Sports Without Balls

Host Erin Foley welcomes softball icon Michele Smith! This episode was originally recorded in 2019 and it was an instant classic! Michele is a legendary softball pitcher and trailblazing broadcaster. A two-time Olympic gold medalist, she helped lead Team USA to victories in Atlanta (1996) and Sydney (2000), dominating with a combined 0.51 ERA and 60 strikeouts across 41.2 innings. Smith also captured three ISF World Championships and two Pan American Games golds. At Oklahoma State University from 1986 to 1989, she compiled an 82–20 record, earned two NFCA First-Team All-American honors, and set numerous school and conference records—all after overcoming a devastating arm injury in 1986. Since 1998, Smith has been ESPN’s lead college softball analyst, and in 2012, she broke new ground as the first woman to commentate a nationally televised MLB game. She was inducted into the USA Softball Hall of Fame in 2006. Foley and Smith discuss her fight to get the sport back in the Olympics, her playing days in Japan, ca

Host Erin Foley welcomes Jane McManus, a distinguished sports journalist, author, and educator. She currently serves as an adjunct professor at NYU’s Preston Robert Tisch Institute for Global Sport. McManus spent nearly a decade at ESPN, covering the NFL and as a columnist for espnW. She also hosted two ESPN Radio shows and was a frequent analyst for SportsCenter. Her work has appeared in Newsday, The New York Times, USA Today and recently authored The Fast Track: Inside the Surging Business of Women’s Sports, a book that explores the economic growth and cultural impact of women's athletics. And most importantly, she skated with Suburbia Roller Derby under the pseudonym Leslie E. Visserate for 7 years, retiring in 2014. Foley & McManus discuss the scope of her book, her writing process, the investment and media coverage surrounding women’s sports, and of course, her Roller derby days. Follow Erin on Social!  Instagram: @erinkfoley Bluesky: @erinfoleycomic.bsky.social Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@erin

Host Erin Foley welcomes Shea Ralph, the head coach of Vanderbilt women’s basketball and former UConn star. A standout multi-sport athlete in high school, she set 17 state basketball records and was named USA Today’s National High School Player of the Year in 1996. At UConn, she led the Huskies to a national title in 2000 and earned NCAA Final Four Most Outstanding Player honors, despite a career marked by multiple ACL injuries. After assistant coaching stints at Pitt and UConn, Ralph took over at Vanderbilt in 2021, quickly revitalizing the program and leading the Commodores to their first NCAA Tournament in a decade.  Foley and Ralph talk about her basketball lineage, ACL injuries, playing and coaching at UCONN, building the Vandy program, navigating NIL challenges and more. Enjoy!  Follow Erin on Social!  Instagram: @erinkfoley Bluesky: @erinfoleycomic.bsky.social Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@erinfoleycomic Email the show: erin@herlights.com Follow Shea Ralph: https://www.instagram.com/coachshearalph/

Host Erin Foley welcomes Madison Packer, a six-time NWHL/PHF All-Star and the all-time leading scorer for the Metropolitan Riveters. She helped lead the Riveters to an Isobel Cup championship in 2018 and finished her career ranked second in league history with 129 points. She won the 2011 NCAA National Championship at University of Wisconsin and took home two gold medals at the IIHF U18 Women's World Championships. Off the ice, Madison co-hosts the podcast "These Packs Puck" with her wife, Anya Packer. Foley and Packer talk PWHL hockey playoffs, the highs and lows of league changes, parenting, retirement and hosting a podcast with her wife. Enjoy! Follow Erin on Social!  Instagram: @erinkfoley Bluesky: @erinfoleycomic.bsky.social Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@erinfoleycomic Email the show: erin@herlights.com Madison Packer: https://www.instagram.com/mpacker14/

Host Erin Foley welcomes Shea Holbrook, champion race car driver and the owner and team principal of BSI Racing, a professional motorsports team based in Daytona Beach. Shea is featured in the Amazon Prime Docu-series, First to the Finish — a six-part docuseries that delves into the high-stakes world of professional motorsports through the eyes of three pioneering women. Shea is a seven-time Pirelli World Challenge winner and became the first female to win a major touring car race at the Grand Prix of Long Beach. In 2017-2018 she raced full-time in the IMSA Lamborghini Super Trofeo Series. The following year she earned one of the most prestigious opportunities in her career—becoming one of only two Americans to qualify for the W Series, a ground-breaking all-female Formula 3 championship.  Foley & Holbrook discuss her experience making the docuseries, the state of women in motorsports, balancing her life on and off the track, mentorship and the challenges of competing in the Mazda MX5 Cup Series. Enjoy! 

