Futbol W: SheBelieves Preview + Run it Back + Krieger Convos + Drippin of Trippin + Top 5 Goals of the Week

23:37Cristina Alexander:Yeah, I mean, I'm not sure the defense, you know, really showed up in this moment. That could have tightened up. But well done by Arsenal. They've been on a roll lately.

23:46Riley Tiernan:Yeah, well done by Lindsay Heaps, too. She also got an assist in this Lyon win.

23:52Cristina Alexander:Yes, brilliant. Obviously, Lyon is a possession-oriented style team. They're always going to find a way to win and create opportunities like this one. Amazing goal. Good thing heaps was able to get a touch on this to create some chaos. And the ball's right in the back of the net.

24:08Riley Tiernan:Yeah, that controlled chaos that we were talking about. And last but not least, Corbin Schrader also in this Lyon match getting an assist in this win.

24:17Cristina Alexander:I'm sure this built her confidence up a lot. She takes this ball down. It's really difficult, a bouncing ball to hit this first time. Low, direct, with pace right to the corner. She deals with this really well. Goalkeeper just couldn't get a touch on it.

24:31Riley Tiernan:Yeah, absolutely. Like you said, getting that confidence back. We know there's been some interesting messages on social media, U.S. Women's National Team, and one following another. But that's a story for another day.

24:45Barbra Banda:From 30 for 30 Podcasts.

24:54Ali Krieger:Brian Pata, senior defensive lineman from Miami, gunned down.

24:59Cristina Alexander:The key to this case, it's Brian.

25:02Barbra Banda:Boy, he grabbed him. An hour before he died, he was on the phone arguing with somebody. This might be a hit. You want the truth. They just want a conviction being placed under arrest. We had a killer amongst us. Murder at the U. Listen now.

25:16Riley Tiernan:We want to focus on a story of a very young player still who we've been following since she was 15 years old. She is young, but she is completely wise. And I am, of course, talking about Olivia Moultrie, who just signed an extension with Portland Thorns. I'm sure they're very happy about it. She's very happy about it. And I'm sure she was very happy to sit down and talk to you, Allie Krieger.

25:41Ali Krieger:Moultrie with the shot! Oh my! Olivia Moultrie with a rocket for the Thorns. When this player occupies those spaces, she just lets it go.

25:51Barbra Banda:Such a great strike for the 20-year-old. I'm the queen of the jungle. I'm the queen of the jungle. You know that I came to win. I'm the queen of the jungle. I cannot get stuck. I just think she's really led this team in an incredible way.

26:10Cristina Alexander:Olivia Moultrie, welcome back. Thank you so much for joining us. Thank you for having me. Before we get into all the football, I just wanted to know how the offseason was. And if you had any time to reset, recharge and refocus.

26:22Ali Krieger:Yeah, the offseason is good. It is short. I did actually have nasal surgery over the offseason because my septum was like, pew, pew, pew, pew. It was hard to breathe out of that thing. And now it's ready. I mean, I hope it doesn't look straight. Yeah. Nothing happened to the bones. So like I didn't have to re-break anything. Just kind of cleared up the inside. So that was good. I can breathe. And then, yeah, just a little bit of, like, recharging with the family. I had Christmas at home just with my sisters and stuff and my mom and dad and my dog. Oh, cute. So, yeah, it was good.

26:51Cristina Alexander:So it was kind of quiet. It was. Yeah, it was nice. Great. Because 2025, it seemed like it felt like a real turning point for you. Career high goals, best 11 honors and influence in big, big moments. When you look back, what do you feel changed most about your game this season?

27:08Ali Krieger:Yeah, I feel like I've kind of had this model of myself in my mind for a while, like the player that I want to be. And you're kind of watching all these elite players and how can I take things from them and kind of put that into my game. But I feel like last season, it kind of finally manifested itself and really just all the work that I've been putting in. Like, I don't think anything about me changed as a player. It just kind of came to fruition a little bit and we just saw the results happen. And yeah, I'm just hoping to continue that this year. But last year was definitely an exciting season.

27:37Cristina Alexander:Yeah, it looked exciting, especially from afar. And you're still so young, but you clearly stepped into a leadership role. And we spoke about this before, stepping in after some of the veterans had left and retired and moved on. How did you grow into that responsibility, especially during a season with injuries and maternity leave and so much change?

