"I Was The First Athlete To Be Outed"

Our hosts, Billie Jean King and Abby Wambach speak openly about the impact of Heated Rivalry and how it mirrors their own personal journeys. Then we’re crashing practice to celebrate the NYU women’s basketball team and their record-breaking run. And the Winter Olympics have officially taken over, and this week’s party starter is all about the moments and meaning behind the headlines. Olympic reporter and creator Marissa Tandon joins Abby, Julie, and Billie Jean to break down what’s unfolding in Milan and Cortina, from Team USA’s thrilling figure skating gold to Ilya Malinin’s history-making backflip, Amber Glenn’s resilience on the biggest stage, and the layers beneath the results that make women’s sports so compelling right now. The conversation also hits Lindsey Vonn’s fearless return, Breezy Johnson’s razor-thin downhill win, Hilary Knight chasing Olympic history, and why Chloe Kim’s ability to settle her nerves never stops impressing. Then it’s Coffee with the Kinger, and it’s one of those conversations that lingers. Billie Jean King leads a candid discussion sparked by Coco Gauff being filmed in what she believed was a private moment after her Australian Open loss. Together, the trio unpack emotional expression in elite sports, the reality of constant cameras, and the double standards female athletes still navigate. The conversation widens to legacy, visibility, and why stories like Heated Rivalry resonate far beyond the screen, especially for young athletes who are watching and learning what’s possible. From Olympic pressure to personal truth, this episode captures what Welcome to the Party does best: honoring where the game’s been, naming where it is, and asking what it takes to move it forward. Follow @welcometothepartyshow on: YouTube — @welcometothepartyshow Instagram — @welcometothepartyshow TikTok — @welcometothepartyshow Email — partypeoplequestions@gmail.com Keep the Party Going: Brandi Carlile Sings America the Beautiful at Super Bowl LX Follow NYU Women’s Hoops: https://www.instagram.com/nyuwomenshoops/ Read about NYU Women’s Basketball: https://www.espn.com/womens-college-basketball/story/_/id/47868788/nyu-women-team-sets-div-iii-mark-82nd-straight-win Olympic Schedule: https://www.nbcolympics.com/schedule Follow Marissa Tandon on TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube @marissakumari Coco releases her frustrations after Australian Open Loss: ​​https://x.com/tntsports/status/2016078126741151958?s=20 Coco discusses the incident: https://x.com/TheTennisLetter/status/2016097716435402855?s=20 Gamechangers Book Series: https://www.cosmopolitan.com/entertainment/books/g69595109/heated-rivalry-game-changers-rachel-reid-books-in-order/ Thank you to our sponsors: -Ally’s got you covered. Ally Bank, Member FDIC - Own your health for $365 a year. That’s a dollar a day. Learn more by visiting https://www.functionhealth.com/tcm/party - Get 15 percent off your first order at Wearfigs.com with code FIGSRX. - Let yourself run, lift, sculpt, push, and go. Explore the new Peloton Cross Training Tread+ at onepeloton.com - Find a host or co-host at https://www.airbnb.com/host/homes - Learn more about Intuit QuickBooks at https://quickbooks.intuit.com/!