April 17, 2025 • 29 mins
ESPN gymnastics commentator and NCAA perfect-10 record holder Trinity Thomas joins Sarah to preview the best teams, stars and storylines in this weekend’s NCAA National Collegiate Women’s Gymnastics Championships, share what it takes to keep eyes on the prize in the most stressful moments, and help us all be smarter viewers. Plus, Paige Bueckers makes a money move, Kim Ng is in her commissioner era, and gymnasts aren’t the only ones doing flips.
-
Follow Trinity on Instagram here
-
The Women’s Hockey World Championship schedule can be found here
-
Send us a note at goodgame@wondermedianetwork.com
-
Follow Sarah on social! Bluesky: @sarahspain.com Instagram: @Spain2323
-
Follow producer Misha Jones! Bluesky: @mishthejrnalist.bsky.social Instagram: @mishthejrnalist
-
Follow producer Alex Azzi! Bluesky: @byalexazzi.bsky.social
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Welcome to Good Game with Sarah Spain, where we're celebrating
this weekend's NC Double A Gymnastics Championships by doing splits
at a party. Okay, fine, fair, I'm always doing the
splitzet parties, but this weekend they'll be extra good. It's Thursday,
April seventeenth, and on today's show, we'll be chatting with
ESPN Gymnastics commentator and NC DOUBLEA perfect ten record holder
(00:21):
Trinity Thomas about the top teams and athletes and this
weekend's NC Double A Gymnastics Championships, dealing with pressure and
how to be a better gymnastics viewer. Plus a goat
adds a few more records, unrivaled, roster gets a little bigger,
and we checked there's no rule saying backflips have to
be done in a gym. That's all coming up right
after this. Welcome Max Slices. Here's what you need to
(00:49):
know today. The US wrapped up the group stage at
the Women's Ice Hockey World Championships by beating Switzerland five
nothing on Tuesday behind two goals of He's from Tessa
Janicky and Kendall Cooinscofield. Hillary Knight recorded three assists in
the win to break the all time assists record at
Women's Worlds. Knight now has fifty one more than previous
(01:10):
record holder Canadian Haley Wickenheiser. Knight is already the most
decorated athlete in Women's World Championship history, owning the record
for most medals with fourteen, most all time goals with
sixty seven, and most points with one hundred and seventeen.
After finishing group play with a four to zero record,
the US will play Germany in the quarterfinals today. We'll
link to the full World Championship schedule in the show notes.
(01:32):
Also shout out to friend of the show Kendall Coinscofield.
In addition to those two goals, this week, she's also
celebrating a new partnership with our friends at ELF. She
just joined their roster of sponsored athletes. As part of
her partnership, she recently hosted a group of young players
at a Minnesota Frost game. Love that two hoops. Paige
Beckers has more to celebrate than just being the number
one pick in Monday's WNBA draft. Just ahead of the draft,
(01:55):
it was announced that Beckers has signed a three year
deal to play in three on three League unrival Per
the Athletic ESPN, Becker's first year salary and Unrivaled will
exceed what she earns in all four years of her
WNBA rookie contract. Becker's previously signed an NIL deal with Unrivaled,
which gave her equity in the upstart league as she
finished her college career. Speaking of Unrivaled, Time has named
(02:18):
Unrivaled co founders Nafisa Collier and Brianna Stewart to the
twenty twenty five Time one hundred, its annual list of
the one hundred most influential people in the world. To softball,
Kim Eng, who joined Athletes Unlimited last summer as a
senior advisor, has been named commissioner of the AUSL ahead
of its June launch, and players are starting to get
the call for the new pro Softball league. Over the
(02:40):
next few weeks, Golden tickets will be presented to college
softball players across the country, signifying their selection in the
twenty twenty five college Draft. Last Sunday, after her team's
fifteen to one win over Notre Dame, Virginia Tech, pitcher
Emma Lemley was surprised with the very first golden ticket
the AUSL College Draft Show will reveal which teams the
drafts are selected to. You can watch that on Saturday,
(03:02):
May third at nine pm Eastern on ESPNU. Finally, some
golf news. The International Olympic Committee has approved a mixed
gender golf team event for the twenty twenty eight Los
Angeles Olympics. It'll be a thirty six hole competition split
across two eighteen hole rounds, with teams made up of
one male and one female athlete from the individual competitions,
(03:23):
limited to one team per country. We got to take
a quick break. When we come back, we talk NCUBLEA
Gymnastics Championships with Trinity Thomas. The two semi finals are today,
with the top two teams in each semi qualifying for
Saturday's final. We caught up with Trinity on Wednesday to
discuss what to expect that's coming up right after this
(03:51):
joining US now, she's a commentator for ESPN. Who was
a five time member of the USA Gymnastics national team
and was an eleven time NCUBLEA All American for the
Florida Game College, finishing her career with an NCAA record
tying twenty eight perfect ten scores and a record breaking
five Jim slams, which are scores of perfect ten on
every apparatus. Since the end of her college career, she's
(04:13):
worked as a student coach for the Gators in addition
to our media work, and this May she'll begin nursing
school at Florida. Her list of accomplishments is so long
it takes up the entire TV screen. Just ask co
anchor Bart Connor who lost his head to the list
of Trinity's many feats. It's Trinity Thomas. Hi, Trinity, Hi,
how are you? I'm good? Thanks for joining us. Before
(04:33):
we get to the excitement of this week, I want
to ask you about the LA Olympics, because I just
said all that in past tense, and in the past
you did attempt to qualify for the twenty twenty and
twenty twenty four Olympics. But today, in this moment, right now,
how are you feeling about giving it one more go
and potentially trying to go to LA twenty eight.
Speaker 2 (04:53):
Right now, I'm definitely on a down swing. I have
a dongymnastics since November, and honestly, I don't I don't
know that I will do gymnastics again, but I'm not
completely closing that door, just kind of we'll see good.
Speaker 1 (05:10):
That's you don't have to you get to decide. Maybe
you'll get the itch.
Speaker 3 (05:14):
Yeah, maybe we'll see Okay.
Speaker 1 (05:17):
On to this week's big event in Fort Worth. So,
the semifinal rounds of the twenty twenty five NCAA National
Collegiate Women's Gymnastics Championships get going Thursday on ESPN two
Semi Final one at four thirty Eastern, Semifinal two at
nine pm Eastern, and then they culminate with the Championship
Final live on ABC on Saturday. I want to start
with the basics. Can you tell us how the eight
competing teams make the cut to get to compete at
(05:39):
this national Championships.
Speaker 2 (05:41):
Yes, So they were all at their own regional locations
and they had to be the top two teams out
of the regional location to make it to the national Championships,
which is not easy. There's a play in day where
the bottom two teams one team gets to go, and
then there are two sessions of four teams and the
top two teams from each session go from Day one
(06:02):
of regionals today two and so then there are four
teams left and the top two teams from Day two
on the Nationals.
Speaker 1 (06:10):
They are individuals competing as well. How did they qualify?
Speaker 2 (06:13):
Yes, So basically, if you're an individual and you place
at the top of Day one of Regionals, then you
get to qualify to go to Nationals. If you weren't
on those two teams that already qualified.
Speaker 1 (06:27):
Okay, got it? Okay, So semi final one tomorrow is
an all sec showdown. We got number two seed Oklahoma,
number three seed Florida, number seven seed Missouri, and number
eleven seed Alabama. Which team is coming in feeling the
most confident? Which team has most people believing that they'll advance?