28:00Ali Krieger:Yeah, I feel like naturally I'm a very type A personality. So I feel like just being in an environment that allowed me to be myself, you kind of see that aspect of me come out. And yeah, I mean, I'm about to start my sixth season in the league, which is weird to say that as a 20 year old. But yeah, I just feel like the things that I've experienced just kind of been given the platform, I guess, to just be who I am naturally. And I think in some moments that requires me saying things and in other moments, I just kind of put my head down and go to work. But yeah, I feel like it just allows me to be my authentic self.

28:32Ali Krieger:And that's part of the reason why I love Portland so much.

28:35Cristina Alexander:And as a midfielder, scoring goals, especially from a distance, isn't always expected. But how conscious are you of choosing your moments to step forward into the attack and take games in your own terms?

28:48Ali Krieger:Yeah, I think that's part of just who I want to be as a player is not only be dangerous in that way, but be dangerous in a lot of ways. and so that's part of why it's like okay if you're gonna give me space I'm gonna hit it and if you're not then it's like how can I make it happen in other ways so yeah that's definitely I feel like

29:03Cristina Alexander:just growing into who I want to be and there were so many big moments that you delivered last season and why Portland ended up being as successful as you were towards the end of the year your first brace key assists in the playoffs do you feel more comfortable now embracing those pressure situations.

29:20Ali Krieger:Yeah, absolutely. I feel like every time, number one, like this is why we do this, right? To like make it happen in the big moments. And so I live for those moments and they excite me as opposed to like make me nervous. But also every time you experience one of them, it's like you just get to keep building off of how that moment feels. And especially like our quarter final against San Diego at home, getting to experience like playing that ball to Raylan and the goal. And so it's like, then you just want more of that and you're chasing that feeling again. So yeah, it's very exciting.

29:48Cristina Alexander:Do you love those pressure moments? And how do you feel in those pressure moments? And like, do you feel like that's a challenge you always want to take on? And you feel like you're going to thrive in that? Or does it make you a little bit nervous until you get out there in that exact moment?

30:02Ali Krieger:I'm definitely like an attack the moment type of person. And I feel like just the player that I want to be like competing at the highest level, you know, want to be one of the best players in the world someday. Like I got to live for those moments. I can't be, you know, afraid to step into that because at the end of the day, like who I want to be as a player is someone who can show up all the time. And so, yeah, I definitely live for those moments. And I'm like, yeah, let's make more great ones first.

30:25Cristina Alexander:We touched a little bit on, you know, the loss against Washington in the semifinals after, you know, fighting through a lot of adversity that year and resiliency that the team showed. But how do you personally process finish like that when you know how thin the margins really are within the league.

30:43Ali Krieger:Yeah, I think the part I hate losing. Like, it's just when you finish the year like that, that's just never how you want it to end. I am able to look back and know there was a lot of good that happened last year, especially for our team considering all the obstacles that we had to overcome. And at the end of the day, just makes me really excited for this next season in terms of like, look how close we were before. And it felt like we were missing so much. So like, what can we do this year? And yeah, that makes me excited.

31:08Cristina Alexander:This offseason brought, you know, another big shift as we saw Sam Coffey, unfortunately, leave. Moving on to the WSL and Man City, she was captain and such a steady presence within the team, but also just within that midfield. As someone who's already taken on leadership, how do you help carry that standard forward when a player like that, you know, heads on to something else new?

31:34Ali Krieger:Yeah, I mean, I'm going to miss her a lot both on and off the field. But I think for me, I've been asked this a couple times. And honestly, I think it's like I just need to stay 100 % true to who I am. I think if you try too hard to necessarily fill a gap because we live in a world where there's a lot of people that come in and come out and it's just there's always like movement. And I think for me, it's just how do I stay consistent in who I am? Because I don't want to try to be something that I'm not. And I feel like our team will naturally kind of come around to fill. obviously the sam coffee sized hole that was left but yeah it's like this is the world we live in in professional sports so how do we overcome something like that and i feel like me just being myself is

32:13Cristina Alexander:the best way to do that so the return of sophia wilson it's uh going to be amazing and it brings a lot of different level of presence to to the team and another leadership support uh for you But from a midfielder's perspective, how does that have her back change? What Portland can do offensively in the attack and in the belief inside the group? Does that give the group a little bit more confidence going into this?

32:40Ali Krieger:Yeah, I'm sure it does. I'm really excited to have her back. And I've been talking to a couple people about it. But like, I want us to be this duo that people are scared of, you know. And I think just for myself last year, like being kind of that presence for the team. And now it's like somebody is there that can take the line back and like we can kind of pull the presence almost like off of each other. Like, OK, if they're worried about me doing this and they're worried about her doing this, like how do you cover all your bases kind of? And yeah, so just that versatility that will offer our team, I think, will be very exciting for us.

