on:

YouTube — @welcometothepartyshow

Instagram — @welcometothepartyshow

TikTok — @welcometothepartyshow

Email — [email protected]

 

Keep the Party Going:

More information about the Billie Jean King Cup: https://www.billiejeankingcup.com/en

How to watch America in the Billie Jean King Cup: https://www.billiejeankingcup.com/en/more/where-to-watch

USWNT Upcoming Friendlies with Japan: 

https://www.ussoccer.com/all-matches

Thank you to our sponsors:

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

-Find a host or co-host at https://www.airbnb.com/host/homes

UCLA is your 2026 National Champion and they made a statement doing it.

Julie, Abby, and Billie Jean break down the Bruins’ dominant win, what set this team apart, and why their chemistry matters more than ever in today’s transfer portal era. With Jordan Robinson, they also dive into the Final Four, UConn’s loss, and the Geno Auriemma controversy everyone’s talking about.

Plus: WNBA Draft buzz, transfer portal chaos, and a Party Starter packed with the biggest headlines in women’s sports.

 

Follow @welcometothepartyshow on:

YouTube — @welcometothepartyshow

Instagram — @welcometothepartyshow

TikTok — @welcometothepartyshow

Email — [email protected]

 

Keep the Party Going:

Follow Jordan Robinson 


Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jordanligons


TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@heyjordanrobinson


Book: Court Queens (history of women’s basketball)https://www.amazon.com/Court-Queens-Celebrate-Players-Basketball/dp/B0FGX73CKW

Dawn Staley’s book: https://a.co/d/04jPSpG7

Gabriella Jaquez Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gabrielajaquezz/

 

Thank you to our sponsors:

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

March Madness is delivering, and so is the energy on this episode. Julie and Abby are joined by women’s basketball expert Jordan Robinson to break down a stacked Final Four, from Texas vs. UCLA to the highly anticipated rematch between UConn and South Carolina. They dig into what’s actually separating these teams right now, momentum, mindset, and yes…team chemistry (including a surprisingly deep dive into “touches” 👀).

Then, the conversation shifts from the court to something bigger: what really makes a great team? From a powerful story out of Tennessee about culture and leadership to a fascinating sit-down with organizational psychologist Adam Grant, this episode explores how trust, connection, and accountability shape success, whether you’re chasing a championship or building something of your own.

Because at the highest level, it’s not just about talent, it’s about the people, the relationships, and the culture you create together.

 

Follow @welcometothepartyshow on:

YouTube — @welcometothepartyshow

Instagram — @welcometothepartyshow

TikTok — @welcometothepartyshow

Email — [email protected]

 

Keep the Party Going:

The NBA Study on ‘touching’: https://psycnet.apa.org/doiLanding?doi=10.1037%2Fa0019382

Adam Grant’s website: https://adamgrant.net/

Follow and Hype up our Welcome to the March Madness Party Bracket Competitors:

The RE-CAP show: https://re-website.com/pages/recapshow?srsltid=AfmBOoor3S1KP5mHb26PRTMpzLWKaEnY1X2Gsbs_ZobDqQgVOdnp63Vc

and social: https://www.instagram.com/re__inc/

The Women’s Game: https://www.youtube.com/@WomensGameMiB

and social: https://www.instagram.com/womensgamemib/

Good Game with Sarah Spain: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/1119-good-game-with-sarah-spai-185664375/ 

Time Wasting: https://justwomenssports.com/time-wasting/

and social: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DVjV3A7j3Ll/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==

Coach Jackie: https://www.instagram.com/jcubedhax/

and TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jcubedhax

A Touch More: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/a-touch-more-with-sue-bird-megan-rapinoe/id1510142364

and Social: https://www.instagram.com/atouchmore/

March Madness Schedule: https://www.ncaa.com/news/basketball-women/article/2026-03-23/2026-march-madness-womens-ncaa-tournament-schedule-dates-times

Thank you to our sponsors:

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