Speaker 2 (06:45):
Yeah, honestly, I think all of the teams have a
really good shot. They are so good this year. And
I mean I will have to say obviously Oklahoma and
Florida at the top. So I think that those teams
are definitely.
Speaker 3 (06:58):
Like people will assume that they will advance.
Speaker 1 (07:01):
But it's a hard yes, but it's a.
Speaker 2 (07:03):
Hard competition, and Missouri can bring it like those other
teams can bring it. So I think it's gonna be
a lot of fun this weekend just watching everyone. It's
gonna be who's on and it's like mental game. They're
all physically like incredible. All the teams are incredible, but
it just comes down to who can hit and do
no wobbles and hit their cast handstands and stick when
(07:24):
it counts.
Speaker 1 (07:25):
Who are some of the standout stars from those teams
that you'll be watching for?
Speaker 2 (07:29):
Okay, So Alabama, I'll say Gaby Gladio. She I feel
like she's a big one.
Speaker 3 (07:36):
And then Lily.
Speaker 2 (07:36):
Hudson their team is pretty awesome. Missouri, Jocelyn Moore, Amari Drayton. Again,
their team is awesome. There's so many and then oh
you honestly, the freshmen. I think the freshmen for OHU
have been like incredible for that team and so important,
even though like they've got their Faith tours, they've got
their Jordan Bauers, they've got those big names, but the
(07:58):
freshmen have done a great job for Oklahoma this year.
So the freshie's for Oklahoma. And then what was the
last one?
Speaker 1 (08:05):
Florida?
Speaker 2 (08:06):
Florida the Okay so obviously lean long Selena Harris, but again,
their team is so deep this year, so honestly, like
they lean on each other and that's so cool. Obviously,
every team has had adversity this year, and so it's
nice when you have a deep team to be able
to put the next one up and they're just as
(08:27):
good as the last.
Speaker 1 (08:28):
So we know you've really moved on to your media
role when you forgot your own team. You're really so
unbiased at this point that you forget your own squad.
So I love the idea of the freshman coming out
of Oklahoma as being one of the stories this weekend.
Any other great stories, whether that's athletes looking to break
a record, maybe someone coming back from injury, or something
else for that first semi final you'll be watching for.
Speaker 2 (08:50):
I definitely think Helen Who's story is incredible. She didn't
do gymnastics last year, she was doing learning so much
about herself and about the world year and comes back
and I think she's got three perfect tens now on meme,
so really, look, I mean, she could win that beam title.
Speaker 3 (09:08):
She is one of the.
Speaker 2 (09:09):
Most incredible beam workers in the NCAA right now, and
so I think her story is really special and it'd
be so cool to see her walk away with a
national title on TAM.
Speaker 1 (09:20):
Yeah, you know, it's so interesting in certain sports, particularly
ones where there's a lot of mental pressure it's about perfection.
It's not about reacting in the moment. It's about having
done it so many times that you can sort of
get out of your head and let it happen. That
there are athletes like that who step away and when
they come back with a different perspective, how it changes
their sport as well. And it feels like you've been
(09:41):
on this stage so many times in the past. Can
you talk about the pressure of this point of the
season and how it does come down to not just
physically how great you are, but how much you're ready
to handle it.
Speaker 2 (09:52):
Yes, absolutely, I mean the pressure at Nationals is like
nothing else. Obviously, every team's biggest goal, whether like it's
in the forefront or of their mind or in the
back like is to win a national championship. And so
that's always like that overhanging like dirt cloud. I don't know,
but it's like it's a great thing, but you can't
let it consume you. And so although it's the National Championships,
(10:15):
you've competed at all of these meets this year, and
the National Championships is no different.
Speaker 3 (10:19):
It's just another meet.
Speaker 2 (10:21):
It's about the way that you approach it and look
at it, and for me, I would always try to
make it small, Like I do this every single day
in the gym. I've worked for this moment. It's just
another beam routine, it's just another bar routine, it's one
more vault, it's one more floor routine. So it's just
like really breaking it down in your mind to not
make it bigger than what it is.
Speaker 1 (10:42):
Yeah, and I feel like Oklahoma, of all the teams,
would be really ready for that kind of approach because
they've been so consistent all season. Their scores have been
across the board like they just don't waiver. So I
would love to be their coach heading into this and
just be like, listen, you've done it literally every single time.
Just do the exact same thing you've pretty much done
every single time. Semifinal two defending national champ top seeded
(11:06):
LSU alongside number four Utah, number five UCLA, and number
eight Michigan State. Obviously, LSU's coming in number one team
in the nation actually the first time any team other
than the Oklahoma Sooners has held the number one position
in the postseason for over a decade, which is crazy.
So obviously the Sooners have something to prove because they
(11:27):
got knocked off their pedestal, but also LSU coming in
with all those expectations, what are you watching for? Particularly
with that team?
Speaker 2 (11:35):
I mean LSU is a great team again, so much
talent across the board. I honestly think as long as
they come in, just be them, Like they just have
to do their normal. They have to trust their gymnastics.
Speaker 3 (11:47):
That team is. I mean, they've gone team of veterans too.
Speaker 2 (11:50):
Like, they've got a lot of girls that have been
to several national championships. A lot of them are back
from last year coming off of the national championship, so
they literally, I think, just have to be them.
Speaker 1 (12:00):
What are you watching for in terms of stars from
some of these teams in the second semi final?
Speaker 2 (12:05):
I know Michigan State this is their first time in
I can't remember how many years, A long time coming
to the national championship, but like they cannot be underestimated.
They are incredible, absolutely amazing. Again, They've got some great
veterans on their team, and I definitely think that they
can make it out of this round one of Nationals
(12:28):
and their I don't know. Oh, I love Nicki Smith.
She's so much fun. She's an incredible gymnast. She brings
all the difficulty, she brings all the energy. But that
team as a whole, I feel like they have an
aura about them when they walk into the room, and
they've been taking ownership of their gymnastics this year, and
I think that they can definitely go all the way.
(12:50):
So I think that's a really cool story with Michigan State.
But obviously Oklahoma they've done it so many times.
Speaker 3 (12:59):
They had that that fault last year.
Speaker 2 (13:02):
Didn't quite go the way that they wanted it to,
didn't even make it to four on the floor, which
is like not obviously not normal for OU, And so
I think they're they're coming back. They've got a new
team right mostly like a very a very young team
with a lot of contributing freshmen, like we were saying,
(13:22):
But I think that for them, I feel like their
overall like team chemistry this year, and kJ has talked
about it. They are so close and they are having
so much fun, and I think that this team right
now literally just needs to like let that last year
stuff roll off of their shoulders and just go out
(13:45):
there and do the gymnastics like you said that they've
been doing all season long. kJ Kidler is the head
coach of the Oklahoma Sooners gymnastics team. She is I mean,
I can't even remember her accolades, Like she's been insane.
Oklahoma has done She's done a great job at Oklahoma
(14:05):
in an absolutely amazing job.
