Jessie Fleming on playing for Emma Hayes, winning gold w/ Canada, and moving to Thorns I Friendlies

On this week's "Friendlies", Sam Mewis speaks with Portland Thorns and Canadian National Team midfielder, Jessie Fleming. They chat about dealing with the pressures of playing in a tournament, what Emma Hayes is like in training sessions at Chelsea, and why Jessie decided to make her move to Portland. Also, they reminisce about British snacks?
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[@orthenight]

“she was on time for the interview”

[@markhoward7673]

Christine Sinclair is a Top 5 All-Time Canadian sporting figure, but don't underestimate Jessie Fleming. EVERYONE in Canada knows who she is, respects her, is pulling for her, and are thrilled that she has taken the arm band for the National Team. Eloquent, kind, driven, modest, fearless, and humble as hell!!!. Thanks Sam for championing this truly special player, Canadian and human.

[@janmitchell641]

Amen!

[@saddingus7850]

very nicely said. not a Canadian but thats high praise.

[@brycegibb1364]

She’s such a feisty and aggressive midfielder, I didn’t expect her to be so soft spoken and sweet off the field. Great interview!

[@couturecriminal8330]

As a Chelsea fan I get that statement then again I have watched most of her post match interviews and she is sweet heart so sad we did not get to say goodbye to her properly because she was incredible for us😢

[@beggyberry]

Love J Flem and hope she finds her groove at Portland. Such a fantastic player. Another great interview, Sam!

[@thrill1999]

How great is Jessie? Very impressive young lady. Didn't know much about her until this interview. Now I'm a fan 😀

[@mackenziewalker2410]

I love seeing Jessie. So glad to have her representing Canada. I would love to see Jordyn Huitema on the podcast.

[@elilucha]

Great interview! great conversation about so many interesting topics. She is a great player and it seems like a great personality as well! Also great to see her as Captain for Canada.

[@thereallg4587]

*I was just listening to the podcast with J flem and so far, Fleming is just so sweet. Amazing.*

[@thereallg4587]

Also little side note… I’ve never heard Jessie talk this much😂

[@jaredjohnson8553]

I've been a big fan of Jessie for years. She's an amazing player but I also really like her off the field because she is so *authentic.* She doesn't try to be anything that she's not. What you see is what you get.

[@joelboriek5971]

Enjoyed the interview, really miss Jessie playing for Chelsea!

[@janmitchell641]

Woah, you made my day; Jessie Fleming and you mentioned Sarah Hughes and Ryan Reynolds, with Wrexham. So many Canadian connections today! I’m a huge fan of all three and a proud Canadian. I have to say, Sam, that I really enjoy your interviews, etc., and your upbeat style.

[@CsiNyrocks5]

I would love if you could get Katie McCabe on the podcast! It would be interesting to hear her perspective on how the womens game has grown, especially since she has been a part of Arsenal for so long who seem to have the biggest fan base of any womens team.

[@charliedorval444]

Thank you so much for this conversation with Jessie fleming. I am a big fan of her since years. She is amazing on an off the field and I think she was the perfect choice to replace Sinclair as the captain of the national team. Love her so much!

[@PaulLe-jk4uq]

Thanks Sam for having Jessie Fleming on the show. It’s a real treat to hear from sweet, lovely and very nice Jessie! On the pitch she is the tenacious, relentless and feisty soccer player and I love to see that from a relatively smaller in stature of a player! Just hang in there Jessie, The Thorns is in transition to get a new coach. Hopefully things will be back to normal and winning track again soon. Best wishes to Jessie! 🌹💖⚽️🇺🇸👍🤩

[@Shdoeb]

I was waiting for this episode!! I started watching Jessie in this past Gold Cup because I was so impressed with her. You can tell she's an incredible leader and player, and that her presence is felt on her teams. She also seems like such a kind person. I'm a big fan :)

[@derekallen5219]

Great interview Sam. Jessie is national treasure and such a lovely person, but not the easiest interview (She always seems guarded and self concious). Your questions were inteligent and well thought out as well as probing and you got more out of Jessie than I have seen in any other interview. Thank you, I really enjoyed.

