Sinclair Expands AMP Media Podcast Slate with New Series “BFFR” Hosted by Soccer Legends Sydney Leroux and Ali Riley

April 22, 2025 at 10:00 AM EDT

Launching April 28

Sinclair today announced the upcoming launch of BFFR, a new weekly podcast from AMP Media hosted by global soccer icons Sydney Leroux and Ali Riley, premiering April 28 across all major podcast platforms.

Leroux, a World Cup Champion, Olympic Gold Medalist, and forward for Angel City FC, and Riley, captain of the New Zealand National Team and Angel City FC, and five-time New Zealand Player of the Year are bringing their groundbreaking social media series BFFR to a broader audience through Sinclair’s AMP Media.

With extraordinary careers as world-class athletes and dynamic media personalities Leroux and Riley continue to redefine what it means to be trailblazers—on the field and beyond, pioneering new pathways for female athletes in media and business, redefining how women in sports are perceived in mainstream culture.

“Throughout their illustrious careers, Sydney and Ali have been at the forefront of the conversation around women in sports and beyond. They’ve established a deep connection with their fans through BFFR on social media, and now we’re excited to expand their conversations and bring their authentic personalities to an even wider audience through AMP Media,” said Rich Cooke, VP of Audio Programming.

BFFR on AMP Media will continue its candid and engaging conversations featuring athletes and friends, providing an authentic, behind-the-scenes look into their lives, challenges, and triumphs, building a space where female voices are celebrated, amplified, and heard.

"This is a show for anyone who’s ever been called ‘too much.’ Too loud, too real, too emotional, too honest—we’ve heard it all. But ‘too much’ is exactly the right amount. BFFR is where we get to be unapologetically ourselves—funny, bold, unfiltered—and say all the things we’ve been saying behind the scenes for years. If you’ve ever said, ‘I probably shouldn’t say this,’ we already did. Welcome to the chaos," said Leroux.

“Syd and I have been through so many stages of life together, and while soccer is what we do, it’s definitely not who we are. Women athletes have been put in boxes for way too long and this show is our opportunity to redefine what it means to be a woman in sports and media. We get to control the narrative, and our script is: there is no script. By being our authentic selves, we hope to empower our listeners to show up as exactly who they are,” said Riley.

Show trailer and links can be found at BFFRShow.com

Long-form episodes on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and other platforms, and extended video versions on YouTube will drop every Monday starting April 28. BFFR will also share exclusive clips across Instagram, TikTok, and X.

Follow “BFFR” on YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, X, and Facebook at @BFFRshow

HOST BIOS

Sydney Leroux

Since a young age, Sydney Leroux has always had a tireless drive, and a very clearly defined goal: make the roster of the best soccer team in the world. That meant leaving Vancouver and moving to the United States. Alone. Which she did, at the age of 14. For the first few years, she lived with host families, honing her skills in the American youth soccer scene. That got her noticed, and from there, the goals kept coming. A full-ride scholarship to UCLA. NCAA College Cup appearances. A U-20 World Cup Championship and Golden Boot trophy. A place on the US Women’s National Team. And, ultimately, Championships in the 2012 Olympic Games and 2015 Women’s World Cup that made her an icon for the nation.

In 2016, she welcomed a son named Cassius, followed by her daughter Roux in 2019. With her children came yet another goal for Sydney -be as good a mom as she was an athlete. Not surprisingly, she continues to excel at both, maintaining the perfect balance between a loving family life and a successful career.

She’s a champion. She’s an icon. She’s a devoted mother and an athlete fired by an exceptional drive to win. No matter what Sydney faces, she approaches it with fearsome determination. And she gets it done with a smile and a wink. That’s evident in every game she plays for Angel City FC and with the US Women’s National Team. When you expect greatness, Sydney comes through.

Ali Riley

Ali Riley stands as one of the most decorated and influential figures in women’s soccer, renowned for her exceptional achievements on the pitch and her significant contributions off it. A veteran of five FIFA Women's World Cups and four Olympic Games, Riley has earned over 160 international caps and has been a defining presence in the New Zealand Women's National Team for nearly two decades.

With a professional career spanning the world’s top leagues, she has played for some of the biggest clubs, including FC Bayern Munich, Chelsea FC, and FC Rosengård. She returned to the NWSL with Orlando Pride before coming full circle in 2022 as the first-ever captain of Angel City FC, leading the club since its historic inaugural season.

As one of the few Asian American women to excel at the highest levels of professional soccer, Riley's unique journey of navigating culture, sport, and identity has made her a relatable and powerful voice for inclusivity and representation.

Beyond the pitch, Riley has cultivated a presence as a host, storyteller and creator, bringing her signature energy, authenticity and humor to everything from original content to live events and red carpets. She is also an author of Girls Gone Veg: Plant-Based Recipes by Athletes, for Everyone, a cookbook that showcases another dimension of her diverse talents.

About Sinclair

Sinclair, Inc. (Nasdaq: SBGI) is a diversified media company and a leading provider of local news and sports. The Company owns, operates and/or provides services to 185 television stations in 86 markets affiliated with all the major broadcast networks; and owns Tennis Channel and multicast networks Comet, CHARGE!, TBD/ROAR and The Nest. Sinclair’s content is delivered via multiple platforms, including over-the-air, multi-channel video program distributors, and the nation’s largest streaming aggregator of local news content, NewsON. The Company regularly uses its website as a key source of Company information which can be accessed at www.sbgi.net

Category: General