Lauren Cheney Holiday and Jrue Holiday are college sweethearts who became two of the most decorated athletes of their generation — she as an NWSL founding player, World Cup scorer, and two-time Olympic gold medalist; he as a two-time NBA All-Star and two-time Olympic gold medalist. Long before women's sports was a proven investment, Jrue was freezing in the stands at Harvard Stadium watching Lauren play for a league that wasn't guaranteed to survive. During the NBA's COVID bubble season, the two of them pledged Jrue's remaining salary to Black-owned businesses, nonprofits, and initiatives.

In this conversation with Karina, they talk about how athletes carry a competitive edge that belongs in every boardroom and why Lauren believes women's sports has borrowed too much from the men's game. They also make the case for athletes in ownership as the bridge between what owners need and what players need — and Jrue argues that watching women's sports made him a better professional.

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KeyBank Market President Josh Lyons has a north star for his eight-year-old daughter: whether she ends up in a boardroom, at a gala in a ballroom, or chasing a pro contract on the pitch, she should never doubt she earned her way there.

That's the thinking behind KeyBank's new five-year deal with the Portland Thorns, a tripling of their previous commitment and the single largest investment in women's sports KeyBank has ever made. Karina sits down with Josh and Thorns forward Morgan Weaver to talk through what the partnership supports. This includes financial education for players, free Thorns Academy access for kids whose families can't afford club soccer, nonprofits hosted in the suite every home match, and a senior signing day for the next generation of girls coming up behind Morgan.

Morgan opens up about the two injuries that nearly made her quit and the trip to San Diego with the Academy girls that pulled her back. Josh shares insights about why 93% of women in C-suites played sports, and what that statistic means for how KeyBank shows up at Providence Park.

Watch the full episode on YouTube or listen wherever you get your podcasts.

For Epicenter's first-ever live taping, recorded on the concourse at Moda Center before a Portland Fire home game, Karina sits down with four of the women who built the original Portland Fire.

The night's theme was Legacy Reignited. Twenty-three years after the original Fire played its last game, Jackie Stiles, Sophia Witherspoon, Sylvia Crawley, and head coach Linda Hargrove came back to talk about what it took to play in the WNBA before the league had investment, attention, or resources, and what it means to see this franchise come back to life. A handful of former Fire players join the stage to speak to the moment.

Watch the full episode on YouTube or listen wherever you get your podcasts.

The conversation continues. After sitting down with Reilyn Turner, Megan Gustafson and Karlie Samuelson for a Mother's Day special, host Karina LeBlanc returns with the second half of the conversation — this time about who they are as athletes, the journeys that brought them here, and what it means to play in the epicenter of women's sports.

The trio reflects on what they're learning and unlearning at this stage of their careers, from comebacks and overseas chapters to growing into vet roles on new teams. They open up about the rivalry with Seattle, the first-ever dual-sport performance center built for women, and the responsibility of setting a new standard — one they hope cities across the country will follow.

Watch the full episode on YouTube or listen wherever you get your podcasts.

What shapes the women behind the athletes? In this special Mother's Day episode, host Karina LeBlanc sits down with three of Portland's professional athletes — Portland Thorns forward Reilyn Turner and Portland Fire's Karlie Samuelson and Megan Gustafson — for a conversation about the moms and mother figures who raised them, the belief they instilled, and the values that carried them to the highest levels of their sport.

From small-town beginnings to single-parent households, the players reflect on the work ethic, sacrifice, and unwavering support that shaped who they are on and off the field. They open up about being taught to bet on themselves, to know their worth, and to keep going — and the defining moments that turned that belief into reality.

Watch the full episode on YouTube or listen wherever you get your podcasts.

Watch the full episode on YouTube or listen wherever you get your podcasts.

Diana Taurasi rarely does podcasts. Widely considered the greatest of all time, she’s the only basketball player ever to win six Olympic gold medals, three WNBA championships, and two Finals MVPs. In this episode, she joins Karina in Portland for a rare, reflective conversation as she steps back from the game and discusses what's next.

They get into what made her great, the uncomfortable moments being a child of immigrants, how an early love of soccer shaped her game, and what lights her up now.

And for Portland, with the WNBA’s Fire returning, she tells Karina what we have to get right.

Watch the full episode on YouTube or listen wherever you get your podcasts.

In this episode, WNBA legends come together for a conversation that goes beyond the game and into what it actually takes to build, lead, and evolve it.

From defining moments, to life after sport, this conversation explores the realities behind sustained success. The discipline, the mindset, and the leadership required not just to reach the highest level, but to continue growing beyond it.

It also gets personal. From confidence and body image to the transition out of playing, they share the parts of being an athlete that aren’t often said out loud, even at the highest level.

As the WNBA continues to grow, the conversation turns to how the experience of the athlete is evolving. The talent is there, the visibility is rising, and through their experiences as players and now as leaders, they offer a clear look at what it takes to sustain greatness.

Watch the full episode on YouTube or listen wherever you get your podcasts.

Award-winning journalist Sarah Spain joins Karina LeBlanc for a conversation on the evolution of women’s sports and the systems that have shaped it.

From covering the Olympics to helping redefine how women’s sports stories are told, Sarah shares why the industry is at an inflection point. Investment is rising. Fan demand is accelerating. And the narratives that once held women’s sports back are starting to shift.

This episode explores the opportunities ahead, the role of media in shaping the narrative, and why storytelling, consistency, and cultural relevance will define the next era of growth.

Watch the full episode on YouTube or listen wherever you get your podcasts.