[@Wosofan34]

Love JFlem glad she’s our new captain 🇨🇦

[@2195brodie]

Jessie is so very Canadian. I know as am I. Absolutely loved hearing this interview. I feel like I know her now. 🙂⚽

[@siphenathikoos5569]

❤❤❤ loved this episode so much. It felt so at ease, like two friends hanging out. Sam you such a good host. Jessie is an amazing player but even better person. ❤❤❤

[@charlotteprouse8321]

I been waiting for my bestie!!! Loved seeing her on here so everyone can see how incredible she is not just on the field but off!!! Thanks Sam!!!! ❤

[@markchisamore2402]

Such an amazing player and person. Great interview.

[@Shdoeb]

Also! I can totally relate to Jesse being an older soul. All her hobbies are right up my alley haha

[@alansmithee8831]

Hello Sam. Another great chat. I always cheer for Commonwealth countries, if England or Britain are not playing, despite my liking for US. It is like family first. I have family that did that trip from Ontario to BC. Whilst I was touring US, they moved again, up the coast, so I arrived in Vancouver too late, but they called on the phone later, when I was back in UK. I found many in US, unlike you, had hardly been outside their own state, but then some are the size of large European countries, which many this side of the pond just cannot fathom. I commented earlier, on a Chelsea podcast, that perhaps WSL should be larger, to make some top clubs rotate the squad more, like I noticed from watching Barcelona ever since the English players arrived from Manchester City.

[@krisjohnson-proctor355]

Like you, Sam, I’ve always loved watching Jessie, kind of for no real reason (as an English Man City fan 🤷‍♀️). I’m definitely no Chelsea fan but loved to watch Jessie playing with such joi de vivre and grit 🔥. She just always seemed like such a lovely person, and this great interview showed that 🥰

[@yvonnefoster8181]

Loved watching Jessie play in the WSL for Chelsea . Great player

[@topshelf552]

Great interview great questions well done Sam!!!!!!!

[@savythekhmergirl844]

Love her!!

[@liacarson1808]

Great interview! I really enjoyed this one!

[@dr.thomassheldengriggs924]

Hard to tell which of you to admire more. I agree with all the praise you are both receiving. Like reading a great novel, I couldn't put this interview down. Feel like I've waited decades to discover an interviewer with the generous heart and agile mind you display, Sam. Finally, a host who asks consistently informed, entertaining and unique questions! And Jess? Hell, when is the next election for Prime Minister?

[@grendelloingseach2350]

My favorite international player

[@cassies6279]

Loved this interview. Please have Quinn on!

[@DJSB-SC]

Keep Crushing it ... The women's game NEED ,,, the woman of the game. You play it ,you live it and thats what keeps it special.

[@Char_m_p]

I love Jeff so much, honestly gutted she's left the WSL but can't wait to see her shine with the thorns

[@Kamila-nh5jx]

I love Jessie so much! She is so great in interviews!!

[@coralabreu4390]

Loved this interview, it felt like best friends hanging out.

[@TheChosenOne42513]

We all exited for Jessie Fleming ❤❤❤

[@jennifer9522]

Great conversation! I echo all the comments. Jesse will be an even brighter star for club & country ❤

[@liz_123]

so excited to watch

[@villanella]

oh, jessie is sooo fantastic. amazing human, i really love her

[@Rab_Daddy]

She is a legend!

[@amandaromero2039]

Jessie is so sweet! I loved this episode Sam!

[@JPNesker]

this is such a terrific interview!

[@davidt3956]

I knew a very rich guy who had no problems admitting he had great business smarts. What he also had no problem admitting was that luck was also a key factor to some of the timing. To many athletes are like too many tech millionaires and billionaires, thinking it was all them. Great to hear Fleming clearly admit that some of it was luck and to be comfortable, happy and thankful for it.

[@rubyjarvis1064]

I love Jessie💘💘

[@zakkgetz2003]

I loved this! Would love to see Ashley Sanchez sometime soon :)

[@elenisk]

Another super episode

[@2195brodie]

Dazn is awesome for UEFA but need to watch WSL games too!