Speaker 1 (14:07):
Yeah, so the big stories heading into the semi finals are,
of course Oklahoma, this team that's been a powerhouse but
really fell apart last year and is trying to have
a little revenge tour LSU. They're quote unquote trying to
protect the crown after winning it all last year. And
then like you mentioned, all these upstart teams. There's a
ton of parody this year and a lot of people
see the field is pretty open for this year, like
(14:29):
anything can happen. The top two teams advanced to the
Championship final on Saturday. If I had to make you
put your money down, who you got? Who you got
for the final two?
Speaker 2 (14:39):
Oh my goodness, do you want me to say what
I think is gonna happen or what I hope happened?
Speaker 1 (14:44):
Give us both. I'm guessing Florida's in there somewhere.
Speaker 2 (14:48):
Obviously, I'm a Florida Gator, so I've gotta have the
Florida Gators in there, so I think the Gators are
going to go.
Speaker 3 (14:56):
I think, oh, this is so hard.
Speaker 2 (15:01):
I'm going to go with the Gators in Missouri, and
mostly because I really want Missouri making to four on
the floor.
Speaker 3 (15:10):
I think that'd be really cool for them.
Speaker 2 (15:12):
So the Gators and Missouri out of that first session,
and then the second session LSU and oh gosh, I'm.
Speaker 3 (15:21):
Gonna say, Michigan State. That's what I want.
Speaker 1 (15:23):
Okay, all right, Well, we'll know who you're rooting for
at least, or at least what you'd like to see happening.
There are also the twenty athletes that are competing individually,
including a couple Olympians, two time Olympians and twenty twenty
four Olympic gold medalists Jade Carey who's competing for Oregon
State and Jordan Chiles of UCLA, and then twenty twenty
four US Olympic alternates Leanne Wong that you mentioned from Florida,
(15:46):
Jocelyn Robertson from Arkansas. Who are you wanting to watch?
Who are you just excited to see? It's always interesting
to me these Olympians who come back to the college game.
There's still a lot of pressure, but it just feels
like so different to watch them compete for their team
as opposed to on the biggest stage at the Olympics.
Speaker 2 (16:05):
Yes, I'm excited for all of them. I'm just glad
that they are. I mean, they bring you so many
more eyes to NC DOUBLEA gymnastics, which is so important.
They've really paved the way and they've done a great job,
and I'm just so glad they're enjoying their collegiate experience
because me personally, like college gymnastics was like the best
part of gymnastics for me, it was my favorite part.
(16:27):
And so I love to see these Olympians, incredible athletes
and people get to come back and enjoy their collegiate
careers as well. So I honestly think that they are
going to do and it's just an absolute amazing job
this weekend, and I'm excited for them.
Speaker 3 (16:44):
I think that they're hard to beat, all of them.
Speaker 2 (16:47):
Yeah, I definitely think that everyone all eyes are on
them and everyone's excited to just see what happens this weekend.
I obviously, Jay Carey has been on the top of
the individual rankings all season and so she's definitely want
to watch for that all around title. So it'll be
(17:07):
interesting to see how it all pieces together and what
happens this weekend.
Speaker 1 (17:13):
Why was college your favorite? What did you like so
much about it?
Speaker 2 (17:16):
Oh? Oh, my goodness. I love the team, the team
atmosphere I loved. I obviously was at Florida, so I
loved Gator Nation. I loved competing under all the lights,
with all of the literally all the seats filled in
the stands, Like that's an unreal feeling. And getting to
like band together with a team that we're working towards
(17:37):
a common goal every single day for four years, and
just growing closer and closer with my coaches and with
my teammates who have become like my family too. Is
like an experience that I think few people get to
do outside of you know, sports, and so it's it's
(17:58):
it's something special, and it's my experience at UF is
something that I'll hold near and dear to my heart
and I will for the rest of my life.
Speaker 1 (18:06):
You know, for a lot of fans, they're getting into
watching more of the NCAA. You know a lot of
people come around for the Olympic cycles and you know,
every four years for the big events but more and
more fans are starting to realize how much great gymnastics
is happening at the collegiate level, and to your point,
those Olympiads coming back and competing or helping with that
as well. Is there anything fans should know. Let's say
they're going to dive into this Gymnastics Championship this weekend
(18:28):
for the first time, what should they know about watching?
How is it different? What makes what would make them
a good viewer?
Speaker 3 (18:35):
Oh, that's a good question.
Speaker 2 (18:37):
I think honestly, it's hard to focus when there's four
teams on the floor at one time. But they do
do two events at a time for viewers, so that
makes it a little bit easy but easier. But just
listen to the commentators. They'll kind of like guide you
to one side of the screen or the other. Sometimes
it will be full screen if there's the one event
is done. But honestly, just listen and remember that, like
(19:00):
it's not just the National Championship, Like they're going to
be here next year from January to April, competing weekend
and week out, and there's so much fun gymnastics to
watch other than just the big competition. So I would
just challenge them to tune in now, but then also
like pick their favorite athletes, their favorite teams and like
follow them like and just that way you can kind
(19:23):
of build that connection and you get to show all
your friends and things like that. But it's it's really
fun when you get to know a certain team or
a certain athlete and you get to watch their career.
So I think just like just watch and when you
find like your eyes setting on one gymnast or one team,
like just continue to follow them and see what they
do in the upcoming years, because I think that's what
(19:44):
makes it the most fun, when you get to like
really really cheer for who you're passionate about watching or whatever.
Speaker 1 (19:50):
So for sure, you're going to be part of the
stream team coverage on ESPN Plus. Can you tell us
more about that.
Speaker 2 (19:58):
Yes, So we have a meeting to This is gonna
be my first time being a part of the stream team.
This is my first time covering the national Championships. So
I'm excited to be here in a different role. Last
year was here as a student assistant coach for the Gators,
and then previous years I was here as an athlete.
So just being able to like move into new roles
and new and learn new things. Has been has been
(20:18):
really fun, and it's a little bit outside of my
comfort zone, like doing all of this media stuff, I guess,
but I've been learning a lot and I've been i
feel like, getting a little bit more confident with it
and just kind of feeling it out.
Speaker 3 (20:32):
But I'm excited.
Speaker 2 (20:33):
I'll be over on the stream team, which I assume
just means like I'm covering certain teams while everybody else
is covering the main stream, and so I'll be paired
with Bridget Sloan and so that'll be fun, another gator,
but it'll be it'll be fun. So we'll just be talking,
having a conversation and if you want to tune in,
like I'm sure it'll be great.
Speaker 3 (20:54):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (20:55):
So there's a handful of you on that stream team,
and then fans can follow their specific squad action throughout
the arena with a dedicated stream and commentators. So you'll
be split up into two teams with commentators for each feed,
and that way, like you said before, when there's so
much happening at once, if people have found that there's
one team that they want to follow, they can follow
on the stream team on ESPN plus what there are
(21:16):
all those events going on at once? How do you
personally decide what to watch and pay attention to. Let's
say you're not on the stream team where you're assigned
to one, you're just trying to take it all in.
How do you like figure out what to watch?
Speaker 2 (21:28):
Yes, I'm still trying to figure that part out. You mean,
like as a commentator, as like.
Speaker 1 (21:33):
A spectator either way, I guess like when there's so much.
Speaker 2 (21:35):
Going on, Yes, when there's a lot going on, I
sometimes bind myself like trying to watch both at the
same time.
Speaker 3 (21:41):
But you kind of have to choose a little bit.