33:12Cristina Alexander:Yeah, I think as a defender, specifically, you know, and having Sophia Wilson on the field, you're always so concerned about her. So that could open up, you know, a lot of space for you. And that's what I'm looking for. So you're going to jump right on that. you were also named Supporters Player of the Year by the Riveters, which carries real meaning in Portland. So what is that recognition from the fans and supporters that come out and are so passionate about watching you and your squad play mean to you?

33:40Ali Krieger:Honestly, it was a really, really special moment. Obviously, I've grown up in Portland in a lot of ways, but kind of feeling like as I was fighting for so much, it's like I think it was like a little iffy at the beginning and people just didn't know how it was going to work out. But now as I've kind of made that my city and my home, it was just cool to feel like not that it's the end of anything. It's more the beginning, but really just to feel that connection with the city and the fans to know like, yeah, Olivia is here and she's here to stay. And she's a huge part of what we hope the club is moving forward.

34:11Ali Krieger:Like that was a really special moment for me. And obviously, I appreciate them so much. There's really nothing better than home games at Providence Park.

34:17Cristina Alexander:Yeah, and a lot of people or players I've spoken to about where their, you know, favorite place to play is outside of their own, you know, stadium is Portland because of the crowd and because of the intensity and also how difficult it is to play there. So I'm glad that you have that connection with the fans. I know that means a lot. You've also spent time with the U.S. Women's National Team environment, again, including the January camp. So congratulations on the two games. What have those experiences shown you about the level that you're working towards personally?

34:49Ali Krieger:It's really been fun to just experience that and play against obviously other countries and just experience like when we go to the World Cup in 27, like obviously we're going there to win. And so just to kind of get a taste of what it feels like, I just like want more. I'm like, oh, my gosh, this is I love being in this environment. And being coached by Emma has been a really special opportunity. And I hope to continue to experience that. But I already feel like it's made me a better player. And yeah, it's just been really a fun, enjoyable experience.

35:17Cristina Alexander:What do you value most about, you know, her ability to teach the game and the knowledge of the game? And if anything, what do you take back to, you know, club team that you can apply there as well?

35:30Ali Krieger:I think the coolest thing about the environment is the balance she has of letting us be ourselves and creating like a fun, welcoming. you want to be here but at the same time like we're striving for excellence and we're striving to be the best and I think she does a really good job like merging those two worlds um and it doesn't feel stressful it's like no this is like what we're here for you know we're representing our country and that's so special and I think just bringing back that sense of like yeah you can strive to be great and be the best at something and that's an enjoyable experience like that's not I mean not to say it's not hard and it's not difficult but it's fun to go through that and And so I think just kind of bringing that back to club.

36:08Ali Krieger:And it's like, I mean, I love what I do at the end of the day. So just kind of bringing the joy to both things while we kind of strive to win and be the best.

36:17Cristina Alexander:Yeah, that's a great balance to have. And I'm sure a lot of your teammates in Portland can kind of look to you to bring that, you know, intelligence back to the club level. I hope so.

36:26Ali Krieger:I hope it's benefiting us.

36:27Cristina Alexander:Well, it looks like it is. But I do want to talk about the Paraguay match where you assisted on Ryland Turner's goal. her first international goal a special moment um and especially as club teammates so what did that

36:40Ali Krieger:moment mean to you and can you walk us through you know that action i'm so funny because we were talking before the game and i was like dude you're gonna score and i'm gonna assist the goal like we just kind of manifested it into happening and i love raylin like she is one of the funniest people i know her energy is always good but it's been so fun to be able to play with her in portland and then obviously her being in January camp. And yeah, as soon as I got the ball, I was just like, I know she's making that run. And it's just kind of like having that level of a connection with someone is really fun.

37:12Ali Krieger:And then seeing it manifest into obviously her first international goal was a really special moment. You're like, get anywhere inside the box. No, literally.

37:19Cristina Alexander:Yeah. What milestones do you want to achieve this year with this group and also for yourself? Yeah.

37:27Ali Krieger:I mean, I know it's the obvious answer, but like we're going out there to compete for a championship and be the best that we can be. I feel like there's an aspect of how can we just continue to grow from last season because I think we made a lot of big strides and also kind of gaining players back, maternity leave injuries, etc. But for me, it's just like when I talked about how kind of I've been the same player but it manifested into like who and it started to show those results. Like I just want to build on that. I want to be able to consistently provide those things for my team so that we can compete at the highest level.

