Abby Wambach and Julie Foudy, two-time Olympic gold medalists and former US Women's National Soccer Team captains, have joined forces with tennis legend Billie Jean King to create a podcast that not only showcases their own stories but also sheds light on the often-overlooked world of women's sports. The trio, who co-host "Welcome to the Party," has gained a significant following since its debut and has become a go-to source for insightful discussions on NWSL, tennis, and other women's sports.
Wambach, who is the all-time leading goal scorer for the US Women's National Team with 184 goals, revealed that she wanted to get back into women's sports after attending an Angel City FC game. Foudy, King's longtime friend, was already planning a podcast when Wambach reunited with them in suite, and it was a perfect fit.
"I had a lot to heal from and when I went to the first Angel City game this past year, there was something in my body that relaxed for the first time," Wambach told Forbes. "I think a lot of people feel that when they go to women's sporting events where they're out in public and it's a reminder that we can all come together, regardless of where we stand politically and believe in something."
King, who is 81 years old but still vibrant, brings her wealth of experience as a tennis icon. Foudy credits King with giving her the courage to speak up for equal pay in women's sports.
"The really cool thing is that what Billie taught me, I then passed on to Abby, Abby then passed it on to Alex, and Alex passed it on to the next generation," said Foudy. "She [King] was the one who gave me the courage to stand up and speak up way back when and the really cool thing of course is that it's not just tennis or soccer, Billie Jean has been this thread through all of women's sports."
The podcast covers a wide range of topics, from NWSL highlights to stories about women who have achieved incredible feats in their respective sports. Guests include Natalie Grabow, who competed in the Ironman World Championship at 73, and Becky Hammon, who won the WNBA championship with the Las Vegas Aces.
What sets "Welcome to the Party" apart is its commitment to showcasing underrepresented voices in women's sports. The trio aims to create a community that feels like sitting down for coffee with friends, where listeners feel welcome and included.
"We want it to feel like when you're listening to us, you're sitting down and having a coffee with your friend or you're catching up in a coffee shop," said Foudy. "There's such a good vibe in the coffee shop. We want to just keep building that community and invite people in because some of these people don’t know that much about women’s sports, but that’s okay, you’re all welcome to the party as well."
The podcast has already made waves in the media industry, with its unique blend of storytelling and insight into women's sports. As they look ahead to future episodes, Wambach, Foudy, and King are committed to pushing boundaries and breaking barriers for women in sports.
"I think the three of us have committed ourselves to disrupting markets," said Wambach. "While we played, we disrupted women’s sports and tried to grow it as much as we possibly could. Now in our retirements, we are also trying to push the boundaries of what women's sports can achieve in different areas than just on the field. I think it’s important that when we’re creating these stories that it’s being created through the lens of a woman’s eyes. A woman who has experience in the playing of sports and the way the stories get told is really important."
"Welcome to the Party" will be hosting their second watch party at Watch Me! Sports Bar in Long Beach, CA on November 16th, featuring Angel City FC defender Savy King for a Q&A session during the NWSL Semi-Final game.
Wambach, who is the all-time leading goal scorer for the US Women's National Team with 184 goals, revealed that she wanted to get back into women's sports after attending an Angel City FC game. Foudy, King's longtime friend, was already planning a podcast when Wambach reunited with them in suite, and it was a perfect fit.
"I had a lot to heal from and when I went to the first Angel City game this past year, there was something in my body that relaxed for the first time," Wambach told Forbes. "I think a lot of people feel that when they go to women's sporting events where they're out in public and it's a reminder that we can all come together, regardless of where we stand politically and believe in something."
King, who is 81 years old but still vibrant, brings her wealth of experience as a tennis icon. Foudy credits King with giving her the courage to speak up for equal pay in women's sports.
"The really cool thing is that what Billie taught me, I then passed on to Abby, Abby then passed it on to Alex, and Alex passed it on to the next generation," said Foudy. "She [King] was the one who gave me the courage to stand up and speak up way back when and the really cool thing of course is that it's not just tennis or soccer, Billie Jean has been this thread through all of women's sports."
The podcast covers a wide range of topics, from NWSL highlights to stories about women who have achieved incredible feats in their respective sports. Guests include Natalie Grabow, who competed in the Ironman World Championship at 73, and Becky Hammon, who won the WNBA championship with the Las Vegas Aces.
What sets "Welcome to the Party" apart is its commitment to showcasing underrepresented voices in women's sports. The trio aims to create a community that feels like sitting down for coffee with friends, where listeners feel welcome and included.
