Welcome to the Party

Believe it, Party People: Ted Lasso is back and this time, women’s soccer is taking center stage.

Abby Wambach, Julie Foudy and Billie Jean King sit down with Emmy-winning stars Jason Sudeikis and Hannah Waddingham for a joyful, thoughtful and very funny conversation about the long-awaited fourth season. Jason reveals how his daughter, the Lionesses, the New York Liberty and years of watching women’s sports inspired AFC Richmond’s new women’s team, and how real players and leaders helped shape the stories behind the season.

Then, Hannah opens up about Rebecca Welton’s evolution, the subtle sexism women face in leadership and entertainment, mentoring other women and why true feminism sometimes means confronting your own blind spots. Plus, Jason reflects on how playing Ted has changed him, Hannah learns a legendary USWNT cheer and the Party puts both guests through a little musical chaos.

It’s an episode about representation, leadership, belonging and the power of women’s sports, with plenty of laughs, heart and, naturally, a whole lot of belief.



Follow @welcometothepartyshow on:

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Email — partypeoplequestions@gmail.com

Substack - https://welcometothepartyshow.substack.com

Welcome to the Party Merch - https://welcometotheparty.voila.store

*for the month of August part of the proceeds will go to the Whale Foundation.



Keep the Party Going:

Watch Season 4 of Ted Lasso this Wednesday:https://tv.apple.com/us/show/ted-lasso/umc.cmc.vtoh0mn0xn7t3c643xqonfzy

WPBL - Women’s Professional Baseball Season Schedule:https://www.womensprobaseballleague.com/schedule/

Learn more about the Whale Foundation: https://www.whalefoundation.org/



Thank you to our sponsors:

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

Nebraska volleyball star Harper Murray joins Abby Wambach and Julie Foudy live from Fanatics Fest to talk about her rise as one of college volleyball’s biggest names. Harper reflects on playing in front of a record-breaking 92,003 fans, navigating NIL and social media, prioritizing her mental health and stepping into a leadership role ahead of her senior season. She also shares what she has learned from Nebraska’s toughest NCAA Tournament losses, what makes Cornhusker volleyball culture so special and how she is preparing for another national championship run, before facing Abby and Julie in a chaotic live volleyball challenge.



Follow @welcometothepartyshow on:

YouTube — @welcometothepartyshow

Instagram — @welcometothepartyshow

TikTok — @welcometothepartyshow

Email — partypeoplequestions@gmail.com

Substack - https://welcometothepartyshow.substack.com

Welcome to the Party Merch - https://welcometotheparty.voila.store



Keep the Party Going:

Follow Harper on Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/harpermurrayy/

Nebraska’s Schedule:https://huskers.com/sports/volleyball/schedule

Nebraska to play a 1 Million Dollar Game at AT&T Stadium: https://www.espn.com/espn/story/_/id/49471859/marquee-matchups-set-1m-women-volleyball-exhibition



Thank you to our sponsors:

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

Abby Wambach and Julie Foudy are back from vacation with family reunions, wakeboarding injuries and one very bold Tahoe bear, then it’s straight into a packed week in women’s sports. They break down the biggest moments from WNBA All-Star Weekend, celebrate new champions in softball and women’s tackle football, catch up on the U.S. track and field championships and unpack the World Cup Google searches that had everyone asking the important questions…like whether Europe has ranch.

Then, live from Gotham FC’s record-breaking Queens Classic at Citi Field, Abby and Julie sit down with English football legend Lucy Bronze. The most decorated English footballer of all time opens up about watching the women’s game transform around her, the childhood Google search that led her to UNC, playing through the Euros with a broken leg and why “Tough” is quite literally her middle name. Lucy also reflects on her autism and ADHD diagnoses, the response she received after speaking publicly about them, the future of women’s football and whether an NWSL chapter could ever be in the cards.

It’s a conversation about toughness, visibility, untapped talent and the barriers women’s sports continue to smash, one record-breaking night at a time.

