Soccer Monday: No place here for bigots
There were two concerning incidents at National Women's Soccer League games this past week.
Editors note: Hello all, still at the NCAA Tournament. So anther short post this week. Suffice to say I really miss Portland and my cat MoMo, and bummed I couldn’t go to the Portland Thorns’ Becky Sauerbrunn night. But the basketball has been fantastic!
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There were two concerning incidents at National Women’s Soccer League games this past week. On Monday, a Reddit post by an unnamed season ticket holder shared that Barbara Banda was subjected to racist and transphobic comments during the Orlando Pride’s game against Gotham at Sports Illustrated Stadium in Harrison, New Jersey.
The league and both teams, as well as the players’ union, all put out statements condemning the behavior, as they should have.
“We are united in our message: This behavior is unacceptable and has no place in our leagues and in our stadiums,” the NWSL statement said.
The Pride defended Banda, who is in her second season with the club and also played for her native Zambia in two Olympics and in the 2023 Women’s World Cup.
Banda was subject to transphobic online abuse last year after she was named the BBC’s Women’s Footballer of the Year, in part because JK Rowling posted about it. The whole controversy stems from a mishandled eligibility case in Africa that has largely been debunked.
Banda is a cisgender woman who identifies as a woman.
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Gotham said security responded to the incident once it was reported. The team and the NWSL are investigating and will take action under the league’s fan code of conduct, which prohibits fans from using “threatening, abusive, or discriminatory words, signs, symbols, or actions based on race, ethnicity, sex, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, cultural identity, nationality, citizenship status, age, appearance, disability, and/or religion.”
The Pride stood by their star player.
Disappointing as all that was, there was another incident over the weekend in Portland, of all places. According to witnesses, a “fan” was attach messages of hate to the trans flags that the Rose City Riveters wave. The dude’s name is Rory and he’s an anti-trans troll that has no business being at a Portland Thorns game.
Seriously, who goes and sits in the North End at a Thorns game if they hate trans people? He’s just wants to stir up controversy (as evidenced by his social media posts) then complain about being called out for it. These people are so sophomoric.
Stay at home, man.
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SAM KERR IS BACK!
Sam Kerr has returned to the Matildas this week after expressing “sincere regret” in a meeting with Football Australia over her contentious recent court case in Britain.
Kerr hasn’t been with the team since she was sidelined by an ACL injury more than a year ago. Last month she was found not guilty by a London jury of racially aggravated harassment of a police officer.
In a joint statement Monday, Football Australia’s board said there was no cause for disciplinary action against her.
“I want to express my sincere regret for how events unfolded,” Kerr said in the statement. “I recognize that leadership means being mindful of our actions both on and off the pitch. I’m proud of the Matildas, the role I have played as a member of that team, and everything we stand for, and I’m committed to learning from this experience.”
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LOOKING AHEAD
Oh hey, there’s a USWNT game this week! The U.S. plays Brazil on Saturday at SoFi in Los Angeles, before a rematch next week in San Jose. Trinity Rodman is back with the team after dealing with her nagging back injury. Rodman said after the Spirit’s game Friday night against Bay FC that it’s likely her back will never be 100%.
“It’s kind of an issue of it’s not one specific thing, it’s just the way that my back’s structured. And it’s more so management than like a curable fix,” she said.
Stat of the Week: Powered by Stathead Basketball
Breanna Stewart had 21 points, 5 assists, 7 steals, and 8 rebounds in the Liberty’s Game 2 win. She’s just the second player in WNBA history to have 20-5-5-5 in the Finals.
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LINKS!
A bit of news on where Denver will play while its stadium is built.
USWNT announces June games against Ireland.
Akron’s coach is on leave during internal investigation amid safety concerns
Forbes looks at how to ensure the holistic maturation of women’s football.
There is growing sentiment that FIFA should recognize the Afghanistan women’s team.
Here’s Human Rights Watch on the topic
Interesting story on something you don’t hear about often: Women’s soccer in Malta
The Women’s Super League season is drawing to a close.
Becky Sauerbrunn has been catching up on 15 seasons of ER while retired. Note her cameo at the post-game press conference:
| Mondays: Soccer |
| By: Annie Peterson, @AnnieMPeterson, AP Women’s Soccer |
| Tuesdays: Tennis |
| By: Joey Dillon, @JoeyDillon, Freelance Tennis Writer |
| Wednesdays: Basketball |
| By: Howard Megdal, @HowardMegdal, The Next |
| Thursdays: Golf |
| By: Marin Dremock, @MDremock, The IX |
| Fridays: Hockey |
| By: @TheIceGarden, The Ice Garden |
| Saturdays: Gymnastics |
| By: Lela Moore, @runlelarun, Freelance Writer |