"We want it to feel like when you're listening to us, you're sitting down and having a coffee with your friend or you're catching up in a coffee shop," said Foudy. "There's such a good vibe in the coffee shop. We want to just keep building that community and invite people in because some of these people don’t know that much about women’s sports, but that’s okay, you’re all welcome to the party as well."
The podcast has already made waves in the media industry, with its unique blend of storytelling and insight into women's sports. As they look ahead to future episodes, Wambach, Foudy, and King are committed to pushing boundaries and breaking barriers for women in sports.
"I think the three of us have committed ourselves to disrupting markets," said Wambach. "While we played, we disrupted women’s sports and tried to grow it as much as we possibly could. Now in our retirements, we are also trying to push the boundaries of what women's sports can achieve in different areas than just on the field. I think it’s important that when we’re creating these stories that it’s being created through the lens of a woman’s eyes. A woman who has experience in the playing of sports and the way the stories get told is really important."
"Welcome to the Party" will be hosting their second watch party at Watch Me! Sports Bar in Long Beach, CA on November 16th, featuring Angel City FC defender Savy King for a Q&A session during the NWSL Semi-Final game.
! As someone who's been following women's sports for ages, it's amazing to see Abby, Julie, and Billie Jean teaming up to share their stories and shed light on the often-overlooked world of women's sports. It's so refreshing to hear from women in sports who are breaking barriers and pushing boundaries, like Wambach and Foudy did back in the day 
And, let's be real, it's so cool to see Billie Jean King still slaying at 81 years young 
. It feels like they're creating a safe space for women to connect and share their passions, which is exactly what we need more of in the world 
they're like the unsung heroes of the produce world, always getting mashed or guac'd without even being mentioned as an individual ingredient... but let's be real, who needs all that extra drama when you can just enjoy a simple avocado toast? 
️ anyway, back to "Welcome to the Party"... i love how these three ladies are breaking down barriers for women in sports, it's so inspiring! Foudy's story about Billie Jean King giving her courage to speak up is so cool 
. I love that Abby Wambach and Julie Foudy are using their platforms to share their stories and shed light on the often-overlooked world of women's sports. But, at the same time, I'm a bit skeptical about whether this podcast is just another fad 
. Will they be able to sustain it over time? And what's with all the hype around Billie Jean King being 81 years old... isn't that just an age thing now 
?
. But let's not get too carried away with the whole "disrupting markets" thing... ain't no revolution just yet 
i'm loving this podcast idea by abby, julie, and billie jean 
they're not just talking about their own lives but also shedding light on the amazing women who are making waves in other sports too 
like natalie grabow competing in ironman at 73 and becky hammon winning the wnba championship 
can't wait to hear more from these three incredible women 
... no wait, maybe not... I mean, who needs more podcasts about women's sports anyway? 
I just wish Billie Jean King wasn't so vocal about her opinions on everything... I mean, can't she just keep to herself sometimes? 
On the other hand, I love how they're featuring underrepresented voices and making an effort to create a community... that sounds really cool! 
I mean, Billie Jean King is a total legend but let's not forget she was involved in some pretty shady stuff back in the day 
Can't wait to tune in to the next ep! 
️
gotta love what these 3 are doing - creating a space where women's sports get the spotlight and underrepresented voices get to shine 
️? It's so refreshing to see them pushing boundaries and breaking barriers for women in sports 
. And can we talk about the amazing guests they have lined up? Natalie Grabow competing in the Ironman World Championship at 73?! 
. And can we talk about how inspiring it is that Billie Jean King has been a trailblazer for women's sports for so long? She's still crushing it at 81! 
#WelcomeToTheParty #WomenInSports #PodcastGoals
). They're doin' a great job of sheddin' light on women's sports and creatin' a community that feels super inclusive. I love how they're pushin' boundaries and breakin' barriers for women in sports - it's exactly what we need more of! The way Billie Jean King gave Julie Foudy the courage to speak up about equal pay is just iconic 
. I love that they're creating a community where people feel welcome and included, it's like sitting down with friends over coffee 
!
Abby Wambach Julie Foudy and Billie Jean King are killing it with their conversations about women's sports they're like super candid about their experiences and what they've learned along the way I love how they're creating a community around this podcast where everyone feels welcome and included 
And Billie Jean King is literally a legend, I'm obsessed with her story 
she's always been an icon for equality and I love how the podcast is reflecting that.