Speaker 2 (21:44):
So if someone's doing a major skill, so like if
if someone's doing let's say we're watching floor and beam,
if someone's doing a tumbling pass, I'll take my eyes
to floor. Uh, if they're doing a major skill on beam,
I'll bring my eyes to beam. So I just try
to like kind of watch the majors skills as much
as I.
Speaker 1 (22:00):
Can and wait for the crowd to go oh, I know.
Speaker 2 (22:06):
But it is hard. Sometimes when there's a lot going on,
it's hard and you're like, oh, I want to watch both,
and sometimes you just have to go back and watch
that routine later if you want to like really sit
there and watch the whole thing. So it can be
hard when there's a lot going on on the screen.
Speaker 1 (22:20):
So your first championship's back, not as an athlete or coach,
do you think you'll have any emotions about watching other
people try to win out and live out their dreams
or even some pangs of like, oh I wish I
was out there.
Speaker 2 (22:34):
Honestly, I mean I've had my time. Obviously I never
got to win a natural championship with my team, which
is unfortunate. But it's been so fun to sit back
and watch everyone because I have never done that before.
Like I would see this in that like a little bit,
but I never paid attention to what everyone else was
(22:55):
doing because I was like focused on my team and
focus on what I was doing, and like what I
was there to do a job, and that's what I
wanted to do. And so it's been nice to look
around and get to watch so many of these other
athletes that like I may know personally, but never have
really gotten to like watch their season, their career, And
so that part has been the coolest, just to sit
(23:18):
back and enjoy the show.
Speaker 1 (23:20):
Yeah, for sure, and it's such a changing space, I
mean college gymnastics over the years, especially because of NIL.
Before the NIL changes that went into effect in twenty
twenty one, it was almost unheard of to see Olympians
competing at the NCAA Championships. Those athletes would have turned pro,
they would have forfeited college eligibility. Now they can actually
make money with endorsements, and they bring all these eyeballs
(23:42):
when you look at the college field. How has it
impacted both the Olympians being able to come back and
find this other opportunity and also those maybe competing that
used to have a more open path to championships when
they weren't competing against the Jade Cares and the Jordan Chiles.
Speaker 3 (23:58):
Of the world.
Speaker 2 (23:58):
Yes, again, you said, it brings all the attention to
the nc double A gymnastics, which is really cool because
the Olympics only happens every four years, so it's it's
cool to have another another big platform for people to
watch gymnastics if they love gymnastics. And it does make
it hard for everyone else, but I honestly it elevates
the competition and that's I think. I can't speak for everyone,
(24:21):
but that's what we want. That's what we want in gymnastics,
that's what we want NC double A gymnastics. And of course,
like these Olympians come in and they're incredible, but it's
a lot different from elite gymnastics. And so the girls
that have never done elee gymnastics are the girls that
did elee gymnastics but didn't get to go to the Olympics.
Speaker 3 (24:40):
Like they're all just as good.
Speaker 2 (24:41):
So I think it's important to like note that, like, yeah,
the Olympians are great, but like these other girls are
just as good at college gymnastics as they are.
Speaker 3 (24:51):
And so it's like.
Speaker 2 (24:52):
Really cool to see like the playing field kind of
like just continue to elevate. They elevate each other, they
make each other better, and like it's a good friendly competition.
It's incredible. So I think that they enjoy the friendly competition.
Speaker 3 (25:09):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (25:09):
I might not win as much, but it makes for
a good story. And I could say, as a washed
up old athlete, the stories I tell the most are
like the Olympians I competed against, got my ass beat
by more so than when I was like winning lesser events.
So they have the story later of like, oh yeah,
I was at Championships alongside you know, these Olympians, these
superstars that you've all watched on TV all the time.
(25:29):
It does feel like also maybe the parody is the
result of some of the nil changes. Right There are
more programs investing in their women's college gymnastics.
Speaker 2 (25:37):
Yes, absolutely, there are definitely more programs like trying to
figure out how how can we make these these college programs,
these college gymnastics programs bigger, How can we get more
eyes on our team?
Speaker 3 (25:48):
So I think like.
Speaker 2 (25:50):
Marketing has been doing a great job at a lot
of the teams and the coaches I mean play a
huge role in that as well in the athletic department.
So it's been nice to see people trying to make
new programs and grow their own programs. It's been so
cool to see that transformation and continuing to just keep
pushing the sport forward.
Speaker 1 (26:11):
It's such a fun watch it is, and it's something
I think we just give fans enough information to want
to go check it out and then they'll be hooked,
just like we all are every year with the Olympics
when they roll around. All Right, So we've got semifinals
on ESPN. Two championships on ABC and the stream team
on ESPN Plus. Trinity good luck this weekend, and thanks
so much for giving us some time.
Speaker 3 (26:30):
Thank you so much.
Speaker 1 (26:34):
We have to take another break when we return. It's
not just gymnasts who dazzle with backflips, stick around slices.
Welcome back slices. We love that you're listening, but we
want you to get in the game every day too,
So here's our good gameplay of the day. Watch the
NCAA Gymnastics Championships. The semi final rounds are today, with
(26:57):
Semifinal one at four thirty Eastern and Semifinal two at
nine Eastern. Both will air on ESPN two. You can
watch Trinity's stream team coverage on ESPN Plus, and the
final is Saturday at three thirty pm Eastern on ABC.
We always love to hear from you, so hit us
up on email. Good game at Wondermedia neetwork dot com,
and don't forget to subscribe, Rate and review, y'all. It's easy.
(27:20):
Watch the Chicago Stars having a backflipping goal scorer again,
rating ten out of ten Heels Overheads review. In Sunday's
Chicago Stars win over BFC, Brazilian forward Ludmila showed some
pretty footwork before slotin in a goal, then celebrated with
a handspring into a backflip, bringing me back to the
(27:40):
days of the great Sam Kerr and a Chicago Red
Stars kit, scoring and flipping and pitches all over the country.
Those clips of Sam were one of the things that
got me fired up to bring friends and family to
the games, promising that there was an incredible team and
an incredible entertainment game day experience right in their backyards,
even if there wasn't a ton of marketing or publicity
for it. I still miss Sam Kerr and her backflips,
(28:03):
but the sight of Ludemla scoring and flipping, and the
sight of the Stars and the wind column for the
first time in a very long time, warmed my cold
heart just a little bit. For fans across the NWSL,
don't take greatness for granted, whether it's Lacy Santos bearing
an absolutely clinical free kick for the Spirit or Dabinya
scoring her fiftieth career NWSL goal. Watch it, Love it,
(28:27):
Tell your friends now it's your turn. Rate and review.
Thanks for listening, See you tomorrow. Good game, Trinity, good game,
Ludemela few uneven bars when I was a kid, they
to keep moving the higher and lower bars farther away
from each other to accommodate my height, farther and farther.
It was a silent message from gymnastics. Honestly, maybe not
the sport for me. Good Game with Sarah Spain is
(28:50):
an iHeart women's sports production in partnership with Deep Blue
Sports and Entertainment. You can find us on the iHeartRadio app,
Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Production by
Wonder Media Network, our producers are Alex Azzie and Misha Jones.
