- The National Women's
Soccer League has postponed games scheduled for this weekend. - The pause comes a day after
news broke that a top coach had been accused of sexual coercion. - The coach, Paul Riley, was fired from his club and lost his coaching license from US Soccer.
The National Women's Soccer League has postponed its weekend games following accusations of sexual coercion and inappropriate comments against former North Carolina Courage coach Paul Riley.
The games have been called off ahead of a meeting between the league and the NWSL Players Association.
"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," NWSL Commissioner Lisa Baird said in a statement. "Recognizing that trauma, we have decided not to take the field this weekend to give everyone some space to reflect."
Riley was fired from the Courage on Thursday after a report from The Athletic detailed the misconduct allegations against the two-time Coach of the Year. Two players spoke on the record - and many others around the league on the condition of anonymity - accusing Riley of sexual harassment, intimidation, misconduct, and making comments about players' weight and sexual orientation.
In The Athletic piece - which was written by women's soccer reporter Meg Linehan - NWSL players Sinead Farrelly and Meleana "Mana" Shim described instances of inappropriate behavior from Riley while they played on his teams, including coercing them to have sex with him and urging them to kiss one another for his own pleasure.
On Thursday, the NWSL Players Association released a statement demanding an independent investigation into the matter. The players also demanded that any staff accused of violating the league's anti-harassment policy be suspended and asked the league to explain how Riley was re-hired following a past investigation into an allegation of abusive coaching.
"The NWSL has failed us," the players said. "We are taking our power back."
The US Soccer Federation - the governing body for the US Men's and Women's National Teams - released a statement of its own following news of Riley's conduct and subsequent firing. The organization wrote that its leadership was "deeply disturbed" by the disgraced coach's behavior, which "is repulsive, unacceptable, and has zero place in soccer or society."
US Soccer then announced it had terminated the 57-year-old's coaching license.
Linehan's bombshell report about Riley - and the players' strong response to the news - comes amidst an avalanche of controversy across the NWSL. At least five club owners, coaches, and general managers from various teams have left the league or been fired for inappropriate conduct in the past year.
While Riley's purported malfeasance led to the NWSLPA's calls for action, the compounded allegations of abuse across the league surely informed Thursday's outrage from players and fans alike. What comes next remains to be seen, but the league faces mounting pressure to address its lack of timely action.
This weekend's hiatus, Baird said, is meant to "be the first step" in healing the league-wide wounds and working to "transform the culture of this league, something that is long overdue."