[@Ozzyoxenfree]

This has nothing to do with the interview, but God Jessie is so beautiful

[@diannaw3034]

Loved this interview.. and lovvvvvvvvvve Jessie.. but as a Canuck.... I just want to set a few things straight!!! lol Poutine .. in my opinion.. defo is something ate regularly in every single province in Canada!!! YUM!!! It's even in most of our fast food chains here.. proving we eat it.. or they would have been pulled from the menus if they didn't sell really well. Also... Special K is sold in Canada and always has.. since the 70's I believe.. maybe even before then!! So Jessie is just not paying attention to food I think?!?!?! lol However .. she is still a most amazing Canadian.. and athlete!!🥰 Love this so much Sam!! Thank you so much for the Canadian CONTENT!!! I am so freakin' excited to view your Bunny Shaw interview!!!! I adore her!!!🤩 Much love from Ontario, Canada!!🍁

[@2195brodie]

I'm Canadian. Hate poutine. Absolutely disgusting! But I don't eat any fast food!!

[@diannaw3034]

@@2195brodie Fair enough.... not everyone loves it .. but it's a mainstay by popular demand fer sure!!! 😅😁

[@accio_sports]

I love Jflem ❤

[@tornonet35]

Love Jessie, she's a silent assassin

[@carr5629]

Is Jessie Fleming the cutest person on earth?

[@tjhos1576]

Poor Sam, she seemed so sad about how Jessie felt about snacks. Hilarious 😂

[@morganevans2297]

LOVE Quinn and just wish they were on a team that I root for so I could get a jersey! Also, Jessie, welcome to Portland. Now go Be aggressive. B-E Aggressive! hehehe See you at the game on Sat!

[@morganevans2297]

Also, Jessie is so dang adorable!

[@couturecriminal8330]

Jessie never wanted to leave who wants to play in Portland when you can play in Camp Nou in a Champions League game but fair enough I hear her on the "positional issues" at Chelsea but I love Fleming and hope she returns to Chelsea while she is still an active player... 👌💙👍

[@anoopgopikala8237]

Nice ❤❤❤

[@topshelf552]

Oh and by the way Special K has been in Canada for a long time in Ontario anyway

[@davidt3956]

When I moved out West after college, the best Pac-10 (yeah, I'm old) cheer I learned was very simple. "FUCLA!" 🤣

[@candacelong7643]

Good interview just wish Sam had more questions and more of a focus about her time joining the Thorns and the NWSL

[@jonnierev]

Jeffrey!

[@diannaw3034]

YESSSSSSSSSSSS!!!! 😁😆🥰🍁

[@coraliedomingue3070]

Okay but like... Poutine IS a very big deal here in Québec!! but yeah Ontario poutine is not good lol

[@aboynam3dblu3]

❤

[@machellovelivelife658]

The way Canadians say "about" is the most noticeable difference.

[@nikkyzett2158]

Sam come to Germany we have TUCs too 😃 and there's a chocolate that's TUCs wrapped up in Chocolate.

[@kalmenbarkin5708]

Making it so hard to boo Canada when we play them

[@mgbasinski]

"I would get absolutely destroyed by Millie Bright..." ow!

[@willcav]

it’s so funny how sam lowkey can’t stand portland and canada but its coming from such a place of respect… “good luck kind of?” 😂😂

[@literofcola]

🤘🏾🤘🏾

[@DarthAnimal]

I would die for her

[@theepicmoviemakers9569]

Ada Hegerberg next???

[@DerekLangdon]

Jessie, of the Scots clan Fleming. Yes, a Canadian citizen…But coursing through her veins is Gaelic Blood!

[@sarahlee9106]

overcooked is a fun game. 😬

[@rebeccasaunders8615]

Fun but stress Full haha!

[@kildpopper]

Some bold statements on poutine 😂

[@monicastuart5979]

Tucs are delicious.

[@samgunn12]

I got the 69th like. Nice😎

[@hamhiding2671]

please bring kristie on the pod

[@33eyeman]

What is a women?

[@davidt3956]

Argh, the first bad notice. They is plural. Zhe is a non-binary singular pronoun, with multiple spellings, created by people who accept both a wide variety of people and the concept of singular and plural. Please tell Quinn to check that out.

[@annameinheart]

❤