37:59Ali Krieger:and yeah I'm really excited to to get started I'm like when's our first game right really far away um yeah when's opening day yeah uh what would success then look like for you in 2026 yeah I think on a personal level like obviously want to be competing in and around like best 11 midfielder of the year MVP like that's the type of player that I want to be and be in those conversations and then if I'm doing that hopefully that is allowing my team to compete for winning games, building off more points every year and getting further in the playoffs.

38:35Riley Tiernan:I could listen to her talk all day. Olivia Moultrie is as impressive off the pitch as she is on it with the goals. She was ranked sixth in the NWSL. Chances created she was ranked first. Unsurprising with the shots as well. Third and goals. I mean, above what she obviously does every season, she led the team in all categories. And it's no surprise to see her still wanting more, Allie. And that's just the mentality that we've been used to seeing from her. She's growing up right in front of our eyes. And now she's leading into another NWSL season. And like I said, with the experience that she has in extending recently with Portland and listening to her just talk to you, is there a next level to her game?

39:28Cristina Alexander:There's absolutely another level to Olivia's game. And I felt that passion, as always, when I speak to her, just about wanting to get better and the willingness that she's wanting to put into her game to achieve success. And it's not just about the talent for her. It's, you know, she has that technical quality. The next step is for her to kind of grow in her game is that control and impact. Can she dictate the tempo? Can she turn, you know, good possession into goals and assists when needed? And when she starts deciding, you know, games instead of just influencing them, I think that's when we're talking about an elite Olivia Moultrie.

40:15Cristina Alexander:So deciding in the middle of a game in real time, how can I control this? Do I need to slow it down? Do I need to pick it up? Do I need to get in positions to score goals to put the team on my back? So I think that's going to be the next step for her. But we see game in and game out that she doesn't rush her play. She doesn't play with that rushed, anxious type of play that some players have, you know feeling pressure to to need to do something and then you know you're you start playing uh you know wilds uh and not in your comfort zone and what you're good at which is uncommon i think in young attacking midfielders to have that calmness that coolness that quality um so i think the next step is just to control the rhythm for her throughout the game yeah she's

41:05Riley Tiernan:olivia moultrie not olivia wild uh i had to say that that's that's my that's He took him tonight. I'll be here all week, folks. And we're done. No, we're actually not done. And we're not done talking about Olivia Moultrie because she mentioned, obviously, all the injuries. And that was kind of the biggest story of the season for Portland and how impressed we were at how well they still did, despite all of the missing players. And the bigger name, of course, being that of Sophia Wilson. So she's making her way back. Sam Coffey being in Manchester City. But when it comes to this partnership with Olivia and Sophia Wilson.

41:41Riley Tiernan:How does Olivia Moultrie unlock the best version of Soph?

41:46Cristina Alexander:I think it's just going to be the timing of those third-man runs that I'm envisioning is going to continuously happen. Also, Sophia is going to have so many defenders surrounding her, so then that's going to free up a lot of that opportunity for Olivia to get in those spaces to get on the ball, which I think is going to be such an advantage for Portland. But I think if she can have those quick combination play, those quick bounce passes, and then playing off the instinct, right? She needs to just be comfortable and confident in how she normally plays and to be able to continue to play in that moment and not overthink, I think that's going to be super rare.

42:27Cristina Alexander:But she's really good at that. So can she and Sophia stamp their personality on those games and really get back to the playoffs and solidify themselves as an elite squad? They have the tools. Obviously, they're missing a Sam Coffey. That's going to be extremely difficult shoes to fill. So that'll be an area of concern. But as of right now, having, you know, Raylan Turner up front, you have Olivia Moultrie, you have Sophia Wilson back if she's fully fit. It's going to be an incredible front three for them. And so with the depth that they have, the young talent and the quality just right there, those two are going to be a dangerous duo.

43:15Riley Tiernan:Yeah, and then having to adapt to a new head coach here eventually for Portland, but it seems like this team looks adversity in the face and they just don't shake. They get the job done.

43:26Barbra Banda:But what I wanted to tell you is that my daughter is a very good study. Semesterbeitrag, laptop, books, software, phone, internet. So a master is really expensive. Oh, tell her, she can get it back. Yeah, you mean from the tax cuts, right? But she doesn't pay. No, it's a failure. It's a very simple way with Visa. And if she works then, it's Kaching! That's it? Safe! Why do you pay your money?

43:50Riley Tiernan:Now, try to get out of it!

44:13Riley Tiernan:in the recognition to which Banda said quote means a lot and she caught up with our Allie Krieger.

44:22Cristina Alexander:How are you you know feeling about the return to play process you had an injury in August and where are you in that process?

