Dames accused of verbal, emotional abuse
Former players speak out in bombshell report published just after coach resigned
Several former Red Stars players accused coach Rory Dames of verbal, emotional and racial abuse and controlling behavior in a Washington Post article published Monday.
Dames, who was the longest-tenured coach in the National Women’s Soccer League, resigned Saturday after the team lost 2-1 to the Washington Spirit in the championship match. The Red Stars announced the resignation late Sunday.
The Washington Post article alleges Dames, 48, frequently berated and humiliated players, sometimes using personal information such as their education or relationship status when criticizing players. The players alleged in the story that Dames “sometimes joked that an Asian player should be smarter than she was playing” and “frequently commented to religious players about their holidays.” Dames allegedly called a player from Appalachia “trailer trash,” according to the article.
Former players also accused Dames of “intentionally blurring the line between player and coach,” according to the article.
Several former Red Stars — including U.S. national team forward Christen Press, forward Jen Hoy and defender Samantha Johnson — went on record in the article, and in 2018 U.S. Soccer, the governing body that oversees the sport in the country, looked into the matter after Press brought up concerns about Dames in 2014.
The Washington Post article says that U.S. Soccer took “no apparent action” after speaking with players and that Red Stars majority owner Arnim Whisler allegedly knew of the investigation.
Attempts by the Tribune to reach Dames, Whisler and U.S. Soccer were unsuccessful.
The Red Stars issued a statement to the Tribune through crisis communications agency Culloton + Bauer Luce on Monday evening that said in part: “In conjunction with our players, the Chicago Red Stars several weeks ago initiated an independent review of player health and safety and the team’s culture and work environment.
“We intend to implement any recommendations in that review that will strengthen our ability to empower our players, to ensure that everyone’s voice is heard, and to foster an environment of continual growth.”
In a statement to the Tribune, the NWSL said it is looking into the matter.
“The NWSL has initiated an investigation to review historical and ongoing complaints of discrimination, harassment, or abuse, and, where necessary, reopen investigations into these complaints or initiate a new adjudication process,” the league said in the statement. “We are committed to making the systemic and cultural changes necessary to create a safe environment for our players and staff, and this investigation is an important step in that process.”
Meanwhile, the NWSL Players Association issued a statement Monday evening calling for systemic change in professional and youth soccer.
The Red Stars announced
Dames’ departure at 11:54 p.m. Sunday. The timing of the announcement — combined with the fact the news never appeared on the team’s highly active social media accounts and no media availability was scheduled — drew questions considering Dames’ tenure and legacy, including leading the club to three straight finals.
In announcing his resignation, the Red Stars quoted Dames, who also oversees elite youth soccer club Eclipse Select, as saying he was “refocusing my attention to my family and future endeavors.”
The Red Stars said in the Sunday night announcement: “Under Rory’s leadership we have been a remarkably consistent and excellent club on the field. We continually evaluate our team and front office environment, and given the dynamic change underway in the league, it is time to begin the next chapter of the Red Stars with a search for new leadership of the team.”
The bombshell article from the Washington Post casts a new light on the legacies of Dames and the Red Stars.
Dames, 48, took over the Red Stars in 2011 and led the team to its only trophy in 2012. The NWSL played its first season in 2013, and after initial struggles in the new league, the Red Stars under Dames qualified for the playoffs in six straight regular seasons (2015-19, 2021) and reached the league final in 2019 and 2021. The Red Stars also reached the final of the pandemic-created Challenge Cup last year.
They were on the wrong end of a 4-0 loss to the North Carolina Courage in the 2019 NWSL final, lost 2-0 to the Houston Dash in the 2020 Challenge Cup final and fell 2-1 to the Spirit in an extra-time thriller Saturday.
But despite coming up short at the final hurdle,
Dames frequently was praised for his ability to spot and acquire talent in the league and college ranks, making competitive a team that for years has operated with one of the tightest budgets in the NWSL.
The 2021 season, in which the Red Stars brought in several new investors as minority owners, saw Dames coach his team to another final despite longterm injuries to goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher and captain Julie Ertz. The team also had to overcome several other injuries, including ones to Vanessa DiBernardo and Mallory Pugh in the final and Kealia Watt in the semifinal, and Casey Krueger’s absence for several weeks with an illness.
Midfielder Morgan Gautrat on Saturday credited Dames for keeping the team performing this season despite the lengthy injury list.
“He’s been the glue that has held this team together, this organization,” Gautrat said after the championship game. “For us, it’s just constantly that he’s had the tactics right and he’s always been the first one to make sure to uphold our standard and he’s pushed us. And also at the same time he’s made us better on and off the field, and for us it’s been super important to have him leading the show.”
Dames is the latest in a long line of figureheads ousted across the NWSL this year for reasons not pertaining to results on the pitch.
OL Reign coach Farid Benstiti, NJ/NY Gotham FC general manager (and former Red Stars GM) Alyse LaHue, Racing Louisville FC coach Christy Holly, Spirit coach Richie Burke and Courage coach Paul Riley all were fired or resigned.
NWSL Commissioner Lisa Baird resigned and league general counsel Lisa Levine was ousted in the wake of The Athletic’s report on Riley’s alleged sexual coercion of players.
The multitude of allegations sparked NWSL players and the players association to stage in-game protests and demands to create an independent committee to investigate abuse claims.
The off-field changes also coincide with on-field change for teams across the league. Dames’ departure from the Red Stars comes less than a month before the NWSL will hold an expansion draft — with Angel City FC and the San Diego Wave entering the league next season — and its annual college draft.
In addition to coaching the team, Dames served as a de facto GM, overseeing most of the team’s roster moves.