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<ul class="summary-list"><li><keyword id="4451139" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="nwsl">NWSL</keyword> star <keyword id="11104998" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="sarah-gorden">Sarah Gorden</keyword> accused stadium security of racially profiling her and her boyfriend at a game.</li><li>Players and teams joined the <a href="https://twitter.com/BWP_Collective?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor">Black Women's Player Collective</a> in condemning racism within the NWSL.</li><li>The league fined two teams for speaking out in support of Gorden while an investigation was ongoing.</li></ul><p>Less than a week into the National <keyword id="7597433" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="Womens-soccer">Women's Soccer</keyword> League's 2021 season, an allegation of <keyword id="411570" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="racial-profiling">racial profiling</keyword> has dulled the Challenge Cup's shine.</p><p>The <keyword id="3626874" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="chicago-red-stars">Chicago Red Stars</keyword> took on the <keyword id="3812497" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="houston-dash">Houston Dash</keyword> in the league's 2021 debut match Friday night. After the scoreless draw, Chicago defender Sarah Gorden made her way to the stands at BBVA Compass Stadium to visit with her boyfriend, who'd traveled to Houston to watch Gorden and her Red Stars take on the 2020 NWSL Challenge Cup champions.</p><div type="image" title="sarah gorden" height="1666" width="2222" msid="82085826" hostid="261"></div><p>But Gorden said that as her boyfriend descended the steps to greet her, stadium security surrounded the couple and threatened that he "would be arrested if he came close." In a <a href="https://twitter.com/sarahlgorden/status/1380881615107276804">Twitter thread</a> published the following day, the 28-year-old star said she didn't initially see the altercation as a racial issue - but then she noticed white players "talking closely to their family" around the stadium without any problems.</p><p>"We were the only ones targeted," Gorden wrote. "I asked the security guard why he was only talking to us. He said he would go to them later. He never approached any of them."</p><p>"This is <a href="https://www.insider.com/julie-ertz-casey-short-kneel-cry-during-national-anthem-nwsl-2020-6">just another reason</a> <a href="https://www.insider.com/nwsl-players-kneel-national-anthem-wear-black-lives-matter-shirts-2020-6">why we kneel</a>," she added.</p><div type="image" title="sarah gorden red stars" height="1666" width="2222" msid="82085827" hostid="261"></div><p>Gorden's thread sparked outcry from fans and players. Nearly all of her <a href="https://twitter.com/not_carlisle/status/1382147825622937603">Chicago teammates posted</a> a unified message saying: "We stand with our teammate and will continue to speak out against unjust and unequal treatment."</p><p>The Black Women's Player Collective also <a href="https://twitter.com/BWP_Collective/status/1381866922384494592">issued a statement</a> in support of Gorden.</p><p>But the <a href="https://twitter.com/HoustonDash/status/1380941355749376004">Dash's initial response to the incident</a> struck a different tone. The franchise did not acknowledge a possibility of racial profiling, insisting instead that its security staff was "entirely focused on COVID safety." The Dash apologized to Gorden and the Red Stars "for anything that may have created an impression to the contrary."</p><div type="image" title="bbva stadium.JPG" height="1665" width="2220" msid="82085829" hostid="261"></div><p>The comments seemed only to fan the flames. Three days after the interaction that Houston security had with Gorden and her partner, the NWSL announced that it had <a href="https://www.nwslsoccer.com/news/article/nwsl-initiates-investigation-based-on-anti-discrimination-policy">opened an investigation</a> into the incident. The league said it would look into a potential violation of its anti-discrimination policy.</p><p>That led the Dash to issue a <a href="https://twitter.com/HoustonDash/status/1381679924684197892">second statement</a> in which the franchise acknowledged that its initial response was "off the mark" and apologized to Gorden and her team.</p><p>But Houston's players felt the team's response still didn't go far enough. So they released their own statement a day later, in which they apologized to Gorden for her experience at their home field and resolved to not "ignore the principal issue: racial injustice."</p><p>The blow-back got messier still when the NWSL Disciplinary Committee <a href="https://www.nwslsoccer.com/news/article/nwsl-disciplinary-committee-issues-decisions">issued its decisions this week</a>. Among its league-wide sanctions, the committee imposed fines on two franchises - NJ/NY Gotham FC and the Red Stars - for "violation of a league directive."</p><p>That league directive, it turns out, was to <a href="https://www.nwslsoccer.com/news/article/nwsl-initiates-investigation-based-on-anti-discrimination-policy">"refrain from commenting"</a> on the incident involving Gorden.</p><p>According to <a href="https://twitter.com/GrantWahl/status/1382346354987573255">soccer reporter Grant Wahl</a>, these fines came in response to tweets from Gotham General Manager Alyse LaHue and Chicago co-owner Sarah Spain, who is also a TV personality for ESPN. Each was fined an undisclosed amount "for tweeting about the Houston racial discrimination investigation after the league... directed them not to comment."</p><p>Here are the tweets in question:</p><p>The results of the league's larger investigation, meanwhile, are still pending. Until the inquiry reaches a conclusion, the NWSL continues to demand that clubs "refrain from commenting further." The league has also said it "will have no additional comments regarding the current investigation."</p><p>The 2021 Challenge Cup, however, will continue as planned. Gorden and her Red Stars teammates will suit up Thursday night for a home clash against the Portland Thorns.</p>

