The Sports Moment

This Saturday, the two best teams in the National Women’s Soccer League face off in the championship. The NWSL is booming after years of scandal and struggle. Today on this special episode of "Post Reports," how the league became so successful and what it shows about the potential for women’s sports.Read more:Just a few years ago, the National Women’s Soccer League was a relatively small business. Now, it’s becoming a financial juggernaut with multimillion-dollar investments, a big TV deal and huge attendance. Hundreds of thousands of people are expected to tune in this weekend for the big game: the championship match between the Washington Spirit and the Orlando Pride.Guest host and sports writer Ava Wallace speaks with soccer reporter Steve Goff and sports editor Ella Brockway about how the NWSL emerged from years of scandal and underinvestment. Today’s show was produced by Bishop Sand with help from Lucas Trevor. It was edited by Maggie Penman and Alison MacAdam and mixed by Justin Gerrish.Subscribe to The Washington Post here.

Ava Wallace, a reporter from The Washington Post, is joined by fellow journalists Rick Maese, who covers the Olympics, and columnist Jerry Brewer. They share their favorite moments from the Paris Games, including the emotional closing ceremony and standout performances like those of Katie Ledecky. The trio discusses the revival of Olympic spirit compared to Tokyo, touching on key triumphs and controversies from the event. They also look forward to the excitement building for the upcoming LA 2028 Olympics.

Lindon Victor, a Grenadian bronze medalist, shares his powerful insights on the significance of the Olympics for small nations. He reflects on the emotional and physical challenges he faced on his journey to winning a medal, emphasizing the pride it brings to Grenada and its people. The discussion also highlights key moments from the Paris Olympics, showcasing the impressive performances of athletes from Dominica and Saint Lucia. Victories from these southern Caribbean islands have created a memorable chapter in Olympic history.

It was a blockbuster day at the track on Thursday, and it was supposed to begin with Noah Lyles being anointed with his second gold medal – this time in his signature event, the men’s 200 meters. But as the sprinters turned the corner on the track, it was clear something was wrong.The Washington Post’s Ava Wallace speaks with Post reporter Adam Kilgore and Post columnist Barry Svrluga about the atmosphere at yesterday’s meet and its significance as the Games near their end.Subscribe to Ava’s newsletter here. Subscribe to The Washington Post here.Today’s show was produced and mixed by Ted Muldoon. It was edited by Joe Tone.

Ava Wallace, features writer for The Washington Post, joins fellow writer Dan Zak to dive into the cultural spectacle of the Paris Games. They discuss the bizarre mix of celebrity encounters and quirky traditions like pin trading. The duo highlights the vibrant atmosphere of hospitality houses where attendees from different countries unite. They also reflect on the emotional rollercoaster of the Olympics, capturing moments of joy, unity, and even unexpected tears that resonate deeply with fans and athletes alike.

Lauren Scuggs remembers being the only fencer in her Queens neighborhood: “It was a very weird thing for me to do.” In a sport that has been historically dominated in the United States by White people, Scruggs became the first Black American woman to win an individual fencing medal at the Olympics.The Washington Post’s Ava Wallace sat down with Scruggs to talk about her journey to the Olympics and what it took to make Olympics history.Subscribe to Ava’s newsletter here. Subscribe to The Washington Post here.Today’s show was produced and mixed by Ted Muldoon. It was edited by Joe Tone.

The U.S. women’s basketball team is a dynasty – and it didn’t need Caitlin Clark. Host Ava Wallace talks with columnists Candace Buckner and Jerry Brewer about that and drama on the track. Plus: How NBC brings the sounds of the Games to your living room.Subscribe to Ava’s newsletter here. Subscribe to The Washington Post here.Today’s show was produced and mixed by Ted Muldoon. It was edited by Joe Tone.

Yesterday, Noah Lyles defended his title as fastest man in the world by winning the men’s 100-meter dash. Meanwhile, Novak Djokovic bested Carlos Alcaraz, to whom he lost in Wimbledon just a month earlier. No matter where you turn, the Paris Olympics are packed with redemption stories.The Washington Post’s Ava Wallace speaks with Post reporters Rick Maese about some of the best games from over the weekend and how they’ll go down in Olympic history.Subscribe to Ava’s newsletter here. Subscribe to The Washington Post here.Today’s show was produced and mixed by Ted Muldoon. It was edited by Joe Tone.

Correction: A previous version of this episode misidentified Josh Kerr, the British middle-distance runner, as Sam Kerr, the Australian soccer player. The audio has been updated to remove the error.At the last Summer Olympics, not a single American man won gold in track. This year, track superstars, including Noah Lyles, are trying to set the record straight on Paris’s purple track. The Washington Post’s Ava Wallace speaks with reporter Adam Kilgore about the start of track and field and which men and women to watch.Check out this Post story about how the Swedish-American pole vaulter Mondo Duplantis keeps setting new world records in his sport.Subscribe to Ava’s newsletter here. Subscribe to The Washington Post here.Today’s show was produced and mixed by Ted Muldoon. It was edited by Joe Tone.

Many of the superstar athletes at the Paris Olympics are older than their peers have been in the past. Superstars like LeBron James, Katie Ledecky and Simomne Biles are forcing people to rethink how old is “too old” to be competing at the Olympics. Ava Wallace talks with Post sports reporter Emily Giambalvo and Post sports columnist Jerry Brewer about the significance of Biles’s gold-medal win last night at the gymnastics all-around, and whether it might signal a seachange for the Games moving forward.Subscribe to Ava’s newsletter here. Subscribe to The Washington Post here.Today’s show was produced and mixed by Ted Muldoon. It was edited by Joe Tone.