Our executive producers are Christina Everett, Jesse Katz, Jenny Kaplan,
and Emily Rutterer. Our editors are Emily Rutterer, Britney Martinez,
(29:10):
and Grace Lynch. Our associate producer is Lucy Jones and
I'm Your host Sarah Spain
Welcome to Good Game with Sarah Spain, where we're celebrating
this weekend's NC Double A Gymnastics Championships by doing splits
at a party. Okay, fine, fair, I'm always doing the
splitzet parties, but this weekend they'll be extra good. It's Thursday,
April seventeenth, and on today's show, we'll be chatting with
ESPN Gymnastics commentator and NC DOUBLEA perfect ten record holder
(00:21):
Trinity Thomas about the top teams and athletes and this
weekend's NC Double A Gymnastics Championships, dealing with pressure and
how to be a better gymnastics viewer. Plus a goat
adds a few more records, unrivaled, roster gets a little bigger,
and we checked there's no rule saying backflips have to
be done in a gym. That's all coming up right
after this. Welcome Max Slices. Here's what you need to
(00:49):
know today. The US wrapped up the group stage at
the Women's Ice Hockey World Championships by beating Switzerland five
nothing on Tuesday behind two goals of He's from Tessa
Janicky and Kendall Cooinscofield. Hillary Knight recorded three assists in
the win to break the all time assists record at
Women's Worlds. Knight now has fifty one more than previous
(01:10):
record holder Canadian Haley Wickenheiser. Knight is already the most
decorated athlete in Women's World Championship history, owning the record
for most medals with fourteen, most all time goals with
sixty seven, and most points with one hundred and seventeen.
After finishing group play with a four to zero record,
the US will play Germany in the quarterfinals today. We'll
link to the full World Championship schedule in the show notes.
(01:32):
Also shout out to friend of the show Kendall Coinscofield.
In addition to those two goals, this week, she's also
celebrating a new partnership with our friends at ELF. She
just joined their roster of sponsored athletes. As part of
her partnership, she recently hosted a group of young players
at a Minnesota Frost game. Love that two hoops. Paige
Beckers has more to celebrate than just being the number
one pick in Monday's WNBA draft. Just ahead of the draft,
(01:55):
it was announced that Beckers has signed a three year
deal to play in three on three League unrival Per
the Athletic ESPN, Becker's first year salary and Unrivaled will
exceed what she earns in all four years of her
WNBA rookie contract. Becker's previously signed an NIL deal with Unrivaled,
which gave her equity in the upstart league as she
finished her college career. Speaking of Unrivaled, Time has named
(02:18):
Unrivaled co founders Nafisa Collier and Brianna Stewart to the
twenty twenty five Time one hundred, its annual list of
the one hundred most influential people in the world. To softball,
Kim Eng, who joined Athletes Unlimited last summer as a
senior advisor, has been named commissioner of the AUSL ahead
of its June launch, and players are starting to get
the call for the new pro Softball league. Over the
(02:40):
next few weeks, Golden tickets will be presented to college
softball players across the country, signifying their selection in the
twenty twenty five college Draft. Last Sunday, after her team's
fifteen to one win over Notre Dame, Virginia Tech, pitcher
Emma Lemley was surprised with the very first golden ticket
the AUSL College Draft Show will reveal which teams the
drafts are selected to. You can watch that on Saturday,
(03:02):
May third at nine pm Eastern on ESPNU. Finally, some
golf news. The International Olympic Committee has approved a mixed
gender golf team event for the twenty twenty eight Los
Angeles Olympics. It'll be a thirty six hole competition split
across two eighteen hole rounds, with teams made up of
one male and one female athlete from the individual competitions,
(03:23):
limited to one team per country. We got to take
a quick break. When we come back, we talk NCUBLEA
Gymnastics Championships with Trinity Thomas. The two semi finals are today,
with the top two teams in each semi qualifying for
Saturday's final. We caught up with Trinity on Wednesday to
discuss what to expect that's coming up right after this
(03:51):
joining US now, she's a commentator for ESPN. Who was
a five time member of the USA Gymnastics national team
and was an eleven time NCUBLEA All American for the
Florida Game College, finishing her career with an NCAA record
tying twenty eight perfect ten scores and a record breaking
five Jim slams, which are scores of perfect ten on
every apparatus. Since the end of her college career, she's
(04:13):
worked as a student coach for the Gators in addition
to our media work, and this May she'll begin nursing
school at Florida. Her list of accomplishments is so long
it takes up the entire TV screen. Just ask co
anchor Bart Connor who lost his head to the list
of Trinity's many feats. It's Trinity Thomas. Hi, Trinity, Hi,
how are you? I'm good? Thanks for joining us. Before
(04:33):
we get to the excitement of this week, I want
to ask you about the LA Olympics, because I just
said all that in past tense, and in the past
you did attempt to qualify for the twenty twenty and
twenty twenty four Olympics. But today, in this moment, right now,
how are you feeling about giving it one more go
and potentially trying to go to LA twenty eight.
Speaker 2 (04:53):
Right now, I'm definitely on a down swing. I have
a dongymnastics since November, and honestly, I don't I don't
know that I will do gymnastics again, but I'm not
completely closing that door, just kind of we'll see good.
Speaker 1 (05:10):
That's you don't have to you get to decide. Maybe
you'll get the itch.
Speaker 3 (05:14):
Yeah, maybe we'll see Okay.
Speaker 1 (05:17):
On to this week's big event in Fort Worth. So,
the semifinal rounds of the twenty twenty five NCAA National
Collegiate Women's Gymnastics Championships get going Thursday on ESPN two
Semi Final one at four thirty Eastern, Semifinal two at
nine pm Eastern, and then they culminate with the Championship
Final live on ABC on Saturday. I want to start
with the basics. Can you tell us how the eight
competing teams make the cut to get to compete at
(05:39):
this national Championships.
Speaker 2 (05:41):
Yes, So they were all at their own regional locations
and they had to be the top two teams out
of the regional location to make it to the national Championships,
which is not easy. There's a play in day where
the bottom two teams one team gets to go, and
then there are two sessions of four teams and the
top two teams from each session go from Day one
(06:02):
of regionals today two and so then there are four
teams left and the top two teams from Day two
on the Nationals.
Speaker 1 (06:10):
They are individuals competing as well. How did they qualify?
Speaker 2 (06:13):
Yes, So basically, if you're an individual and you place
at the top of Day one of Regionals, then you
get to qualify to go to Nationals. If you weren't
on those two teams that already qualified.
Speaker 1 (06:27):
Okay, got it? Okay, So semi final one tomorrow is
an all sec showdown. We got number two seed Oklahoma,
number three seed Florida, number seven seed Missouri, and number
eleven seed Alabama. Which team is coming in feeling the
most confident? Which team has most people believing that they'll advance?
Speaker 2 (06:45):
Yeah, honestly, I think all of the teams have a
really good shot. They are so good this year. And
I mean I will have to say obviously Oklahoma and
Florida at the top. So I think that those teams
are definitely.
Speaker 3 (06:58):
Like people will assume that they will advance.
Speaker 1 (07:01):
But it's a hard yes, but it's a.
Speaker 2 (07:03):
Hard competition, and Missouri can bring it like those other
teams can bring it. So I think it's gonna be
a lot of fun this weekend just watching everyone. It's
gonna be who's on and it's like mental game. They're
all physically like incredible. All the teams are incredible, but
it just comes down to who can hit and do
no wobbles and hit their cast handstands and stick when
(07:24):
it counts.
Speaker 1 (07:25):
Who are some of the standout stars from those teams
that you'll be watching for?