44:29Barbra Banda:It feels good now that I'm back with the team fully back with the team training so this is what I've been waiting for and I'm glad that I'm back and I'm so happy and excited to get started.

44:42Cristina Alexander:So you're playing obviously at such a high level one of the best players if not the best in the league before the injury in August. As a competitor how challenging was it to mentally step away when you felt you were impacting games obviously the way that you do?

44:59Barbra Banda:Well I think that's the worst that a player would have usually but it is what it is it's a part of the game so we get to accept whatever comes up but all in all I think I've been good like doing my rehabs and with the team I've always been with the team the technical staff you know I've been in an environment where everyone is helping so I didn't feel that weirdness you know because everybody has been there for me I've spent most of my time with medical staff and the handling fans so it was good.

45:39Cristina Alexander:You more so needed a break from them than anybody else's break but Orlando's season unfortunately ended on a single moment a stoppage time goal watching that unfold when you couldn't be on the field is a unique experience and probably really tough because you want to go help and any way that you can so what was that like for you?

46:03Barbra Banda:Yeah it was really tough for me because I felt like I can play but I couldn't but I just accept whatever came up and you know just looking forward to the new season yeah what's motivating you most right now what's motivating me most now is that I'm back with the team and everyone is so excited and so encouraging you know during practice everyone is happy to see me on the pitch which I'm also it's pushing also me to work more hard so that I would put more smiles on my teammates yeah and when you look at the season ahead what

46:50Cristina Alexander:would success look like to you personally but also to the group as a

46:55Barbra Banda:whole well I think looking forward we we feel we need to have more success of winning more titles to the team yeah yeah i feel that and more success also to myself winning maybe personal awards you know yeah that's what goal score the year you know

47:18Cristina Alexander:yeah keep building the accolades um is there a moment that you can look back now that you've had this amount of time within the league that you like to replay that memory in your mind.

47:34Barbra Banda:Yeah, I think winning the shoot and the championship, I would want it to come back again, which we are working on. I think that's the best memory that I've had.

47:47Riley Tiernan:She's definitely one of the most impressive players, and I'm glad you told her that too, Ali, because it really is the truth with Orlando, with the league, and that's why they missed her so much so when it comes to her coming back she was placed on the season ending injury list on in august and it was heartbreaking to not see her play a single minute in the playoffs but with her back a healthy banda what is orlando's ceiling i i i with a healthy banda i mean she's

48:18Cristina Alexander:you know one of the best if not the best players and forwards in the league right it's she's she's The ceiling is most likely a title contender again. And they really struggled without her. You could see the game had to adjust drastically when she was injured through playoffs. So it's not just playoff good, it's championship dangerous, which is where Orlando is now in the past couple of seasons used to being in challenging other teams. So it's because she doesn't just score, right? She bends defensive structures, so to speak. You have to, as a defender, and I know this well, when you're playing against a type of player who has this quality and this pace, you have to drop deeper.

49:04Cristina Alexander:You have to double her. You have to respect the space. And that opens the entire field for everyone else. So a healthy band changes how a team's approach games and also their game plans. It would definitely adjust, specifically speaking as a defender myself. You're not going to be that drastic, but you're definitely going to have to keep an eye out for her because she can warp defensive lines immediately. So she forces center backs to sit deeper, like I said. Full backs can't overcommit fully because you know you're going to have to turn around and chase 30 to 40 yards of Barbara Banda running 1v1 at goal.

49:43Cristina Alexander:um midfields you know have to hesitate a bit to press higher so you're always keeping her in your back pocket you're always making sure you know where she is and what spaces she's trying to exploit so it obviously creates more time um for mid for Orlando's midfield to play because there's three four defenders worrying about Barbara Banda which opens up those spaces in the middle of the park. And then you have cleaner entries into the final third because you know that if she's making a run, that first pass is a through ball and she's going to get there. Her strength, her ability, her pace, the quality that she has, and the more 1v1 isolations I think that she can create, not only in the center of the park, but out wide, is super dangerous.

50:31Cristina Alexander:So She changes how opponents show up and the behavior that they need to apply in order to win games or to even compete just before she even touches the ball. So, you know, defenses are definitely understanding how lethal she can be. And Orlando has such an advantage when she's on the field. Oh, yeah.

