2026 NWSL season preview, predictions & talking points
Full Time: A show about women's soccer
The Athletic
4.8 • 807 Ratings
🗓️ 13 March 2026
⏱️ 50 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
With the start of the NWSL season upon us, Theo Lloyd-Hughes and Tamerra Griffin join Jillian Sakovits to break down the biggest storylines on and off the pitch. They analyze the entrance of two new expansion teams in Denver FC and Boston Legacy, whether we'll see a repeat performance from the 2025 shield winners, KC Current, and if this is finally the year for the Washington Spirit.
They also talk about NWSL attendance numbers and how the men's World Cup will affect the NWSL, the newly implemented HIP policy, and how the NWSL is approaching safety concerns and regulations heading into this season.
Finally, they close out with a predictions game for the season ahead.
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HOST: Jillian Sakovits, Tamerra Griffin
PRODUCER: Theo Lloyd-Hughes
VIDEO PRODUCER: Lia Griffin
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER: Emily Olsen
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Referenced on the show:
NWSL 2026 season predictions: Champions, Triple Espresso’s return and an MVP three-peat
NWSL doubled in size over the last decade. The 2026 season will be a pivotal ‘next chapter’
Bev Yanez on her coaching journey & Racing Louisville's date with destiny
Meet NWSL expansion team Denver Summit: Hometown talent, attendance records and a blank canvas
Meet NWSL expansion team Boston Legacy: Reintroduction, European influence and a desire to win
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | Is there a team? Is there a team that is the Kansas City current of last season? |
| 0:07.7 | I don't think so. And I think part of the reason I just say no so instinctively is just it's almost impossible to do what they did. |
| 0:16.0 | Kind of like the Orlando Pride in the season prior to that. Exactly. |
| 0:19.5 | But then that's what we would have said, right? |
| 0:21.2 | Like, no, look, Orlando just did it. |
| 0:23.3 | And then someone came in and blew it out of the water. |
| 0:29.0 | Hello, everybody. |
| 0:34.2 | I have Jillian Zach. |
| 0:35.0 | That's a very warm welcome to full-time. This is your |
| 0:38.2 | 26 NWSL season preview. We are going to be getting into absolutely everything, every major |
| 0:45.1 | storyline on and off the field, the top players to watch, and how the men's World Cup |
| 0:49.9 | hosted here in North America is going to affect the NWSL season. |
| 0:54.5 | That and so much more, let's get into it. |
| 1:00.9 | Time now to bring in the two people that are going to get you all set for 2026, and that is Tamara Griffin and producer Theo, also known as Theo Lloyd Hughes. |
| 1:11.9 | Hello, both of you. |
| 1:13.6 | Hello. |
| 1:14.4 | Hi. |
| 1:15.4 | You guys ready for this? |
| 1:17.4 | No. |
| 1:18.2 | I guess this is feeling. |
| 1:21.3 | I wish I could say that this was the calm before this storm, but things have not been calm. |
| 1:25.9 | My nails are bare. |
... |
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