A pro soccer star says she was racially profiled by an opposing team's security - and the aftermath led to an ugly mess for the league

<ul class="summary-list"><li><keyword id="11931671" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="uswnt" source="Orion">USWNT</keyword> star <keyword id="12760030" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="julie-ertz" source="Orion">Julie Ertz</keyword> has played with the <keyword id="12369393" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="chicago-red-stars" source="Orion">Chicago Red Stars</keyword>, an <keyword id="11898436" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="nwsl" source="Orion">NWSL</keyword> club, since going pro in 2014.</li><li>In early December, Chicago traded the 29-year-old midfielder to expansion side <keyword id="11931669" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="angel-city-fc" source="Orion">Angel City FC</keyword>.</li></ul><p>For as long as she's been a professional soccer player, Julie Ertz has been a Chicago Red Star.</p><p>But if there's one thing the National <keyword id="12225642" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="womens-soccer" source="Orion">Women's Soccer</keyword> League and US Women's National Team star has learned in her eight years running the midfield at the highest levels of women's soccer, it's "to embrace new challenges in your career" because that's how you "continue to grow."</p><div type="image" title="Ertz with the USWNT." height="1667" width="2500" msid="88349432" hostid="261"></div><p>So when Ertz was traded from her longtime club in Chicago to Los Angeles-based NWSL expansion franchise Angel City FC in early December, she was ready to lean into the change — even if "it's all still surreal, all coming together" a few weeks later.</p><p>"Anytime somebody believes that you could be helpful and an impact on their team, it's a huge honor," Ertz told Insider four days after the blockbuster trade was announced. "And anyone that thinks obviously that you can come and be helpful is huge."</p><p>"I'm excited for the new franchise for what they've already accomplished, what they want to [do], and their plans to do that," she added.</p><div type="image" title="julie ertz.JPG" height="1666" width="2222" msid="88349434" hostid="261"></div><p>Ertz wasn't the only big name tapped to help establish the new team — known for its <a href="https://www.insider.com/nwsl-angel-city-fc-investors-billie-jean-king-lindsey-vonn-2020-10">star-studded owernship group</a> — as a competitive force as soon as they take the pitch for their inaugural season. Angel City brought in prolific USWNT striker Christen Press as the team's first signee in August, and longtime Red Stars defender Sarah Gorden joined Ertz in Chicago's trade to LA in exchange for immunity in Thursday's expansion draft.</p><p>In a recent interview with Insider, <keyword id="12736805" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="julie-foudy" source="Orion">Julie Foudy</keyword> — the former USWNT captain who was one of Angel City's founding investors — said she was "thrilled" when she learned the club had traded for Ertz. The player-turned-ESPN analyst called the trio of Ertz, Press, and Gorden "quite a spine of a team" with whom to kick-start Angel City's efforts.</p><p>"I'm not surprised that Julie Foudy would be incredibly excited, especially with the incredible forward that Press is and the incredible defender that Sarah [Gorden] is," Ertz said. "Each one of them is incredible. And obviously [Angel City is] at a great start for that."</p><div type="image" title="Julie Foudy." height="1731" width="2500" msid="88349437" hostid="261"></div><p>But even Foudy conceded that Ertz "has to want to come play for Angel City" for the club's grand plans to come to fruition.</p><p>"Hopefully that will be the case," Foudy added.</p><p>One major factor working in Foudy and ACFC's favor is the club's location. Playing in Los Angeles would put Ertz far closer to her friends and family back home in Mesa, Arizona — and to <a href="https://www.insider.com/julie-zach-ertz-relationship-timeline-2021-7">her husband, Arizona Cardinals tight end Zach Ertz</a> — than she was while playing in Chicago.</p><div type="image" title="Zach Ertz celebrates after a reception against the Houston Texans." height="1646" width="2195" msid="88349439" hostid="261"></div><p>Ertz, who spent most of the fall back in her home state with her husband while recovering from an injury, said herself that "being closer to home and my family is always incredible." </p><p>"For my entire career, I haven't really been able to see or share moments or even holidays with [my family]," Ertz said. "Coming back to where you're from, that completely is where my heart is. I feel like everyone feels like that. Where you grow up is just a piece of you."</p><p>With her deep roots in the region and her husband now suiting up for the area's NFL franchise, Ertz is keen on giving back to the community that's given her so much for so long. Ahead of the holidays, she and Zach teamed up with DICK'S Sporting Goods to surprise 15 local Boys &amp; Girls Club kids with a sports-filled shopping spree.</p><p>"To be able to see these kids and share the love of <keyword id="11893855" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="sports" source="Orion">sports</keyword> too, and be able to give them a gift and a smile on their face, is amazing anywhere you are," Ertz said. "But for some reason, it does feel a little bit different at home."</p>