50:55Riley Tiernan:And she has such a joy for the game, which just adds an extra way of enjoying the game along alongside with her. But listen, she will be number 10, actually. So that's just another added bonus. Thanks, producer Beto there for that tip. And speaking of the defenders of these teams, they will be already getting ready for Orlando because as we take a look at their schedule here, at least their first five games of the season. They face Seattle Reign at home March 15th, their home opener. Then they will face Denver Summit Chicago Stars. Add Gotham FC, maybe a little field trip there to Jersey. I wouldn't mind April 3rd against Angels City.

51:37Riley Tiernan:I mean, any chance to see Barbara Banda, especially after she had been gone for so long. All matches, of course, available on ESPN.

51:47Ali Krieger:This league is hard. There are good players. There's beef. F***ing hell is that!

51:53Barbra Banda:It is the greatest league of chaos in football.

51:56Olivia Moultrie:You think I helped build this to leave now? I want to win a championship. You need to be very hungry to score. I'm serious. I'm walking in.

52:06Ali Krieger:It's do or die. You don't want to die.

52:15Riley Tiernan:You just saw Riley Tiernan. And as we know, she was locked in from day one in her rookie season, being a standout forward for Angel City FC. Had a little bit of a dip, but that only means that she'll come back stronger here in year two for the Angel City FC forward, who sat down with our defender, Allie Krieger.

52:38Cristina Alexander:Riley Tiernan, welcome. It's so great to connect with you again. Before we get into all the football questions, I would love to ask how your offseason was. did you get any time to refresh and recharge?

52:50Olivia Moultrie:Yes, I did. I went back to Jersey. I spent time with the fam. That was pretty much all I did. And I saw my nephew, which is my favorite thing now because he's growing up so fast. But I love to just play with him and run around with him. What part of Jersey are you from? South Jersey. I live in Voorhees.

53:07Cristina Alexander:Okay, I'm in Moncler. Oh, nice. Not that far. But getting into the football, you went from a non-roster invitee is starting every match and leading all rookies in goals, which was super impressive last year. When you look back on that journey, what does that say in the belief within yourself?

53:27Olivia Moultrie:Yeah, I think as an athlete, you face a lot of challenges throughout your career, and I think it's the way you take it and the way you use it. So for me, a situation where it was very scary, I had to turn it into motivation and just continue to be true to myself and be confident in the player I am. And I think just reminding myself of all the success I've had and all the success I can continue to have if I just stay confident in myself.

53:56Cristina Alexander:Starting all 26 matches as a rookie is super rare. What did you learn about your body, your mindset, and just the demands of the league through that grind?

54:07Olivia Moultrie:Yeah, I think physically-wise I was fine. I know I'm still young, but I think mentally it's just kind of taking it day by day. I think that's a process I've learned throughout this entire journey is just how strong your mental can control your physical. So just making sure I'm in check here so that I can perform on the field the way I'm supposed to, I think that's really helpful.

54:32Cristina Alexander:And once the goals started coming, expectations obviously shift so quickly. but how did you handle going from proving yourself to being game you know game plan for

54:42Olivia Moultrie:every single week yeah I think at first it was really exciting because no one knew who I was so I kind of just went out there and did what I do and it was a lot of fun and then people started expecting more from me which I think it's obviously something that can be tough as an athlete but it's also a privilege I think I earned that pressure so I think again like I said just reminding myself of all the success I've had and if I've been able to do it multiple times I can continue to do it so not letting that strike any fear in me and just to continue to be confident.

55:17Cristina Alexander:And you mentioned that you know no one knew who you were but you obviously established yourself so quickly and people definitely paid attention but this year the teams know exactly what you bring and how do you continue to evolve now that you're on everyone's radar?

55:34Olivia Moultrie:Yeah, I think that's a part of the game as well. I think for me personally as a forward, I'm trying to be more dynamic and add layers to my game. I think I can make better runs in behind. I can get into better spaces. I think my vision and awareness can be better. So I think just adding those layers so that I'm more unpredictable and it's not just, oh, she's going to do this when she gets the ball so that there's really no way to prepare for defending me. But I still like to say, I know people always say like they know what I'm going to do, but I feel like even when they know they sometimes can't defend it.

56:10Olivia Moultrie:So if it ain't broke, don't fix it. Right.

56:13Cristina Alexander:Great mentality to have. Whatever's working just continue to do that. But what do you enjoy most about being into the attack and really being on the ball?

56:21Olivia Moultrie:Yeah, I just love being able to be a part of the main plays and put the ball in the net or be assisting someone that's going to put the ball in the net. I think it's such a thrilling feeling. And to be able to celebrate in a stadium full of fans, I think there's no better feeling as an athlete.

56:39Cristina Alexander:And Angel City last season didn't make playoffs, but there were real individual and teams steps forward for you all. But from inside the locker room, what progress did you feel despite the fact that it wasn't necessarily a success?

