The Waves: Gender, Relationships, Feminism · Slate Podcasts

Watch The Women’s World Cup, Damn It!

·36 min·3 clips

Jessica Luther explains why the U.S. women's soccer team is younger and more vulnerable than fans realize.

This episode of The Waves is a viewer's guide to the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup, hosted by Daisy Rosario with guest Jessica Luther, an investigative journalist and expert on women's soccer. They aim to make the tournament accessible to listeners who care about feminism and women's stories, even if they are not traditional sports fans. The United States women's national team is attempting an unprecedented third consecutive World Cup victory after winning in 2015 and 2019. The U.S. roster is notably young, with 14 of its 23 players attending their first World Cup and 12 experiencing their first major international tournament. Key veterans like Megan Rapinoe and Alex Morgan remain, but the team has been impacted by major injuries, including to defender Becky Sauerbrunn and forward Mallory Swanson. Strong contenders beyond the U.S. include Germany, England, co-host Australia led by Sam Kerr, and Canada, the reigning Olympic gold medalist. This tournament marks the final World Cup for legendary players like Brazil's Marta and likely Canada's Christine Sinclair, the top international scorer in soccer history. A rising star to watch is 20-year-old U.S. forward Trinity Rodman, who scored two goals in a recent send-off match. The episode highlights the significant number of mothers on the pitch, including Alex Morgan, Crystal Dunn, and Julie Ertz, who have returned to elite play after pregnancy. Over 88 out LGBTQ+ athletes are competing, a record for the Women's World Cup, with relationships like that between Australia's Sam Kerr and the U.S.'s Kristie Mewis adding personal narrative layers. A major logistical challenge for U.S. viewers is the time difference with Australia and New Zealand, with some matches airing as late as 3 a.m. Eastern Time. The hosts express concern that lower U.S. television ratings due to these hours could be misinterpreted as a lack of interest in women's sports. Luther explains the historical dominance of U.S. women's soccer, crediting Title IX for creating a pipeline through the collegiate system and a professional league, the NWSL. She frames the U.S. team's fight for pay equity as a pioneering labor movement with global ripple effects, inspiring players in nations like Nigeria, Norway, and Colombia to challenge their own federations. The conversation has a conversational and enthusiastic tone, blending personal anecdote with analytical sports commentary. Rosario and Luther share their vivid experiences from the 2019 World Cup in France, describing a magical, communal atmosphere among international fans. This episode is ideal for listeners seeking an engaging primer on the key teams, players, and social contexts of the Women's World Cup. It may be less appealing to those seeking deep tactical analysis or who are frustrated by the logistical hurdles of watching live.

As heard by us

A World Cup conversation that ties fandom, feminism, and the act of watching.

The episode treats the Women's World Cup as more than a sports broadcast. It looks at why the tournament can pull in people who do not usually watch soccer, and it keeps returning to the U.S. women chasing a three-peat.

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Why you'd press play

If you do not usually care about soccer, this makes the Women's World Cup feel worth your time.

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