1. This week, news emerged that former trans athlete, student at Middlebury, and advocate for trans rights, Lia Smith, was found dead. Her death was ruled a suicide. But I argue that it's not only a suicide. Every trans suicide is a murder by those in power. Subscribe to support my journalism.

Some familiar faces in Stockholm, absolute legends they are, and a trip that was good for the soul! Thankful to spend time presenting and learning at the CMG Women’s Football Expo. Heading home to Orlando with a full heart and ready to close out the 2025 season on a high note!

Our game doesn’t need gatekeepers. It needs champions and advocates and that means standing for every player who makes it what it is.

Yes, this, this has become a thing. 💜

This is such a painful time for everyone who knew Matt Beard. If friends or supporters wish to ease the burden of funeral costs, etc, here’s a practical way to support Matt’s wife Debbie as she and the kids attempt to process the sudden loss of this lovely man 💔 www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding...

Incredible gratitude for our ownership, the Wilfs, the Hills, and the DeVos family. 🙏 Thank you for bringing us together to celebrate last season and for continuously investing in this team’s success.

Goodness is she special. So psyched for Luana’s return to the pitch with @orlpride.com! What a long and winding road, but she did the thing!! #FreeLu

So glad to have you back, Lu 💜

The moment Luana returned. Marta is all of us 🥹 🎥 Concacaf W

Rockin’ purple for the first time 🟣 Welcome to the Pride, Elyse 👏

THREE FOR THREE 3️⃣

Adding more talent to the front line ⚡️ ️ We have signed forward Elyse Bennett to a short-term contract through the rest of the 2025 season. 📰 orlsoccer.co/WelcomeElyse

Orlando Pride is not afraid to spend the money in order to move the needle 😤 @orlpride.com VP and Sporting Director @hccarter.bsky.social joins the pod to talk about the record breaking new signing and more ✍️

Hey Folks! A Gotham fan recently diagnosed with ALS could use some support. Please consider donating to the GFM if you are able. www.gofundme.com/f/margit-and...

Raising the bar for the women’s game 📈

"How she fits in with the rest of the squad will be seamless, because she’s just that good." I spoke with both Pride VP of Soccer Ops & Sporting Director @hccarter.bsky.social & HC Seb Hines to talk about the impact of bringing a record-breaking signing in Jacquie Ovalle to the @orlpride.com:

Something 𝙢𝙖𝙜𝙞𝙘𝙖𝙡 is on the way 🪄

Incredibly proud of our athletes today for how they navigated through adversity with grace and resilience. 🙌

🇧🇷🤝🇨🇴 Our two icons captaining their teams 🥹

Copa America Femenina Final LIVE SCENES

Bringing Simone Charley and Luana off SEI today is one of my happiest moments since joining the Pride in 2023.

Luana and Simone Charley have both been removed from the Season Ending Injury list. Both players will be available for selection for the Pride’s match against Utah Royals FC on Sunday, Aug. 3.

Rivals for 90 but friends always! NWSL teammates linked up after the USWNT vs. Canada match 🇺🇸🇨🇦

Something’s brewing for tomorrow’s @orlpride.com Pride in our City match... 👀🌈 Let’s just say the athletes aren’t the only ones about to serve LOOKS! Who’s ready for some fierce energy at the game? ⚽✨ #PrideMatch #SurpriseGuest #ServingLooks #TeamGinger #DragRace

Let’s freaking goooo!!! 💜🇺🇸⚽️

Marta is always the answer 😂🇧🇷🐐 🎥 @fifawwc.bsky.social

Graduates with two degrees and signs her first pro contract in the same week! Pumped to finally have Simone join the team for good!! #VamosPride

Africa to the world: NWSL edition 🌍

Queen Marta reaches 10k minutes 💜

Had an awesome time meeting and chatting with KC Current’s Teal Man! 🩵❤️ While we may be rivals on the pitch, we’re united in our passion for growing the women’s game. Here’s to building the future of women’s soccer together! See you on our August Revenge Tour! #GrowTheGame #RivalsAndAllies

Peer pressured Yo to run the 5K this morning while I hit the 8k for the away game day ritual. We left our races winners only!!! Let’s gooooo! 💜 #F4044

Had a blast running the Wood You Rather race this morning in Forest Park! The Marine Corps will be happy I still know how to use a topographical map to navigate checkpoints, thank you. Made some kick-ass friends on the carpool list too!! See everyone at the match today! 🏃🏻‍♀️💜 😎

A lot of work behind the scenes on both the technical and business sides to make this a reality. Excited for the athletes and the future of the entire @orlpride.com program!

back at our place on Saturday 🫶 🎟️ orlsoccer.co/orlvswas25

17 - Emma Hayes saw 17 players make their #USWNT debut in her first 20 matches in charge of the team. The only coach to see more players debut in their first 20 matches as U.S. coach is Anson Dorrance (22) in 1986-88 (min. 20 games coached). Welcoming.

Running in the dark is fun. Shameless reminder that I’ll be doing a whole lot of it at the Snowdrop 55 Hour Ultra in December and I need your help to raise funds to support pediatric cancer research. Please consider donating here while I log all the training miles! thedriven.net/nfundraising...

Purple 🤝 Red, White, & Blue

Angelina 🔀 Emily Sams An Orlando Pride jersey swap: national teams edition 🇺🇸🇧🇷 (via USWNT)

As a proud graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy and a former Marine officer, I am deeply disappointed by the decision to remove over 400 books promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion from Nimitz Library. abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory...

Thankful to everyone at the Gotham organization and the NWSL for responding swiftly and appropriately. Our game is no place for discrimination, bigotry, or hateful language. #FAFO

I’m running the Snowdrop Ultra 55 Hour Race on Dec 30, 2025, aiming for 100 miles + raising $10K for the Snowdrop Foundation! They fund scholarships + pediatric cancer research. Help me make a difference for kids fighting cancer. Donate today! 💛 👉 thedriven.net/nfundraising... #SnowdropUltra

Back at the Naval Academy this week! 🌊⚓️ I shared with Navy Women’s Soccer the journey of the Afghan WNT & how their resilience shaped my leadership and my life. Also joined the GK Union for the 2025 “Meltoni’s”—hard work, fun, & great memories. Go Navy! Beat everyone! 💥⚓️ #Leadership #GoNavy

BACK-2️⃣-BACK-2️⃣-BACK DUBS 😈

Had a blast taking these three to see Barbra in Times Square. So much joy… Love my job @orlpride.com! 💜

Love this!!! 💜

“She has not undergone and consequently has not failed any ‘gender verification’ or ‘gender eligibility tests’ administered prior to the tournament. Barbra is also perfectly healthy and fit.​” The end. www.theguardian.com/football/202...

Today, FIFA took an important step in recognizing the Afghan Women’s National Team in exile—a monumental moment for these athletes who have faced unimaginable challenges. Their resilience, courage, and determination to fight for their right to play the game they love is nothing short of inspiring.

“Fifa’s inaction took our platform away…We sacrificed four years, youthful years, four years we could have represented, four years we could have advocated, four years in which we could have pushed the world towards bigger change for women of Afghanistan.” www.theguardian.com/football/202...

Orlando Pride stands with Barbra Banda against the hateful behavior and messaging she has endured. Racism, homophobia, and gender discrimination have no place in women’s football—or anywhere. We will not tolerate hate. Period. #NoToHate #OrlandoPride

If you’d like tickets for you and a friend to try out a match, let me know. I think you’ll enjoy it and supporting women’s sports is very important! 💜