NWSL – Page 9 – Women's Soccer Express

NWSL: San Diego Wave organization sued by five former employees, League also named as defendant [Updated]

Update (9-January-2025): On October 31st, a sixth former employee joined the lawsuit. She is designated as “Jane Doe 2”, with the first anonymous plaintiff now designated as “Jane Doe 1”. See the “Update” section below for a summary of Doe 2’s allegations.

This week, five former employees of the San Diego Wave filed a joint lawsuit in California state court against the Wave organization, asserting fifteen different causes of action. The National Women’s Soccer League was also named as a defendant on an additional claim of negligence.

The sports news website Defector was the first to report on the lawsuit and has an article, written by Diana Moskovitz and Lesley Ryder, that comprehensively summarizes the complaint: “San Diego Wave, NWSL Sued For Team’s ‘Abusive And Hostile Work Environment'”. Additionally, Jeff Kassouf has a brief article about the lawsuit on ESPN.com: “San Diego Wave, NWSL sued by five former employees”. The original complaint can be viewed and downloaded using the following link: https://s3.documentcloud.org/documents/25196836/sd-wave-complaint.pdf (via Defector).

NWSL News of Note: Andi Sullivan out with torn ACL, Frankie Tagliaferri leaves Royals, New role for Karina LeBlanc, Cleveland rumors

This week, the Washington Spirit placed midfielder Andi Sullivan on the season-ending injury list after she suffered a torn ACL in the Spirit’s match last Sunday against the Orlando Pride. In other player news, midfielder Frankie Tagliaferri is no longer with the Utah Royals.

Also, Portland Thorns general manager Karina LeBlanc will transition to a new position with RAJ Sports, which owns both the Portland Thorns as well as Portland’s new WNBA franchise.

Additionally, on Wednesday, NWSL Commissioner Jessica Berman visited Cleveland, meeting with the Cleveland Pro Soccer organization and local leaders.

NWSL Referee Assignments: October 11 to 13, 2024

Friday, October 11th:

Thorns vs. Pride: JC Griggs (VAR: Corbyn May)

Saturday, October 12th:

Red Stars vs. Gotham: Greg Dopka (VAR: Alyssa Nichols)
Courage vs. Angel City: Eric Tattersall (VAR: Kevin Broadley)
Bay FC vs. Current: Danielle Chesky (VAR: Adorae Monroy)

Sunday, October 13th:

Spirit vs. Racing: Abdou Ndiaye (VAR: Greg Dopka)
Royals vs. Reign: Elvis Osmanovic (VAR: Elijio Arreguin)
Wave vs. Dash: Jaclyn Metz (VAR: Shawn Tehini)

Source: PRO

NWSL: Angel City salary cap investigation began after former ACFC player discussed supplemental agreement with their new club

On Tuesday, The Athletic published a write-up of a brief interview with NWSL Commissioner Jessica Berman where she disclosed how the existence of Angel City’s “side letters” were initially discovered. According to the article, “one of [ACFC’s] former players signed with another team and brought up the existence of a supplementary agreement”, presumably with the new team. While The Athletic article does not have much in the way of new details, it does have some illuminating quotes from Berman.

Previously: Angel City FC fined $200,000 and docked 3 points for violating salary cap and other league rules

Regarding the “annual investigations and audits of player spending across clubs” mentioned in last week’s press release, Berman added that the league is “now going to proactively investigate and audit clubs on a random basis”. According to the article, in the past “the league routinely ask[ed] teams about their salary-cap compliance”, which, although not specified in the article, appears to be a reference to a requirement that multiple representatives from each team, including the “President”, “General Manager”, and “Head Coach” complete an annual “NWSL Team Player Compensation Compliance Affidavit”.*

In the interview, Berman reiterated that all player agreements must be disclosed to the league: “We have very clear rules… Any agreements that are not disclosed are by definition a violation of our rules.”*

NWSL: Angel City FC fined $200,000 and docked 3 points for violating salary cap and other league rules

Last week, the NWSL announced disciplinary actions against Angel City FC for violations of “multiple league rules”. According to the league, Angel City went over the salary cap “by approximately $50,000 for four weeks during the 2024 season”. Contributing to the salary cap overage were five “side letter” agreements with players which included some “excess benefits that were neither reported to the league nor included in the Standard Player Agreement”. The disciplinary actions announced by the league include a $200,000 fine, a deduction of 3 points in Angel City’s league standings, and partial suspensions for two members of Angel City’s front office: President/CEO Julie Uhrman and the general manager, Angela Hucles Mangano. (All quotes in this paragraph are from the league’s press release, which is reprinted later in this post.)

The NWSL’s disciplinary actions against Angel City should not be viewed as just for violating the salary cap. More significantly are the conclusions that Angel City failed to properly report the side letter agreements to the league.

