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FIRST LADIES
SI'S NEW PODCAST SERIES REVISITS THE INAUGURAL WOMEN'S WORLD CUP AND THE LEGACY OF THE 1991 U.S. NATIONAL TEAM
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THROWBACK, SEASON 1
Premieres on May 9 on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and SI.com
A few months after the U.S. women's national team won the 1999 World Cup on home soil, SI called the July final "the most significant day in the history of women's sports" (SI, Dec. 20, 1999). That might be true, but it wasn't the first time the U.S. had won soccer's ultimate prize, nor was it the origin of the women's soccer boom in America. Eight years earlier, in China, the American side captured the inaugural Women's World Cup—but at the time, few noticed. That's the subject of the first season of Throwback, a podcast series from SI that explores the foundations of iconic sports moments. Featuring interviews with former players like Michelle Akers (above, center) and Julie Foudy (above, left), the five episodes reveal how that first World Cup paved the way for 1999. "There's an origin story behind that pioneer story," host Grant Wahl says on the show, "a prequel that's just as fascinating in its own right." It's an essential listen before this summer's tournament in France—the latest sequel to the overlooked achievement of '91.
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THE COST OF THESE DREAMS
By Wright Thompson, out now
The ESPN scribe's book—featuring incisive profiles of Michael Jordan and Tiger Woods—is a must-read for sportswriting aficionados.
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MADRID OPEN
Begins on May 5, Tennis Channel
The last time Roger Federer competed on red dirt—2016—the Cubs were still lovable losers. He skipped playing on clay, his weakest surface, in '17 and '18 to rest.
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WOLFPACK
By Abby Wambach, out now
After four World Cups, the retired U.S. national team star has plenty to say about leadership. In her new book, she offers her vision for women's empowerment.
