All weekend NWSL pro soccer games, including KC-Houston, called off as uproar grows
Amid growing calls for the National Women’s Soccer League to take seriously players’ concerns about such foundational issues as sexual harassment and coercion, all NWSL games scheduled for this weekend have been postponed.
That includes KC NWSL’s scheduled game Saturday against the Houston Dash.
This week, The Athletic published a story detailing allegations of predatory actions by longtime league coach Paul Riley and the league’s flat-footed response to repeated complaints from players.
Riley on Thursday was fired by the North Carolina Courage.
Early Friday evening, according to reports by The Athletic and ESPN, the NWSL’s board of directors ousted league commissioner Lisa Baird and league general counsel Lisa Levine. A one-sentence NWSL statement issued later, around 9 p.m. via Twitter, said the league had “received and accepted” Baird’s resignation, with no mention of Levine.
Earlier Friday, Baird issued this statement on behalf of the NWSL: “This week, and much of this season, has been incredibly traumatic for our players and staff, and I take full responsibility for the role I have played. I am so sorry for the pain so many are feeling. Recognizing that trauma, we have decided not to take the field this weekend to give everyone some space to reflect.”
One of the players who came forward about Riley’s alleged behavior is former FC Kansas City player Sinead Farrelly, who played for Riley with the Philadelphia Independence and Portland Thorns.
FC Kansas City is no longer in operation. Kansas City’s current NWSL club, playing under the moniker “KC NWSL” through the end of this season (with plans to announce a permanent name for the team this coming offseason), was launched last winter by an ownership group comprised of Angie and Chris Long, Brittany Matthews and others.
Kansas City NWSL’s ownership group issued the following statement early Friday afternoon.
“Our players must come first. We are committed to leading by example not just to make the team better, but to make our league better. We are striving to set the standard with player-first actions, but there is still hard work to do to create the culture and league our players deserve.
“In light of the reporting done by The Athletic on Paul Riley, who has since been fired by the North Carolina Courage, and the systemic issues that need to be addressed, our immediate focus is on providing any support our players need, and ensuring we have player-first processes and policies. Stepping away from matches this weekend is the right thing to do for our players and our staff.”
The Athletic’s story also reported that 75% of players in the league make $31,000 per year or less. Unfairly low pay is another ongoing issue that the players have had with the NWSL.
Reaction to the league’s botched handling of the Riley allegations has been fierce. Women’s soccer stars such as Alex Morgan, Megan Rapinoe and former FC Kansas City stalwart Becky Sauerbrunn have not minced words about the league’s handling of the matter, especially the apparent lack of support shown to alleged victims.
This story was originally published October 1, 2021 at 10:59 AM with the headline "All weekend NWSL pro soccer games, including KC-Houston, called off as uproar grows."