Molly McCage and Khat Bell, League One Volleyball stars, join host Erin Foley onstage at 1972 women's sports pub in Austin, Texas. McCage and Bell are teammates on LOVB Austin, recently winning the championship in the league's inaugural season. This power duo also won the NCAA Volleyball championships at UT Austin in 2012, both receiving All-American honors.  Foley, McCage and Bell discuss LOVB's first season, playing overseas, hype music, trash talking, the popularity of women's volleyball and what lights them up on the court.  Follow Erin on Social!  Instagram: @erinkfoley Bluesky: @erinfoleycomic.bsky.social  Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@erinfoleycomic Email the show: erin@herlights.com LOVB: https://www.lovb.com/ Molly McCage: IG @mollymccage Khat Bell: IG @_khatbell 1972 Women's Sports Pub: https://1972pub.com/     

Host Erin Foley welcomes Jean Fruth, the director and producer of See Her Be Her, a documentary exploring the global landscape of women’s baseball. The film follows seven amazing players from the US, Japan, Cuba, Canada, South Korea, Uganda and Puerto Rico as they battle for the World Cup Championship. The doc spotlights the incredible talent and resilience of the players, along with their fight for gender equality for all female athletes.  Foley & Fruth discuss the making of the film, how the players were selected, the twelve-city theater tour, the current state of women's baseball and more. Enjoy!  Follow Erin on Social!  Instagram: @erinkfoley Bluesky: @erinfoleycomic.bsky.social  Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@erinfoleycomic Email the show: erin@herlights.com Jean Fruth: https://www.jeanfruthimages.com/ Grassroots Baseball: https://www.grassrootsbaseball.org/    

Host Erin Foley welcomes Penny Toler, a former WNBA basketball player, coach, and executive. As a player, she made history by scoring the first basket in WNBA history in 1997 while playing for the Los Angeles Sparks. After retiring, she transitioned into a front-office role and became the Sparks’ general manager, a position she held for two decades. Under her leadership, the Sparks won multiple WNBA championships. Beyond basketball, Toler has continued her leadership career in the entertainment industry and is currently the General Manager of the historic Ice House Comedy Club in Pasadena. Foley and Toler discuss the formation of the WNBA, Toler's first bucket, playing overseas, her incredible run as the GM of the Sparks, music, comedy — this episode has it all. Enjoy!  Follow Erin on Social!  Instagram: @erinkfoley Bluesky: @erinfoleycomic.bsky.social  Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@erinfoleycomic Email the show: erin@herlights.com

Host Erin Foley welcomes Sabreena Merchant, a fantastic women's basketball staff writer for The Athletic. She previously covered the WNBA and NBA for SB Nation, Sports Illustrated, High Post Hoops, and Dime Magazine. She’s an alum of Duke University, where she wrote for the independent student newspaper, The Chronicle.  Foley and Merchant take a deep dive into women's college basketball. Duke's back-to-back upset victories, UCLA's revenge and the continued success of South Carolina and Uconn. Plus, Juju's dominance, bracket busters and a sneak peak at the upcoming WNBA season. Enjoy!  Follow Erin on Social!  Instagram: @erinkfoley Bluesky: @erinfoleycomic.bsky.social  Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@erinfoleycomic Email the show: erin@herlights.com Sabreena Merchant: https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/author/sabreena-merchant/          

Host Erin Foley welcomes Sue Wicks, WNBA legend and Hall of Famer. This episode was originally recorded in 2019 and quickly became a fan-favorite. Wicks was a member of the WNBA's first draft class and help build the league. She dominated on every court - from Rutgers University to European Leagues to the New York Liberty. She's a Hall of Famer, a gay icon and now an oyster farmer in Long Island. Her stories are truly epic. Enjoy!  Follow Erin on Social!  Instagram: @erinkfoley Bluesky: @erinfoleycomic.bsky.social Email the show: erin@herlights.com