Speaker 2 (07:29):
Okay, So Alabama, I'll say Gaby Gladio. She I feel
like she's a big one.
Speaker 3 (07:36):
And then Lily.
Speaker 2 (07:36):
Hudson their team is pretty awesome. Missouri, Jocelyn Moore, Amari Drayton. Again,
their team is awesome. There's so many and then oh
you honestly, the freshmen. I think the freshmen for OHU
have been like incredible for that team and so important,
even though like they've got their Faith tours, they've got
their Jordan Bauers, they've got those big names, but the
(07:58):
freshmen have done a great job for Oklahoma this year.
So the freshie's for Oklahoma. And then what was the
last one?
Speaker 1 (08:05):
Florida?
Speaker 2 (08:06):
Florida the Okay so obviously lean long Selena Harris, but again,
their team is so deep this year, so honestly, like
they lean on each other and that's so cool. Obviously,
every team has had adversity this year, and so it's
nice when you have a deep team to be able
to put the next one up and they're just as
(08:27):
good as the last.
Speaker 1 (08:28):
So we know you've really moved on to your media
role when you forgot your own team. You're really so
unbiased at this point that you forget your own squad.
So I love the idea of the freshman coming out
of Oklahoma as being one of the stories this weekend.
Any other great stories, whether that's athletes looking to break
a record, maybe someone coming back from injury, or something
else for that first semi final you'll be watching for.
Speaker 2 (08:50):
I definitely think Helen Who's story is incredible. She didn't
do gymnastics last year, she was doing learning so much
about herself and about the world year and comes back
and I think she's got three perfect tens now on meme,
so really, look, I mean, she could win that beam title.
Speaker 3 (09:08):
She is one of the.
Speaker 2 (09:09):
Most incredible beam workers in the NCAA right now, and
so I think her story is really special and it'd
be so cool to see her walk away with a
national title on TAM.
Speaker 1 (09:20):
Yeah, you know, it's so interesting in certain sports, particularly
ones where there's a lot of mental pressure it's about perfection.
It's not about reacting in the moment. It's about having
done it so many times that you can sort of
get out of your head and let it happen. That
there are athletes like that who step away and when
they come back with a different perspective, how it changes
their sport as well. And it feels like you've been
(09:41):
on this stage so many times in the past. Can
you talk about the pressure of this point of the
season and how it does come down to not just
physically how great you are, but how much you're ready
to handle it.
Speaker 2 (09:52):
Yes, absolutely, I mean the pressure at Nationals is like
nothing else. Obviously, every team's biggest goal, whether like it's
in the forefront or of their mind or in the
back like is to win a national championship. And so
that's always like that overhanging like dirt cloud. I don't know,
but it's like it's a great thing, but you can't
let it consume you. And so although it's the National Championships,
(10:15):
you've competed at all of these meets this year, and
the National Championships is no different.
Speaker 3 (10:19):
It's just another meet.
Speaker 2 (10:21):
It's about the way that you approach it and look
at it, and for me, I would always try to
make it small, Like I do this every single day
in the gym. I've worked for this moment. It's just
another beam routine, it's just another bar routine, it's one
more vault, it's one more floor routine. So it's just
like really breaking it down in your mind to not
make it bigger than what it is.
Speaker 1 (10:42):
Yeah, and I feel like Oklahoma, of all the teams,
would be really ready for that kind of approach because
they've been so consistent all season. Their scores have been
across the board like they just don't waiver. So I
would love to be their coach heading into this and
just be like, listen, you've done it literally every single time.
Just do the exact same thing you've pretty much done
every single time. Semifinal two defending national champ top seeded
(11:06):
LSU alongside number four Utah, number five UCLA, and number
eight Michigan State. Obviously, LSU's coming in number one team
in the nation actually the first time any team other
than the Oklahoma Sooners has held the number one position
in the postseason for over a decade, which is crazy.
So obviously the Sooners have something to prove because they
(11:27):
got knocked off their pedestal, but also LSU coming in
with all those expectations, what are you watching for? Particularly
with that team?
Speaker 2 (11:35):
I mean LSU is a great team again, so much
talent across the board. I honestly think as long as
they come in, just be them, Like they just have
to do their normal. They have to trust their gymnastics.
Speaker 3 (11:47):
That team is. I mean, they've gone team of veterans too.
Speaker 2 (11:50):
Like, they've got a lot of girls that have been
to several national championships. A lot of them are back
from last year coming off of the national championship, so
they literally, I think, just have to be them.
Speaker 1 (12:00):
What are you watching for in terms of stars from
some of these teams in the second semi final?
Speaker 2 (12:05):
I know Michigan State this is their first time in
I can't remember how many years, A long time coming
to the national championship, but like they cannot be underestimated.
They are incredible, absolutely amazing. Again, They've got some great
veterans on their team, and I definitely think that they
can make it out of this round one of Nationals
(12:28):
and their I don't know. Oh, I love Nicki Smith.
She's so much fun. She's an incredible gymnast. She brings
all the difficulty, she brings all the energy. But that
team as a whole, I feel like they have an
aura about them when they walk into the room, and
they've been taking ownership of their gymnastics this year, and
I think that they can definitely go all the way.
(12:50):
So I think that's a really cool story with Michigan State.
But obviously Oklahoma they've done it so many times.
Speaker 3 (12:59):
They had that that fault last year.
Speaker 2 (13:02):
Didn't quite go the way that they wanted it to,
didn't even make it to four on the floor, which
is like not obviously not normal for OU, And so
I think they're they're coming back. They've got a new
team right mostly like a very a very young team
with a lot of contributing freshmen, like we were saying,
(13:22):
But I think that for them, I feel like their
overall like team chemistry this year, and kJ has talked
about it. They are so close and they are having
so much fun, and I think that this team right
now literally just needs to like let that last year
stuff roll off of their shoulders and just go out
(13:45):
there and do the gymnastics like you said that they've
been doing all season long. kJ Kidler is the head
coach of the Oklahoma Sooners gymnastics team. She is I mean,
I can't even remember her accolades, Like she's been insane.
Oklahoma has done She's done a great job at Oklahoma
(14:05):
in an absolutely amazing job.
Speaker 1 (14:07):
Yeah, so the big stories heading into the semi finals are,
of course Oklahoma, this team that's been a powerhouse but
really fell apart last year and is trying to have
a little revenge tour LSU. They're quote unquote trying to
protect the crown after winning it all last year. And
then like you mentioned, all these upstart teams. There's a
ton of parody this year and a lot of people
see the field is pretty open for this year, like
(14:29):
anything can happen. The top two teams advanced to the
Championship final on Saturday. If I had to make you
put your money down, who you got? Who you got
for the final two?
Speaker 2 (14:39):
Oh my goodness, do you want me to say what
I think is gonna happen or what I hope happened?
Speaker 1 (14:44):
Give us both. I'm guessing Florida's in there somewhere.
Speaker 2 (14:48):
Obviously, I'm a Florida Gator, so I've gotta have the
Florida Gators in there, so I think the Gators are
going to go.
Speaker 3 (14:56):
I think, oh, this is so hard.
Speaker 2 (15:01):
I'm going to go with the Gators in Missouri, and
mostly because I really want Missouri making to four on
the floor.
Speaker 3 (15:10):
I think that'd be really cool for them.
Speaker 2 (15:12):
So the Gators and Missouri out of that first session,
and then the second session LSU and oh gosh, I'm.