Julie Ertz is ready to 'embrace new challenges' and a new team after trade to NWSL expansion club Angel City

<p></p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"></div><p></p></div></div><ul class="summary-list"><li>North Carolina Courage forward and <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/category/uswnt">US Women's National Team</a> star Crystal Dunn suffered what appeared to be a nasty ankle <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/category/injury">injury</a> during her team's 4-0 <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/category/nwsl">National Women's Soccer League</a> championship victory.</li><li>The 27-year-old was challenging Chicago Red Stars defender Sarah Gorden from behind when she planted her right foot atop her opponent's cleat and rolled her ankle.</li><li>Dunn - who is a notoriously tough player and has not been sidelined by injuries in more than four years - received medical attention on the field before calling it quits for the remainder of the contest.</li><li>Given that Dunn arrived at Sunday's postgame media availability donning a boot on her right foot, it appears as though the USWNT may have to play its final friendlies of the year without its starting left-back.</li><li><strong><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/?hprecirc-bullet">Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories</a>.</strong></li></ul><p>The North Carolina Courage just won its second consecutive National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) championship, but the commanding victory may have come at a steep price for both the Cary-based club and the US Women's National Team (USWNT).</p><p>North Carolina forward Crystal Dunn - who started in all six of the <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/uswnt-carli-lloyd-world-cup-worst-time-of-my-life-2019-10">USWNT's World Cup</a> contests this summer - suffered what appeared to be a nasty ankle injury during her team's 4-0 NWSL championship victory over the Chicago Red Stars Sunday afternoon.</p><p>The injury came in the title game's 61st minute, not long after Dunn knocked one into the back of the net in stoppage time to send the Courage to the locker room with a commanding 3-0 halftime lead. The 27-year-old was challenging Red Stars defender Sarah Gorden from behind when she planted her right foot atop Gorden's cleat and rolled her ankle.</p><p></p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right"><div><div class="image on-image"></div><p></p></div></div><p>Dunn stayed on her feet and took a few steps before grabbing at her leg and lowering herself to the turf. After receiving a few minutes of medical attention on the field, she made her way over to the closest sideline and called it quits for the remainder of the contest.</p><p>The notoriously tough player has rarely taken time away from the pitch to nurse an injury over the course of her career. In fact, during this weekend's festivities leading up to the NWSL title game, Dunn said as much while describing her exhaustion from balancing national team and Courage responsibilities this year.</p><p>"It's a blessing to be healthy, but I will say I've been healthy going on four years," she said. "And I have not had a rest in four years I feel like."</p><p>Although the 2020 NWSL season doesn't kick off for many months, the <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/serena-williams-helps-world-cup-winning-uswnt-get-wheaties-box-2019-8">USWNT</a> is scheduled to take on rival Sweden - who knocked out the red, white, and blue in the 2016 Olympic semifinal - in Columbus, Ohio, November 7 before traveling to Jacksonville, Florida, to face Costa Rica three days later.</p><p>Given that Dunn arrived at Sunday's postgame media availability donning a boot on her right foot, it appears as though the USWNT may have to play its final friendlies of the year without its starting left-back. It'll be one of many challenges facing whoever US Soccer selects to replace Jill Ellis at the front of the bench heading into an Olympic year. The federation is set to announce its decision Monday, but reports from various outlets has indicated it will be NWSL coach of the year and Seattle Reign front man Vlatko Andonovski.</p><ul class="read-more-links"><li>Read more:</li><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/nwsl-mvp-sam-kerr-learns-about-award-minutes-before-winning-2019-10" data-analytics-position="1">International soccer star Sam Kerr didn't know her league's MVP award was being announced until minutes before she won it</a></li><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/alex-morgan-pregnant-uswnt-olympics-2019-10" data-analytics-position="3">USWNT star Alex Morgan just announced that she's pregnant on social media</a></li><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/uswnt-carli-lloyd-nfl-kicking-career-could-happen-2019-10" data-analytics-position="11">Carli Lloyd is serious about becoming an NFL kicker after finishing her USWNT career - 'I'm entertaining it'</a></li><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/simone-biles-flips-before-world-series-first-pitch-video-2019-10" data-analytics-position="3">Simone Biles threw the first pitch for Game 2 of the World Series as only Simone Biles could</a></li></ul><div><div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 50.754%;"></div></div>    <div class="margin-top">        <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/world-famous-sports-logos-hidden-messages-2019-10">10 world-famous sports logos with hidden meanings</a></h3>        <div>                    </div>    </div>