Erin Foley welcomes Jacki Gemelos, a former professional basketball player and current VP of Talent Representation at Disrupt the Game, a sports agency focused on empowering athletes and fostering diversity in sports management. Gemelos was a McDonald's All-American and Miss Basketball in California, making her one of the most sought after high school players in the country. She played at USC and went on  to play in the WNBA and overseas with clubs in Italy, Greece, and Spain, despite battling multiple knee injuries that interrupted her career at every level.  After retiring, Gemelos was an assistant coach for the New York Liberty before becoming a certified sports agent. She is now a key figure at Disrupt The Game — negotiating player contracts, securing endorsements and using her firsthand experience as a former pro to guide and support athletes at all levels. Foley and Gemelos discuss her amazing experience playing overseas, overcoming five ACL tears, coaching in New York, Unrivaled, advocating for her cli

Host Erin Foley welcomes soccer icon Brandi Chastain! Chastain is a former USWNT player, coach, and sports broadcaster, best known for her iconic game-winning penalty kick in the 1999 FIFA Women's World Cup final, which secured the championship for the U.S. and became a defining moment in sports history. Chastain earned over 190 caps with the U.S. Women's National Team, winning two World Cup titles and two Olympic gold medals. She is also a co-founder and investor in the NWSL’s Bay FC. She was inducted into the National Soccer Hall of Fame in 2016 and the Bay Area Sports Hall of Fame in 2018. Foley and Chastain discuss her love of golf, playing in celebrity tournaments, speaking tours, NWSL vs international leagues, celebrating small victories and who she would partner with on the Amazing Race. Enjoy! Follow Erin on Social!  Instagram: @erinkfoley Bluesky: @erinfoleycomic.bsky.social Email the show: erin@herlights.com

Host Erin Foley welcomes Tessa Bonhomme and Julia Tocheri, the co-hosts of Jocks in Jills - a podcast that showcases not only the biggest stars in women’s hockey but also up-and-coming talent, along with in-depth game analysis.  Bonhomme is an Olympic and multi-time World Championship gold medalist with Team Canada. She was also a reporter and anchor on TSN’s SPORTSCENTRE for ten years.  Tocheri worked at TSN’s BarDown team and co-hosted Leafs Lunch, making her one of the few women in Canada to anchor a position in all-sports radio. Foley, Bonhomme and Tocheri discuss how Jocks in Jills started, the PWHL take-over tour, meeting Rapinoe/Bird in Seattle, body checking, hair pulling and the most compelling storylines from around the league. Enjoy! Follow Erin on Social!  Instagram: @erinkfoley Bluesky: @erinfoleycomic.bsky.social  Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@erinfoleycomic Email the show: erin@herlights.com Marie-Philip Poulin & Laura Stacey: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_F5gzhFvdbY  

Host Erin Foley welcomes Carol Hutchins - the winningest coach in NCAA softball history. "Hutch" coached for 39 seasons at the University of Michigan, finishing her career with a record of 1,707-551-5. Her squads have also captured 22 Big Ten regular-season titles, 10 Big Ten Tournament championships and qualified for the NCAA Tournament 29 times, making 12 appearances in the NCAA Women's College World Series. She has earned 18 Big Ten Conference Coach of the Year honors and a pair of NFCA National Coach of the Year honors. Hutch was named the inaugural recipient of espnW's Pat Summitt Coaching Award and was inducted into the National Fastpitch Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2006. Foley and Hutch talk about her iconic career, coaching philosophies, her early softball days, playing golf in retirement, Michigan softball academy and reflecting on the Carol Hutchins Stadium.  Follow Erin on Social!  Instagram: @erinkfoley Bluesky: @erinfoleycomic.bsky.social  Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@erinfoleycomic

Host Erin Foley welcomes Rebecca Lobo, Hall of Fame basketball player, broadcaster, and author. A trailblazer in women’s sports, Lobo led the University of Connecticut (UConn) to its first NCAA Championship in 1995, earning National Player of the Year honors. She was a founding player in the WNBA, where she played for six seasons, primarily with the New York Liberty. She's currently an ESPN basketball analyst, covering NCAA Women’s Basketball and the WNBA. In 2017, she was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. Off the court, Lobo is a motivational speaker, author of The Home Team, and an advocate for health and wellness. Foley & Lobo talk about Barclays vs MSG, NY Liberty's Ellie and the timeless torches, working with Ryan Ruocco and Holly Rowe, NCAA volleyball, Hallmark movies, life on the road and the WNBA 2025 season. Enjoy!  Follow Erin on Social!  Instagram: @erinkfoley Bluesky: @erinfoleycomic.bsky.social  Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@erinfoleycomic Email the show: erin@h