Speaker 3 (15:21):
Gonna say, Michigan State. That's what I want.
Speaker 1 (15:23):
Okay, all right, Well, we'll know who you're rooting for
at least, or at least what you'd like to see happening.
There are also the twenty athletes that are competing individually,
including a couple Olympians, two time Olympians and twenty twenty
four Olympic gold medalists Jade Carey who's competing for Oregon
State and Jordan Chiles of UCLA, and then twenty twenty
four US Olympic alternates Leanne Wong that you mentioned from Florida,
(15:46):
Jocelyn Robertson from Arkansas. Who are you wanting to watch?
Who are you just excited to see? It's always interesting
to me these Olympians who come back to the college game.
There's still a lot of pressure, but it just feels
like so different to watch them compete for their team
as opposed to on the biggest stage at the Olympics.
Speaker 2 (16:05):
Yes, I'm excited for all of them. I'm just glad
that they are. I mean, they bring you so many
more eyes to NC DOUBLEA gymnastics, which is so important.
They've really paved the way and they've done a great job,
and I'm just so glad they're enjoying their collegiate experience
because me personally, like college gymnastics was like the best
part of gymnastics for me, it was my favorite part.
(16:27):
And so I love to see these Olympians, incredible athletes
and people get to come back and enjoy their collegiate
careers as well. So I honestly think that they are
going to do and it's just an absolute amazing job
this weekend, and I'm excited for them.
Speaker 3 (16:44):
I think that they're hard to beat, all of them.
Speaker 2 (16:47):
Yeah, I definitely think that everyone all eyes are on
them and everyone's excited to just see what happens this weekend.
I obviously, Jay Carey has been on the top of
the individual rankings all season and so she's definitely want
to watch for that all around title. So it'll be
(17:07):
interesting to see how it all pieces together and what
happens this weekend.
Speaker 1 (17:13):
Why was college your favorite? What did you like so
much about it?
Speaker 2 (17:16):
Oh? Oh, my goodness. I love the team, the team
atmosphere I loved. I obviously was at Florida, so I
loved Gator Nation. I loved competing under all the lights,
with all of the literally all the seats filled in
the stands, Like that's an unreal feeling. And getting to
like band together with a team that we're working towards
(17:37):
a common goal every single day for four years, and
just growing closer and closer with my coaches and with
my teammates who have become like my family too. Is
like an experience that I think few people get to
do outside of you know, sports, and so it's it's
(17:58):
it's something special, and it's my experience at UF is
something that I'll hold near and dear to my heart
and I will for the rest of my life.
Speaker 1 (18:06):
You know, for a lot of fans, they're getting into
watching more of the NCAA. You know a lot of
people come around for the Olympic cycles and you know,
every four years for the big events but more and
more fans are starting to realize how much great gymnastics
is happening at the collegiate level, and to your point,
those Olympiads coming back and competing or helping with that
as well. Is there anything fans should know. Let's say
they're going to dive into this Gymnastics Championship this weekend
(18:28):
for the first time, what should they know about watching?
How is it different? What makes what would make them
a good viewer?
Speaker 3 (18:35):
Oh, that's a good question.
Speaker 2 (18:37):
I think honestly, it's hard to focus when there's four
teams on the floor at one time. But they do
do two events at a time for viewers, so that
makes it a little bit easy but easier. But just
listen to the commentators. They'll kind of like guide you
to one side of the screen or the other. Sometimes
it will be full screen if there's the one event
is done. But honestly, just listen and remember that, like
(19:00):
it's not just the National Championship, Like they're going to
be here next year from January to April, competing weekend
and week out, and there's so much fun gymnastics to
watch other than just the big competition. So I would
just challenge them to tune in now, but then also
like pick their favorite athletes, their favorite teams and like
follow them like and just that way you can kind
(19:23):
of build that connection and you get to show all
your friends and things like that. But it's it's really
fun when you get to know a certain team or
a certain athlete and you get to watch their career.
So I think just like just watch and when you
find like your eyes setting on one gymnast or one team,
like just continue to follow them and see what they
do in the upcoming years, because I think that's what
(19:44):
makes it the most fun, when you get to like
really really cheer for who you're passionate about watching or whatever.
Speaker 1 (19:50):
So for sure, you're going to be part of the
stream team coverage on ESPN Plus. Can you tell us
more about that.
Speaker 2 (19:58):
Yes, So we have a meeting to This is gonna
be my first time being a part of the stream team.
This is my first time covering the national Championships. So
I'm excited to be here in a different role. Last
year was here as a student assistant coach for the Gators,
and then previous years I was here as an athlete.
So just being able to like move into new roles
and new and learn new things. Has been has been
(20:18):
really fun, and it's a little bit outside of my
comfort zone, like doing all of this media stuff, I guess,
but I've been learning a lot and I've been i
feel like, getting a little bit more confident with it
and just kind of feeling it out.
Speaker 3 (20:32):
But I'm excited.
Speaker 2 (20:33):
I'll be over on the stream team, which I assume
just means like I'm covering certain teams while everybody else
is covering the main stream, and so I'll be paired
with Bridget Sloan and so that'll be fun, another gator,
but it'll be it'll be fun. So we'll just be talking,
having a conversation and if you want to tune in,
like I'm sure it'll be great.
Speaker 3 (20:54):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (20:55):
So there's a handful of you on that stream team,
and then fans can follow their specific squad action throughout
the arena with a dedicated stream and commentators. So you'll
be split up into two teams with commentators for each feed,
and that way, like you said before, when there's so
much happening at once, if people have found that there's
one team that they want to follow, they can follow
on the stream team on ESPN plus what there are
(21:16):
all those events going on at once? How do you
personally decide what to watch and pay attention to. Let's
say you're not on the stream team where you're assigned
to one, you're just trying to take it all in.
How do you like figure out what to watch?
Speaker 2 (21:28):
Yes, I'm still trying to figure that part out. You mean,
like as a commentator, as like.
Speaker 1 (21:33):
A spectator either way, I guess like when there's so much.
Speaker 2 (21:35):
Going on, Yes, when there's a lot going on, I
sometimes bind myself like trying to watch both at the
same time.
Speaker 3 (21:41):
But you kind of have to choose a little bit.
Speaker 2 (21:44):
So if someone's doing a major skill, so like if
if someone's doing let's say we're watching floor and beam,
if someone's doing a tumbling pass, I'll take my eyes
to floor. Uh, if they're doing a major skill on beam,
I'll bring my eyes to beam. So I just try
to like kind of watch the majors skills as much
as I.
Speaker 1 (22:00):
Can and wait for the crowd to go oh, I know.
Speaker 2 (22:06):
But it is hard. Sometimes when there's a lot going on,
it's hard and you're like, oh, I want to watch both,
and sometimes you just have to go back and watch
that routine later if you want to like really sit
there and watch the whole thing. So it can be
hard when there's a lot going on on the screen.
Speaker 1 (22:20):
So your first championship's back, not as an athlete or coach,
do you think you'll have any emotions about watching other
people try to win out and live out their dreams
or even some pangs of like, oh I wish I
was out there.
Speaker 2 (22:34):
Honestly, I mean I've had my time. Obviously I never
got to win a natural championship with my team, which
is unfortunate. But it's been so fun to sit back
and watch everyone because I have never done that before.