56:57Olivia Moultrie:Yeah, I think we faced a lot of ups and downs throughout the season. I think that comes with the sport. But I think the most important thing is to just remain together. I think being a part of a team is such a powerful thing because of that. I feel like you can face all these problems, but you're doing it together because you're all on the same team and you're all working towards the same goals. So I think it grew our relationships and made us realize that we all want it. So I think it brought us together.

57:28Cristina Alexander:And you also shared time with Kristen Press, also one of my friends and former teammates, but someone who obviously set the standard here for professionalism and impact and just the quality that she brings. What did you take from, you know, watching her up close every day?

57:46Olivia Moultrie:Yeah, I think she's just an amazing person, an amazing player. I think just her knowledge and her experience was so impactful for me especially. It's just an amazing opportunity as a young athlete to be able to play with someone who you've looked up to your entire life. And yeah, any chance I could get to learn anything from her, I would take it. And even off the field, she's just a great person. and she's just like a giant ball of joy. So it's nice to have that. And it's refreshing in the locker room.

58:19Cristina Alexander:So the club rewarded your breakout season with a contract extension. So congratulations on that through 2028. How did that commitment change? How you view your role now and this type of responsibility within this team?

58:33Olivia Moultrie:Yeah, I think having such a great first year was a good thing for me. and I think now I'm where I want to be and I'm locked into a place that I want to be. So I think I can focus on the next journey, which is improving myself in as many ways as I can as a player and a person. So I think just, yeah, staying true to myself and my potential and not taking that as a sign to kind of take my foot off the gas, but rather just continue to work and keep my head down and just keep pushing forward.

59:03Cristina Alexander:That's such a good attitude to have because as you continue to grow, you continue to gain that confidence, that experience, and then it can just be applied to each and every game. But talking about continuing to grow, what part of your game do you want people to associate with you most?

59:23Olivia Moultrie:I would want people to associate my work ethic, I would say. I think people can say a lot about the way people play, but I think you can't really frown upon work ethic and I want to be a player that people know is going to show up every game and you're going to get the same performance out of them. And I think consistency is really important too. So I would say being just consistent and always working as hard as I can because it's all you can really do.

59:50Cristina Alexander:Thinking about opening day and putting on that jersey, what excites you most about this new year ahead?

59:57Olivia Moultrie:There's so much that excites me. I think we have so many new players and a new coach with more time to prepare. So I'm excited to see how everything plays out. And I'm excited to be back at BMO under the lights with all the fans. I think this year is going to be extremely electric. And I think the more we win, the more the fans are going to want to show up for us and the more they're going to want to be crazy. So it's going to be fun.

1:00:24Riley Tiernan:It'll be fun to watch Riley Tiernan tear it up here. in the following NWSL season as the numbers that she had in the 2025 NWSL regular season there with eight goals. She was three-time rookie of the month that's tied for the highest record, and it's no surprise to see her constantly performing and excited. But Allie, one of the things that really jumped out to me the most in your conversation is that you commended her mentality a few times throughout your conversation because it's really impressive to see that from someone still young and barely heading into their second season. But I ask you, with that mentality, with what we saw her in her first year, is Riley Tiernan ready to be an NWSL star?

1:01:08Cristina Alexander:Yeah, I mean, what she already has is that winning mentality, that relentless movement to want to get on the ball, that confidence that a lot of young players really struggle to develop in the first year of their experience at the pro level. but I think that yes she's she's she's ready for that next jump excuse me that next jump but stardom in the NWSL isn't about those one or two flashes right it's about that consistency that we always talk about she has the movement like I mentioned the engine the confidence to impact games like she has been you know she's been one of the best goal scorers for Angel City and the question now is can she do that every week against different defenses right and and different profiles that are going to be presenting themselves because now teams know what to expect teams know that they need to keep an eye on her keep her in their back pocket and make sure they double down at times because she can affect games in such a positive way um but if she can stack those performances and be consistent, I think she's absolutely on that path.

1:02:26Cristina Alexander:I think what makes an NWSL star different is just because this league definitely exposes players very quickly. So to become that star that we talk about, and she's wanting to become as well, you have to produce in different games. and you have to handle different physical defenders, different profiles, and you have to have an understanding of how to do that and approach the games. And then how do some of these players, these stars, like a Kristen Press, like a Marta, like Esther Gonzalez, you know, how do they approach a mini slump, so to speak? How do they react to maybe not having that consistency?

