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The Boston Fleet’s Zoe Boyd is a heartthrob, even though she seems surprised when I tell her so. I’m not sure how she could have missed it, as the lesbian internet is filled with thirsty fan edits of her arms and her tunnel fits and, well, literally anything else Boyd does in public.

Boyd entered the PWHL as a member of the Ottawa Charge before joining the Fleet prior to the 2025-2026 season. Her first season in Boston has been eventful—the team is currently on top of the standings, becoming the first team to clinch a playoff spot this season and doing it faster than any other team in PWHL history. The Fleet will also play a sold out game at Boston’s TD Garden this weekend. Unfortunately for Boyd, in the middle of an incredible season she suffered an ACL tear during practice and underwent surgery a few weeks back.

This will end her season on the ice, but luckily Boyd will not be bored while she recovers and rehabs her injury. Boyd is also the host of No Straight Answers, a “really gay podcast” which has only released eight episodes so far but they’re all bangers. Boyd’s personality shines in her conversations with colleagues and friends, as they talk about what it’s like to be a queer athlete or public figure. Both Boyd and her guests are relatively unfiltered, and the casual environment allows for much tea to be dropped.

So far, Boyd has had episodes featuring fellow PWHL heartthrob CJ Jackson sharing their relationship status; PWHL players and teammates Allie Munroe and Kali Flanagan talking about how their entire team witnessed their first kiss; and Canadian rugby star Asia Hogan-Rochester with advice on how to get over a straight girl. She even got into a little drama with TikTok creator and host of the For the Girls podcast, Becca Moore, over a DM slide gone wrong.

Boyd is also a favorite of Out of Your League subscribers, and I was thrilled to be able to interview her about her podcast, being considered a lesbian hottie, and Boston queer bars.

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

Out of Your League: I know obviously, on a personal level, this season has not gone how you wanted, but how has it been for you so far this year in Boston?

Zoe Boyd: Oh, it's been a dream. I mean, other than the obvious setback I've had, it's been so lovely being here. I love the city, I love the fans, and I absolutely love the organization. So I couldn't be happier with Boston.

OOYL: I'm in Boston, and so I've been coming to games since the first season. And I actually covered the Pride in the NWHL/PHF before that, so I've watched pro women's hockey here really evolve. I think it's been very cool to see the fans and the fan culture at games, particularly the in-game experience, as it has evolved for the Fleet. What has been your favorite part of playing in front of this crowd?

ZB: I think that the Boston fans are so passionate, and they're so here for it. Like, I don't even know how to explain it. You can feel the energy that they bring to the rink every game, and it carries us. I just think there's something so special about the Fleet fan base in terms of the energy that they bring. It's definitely felt by us.

OOYL: I don't know how much time you get to actually spend in Boston, because you play a few different places, but I have to ask if you've made it to Dani’s Queer Bar yet.

ZB: Oh my gosh, no, but I'm gonna put it on my list right now.

OOYL: It is our only lesbian bar in the city. They opened a little over a year ago now, and they play women's sports on the TVs as well. 

ZB: Okay, I put in my notes. I will definitely be hitting up Dani’s before my departure. 

OOYL: People will probably be very excited about that. 

ZB: Will you be there? 

OOYL: Call me, I’ll come out. 

ZB: Okay, okay. Noted. 

OOYL: Okay, this segue is going to work perfectly, stay with me here. Speaking of going out, I love your personal style. I also know a lot of people consider you to be a style icon. It's clear that you put a lot of thought into how you represent yourself and express that part of you. I was wondering how you would describe your everyday style, and how it might differ from the way you approach tunnel fits before games?

ZB: Oh, thank you for saying that. First of all, I would say my everyday style is, it's a whole mixed bag of chips. I put on whatever I feel in the moment will make me the most comfortable.

But it's funny because I think my style now has been a complete 360 from when I was like a six-year-old back in the day, wearing crazy stuff. I was just wearing whatever I wanted, like baggy jeans with a waffle tee underneath a t-shirt, and I always wore a pocket chain on my pants. I had kind of crazy style when I was a little one. And it's cool, because I kind of dress the same now that I did back then.

As for the tunnel fits, I would say it doesn't differ a whole lot, maybe just a little bit less formal on a day-to-day basis. But I love no sleeves and I love being comfortable.

OOYL: You do love a vest, I’ve noticed.

ZB: I do!