US Women's National Team star Crystal Dunn suffers nasty ankle injury during NWSL championship game

<ul class="summary-list"><li><keyword id="9096091" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="uswnt">USWNT</keyword> stars and Chicago Red Stars teammates Julie Ertz and Casey Short shared a touching moment before their first game in the 2020 <keyword id="4451139" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="nwsl">NWSL</keyword> Challenge Cup Saturday night.</li><li>Ertz and Short cried and held each other as they kneeled during the playing of the national anthem.</li><li>The powerful scene came hours after all of the <a href="https://www.insider.com/nwsl-players-kneel-national-anthem-wear-black-lives-matter-shirts-2020-6">players on the Portland Thorns and NC Courage kneeled during the anthem</a> at the first professional contact <keyword id="6356028" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="sports">sports</keyword> game in the US since the COVID-19 pandemic began.</li></ul><p>The deaths of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, and Breonna Taylor have fueled a discussion about police brutality and race relations in America.</p><p>And, as often is the case, the sports world has found a way to reflect the public discourse.</p><p><div type="image" title="casey short.JPG" height="1667" width="2223" msid="76699774" hostid="261"></div></p><p>While the national anthem played prior to the Chicago Red Stars' 2020 NWSL Challenge Cup match against the Washington Spirit Saturday night, some players from both sides of the second game of the day knelt while the national anthem played. Red Stars teammates Julie Ertz and Casey Short were amongst those taking a knee, and the emotional reaction of the two USWNT stars caught the attention of all tuning into the broadcast.</p><p>Short, who is one of two Black players on Chicago's roster, sobbed into Ertz's arms while the anthem reverberated through the empty Zion's Bank Stadium. Ertz, who is one of the most recognizable figures on the USWNT and the reigning US <keyword id="3071" type="SPORT" weightage="60" keywordseo="Soccer">Soccer</keyword> Female Player of the Year, held her teammate and cried along with her for the duration of "The Star-Spangled Banner."</p><p>As the anthem finished playing, broadcaster Mike Watts said that in his five years calling games for the league, "I don't think there has been a more striking singular image than Casey Short and Julie Ertz in that moment."</p><p><div type="image" title="casey short julie ertz.JPG" height="1667" width="2222" msid="76699775" hostid="261"></div></p><p>During a press conference before Saturday's matches, Red Stars head coach Rory Dames told members of the media that the team had had "conversations internally amongst our group... specifically supporting the Black players on our team, educating ourselves, trying to become part of the solution and not part of the problem, and some hard, uncomfortable conversations, but those are the only real conversations that matter."</p><p><div type="image" title="julie ertz.JPG" height="1667" width="2222" msid="76699777" hostid="261"></div></p><p>"As far as anything the team may or may not do, we've left that to the team, because we have some players on the team that have very big platforms," Dames added. "They would be the ones that have the most eyes on them and have the most visibility, and they're the ones who need to be comfortable — specifically along with Casey [Short] and Sarah [Gorden] — with anything that we are going to do. I'm sure at some course throughout some point of the event that our group will do something, but we have not had any specific conversations about what that will or will not be. ... Whatever the team decides they feel is appropriate for them to make any statement they want to make, as a coaching staff we'll fully support them and participate if asked."