1:03:15Cristina Alexander:because every player hits one, not every season, but most seasons. And then how are you going to be reacting to that? So the tools are there. What separates most prospects from being stars in the NWSL, especially in this league, is that consistency and repeatability. And I think that will be the next test for her.

1:03:40Riley Tiernan:Yeah, absolutely. And it seems like she is really ready for it with everything that she was able to talk about there with you, being excited about being back with the fans at BMO Stadium. And it'll be interesting to see what role character-wise she plays here in the league. I'm excited to take a deeper dive into what we're going to see here in the final third with that little clip that you just saw as Riley Tiernan being one of those protagonists and those leading characters, as to call her here, at least for the series. All right. We're also looking forward to seeing all of the new kits here for the 2026 season.

1:04:19Riley Tiernan:And Denver Summit FC said, bet here's ours. They released their inaugural evergreen kits. Allie, dripping or tripping?

1:04:30Cristina Alexander:I think it's dripping. I love it. I love the green. I love the blue. I, yeah, I love the, the, the patch, the badge. it's impressive. I think it's going to look really sharp out on the field. And it's perfect for Denver. You have the blue skies. You have the evergreen trees. And I think it's a perfect fit for them. What about you? What do you think?

1:04:58Riley Tiernan:Listen, maybe I wanted a little bit more of a nod to the Rockies and the Mountain Rage, but green is my favorite color. I can't deny it. I like how everything matches and makes sense, and what you just said just kind of brings it to life. So we're going to give this a drip in, especially because we're so excited to see a new team. Diamonds, they really are forever. And so well, Denver Summit FC and Boston Legacy facing Gotham FC March 14th at 1230 p.m. Eastern on ABC. It is truly right around the corner. We are less than a month out and we cannot wait.

1:05:40Riley Tiernan:Before we see amazing goals in the new NWSL season, let's take a look at the top five goals of the week. Yana Fernandez, I saw this over and over again, Allie, and I'm sure you did too.

1:05:50Cristina Alexander:Yes, and I feel like every goal, like week after week, is outside of the box. Midfielder just takes a touch and just hits it in the back of the net. It's unbelievable. Well done to get it out of her feet and to have that pace on it.

1:06:06Riley Tiernan:Yeah, I mean, and taking advantage of the space there from the defenders there for London City Lionesses. Let's take it to number four, Emily Jelnik for Monterrey against Atletico San Luis. Thoughts?

1:06:20Cristina Alexander:Yeah, brilliant. Just wrap it around to be able to, I mean, defending wasn't amazing. Could have put a little more pressure, at least affected the ball, but well done. and wraps it around the goalkeeper and is able to get in the net.

1:06:37Riley Tiernan:She understood the assignment. You see space from your defenders. You have to take the shot. Let's take it to number three, Kora Sikai for Wolfsburg versus Juventus. How about the play too, Ali?

1:06:50Cristina Alexander:Yeah, one of my favorite goals are the Champions League playoff matches. Because both of these players were game changers coming into the game, trying to affect the game in any way possible. And this is a goal that she will remember forever. And this helped them get through to the next phase. And I'm really, really happy to see that. It was brilliant. First time is so difficult.

1:07:13Riley Tiernan:Absolutely. It seems like the trend is from outside the box. We'll see if this one rings true. It's from inside the box, but come on. Melina Ayers just takes flight and slots that in, Ali.

1:07:26Cristina Alexander:Yeah, I mean, the quality of the service, It doesn't always have to have pace on it, right? When you're picking players out and in the box, this is perfect placement. And she really gets in front of that defender and volleys it into the goal. Pace, precision, perfect.

1:07:42Riley Tiernan:I mean, if that was number two, okay, I get it. I get it. Our Enrique Alcantara who always finds the most insane goals. This is from the UEFA Women's EuroCup. It's Thelma Encarnasau. I mean, how, Allie?

1:07:57Cristina Alexander:I that is very impressive I think she was even shook that she did that um but well done you're just trying to redirect it right you're just trying to redirect it you're putting the back of the net you're just trying to affect the ball and fortunately it was perfect yeah it definitely

1:08:12Riley Tiernan:was perfect I don't even know how you would try to I don't know get uh on your back maybe I would hit my head I never even tried it when I was very very young and I'm certainly not going to try it now because I know a little bit better at 34 years old. Prove it. I'm exhausted from shoveling the snow. That was my workout yesterday, and that will be my workout here in the coming days. Allie, we will be back here next Tuesday and just closer and closer to the 2026 NWSL season. Thanks for hanging out with us. We will see you then.

1:08:58The elements of the rainforest So think about