Follow @welcometothepartyshow on:

YouTube — @welcometothepartyshow

Instagram — @welcometothepartyshow

TikTok — @welcometothepartyshow

Email — partypeoplequestions@gmail.com

Substack - https://welcometothepartyshow.substack.com

Welcome to the Party Merch - https://welcometotheparty.voila.store



Keep the Party Going:

Follow Lucy Bronze: https://www.instagram.com/lucybronze/

Gotham’s Record Breaking Queen’s Classic: https://www.gothamfc.com/schedule/washington-spirit-2026-07-16

Check out the WNBA’s Instagram for all the great highlights of the weekend: https://www.instagram.com/wnba

The StudBudz excited when “The President” Caitlin Clark stops by the Stream to drop off her new Nike Caitlin 1 shoe: https://x.com/sluggahjells/status/2081147650900922446?s=48

President Obama dropping by the WNBA All Star Practice: https://www.instagram.com/reels/DbLj6QfxQVO/

Thank you to our sponsors:

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

In Part 1 of this special three-part series, Julie Foudy, Abby Wambach and Billie Jean King take on one of the most complex and emotionally charged conversations in sports today: transgender athletes and the future of women's sports.

Joined by Fair Game: Trans Athletes and the Future of Sports authors Dr. Anna Baeth and Ellie Roscher, they explore the facts, science, history and policy behind a debate that has become deeply politicized. Together, they examine questions of fairness, inclusion and opportunity while challenging common misconceptions with data, expert research and the lived experiences of transgender athletes.

From the role of Title IX and the realities of elite competition to youth sports, body autonomy and what fairness in sports truly means, this conversation invites listeners to slow down, ask questions and engage with empathy. Even when the answers aren't simple.

Whether you're uncertain, curious or firmly opinionated, this episode offers space to listen, learn and better understand one of the defining issues in sports today.

*Since this episode was recorded, the WTA announced that all players will be required to undergo one-time SRY gene testing to compete on the women’s tour, bringing tennis into compliance with the IOC’s eligibility requirements ahead of the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.*

Follow @welcometothepartyshow on:

YouTube — @welcometothepartyshow

Instagram — @welcometothepartyshow

TikTok — @welcometothepartyshow

Email — partypeoplequestions@gmail.com

Substack - https://welcometothepartyshow.substack.com

Welcome to the Party Merch - https://welcometotheparty.voila.store



Keep the Party Going:

If you want to learn more or go deeper on some of the things we discussed today, here are a few resources we recommend:

1. Chris Mosier's website is the place to go for action steps and the most up to date policy information: https://www.transathlete.com/

2. Fair Game by Ellie Roscher and Anna Baeth: https://www.thriftbooks.com/w/fair-game-trans-athletes-and-the-future-of-sports/

3. There are free resources to pair with the book-- a book discussion guide for folks who want to read FAIR GAME in groups and go deeper and writing prompts for cis folks to explore their cis identity: https://ellieroscher.com/books/fair-game

4. Testosterone: An Unauthorized Biography by Rebecca Jordan-Young and Katrina Karkazis:

5. Fair Play by Katie Barnes: https://www.thriftbooks.com/w/fair-play-how-sports-shape-the-gender-debates_katie-barnes/

Thank you to our sponsors:

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

Billie Jean King joins Abby Wambach and Julie Foudy for a powerful conversation about equality, leadership, and the confidence sports can build in girls.

Recorded in partnership with Dove, the episode explores how sports, representation, and positive role models can help girls develop body confidence, find their voices, and recognize their own potential.Billie Jean reflects on the “Battle of the Sexes,” the sacrifices that transformed women’s sports, and the advice she gave that helped inspire the U.S. Women’s National Team’s pursuit of equal pay. Together, they discuss the importance of asking for what you deserve, the responsibility each generation has to move the game forward, and how one person’s courage can create lasting change.

Plus, plenty of laughs—and a reminder that helping the next generation of girls feel confident in who they are can change far more than the game.

This special episode of Welcome to the Party is presented by Dove.

Follow @welcometothepartyshow on:

YouTube — @welcometothepartyshow

Instagram — @welcometothepartyshow

TikTok — @welcometothepartyshow

Email — partypeoplequestions@gmail.com

Substack - https://welcometothepartyshow.substack.com



Keep the Party Going:

From now until December 31st, your Dove purchase keeps girls in sports! Go to http://dove.com/purchasetodonate to learn more.



Thank you to our sponsors:

Dove