NWSL commissioner resigns
National Women’s Soccer League Commissioner Lisa Baird resigned after some 19 months on the job amid allegations that a former coach engaged in sexual harassment and misconduct.
Baird’s resignation was announced by the league late Friday, a day after The Athletic published the accounts of two former players who claimed misconduct, including sexual coercion, by North Carolina coach Paul Riley.
Riley was fired by the Courage on Thursday and the allegations touched off a wave of condemnation by players that forced this weekend’s games to be called off.
On Friday, FIFA opened an investigation. It is rare that soccer’s international governing body gets involved in a controversy involving a member association. U.S. Soccer also announced an independent investigation Friday.
U.S. Soccer was instrumental in founding the National Women’s Soccer League in 2013 and helped support the league until last year, when it became independent. The federation continues its financial support of the league.
U.S. Soccer suspended Riley’s coaching license Thursday after The Athletic published claims of abuse made by former NWSL players Sinead Farrelly and Mana Shim.
FIFA told the AP it was “deeply concerned” by the case and will be seeking further details from American soccer authorities about the issues.
The alleged harassment of Farrelly started in 2011 when she was a player with the Philadelphia Independence of the now-defunct Women’s Professional Soccer league.
She told the website the harassment continued when Farrelly was with the Portland Thorns. Shim, a former Thorns player, also allegedly experienced harassment.
The Thorns said Thursday that the team investigated claims about Riley and passed those on to the league when he was dismissed.
Riley told The Athletic the allegations were “completely untrue.”
Outcry over the allegations rocked the league and forced this weekend’s games to be called off.
The NWSL Players’ Association said it hoped fans would understand and support the decision.
Golf
ZALATORIS SHARES LEAD AFTER COURSE-RECORD 61 >> Will Zalatoris set the course record with an 11-under 61 to share the lead with Nick Watney (66) and Sahith Theegala (67) in the Sanderson Farms Championship.
Watney opened with four birdies in six holes and dropped only one shot on his way to a 66.
They were at 13-under 131 in what figures to be a week of low scoring. RYU, SHADOFF SHARE LEAD AT SHOPRITE LPGA >> So Yeon Ryu birdied the last three holes for a 6-under 65 and a share of the first-round lead with Jodi Ewart Shadoff in the ShopRite LPGA. Scoring was so low on the Bay Course of Seaview in Galloway, N.J., that 20 players shot 67 or better.
Ewart Shadoff, who has missed the cut in her last eight LPGA Tour events, birdied the par-5 18th to join Ryu in the lead.
Jin Young Ko, the world’s No. 2 player, Inbee Park and Solheim Cup star Matilda Castren of Finland were among those one stroke behind at 66.
U.S. Women’s Open champion Yuka Saso birdied four of her last seven holes to finish at 67.