</p><p>Many viewers described the moment as "touching" and "beautiful" on social media, but others felt as though the league had capitalized on Short's grief and called for the NWSL to stop playing the anthem before games.</p><p>Hours before the emotional moment between Short and Ertz, the NWSL became <a href="https://www.insider.com/nwsl-watching-guide-first-pro-sports-united-states-2020-6">the first American professional contact sports league to return since the coronavirus pandemic began</a> with the Challenge Cup opener between the North Carolina Courage and Portland Thorns. Prior to kickoff of that matchup, <a href="https://www.insider.com/nwsl-players-kneel-national-anthem-wear-black-lives-matter-shirts-2020-6">all starting players kneeled while the national anthem played</a>.</p><p><div type="image" title="NWSL kneeling national anthem" height="1357" width="1809" msid="76699778" hostid="261"></div></p><p>The two clubs issued a joint statement explaining that they kneeled "to <keyword id="6359715" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="protest">protest</keyword> racial injustice, police brutality, and systemic racism against Black people and people of color in America."</p><p>But since Saturday's games, the NWSL is reportedly considering adjusting "how/when the national anthem will be played the rest of this tournament," according to Equalizer Soccer's Dan Lauletta.</p><p>It remains to be seen whether or not the league will implement such changes prior to its second bout of Challenge Cup games on Tuesday. The hometown Utah Royals will take on the Houston Dash at 12:30 p.m. EDT before the OL Reign and Sky Blue FC face off at 10 p.m. EDT.</p><ul class="read-more-links"><li>Read more:</li><li><a href="https://www.insider.com/nwsl-players-kneel-national-anthem-wear-black-lives-matter-shirts-2020-6">Every single NWSL player kneeled during the national anthem at the first professional contact sports game to return in the US since the coronavirus pandemic began</a></li><li><a href="https://www.insider.com/nwsl-watching-guide-first-pro-sports-united-states-2020-6">Here's your viewing guide for the NWSL — the first American professional contact sports league to return since the coronavirus pandemic began</a></li><li><a href="https://www.insider.com/uswnt-nwsl-challenge-cup-participants-international-stars-whos-in-2020-6">US Women's National Team and international stars who will participate in the 2020 NWSL Challenge Cup</a></li><li><a href="https://www.insider.com/orlando-pride-drop-out-nwsl-challenge-cup-league-return-jeopardy-2020-6">An entire team in the top women's soccer league dropped out of their return to action after 6 players tested positive for coronavirus following trip to local bar</a></li></ul>

Julie Ertz and US women's national team, Chicago Red Stars teammate Casey Short took a knee, held each other, and cried during the national anthem at their first game in 8 months

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A pro soccer star says she was racially profiled by an opposing team's security - and the aftermath led to an ugly mess for the league

Meredith Cash

Julie Ertz is ready to 'embrace new challenges' and a new team after trade to NWSL expansion club Angel City

Meredith Cash

US Women's National Team star Crystal Dunn suffers nasty ankle injury during NWSL championship game

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Julie Ertz and US women's national team, Chicago Red Stars teammate Casey Short took a knee, held each other, and cried during the national anthem at their first game in 8 months

Meredith Cash

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