Club out to maintain focus
Regular season to open amid NWSL probe
Tuesday night, the Dash learned their coach, James Clarkson, had been suspended after the team received a report on a joint investigation by the National Women’s Soccer League and its players’ association into alleged discrimination, harassment and abuse.
Wednesday morning, the team reported for its normal training. On Sunday, the team will play its season opener at PNC Stadium against San Diego. The five days in between have been an exercise in maintaining focus after becoming the latest NWSL team to deal with reports of discrimination and harassment.
“When we hear something, we just have to roll with the punches,” said goalkeeper Jane Campbell, who noted the players were informed just 20 minutes before a news statement on the investigation was released. “The timing was quite fast. The next morning we had training and showed up like normal and the same schedule.
“Our first (conversations as a team) was we had a game and we have to prepare.”
Sarah Lowdon, who was an assistant with the Dash from 2014-16, will coach Sunday’s game.
The team’s new president, Jessica O’Neill, has been involved in helping the organization manage this week. “She has talked to us many times about coming together and having to lean on each other,” Campbell said. “Checking in on everyone and making sure everyone is all right and able to perform.”
Lowden, who had roles in the soccer programs at Sam Houston, Florida and Penn State before returning to the Dash this season, has also tried to help the players strike a balance including an exercise in which the players labeled things “soccer” or “human” on sticky notes.
“Kudos to her,” Campbell said.
Clarkson has called the allegations against him “unfounded and baseless.” The team said an “ultimate decision” about Clarkson’s future as a leader and coach will be “based on the final results of an ongoing investigation.”
NWSL commissioner Jessica Berman, who began her job April 20, said that while she is disappointed the NWSL continues to deal with such allegations, Clarkson’s suspension shows the systems put in place to protect players are working.
In 2021, several coaches resigned or were fired due to abuse or harassment issues and NY/NJ Gotham FC fired its general manager. The Washington Spirit fired coach Richie Burke in September after an investigation by the league into alleged violations of the NWSL’s antiharassment policy and North Carolina coach Paul Riley was fired later that month after The Athletic published the accounts of two former players who claimed misconduct, including sexual coercion
NWSL commissioner Lisa Baird resigned on Oct. 1 after about 19 months on the job and the players’ association demanded a joint union-league investigation into abuse.
Chicago Red Stars coach Rory Dames resigned in November after the Washington Post quoted several players as saying Dames was emotionally abusive.
As for the Dash, the season begins and a chance to focus on soccer.
“Hopefully, we can put on an entertaining match and get three points,” said Campbell, one of the team’s captains.