Like I would see this in that like a little bit,
but I never paid attention to what everyone else was
(22:55):
doing because I was like focused on my team and
focus on what I was doing, and like what I
was there to do a job, and that's what I
wanted to do. And so it's been nice to look
around and get to watch so many of these other
athletes that like I may know personally, but never have
really gotten to like watch their season, their career, And
so that part has been the coolest, just to sit
(23:18):
back and enjoy the show.
Speaker 1 (23:20):
Yeah, for sure, and it's such a changing space, I
mean college gymnastics over the years, especially because of NIL.
Before the NIL changes that went into effect in twenty
twenty one, it was almost unheard of to see Olympians
competing at the NCAA Championships. Those athletes would have turned pro,
they would have forfeited college eligibility. Now they can actually
make money with endorsements, and they bring all these eyeballs
(23:42):
when you look at the college field. How has it
impacted both the Olympians being able to come back and
find this other opportunity and also those maybe competing that
used to have a more open path to championships when
they weren't competing against the Jade Cares and the Jordan Chiles.
Speaker 3 (23:58):
Of the world.
Speaker 2 (23:58):
Yes, again, you said, it brings all the attention to
the nc double A gymnastics, which is really cool because
the Olympics only happens every four years, so it's it's
cool to have another another big platform for people to
watch gymnastics if they love gymnastics. And it does make
it hard for everyone else, but I honestly it elevates
the competition and that's I think. I can't speak for everyone,
(24:21):
but that's what we want. That's what we want in gymnastics,
that's what we want NC double A gymnastics. And of course,
like these Olympians come in and they're incredible, but it's
a lot different from elite gymnastics. And so the girls
that have never done elee gymnastics are the girls that
did elee gymnastics but didn't get to go to the Olympics.
Speaker 3 (24:40):
Like they're all just as good.
Speaker 2 (24:41):
So I think it's important to like note that, like, yeah,
the Olympians are great, but like these other girls are
just as good at college gymnastics as they are.
Speaker 3 (24:51):
And so it's like.
Speaker 2 (24:52):
Really cool to see like the playing field kind of
like just continue to elevate. They elevate each other, they
make each other better, and like it's a good friendly competition.
It's incredible. So I think that they enjoy the friendly competition.
Speaker 3 (25:09):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (25:09):
I might not win as much, but it makes for
a good story. And I could say, as a washed
up old athlete, the stories I tell the most are
like the Olympians I competed against, got my ass beat
by more so than when I was like winning lesser events.
So they have the story later of like, oh yeah,
I was at Championships alongside you know, these Olympians, these
superstars that you've all watched on TV all the time.
(25:29):
It does feel like also maybe the parody is the
result of some of the nil changes. Right There are
more programs investing in their women's college gymnastics.
Speaker 2 (25:37):
Yes, absolutely, there are definitely more programs like trying to
figure out how how can we make these these college programs,
these college gymnastics programs bigger, How can we get more
eyes on our team?
Speaker 3 (25:48):
So I think like.
Speaker 2 (25:50):
Marketing has been doing a great job at a lot
of the teams and the coaches I mean play a
huge role in that as well in the athletic department.
So it's been nice to see people trying to make
new programs and grow their own programs. It's been so
cool to see that transformation and continuing to just keep
pushing the sport forward.
Speaker 1 (26:11):
It's such a fun watch it is, and it's something
I think we just give fans enough information to want
to go check it out and then they'll be hooked,
just like we all are every year with the Olympics
when they roll around. All Right, So we've got semifinals
on ESPN. Two championships on ABC and the stream team
on ESPN Plus. Trinity good luck this weekend, and thanks
so much for giving us some time.
Speaker 3 (26:30):
Thank you so much.
Speaker 1 (26:34):
We have to take another break when we return. It's
not just gymnasts who dazzle with backflips, stick around slices.
Welcome back slices. We love that you're listening, but we
want you to get in the game every day too,
So here's our good gameplay of the day. Watch the
NCAA Gymnastics Championships. The semi final rounds are today, with
(26:57):
Semifinal one at four thirty Eastern and Semifinal two at
nine Eastern. Both will air on ESPN two. You can
watch Trinity's stream team coverage on ESPN Plus, and the
final is Saturday at three thirty pm Eastern on ABC.
We always love to hear from you, so hit us
up on email. Good game at Wondermedia neetwork dot com,
and don't forget to subscribe, Rate and review, y'all. It's easy.
(27:20):
Watch the Chicago Stars having a backflipping goal scorer again,
rating ten out of ten Heels Overheads review. In Sunday's
Chicago Stars win over BFC, Brazilian forward Ludmila showed some
pretty footwork before slotin in a goal, then celebrated with
a handspring into a backflip, bringing me back to the
(27:40):
days of the great Sam Kerr and a Chicago Red
Stars kit, scoring and flipping and pitches all over the country.
Those clips of Sam were one of the things that
got me fired up to bring friends and family to
the games, promising that there was an incredible team and
an incredible entertainment game day experience right in their backyards,
even if there wasn't a ton of marketing or publicity
for it. I still miss Sam Kerr and her backflips,
(28:03):
but the sight of Ludemla scoring and flipping, and the
sight of the Stars and the wind column for the
first time in a very long time, warmed my cold
heart just a little bit. For fans across the NWSL,
don't take greatness for granted, whether it's Lacy Santos bearing
an absolutely clinical free kick for the Spirit or Dabinya
scoring her fiftieth career NWSL goal. Watch it, Love it,
(28:27):
Tell your friends now it's your turn. Rate and review.
Thanks for listening, See you tomorrow. Good game, Trinity, good game,
Ludemela few uneven bars when I was a kid, they
to keep moving the higher and lower bars farther away
from each other to accommodate my height, farther and farther.
It was a silent message from gymnastics. Honestly, maybe not
the sport for me. Good Game with Sarah Spain is
(28:50):
an iHeart women's sports production in partnership with Deep Blue
Sports and Entertainment. You can find us on the iHeartRadio app,
Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Production by
Wonder Media Network, our producers are Alex Azzie and Misha Jones.
Our executive producers are Christina Everett, Jesse Katz, Jenny Kaplan,
and Emily Rutterer. Our editors are Emily Rutterer, Britney Martinez,
(29:10):
and Grace Lynch. Our associate producer is Lucy Jones and
I'm Your host Sarah Spain
Host
Sarah Spain
Popular Podcasts
The Breakfast Club
The World's Most Dangerous Morning Show, The Breakfast Club, With DJ Envy And Charlamagne Tha God!
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
Decisions, Decisions
Welcome to "Decisions, Decisions," the podcast where boundaries are pushed, and conversations get candid! Join your favorite hosts, Mandii B and WeezyWTF, as they dive deep into the world of non-traditional relationships and explore the often-taboo topics surrounding dating, sex, and love. Every Monday, Mandii and Weezy invite you to unlearn the outdated narratives dictated by traditional patriarchal norms. With a blend of humor, vulnerability, and authenticity, they share their personal journeys navigating their 30s, tackling the complexities of modern relationships, and engaging in thought-provoking discussions that challenge societal expectations. From groundbreaking interviews with diverse guests to relatable stories that resonate with your experiences, "Decisions, Decisions" is your go-to source for open dialogue about what it truly means to love and connect in today's world. Get ready to reshape your understanding of relationships and embrace the freedom of authentic connections—tune in and join the conversation!