So far, IT’S BEEN A CHALLENGE
RED STARS DEALING WITH anti-discrimination ISSUE WHILE searching for first win
The first week of the Challenge Cup produced thrilling moments that fans have been waiting for desperately but concerning ones, as well.
Here are three things we have learned so far during the tournament.
NWSL attempts to set new standards for anti-discrimination
The league’s opening week was overshadowed by claims from Red Stars defender Sarah Gorden that she and her boyfriend were racially profiled by a member of BBVA Stadium’s security staff after the Red Stars’ scoreless draw against the Dash last week in Houston.
The league formally opened an investigation Tuesday under its anti-discrimination policy.
The league also announced that it would fine the Red Stars for a violation of a league directive. Grant Wahl reported that the fine was related to partial team owner Sarah Spain’s tweet of support for Gorden after the league sent its board of governors notice directing them not to comment. Wahl also reported Gotham FC general manager Alyse LaHue was fined for the same reason.
Many fans expressed on social media that they took the league’s response to the show of support for Gorden as censorship.
As the league’s investigation progresses, individual clubs and players made it clear that they stand with Gorden. Red Stars players and the Black Women’s Players Collective shared posts condemning racism and discrimination in the league. The BWPC post also acknowledged that Gorden’s experience was not an isolated incident in the NWSL.
On Thursday night, the entire team arrived at SeatGeek Stadium in Bridgeview ahead of the match against the Portland Thorns wearing shirts that read “Believe, Support, Protect Black People.” The Red Stars also elected not to play the national anthem.
Thorns threaten Red Stars’ hopes of winning it all
While players and coaches frequently discuss the parity in the league, the Thorns are certainly the greatest threat to the Red Stars’ hopes of winning the Challenge Cup and NWSL titles. Coach Rory Dames has said that he schedules the Thorns every preseason because of the challenge they present his team and the weaknesses the Thorns expose. Unable to schedule that preseason match this year, Dames got his team ready by playing multiple college programs, including Loyola and Notre Dame.
After the scoreless draw against the Dash in the tournament’s opening match, Dames said the Red Stars’ attack was able to get into areas of the field that it wanted to, but the decision-making was an issue. The team faced similar issues in the second match against the Thorns. The match was marked as an early decider of which team would come out on top of the West Division, but the Red Stars fell to the Thorns 1-0, exposing their lack of an established striker in the process.
Preview of what competition will look like during Olympics
During the Challenge Cup, teams are getting a glimpse of what competition will look like when their national-team players are competing in the 2021 Tokyo Olympics in July and August. The Red Stars are in a good position because of their depth but still struggled to find a rhythm in the attacking third. It isn’t likely that they will lose any players from their attack to Vlatko Andonovski’s 18-player U.S. roster.
With more than two months before the Red Stars lose Alyssa Naeher, Julie Ertz and likely Tierna Davidson, there’s enough time for the team to settle in. A key in winning every trophy this year will be taking advantage of weakened rosters during the Olympic period.