OOYL: I also want to talk about your podcast. I was really excited to see it launch, and I have really loved watching the conversations that you have with guests. I was wondering why it felt important to you to start this podcast, and how you think about who you invite on with you?

ZB: I think it just felt like it was the right time. I started building a platform on social media, and I wanted to do something with the platform that wasn't just promoting me or my content or my career. I wanted to try my best to create a safe space for people to come listen and relate and feel comfortable in their own skin. 

It's funny, but I think I never felt comfortable in my skin growing up until I got to college, and I joined my college team and had other queer women to look up to and to see representation in that way. That was what really did it for me, in terms of feeling confident enough to be myself and express myself in the way that felt most genuine to me. So with the podcast, I think it's just being able to create that space, even if it's just one person listens and feels a little bit more confident in who they are, that's really the goal.

That wasn't around when we were growing up, definitely not for me. I'm assuming for you too, Frankie, there was such a lack of representation. So I guess, my very short version of that very long-winded answer is just, I just wanted to be able to create more representation and a safe space for people to be comfortable, to be themselves.

OOYL: No, I didn't have a lot of that growing up, either. But also, there wasn't TikTok and social media in the way there is now. I know you've caught some strays from the lesbian internet just by nature of having a podcast and being a public figure in the lesbian social media space, which can be a very different space than sports fans and the way they're going to engage with your work. What has it been like to navigate the women's hockey fans in that community that come to watch you play, and then the lesbian community online that's finding you through your podcast?

ZB: I think what's so special with this league is that those two things intersect [and go] hand-in-hand. A big part of our fan base is the queer community, and a big part of the queer community is our fan base, which is unreal because it's cool to see culture and sport intersect in that way. I think they help each other grow and with exposure and that whole concept of creating a community and a safe space. The PWHL has been a great space for the queer community, and the queer community has been huge in promoting our league and creating a sustainable fan base.

OOYL: Yeah, it is all connected. The queer community—and particularly lesbians—have been in the stands before anybody else was and have kept women’s leagues going since before mainstream attention was there. 

I also know that in having a podcast and having that element of your style on display, you are—well, I hear a lot of people describe you as one of the league’s heartthrobs, or people have a crush on you. Like, I need you to know that I told my newsletter subscribers that I was interviewing you and people were so excited. 

But as we're talking about not having that kind of representation, you're someone who is now openly queer and in the public eye and people can express—I don't want to use the word ‘desire’ because that seems sexualizing—but I think people see you and either they want to be you or they want to date you. That is a level of representation that we don't always get. I wonder how you engage with that particular aspect of being visible in the way that you are?

ZB: I mean, that's extremely flattering. I think you need to stop feeding compliments, because they're going to my head and soon my hats aren't going to fit anymore. But no, I'm honestly flattered by any praise I get online or in person. It means a lot to me, but really, my main goal is just to be that representation for kids who are like me growing up, or even adults who still don't feel comfortable being themselves. So all the compliments and everything are super flattering, and they really make my day, but really the important thing to me is just being able to have a platform to provide some sort of representation.

OOYL: Has there been a podcast guest that you've had so far that was your favorite conversation, or the one that you are proudest of?

ZB: That's a tough question, because I loved every guest that's come on and it's been such a privilege and pleasure to talk to all the guests we've had. But I had a conversation with a table tennis player named Lily [Zhang] and her girlfriend [Jessie Xiao], and I didn't know them before they came on to the podcast, and talking to them was really, really special. 

I adored the two of them, and they have such a unique story. And they're also providing a ton of representation for the queer Asian community, and so to have them on and tell their story was great. They're so lovable. So that one sticks out as one of my favorite ones, for sure.

OOYL: What is next for you? I'm sure that you're going to continue to put out podcasts and rehab your injury, but in terms of what people should look out for, is there anything that you're excited about that you have coming up?

ZB: Oh my gosh, the list is very long my friend. But priority number one is getting back and getting healthy and strong as possible, for sure, because I miss playing so much and I'm super excited to finally get back and be able to do what I love again on the ice. But aside from hockey, I would just say that we're plugging away on the podcast here and we've got some exciting guests coming up, and we're going to keep pushing for all the guests that are being requested. I'm not going to say much more than that, but just there's going to be exciting things coming up with the podcast.

OOYL: Thank you so much. I really appreciate your time. Have a great weekend.

ZB: Thank you, Frankie. Have a better one. I'll see you at Dani’s.