Women's soccer in the United States "swept a lot of bad things under the rug" to make the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) successful, former midfielder Heather O'Reilly said.
The NWSL fired commissioner Lisa Baird and FIFA launched a preliminary investigation last week following a report detailing allegations of misconduct against former North Carolina Courage head coach Paul Riley.
After allegations of repeated sexual abuse, coercion and harassment led to the firing of NC Courage head coach Paul Riley, the resignation of NWSL commissioner Lisa Baird and the cancellation of last weekend’s matches, the league returned to play on Wednesday with the Courage in action against Racing Louisville at WakeMed Soccer Park.
North Carolina Courage owner Steve Malik said the team only became aware of sexual harassment and coercion allegations against former coach Paul Riley when they were reported last week.
Mana Shim and Sinead Farrelly aren’t done sharing their stories, and they’re not content with the few changes that have already taken place in the NWSL. They want more, and they appeared with Alex Morgan on NBC’s “Today” show on Tuesday to demand further justice not just for themselves but for women’s athletes everywhere.
The National Women's Soccer League said this weekend's matches will not take place a day after a report detailed allegations of misconduct against former North Carolina Courage head coach Paul Riley.
The Athletic on Thursday outlined allegations of sexual coercion and misconduct by Riley, who led the Courage to back-to-back NWSL championships in 2018 and 2019, after speaking to more than a dozen players he coached since 2010.
Thursday, Sept. 30, 2021, will be remembered as a dark, devastating day for women’s soccer in the U.S.
In 1999, the USWNT was on top of the world. Americans fell in love with the 99ers who won the Women’s World Cup on home soil, with Brandi Chastain’s shirtless celebration becoming one of the first soccer moments to transcend into mainstream culture in the U.S.
Twenty years later, the USWNT was back on top of the world. Megan Rapinoe led the USWNT to a fourth Women’s World Cup, but the love didn’t necessarily follow. Half of the country hated the team for reasons having little to do with soccer.
New Zealand’s Olympic soccer preparations were handed a blow a couple weeks before the tournament kicks off, and Football Ferns coach Tom Sermanni is not happy about it. Team captain Ali Riley and defensive star Abby Erceg were not allowed to join up with their national team until after this weekend’s NWSL games, leading Sermanni to excoriate the Orlando Pride and N.C. Courage.
Jessica McDonald led North Carolina to a 2-1 win over OL Reign, but Jessica Fishlock provided the moment of the week with a magical goal for a late consolation on Saturday. The Jess Fishlock lob was in my opinion the best goal of the day, even with Euro 2020 going on.
If you missed the Alex Morgan Ted Lasso celebration from Saturday night, then you’re in luck.
Morgan and the Orlando Pride took down the North Carolina Courage 2-1 on the field and 1-0 in the celebration department. With the Pride leading 1-0 in a hotly contested game, Morgan gave her side breathing space with a cool finish in the 79th minute. The USWNT star then dazzled the audience with a celebration from Apple TV+ hit show “Ted Lasso.”