{"type":"rich","version":"1.0","provider_name":"Transistor","provider_url":"https://transistor.fm","author_name":"Laces Out Loud","title":"History, Hat Tricks & Labor Power","html":"","width":"100%","height":180,"duration":3276,"description":"Week 20 gave us history, statement wins, unexpected exits, and another reminder that absolutely nothing in the NWSL stays predictable for long.\nAshley Sanchez puts the league on notice with a spectacular hat trick as the Courage keep climbing. Denver Summit shocks league-leading Gotham with three goals against the seemingly impenetrable AKB. Seattle takes down San Diego, and the Washington Spirit finally—finally—do something they’ve never done before: win in Portland, keeping the Shield race very much alive.\nWe also dig into the mysterious departure of Vlatko Andonovski from the Kansas City Current, ask whether NWSL officiating is becoming a little too reliant on VAR, and debate whether young players should be able to choose between representing their countries at the U-20 World Cup and staying with their clubs.\nAnd with Labor Day behind us, we spend some time on something fundamental to the growth of professional sports: labor. We look at why unions and player associations matter, how collective bargaining has transformed athletes’ careers, and why organizations like the NWSLPA and WNBPA have been especially important in giving women athletes greater control, protection, and power.\nPlus: a roaming Bellingham T-Rex, Croix Bethune doing Croix Bethune things, and Jenn Hildreth giving us a mantra we plan to keep going all season: Let’s love the game.\n🎧 From the fans, for the game—this is Laces Out Loud.\n📸 Instagram: @lacesoutloud\n📧 lacesoutloudpod@gmail.com","thumbnail_url":"https://img.transistorcdn.com/ZzdwEoELZb1-ga2qI8OXWS8c-zXxLFLQhhoCLzX-wjY/rs:fill:0:0:1/w:400/h:400/q:60/mb:500000/aHR0cHM6Ly9pbWct/dXBsb2FkLXByb2R1/Y3Rpb24udHJhbnNp/c3Rvci5mbS85NThm/NjBmMTE2OTU5ODMz/NjkxYmRjZDcwOTAy/ZTdjYi5qcGc.webp","thumbnail_width":300,"thumbnail_height":300}