Jenny Nguyen, founder & owner of The Sports Bra, joins host Erin Foley onstage at The Siren Theater in Portland, Oregon. The Sports Bra is the country’s first sports bar dedicated exclusively to women’s sports. Jenny opened the bar in April 2022, fulfilling a dream that combines her two passions — cooking and basketball. The Bra's mission is to make great food, delicious drinks, and provide a space that supports, empowers, and promotes girls and women in sports and in the community.  Foley & Nguyen talk about The Bra's origin story, collecting and displaying memorabilia, women's sports fandom, the new WNBA expansion team coming to Portland, franchising the Bra and full-circle moments. Happy New Year!  The Sports Bra: https://thesportsbrapdx.com/ Follow Erin on Social!  Instagram: @erinkfoley Bluesky: @erinfoleycomic.bsky.social  Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@erinfoleycomic Email the show: erin@herlights.com  

Host Erin Foley welcomes Haley Watson, the director of Motorcycle Mary, a 22-minute documentary about motosports racing pioneer Mary McGee, from ESPN's 30 for 30. McGee was the first woman to race motocross in the United States, the first to compete in an international motocross competition and the first to receive sponsorships from major brands. She was one of the most influential women in the history of motorsports and known for her mentorship of other women in racing. She was a total badass.  Foley and Watson discuss the making of the documentary, how Watson first discovered Mary, finding the footage, the Tribeca Film Festival and Mary's beautiful reaction to seeing the film for the first time.  Mary McGee died on November 27, 2024 at the age of 87. She is a gift that will keep on giving.  Watch on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@erinfoleycomic Email the show: erin@herlights.com Erin Foley Website: https://erinkfoley.com/ IG: https://www.instagram.com/erinkfoley/ Motorcycle Mary: https://www.youtube.com/

Host Erin Foley welcomes Lynne Roberts, the new head coach for the Los Angeles Sparks. Roberts has 27 seasons of collegiate women’s basketball coaching experience, including the past 18 as a Division I head coach. Roberts most recently coached at the University of Utah, where she led the Utes to three consecutive NCAA Tournament berths and was named 2023 Pac-12 Coach of the Year. Foley and Roberts talk about her California roots, the decision to coach the Sparks, her relationship with referees, their mutual disgust for scallops, the Bachelor franchise and embracing the NorCal vs SoCal rivalry. Plus, the feel good moment of the week. Enjoy!   Watch on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@erinfoleycomic Email the show: erin@herlights.com Erin Foley Website: https://erinkfoley.com/ IG: https://www.instagram.com/erinkfoley/ Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@erinfoleycomic

Host Erin Foley welcomes Courtney Thompson & Maggie Eppright from League One Volleyball (LOVB pronounced LOVE) the new professional indoor women's volleyball league that kicks off in January. LOVB's mission is to build volleyball into a major American sports league which will feature some of the world's best players, including Olympic gold medalists. Courtney Thompson (Director of Player Experience) is a two-time Olympic volleyball player and NCAA national champion at the University of Washington. Maggie Eppright (LOVB Pro Recruiting Lead) shattered volleyball records while playing at Fresno State, followed by coaching stints at Fresno State and Northwestern University.  Foley, Thompson and Eppright talk all things volleyball - how they came to work at LOVB, the mission behind the league, how their experience as players has informed their decisions, what they're most excited about/what's keeping them up at night, NCAA picks and more. Plus, the feel good moment of the week. Enjoy!  Watch on Youtube: https:

Rennae Stubbs joins host Erin Foley onstage at The Green Room 42 for the New York Comedy Festival in NYC. Stubbs is six-time Grand Slam doubles champion, a four-time Olympian, a full-time ESPN tennis commentator, the host of The Rennae Stubbs Tennis Podcast on iHeart Radio  and, of course, a big-time New York Liberty fan.  Foley & Stubbs discuss rule changes and on-court coaching, Stubbs' prolific career, becoming a commentator, coaching Serena at the US Open, today's best players and their mutual love for the New York Liberty. Enjoy!  Watch on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@Herlights Email the show: erin@herlights.com Erin Foley Website: https://erinkfoley.com/ IG: https://www.instagram.com/erinkfoley/ Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@erinfoleycomic