Last week, both the Chicago Red Stars and the Portland Thorns, two NWSL franchises who were held in disrepute over the last two years through the sexual scandals which have roiled the country’s top pro women’s soccer league, announced potential changes in ownership.
The Red Stars are owned by Armin Whisler, who was blamed in the Yates Report for his inactivity when it came to the behavior of Rory Dames. Dames had been accused of sexual misconduct dating back to 1998 and his time in coaching youth soccer.
As a result of news stories, Whisler stepped away from the team in early October and has already sought a broker to facilitate the sale of the team.
Out west, the Thorns’ majority shareholder, Merritt Paulson, announced that he would be selling the NWSL side, while keeping his majority stake in the MLS’s Portland Timbers. Paulson had come under scrutiny for the way the team had hired Paul Riley, who had his own sordid sexual history involving players under his watch.
These sales are coming only days before a joint report by NWSL and the NWSL Players’ Association is to be released, and it is one which may go even further than the Yates Report in pointing out systemic failures that allowed known predators to become professional coaches in the league.