NWSL News of Note, Teams Edition: Billionaire Marc Lasry expected to acquire controlling stake in Courage; Bay FC to build training facility, Current stadium to host 2025 NCAA College Cup

Leading this edition of notables is the news that Steve Malik, the primary owner of the North Carolina Courage is in formal talks to sell a 60% stake in the Courage to billionaire Marc Lasry. Should that deal go through retired NWSL player Lauren Holiday is expected to have “a very active role” in the Courage organization.

Also, Bay FC has announced plans to acquire a lease of land on Treasure Island, in the San Francisco Bay, for a permanent and dedicated training facility, which would also include offices for its sporting operations.

In head coaching news, the Houston Dash have officially parted ways with Fran Alonso who had been mysteriously absent from the team since the end of June.

Other notables include:

Angel City: MLS club Los Angeles FC acquires minority stake
Kansas City Current: CPKC Stadium will host 2025 NCAA Women’s College Cup
Gotham FC: Ali Krieger named Club Ambassador
Portland Thorns: RAJ Sports awarded Portland WNBA Franchise
Racing Louisville’s attendance woes — “We’d love to see more of you”

Angel City’s violation of the salary cap and other league rules is covered in a separate post: Angel City FC fined $200,000 and docked 3 points for violating salary cap and other league rules.

Additionally, SafeSports investigation into former Chicago Red Stars head coach Rory Dames has apparently been closed due to “insufficient” evidence. However, the root cause appears to be a blatantly deficient investigation.

NWSL News of Note, Players Edition: Christine Sinclair announces retirement, Contract renewals include Alyssa Naeher, Ann-Katrin Berger, Julie Doyle, and Tara McKeown

Leading the notables since the last update is the announcement by one of the all-time greats, Christine Sinclair, who will be ending her professional playing career at the end of the season.

Another retiring player, Gotham FC’s Kelley O’Hara was placed on the season-ending injury list due to “chronic knee degeneration”.

In other player-related news, three goalkeepers extended with their clubs: Alyssa Naeher of the Chicago Red Stars, Ann-Katrin Berger of Gotham FC, and Jordan Silkowitz of Bay FC.

Other players re-signing with their clubs include

Orlando Pride: Julie Doyle
Washington Spirit: Tara McKeown
Houston Dash: Sophie Schmidt
Utah Royals: Laura Flynn and Cristina Rogue

Additionally, the Washington Spirit have loaned defender Waniya Hudson to the Dallas Trinity of the USL Super League for the remainder of her contract.

U-17 WYNT: Roster Announced for 2024 FIFA Under-17 Women’s World Cup

For the first time, the United States Under-17 Women’s Youth National Team will have currently enrolled NCAA players when it takes the field at this month’s FIFA Under-17 Women’s World Cup in the Dominican Republic. That fact alone would make the roster announced by U.S. Soccer on Tuesday (ussoccer.com) groundbreaking. However, more remarkably, the roster selected by head coach Katie Schoepfer also includes current professionals who play for teams in the National Women’s Soccer League. In addition to the full professionals, the roster also includes players who are associated with USL Super League teams via amateur contracts.

The list of players not included is notable as well. Only one of the five forwards who were on the USA’s qualifying roster earlier this year for the Concacaf U-17 Women’s Championship has been named to the USA’s U-17 WWC roster. The four absent players were responsible for 13 of the USA’s 32 goals scored during that tournament.

NWSL Referee Assignments: October 4 to 6, 2024

Friday, October 4th:

Dash vs. Red Stars: Ekaterina Koroleva (VAR: Danielle Chesky)
Reign vs. Angel City: Matt Thompson (VAR: Laura Rodriguez)

Saturday, October 5th:

Courage vs. Wave: Melinda Homa (VAR: Corbyn May)
Gotham vs. Bay FC: Sergii Demianchuk (VAR: Kevin Broadley)
Racing vs. Current: Matthew Corrigan (VAR: Brad Jensen)
Thorns vs. Royals: Rebecca Pagan (VAR: Ekaterina Koroleva)

Sunday, October 6th:

Pride vs. Spirit: Danielle Chesky (VAR: Abdou Ndiaye)

Source: PRO

NWSL Referee Assignments: September 27 to 29, 2024

Friday, September 27th:

Angel City vs. Spirit: Alyssa Nichols (VAR: Elijio Arreguin)

Saturday, September 28th:

Current vs. Gotham: Ekaterina Koroleva (VAR: Shawn Tehini)
Royals vs. Racing: Alexandra Billeter (VAR: Corbyn May)
Pride vs. Dash: Iryna Petrunok (VAR: Danielle Chesky)
Wave vs. Thorns: Elijio Arreguin (VAR: Kevin Broadley)

Sunday, September 29th:

Red Stars vs. Courage: Ricardo Fierro (VAR: Laura Rodriguez)
Reign vs. Bay FC: Elton Garcia (VAR: Alyssa Nichols)

Source: PRO