NWSL

More tumult hit Portland Thorns FC after Rhian Wilkinson announced she will resign as head coach. Wilkinson explained in a statement on Friday that her decision came after she and Thorns defender Emily Menges "formed a friendship that turned into more complex emotions" and that the Thorns players asked Wilkinson to resign following a joint NWSL and NWSL Players Association investigation. "During my time as the Thorns coach, a plaver and I formed a friendship that turned into more complex emotions. Wilkerson then spent time as an assistant at the University of Tennessee, the Canadian women's national team and the English women's national team before being hired as the Thorns' head coach in 2021. Menges is talking about the Yates investigation from October which found that Thorns owner Merritt Paulson and other club executives did nothing to prevent former Thorns head coach Paul Riley was allegedly sexually assaulting several players.

Portland Thorns FC owner Merritt Paulson plans to sell the team after 10 years at the head of the club as one of the NWSL's founding franchises in 2012. Paulson won't sell the Portland Timbers of MLS, though. Despite these challenges, the Portland Thorns have a bright future ahead and a lot left to accomplish. In addition to selling the team, Paulson said in the statement that he will donate $1 million to establish a Player Safety Office at the NWSL. Portland Thorns' priceThe Thorns could fetch a high price as one of the most successful clubs in the NWSL.

She was the future, future, future, until, in 2022, and specifically on Saturday night, she became the present. She needed only four minutes to swing Saturday's championship game in Washington, D.C., and win the Portland Thorns their third NWSL title. She joined a Portland team with five World Cup winners and the greatest international goalscorer ever. A few of those veterans remained the cornerstones of a 2022 team that endured unfathomable heartache but possessed unbelievable depth. She scored for the national team in World Cup qualifying and against England at Wembley.

If there’s any role model takeaway in this story — and society loves to position women as constant role models — it’s that maternity leave should be the standard. FIFA, the sport's governing body, in 2020 mandated at least 14 weeks of maternity leave paid at a minimum of two-thirds of a player's full salary. World Cup champion Sydney Leroux said she had planned to have a baby in March 2019 and play most of the NWSL season. About the Current: The Current, whose franchise formerly played in Utah, is in its second season in Kansas City. Goalkeeper Adrianna Franch and defender Hailie Mace made the Second Team.

The San Diego Wave's first season in the NWSL was a fun one, so the club decided to have a little fun honoring the woman in charge. Wave head coach Casey Stoney was named the NWSL Coach of the Year on Wednesday after a season that saw her team finish third in the regular season standings in its first year of existence. The club recruited Stoney's son Teddy to break the news to her in person, during a postseason team get-together. The Wave had three players make the NWSL's Best XI: forward Alex Morgan, defender Naomi Girma and goalkeeper Kailen Sheridan, with Morgan winning the Golden Boot with 15 goals. Stoney joined the Wave this season after three years at the helm of Manchester United M.F.C, where she accrued a record of 52-6-19.

ORLANDO, Fla. — As October rolls along the lights shine bright on Football Friday Nights as we head into week 8 of high school football. Check out all the highlights from week eight, including our McCoy Federal Credit Union game of the week featuring a district showdown between Lake Brantley and Apopka. Read: Cromwell, Greene’s Orlando Pride contracts terminated by NWSLRead: College Football returns to WFTV Channel 9You can watch WFTV Football Friday Night presented by McCoy Federal Credit Union every Friday night after WFTV Tonight at 11:30 p.m.Click here to download the free WFTV news and weather apps, click here to download the WFTV Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live. ©2022 Cox Media Group

The U.S. Soccer Federation said it received three new misconduct reports this week after the independent investigation into abuse and sexual misconduct within the NWSL was released, USSF president Cindy Parlow Cone told CNN on Friday night. "One of the great things to come out of this report is that it is encouraging more people to come forward," Parlow Cone said on CNN. "I'm also hoping that people do feel safe now to come forward or are … learning about where to come forward to report this because this is so important," she added. "We're not going to be able to root it out unless more brave people come forward to tell us." The independent investigation, which was run by former U.S. Attorney General Sally Yates, found "systemic" and "heartbreaking" abuse throughout women's soccer.

The Portland Timbers and Thorns have fired general manager Gavin Wilkinson and president of business Mike Golub two days after both men were named the U.S. Soccer-commissioned investigative report on abuse in women's soccer. Wilkinson played a key role in concealing 2015 allegations of sexual harassment against then-head coach Paul Riley, allowing Riley to continue coaching in the league for six more years. Golub allegedly created “an atmosphere of disrespect and intimidation towards women and working mothers employed at the club over a span of 11 years.”Team owner Merritt Paulson also helped conceal the allegations against Riley. But he remains the owner of the Timbers, and did not say that he would sell the team. This is a developing story and will be updated.

An independent investigation into the scandals that erupted in the National Women’s Soccer League found emotional abuse and sexual misconduct were systemic in the sport, impacting multiple teams, coaches and players.

