How rookies navigate a world without an NWSL draft

Full Time with Meg Linehan: A show about women's soccer

This week on Full Time, Tamerra Griffin and Meg Linehan take a deep dive into the new world of NCAA rookie free agency. Since the NWSLPA inked a new CBA with the league in 2024, which abolished the draft, what has it been like to navigate turning pro in this historic offseason?

To help with the discussion, Tamerra and Meg spoke to rookies out of UCLA, Quincy McMahon (now San Diego Wave) and Lilly Reale (now Gotham FC), soccer agent Gabriel Chapman from Inspired XI, and Gotham FC GM Yael Averbuch-West.

PLUS: Meg unpacks her reporting on the impending world-record transfer of Naomi Girma to Chelsea. And, while talking a little NWSL and English WSL crossover, The Athletic's Charlotte Harpur joins the show to give the latest on the title race, an instantly classic Manchester Derby, and what Girma's signing means.

Oh, and yes, the schedule is out. Meg says so.

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Articles mentioned on the show:

Chelsea and San Diego finalizing record $1.1 million transfer for USWNT’s Naomi Girma: Sources

Manchester City complete signing of Kerolin from North Carolina Courage

USWNT defender Naomi Girma as $1m transfer pioneer should surprise nobody

NWSL schedule release: Key matchups, how to watch and the return of Decision Day

Manchester United’s intensity forced City into the errors that sealed historic win

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HOSTS: Meg Linehan, Tamerra Griffin

GUESTS: Charlotte Harpur, Quincy McMahon, Lilly Reale, Gabriel Chapman, Yael Averbuch-West

PRODUCER: Theo Lloyd-Hughes

VIDEO PRODUCER: Lia Griffin

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER: Emily Olsen

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