Presented by adidas

Produced by Storied Sports

Executive Producer: Michelle Akers

With the Olympic Sports Festival in Baton Rouge barely over, the newly named 85ers are thrown into a whirlwind: no rest, no recovery, barely any instructions — just a plane ticket to New York and three days to become a national team before flying to Italy for their first international tournament. Episode 3 captures the exhaustion and disbelief players felt as they scrambled for passports, hemmed team uniforms and got the first bag of official team gear including cleats from the first USWNT sponsor – adidas. They arrived at a training camp full of cheerleaders practicing outside their dorm windows at 6 a.m. Current USWNT stars like Lindsey Heaps, Sam Meza, and Emily Sams react with awe at what their predecessors endured. The episode also introduces the team’s complex, gruff, and influential first coach, Mike Ryan: a man with a thick Irish accent, fiery sideline energy, and a deep belief in the women he pushed to their limits. We can’t forget the remarkable story of goalkeeper Ruth Harker, whose quiet toughness included playing at the highest level while blind in one eye — a secret she kept for decades. Together, these stories paint the portrait of a team forged under impossible circumstances, driven by heart, grit, and the urgency of a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

00:00  — The impossible task: become a National Team 

00:17  — Player Reactions: “This Is Nuts”

01:10 —  Modern USWNT weighs in

02:04  — Arrival at C.W. Post

03:38  — Gear problems & mismatched uniforms

04:59  — Fierce personalities & clashing styles

06:16  — Ruth Harker’s half-blind secret

09:41 — Coach Mike Ryan: gruff but pivotal

18:54  — Enter Chuck Blazer

22:32  — Adidas saves the day

26:45  — Building chemistry under chaos

36:29  — The leap of faith: The yes that changed everything

Featuring (in order of appearance):

• Erin Foley: Host Of Origin Story: The 85ers | Comedian & TV Writer

• Jane McManus: Host Of Origin Story: The 85ers | Sports Journalist & Academic

• Sharon McMurtry: Midfielder | 1985 U.S. Soccer Female Athlete of the Year | First-Ever U.S Soccer Female Athlete of the Year

• Michelle Akers: Midfielder/Forward | Fifa Co-Player of the Century | USWNT Olympic Gold Medalist & 2x World Cup Champion

• Ruth Harker: Goalkeeper | Member Of The 1985 USWNT | St. Louis Soccer Hall of Famer

• Emily Sams: Current USWNT Defender

• Lindsey Heaps: Current USWNT Captain & Midfielder | USWNT Olympic Gold Medalist & World Cup Champion

• Sam Meza: Current USWNT Midfielder

• Stacey Enos: Midfielder | Member of the 1985 USWNT | 3x NCAA Champion - University of North Carolina

• Lori Henry: Defender | Former USWNT Captain & World Cup Champion

• Anson Dorrance: USWNT Head Coach 1986-1994 | 65–22–5 Record with USWNT

• Kim Wyant: Goalkeeper | First GK Win in USWNT History | NYU Men's Soccer Head Coach 

• Bernadette Noonan: Early Architect of Seattle Women's Soccer

• Emily Pickering Harner: Midfielder | First Assist In USWNT History

• Cindy Gordon: Member of the 1985 USWNT | Western Washington University Hall of Famer

• Kim Favorite: First USWNT Head Athletic Trainer

• Emma Hayes: Current USWNT Head Coach

• Meghann Burke: Executive Director, NSWLPA | Retired WPS Goalkeeper

Episode 4: 12.16.25

Episode 5: 12.17.25

Episode 6: 12.18.25

Episode 7: 12.19.25