SAN DIEGO — The gates at Snapdragon Stadium opened Saturday at 5 p.m. PT to welcome San Diego Wave FC for its first-ever home game. I’m very proud of where we are,” Ellis told Yahoo Sports. “Now I look and I think 32,000 people here for the San Diego Wave — you look at the Women’s Euros this year and their crowds. San Diego and L.A. are two inaugural teams that have set records and shattered expectations. San Diego, which currently sits atop the league table, has a strong chance of being part of that moment, too.

It seems that after every Women’s World Cup that the United States Women’s National Team wins (USWNT for short), there will be a boom in the sport.

Orlando (3-6-5, 15 points) extended its unbeaten streak to five games with its third consecutive draw.

Next up for the Pride is a 7 p.m. home game next Sunday against Angel City FC at Exploria Stadium.

The Orlando Pride couldn’t get on the scoreboard nor break their winless streak on Sunday in Chicago.

The Pride (1-1, 3 points) rebounded from a 3-0 home loss to Gotham FC in their season opener last week.

Santa Clara County officials determined the death of former Newbury Park High soccer star Tuesday was "self-inflicted."

The National Women's Soccer League Players Association said Monday night it has agreed to its first-ever collective bargaining agreement. The NWSL is embarking on its 10th season as the top women’s professional league in the United States and two new teams, Angel City and the San Diego Wave, are joining the league. All players will see increased salaries, retirement fund contributions, life and health insurance and housing. “Our owners are committed to providing the significant and unprecedented investment required to build and sustain a professional women’s soccer league that properly supports our players, both as professional soccer players and as individuals,” Messing said. Last September, two former NWSL players came forward to accuse longtime coach Paul Riley, then with the North Carolina Courage, of harassment and sexual coercion.

ORLANDO, Fla — The worst-kept secret in the NWSL is official. Alex Morgan will join expansion club San Diego Wave FC for the 2022 season. On Monday, the Wave posted an announcement on social media welcoming Morgan to the club, followed by a retweet from Alex herself. READ: Women’s team players, US Soccer extend labor deal 3 monthsIn the last month, the Orlando Pride have traded many of their high-profile players, including goalkeeper Ashlyn Harris, defender Ali Krieger and now Alex Morgan. The Orlando Pride sent out the following statement, “The Orlando Pride has worked with forward Alex Morgan to secure a trade that is mutually-beneficial for the Club’s future success and Alex’s goals, both personal and professional.

Alex Morgan is returning to her home state, joining the San Diego Wave of the National Women’s Soccer League for the team's first season.

Just a week after the Orlando Pride lost their foundational power couple to New York, soccer star Alex Morgan announced that she's heading off to...

The Orlando Pride have had a busy 24 hours. Shortly after announcing the trade of two of their long-time stars to Gotham FC, the club...

Players in the National Women’s Soccer League are speaking up about the abusive work environments that can develop when women are underpaid.

The Orlando Pride won’t be going to the NWSL playoffs this year.

It was a rough day for the Orlando Pride on Sunday.

Next up for the Pride is a game at NJ/NY Gotham FC at 5:30 p.m. next Sunday.

The Orlando Pride finally got back in the win column on Sunday.

ORLANDO, Fla. — Exploria Stadium announced Monday it will open to full capacity in June. Select seats located near player areas, such as benches and the competition tunnel, will not be available due to league COVID-19 protocols. Health and safety protocols will remain in place for all City and Pride matches. In addition, the Club will also continue to operate in accordance with both the MLS and NWSL medical protocols. READ: Skydiver dies after midair collision with parachutist in DeLand, police sayBeginning Friday, May 21, single-game tickets for all regular-season matches from June on will be available to the general public.

Two goals in the second half lifted the Houston Dash to a 3-1 over the Orlando Pride on Saturday night in Houston. Houston opened the scoring in the 27th minute on a goal by Nichelle Prince, but the Pride tied the game in extra time right before halftime on a goal by Marisa Viggiano. But the Dash took control on a goal by Sophie Schmidt in the 55th minute and another in the 72nd minute by Shea Groom. The chances were heavily in favor of the Dash, who outshot the Pride by a 27-6 margin. Next up is a rematch with the dash on Oct. 9, this time at Osceola County Stadium.

The Orlando Pride opened up their fall series of play with a scoreless draw at the North Carolina Courage on Saturday. The Pride withstood a barrage of shots from the Courage, who outshot the Pride, 18-6, and had eight corner kicks to four for Orlando. Orlando will next be in action next Saturday at the Houston Dash in what will be the second of four games played during their fall series.

ATSUGI Womens World Cup winner Yuki Nagasato is joining Japanese mens club Hayabusa Eleven on loan from the Chicago Red Stars in the NWSL. The mens team plays in an amateur regional league that is several levels below the countrys top pro soccer league, the J-League. Nagasato, who won the Womens World Cup with Japan in 2011, joined Chicago in 2017 after playing in several other leagues. It was very inspiring to hear the social message about gender inequality and other messages that Rapinoe was trying to deliver during the (2019) World Cup, Nagasato said. For over a decade shes been telling me that her ultimate dream is to play in a mens team, Genki Nagasato said.