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Well Played. Browse the full back catalog on the show page.

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Well Played covers general sports. This episode runs on the show's regular cadence.

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The “Pregnancy Penalty”, Martha Stewart vs. Jalen Brunson, Gold Medal ASMR with Laila Edwards - Well Played | Spot Sports

General Sports

The “Pregnancy Penalty”, Martha Stewart vs. Jalen Brunson, Gold Medal ASMR with Laila Edwards

Well Played›

Apr 1, 20261:08:35

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Mentioned in this episode

NONaomi Osaka SOShaquille O'Neal EBEmma Bates

Episode Notes

Marathoner Emma Bates went viral after sharing that her sponsor, UCan, dropped her once they learned she was pregnant. While UCan denied the allegation, it still reminded us of an unfortunate reality for women athletes – that the “pregnancy penalty” still exists. We break down what the penalty is, why some women athletes view pregnancy as a “death sentence” to their career, and how athletes like Allyson Felix have fought to stop it.

In this episode, we also cover:

Naomi Osaka retirement rumors swirling after her comments around motherhood and her tennis career
Shaq addressing the AI-generated texts between him and Sabrina Carpenter
NWSL smashing record attendance (again) – and the Denver Summit player who proved representation does matter
Which teams made it to the Final Four, and how Blake and Caroline’s brackets are doing

Send Its:

Carson Pickett’s heartwarming moment with young fan: https://www.instagram.com/reels/DWcSRqXEjN_/
Shaq’s AI-generated texts: https://youtu.be/rOxlgU75f7w?si=D7XQPSA24hqA5wqz&t=18
The Stewart-Brunson fracture: https://people.com/martha-stewart-said-nba-player-broke-her-toe-courtside-11871039
Miss Thailand contestant breaks it down: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DWeaQ_PDRRM/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

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"The “Pregnancy Penalty”, Martha Stewart vs. Jalen Brunson, Gold Medal ASMR with Laila Edwards" is an episode of Well Played. Runtime 1 hr 8 min. Published April 1, 2026. Hit play above to stream it here, or open the free Spot Sports app for background play and offline downloads.

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Quick FAQ

When was this episode published?: April 1, 2026.
How long is this episode?: 1 hr 8 min.
What podcast is this from?: Well Played. Browse the full back catalog on the show page.
What does this episode cover?: Well Played covers general sports. This episode runs on the show's regular cadence.

The “Pregnancy Penalty”, Martha Stewart vs. Jalen Brunson, Gold Medal ASMR with Laila Edwards