USWNT coach Jill Ellis this week emphasized that G Hope Solo's suspension "stemmed from a 'sum total of actions' and not just comments" she made about the Swedish team during the Olympics, according to Anne Peterson of the AP. Ellis in a Q&A on U.S. Soccer's website said, "Over time there's been off the field distractions for which the Federation has taken action. Each time an action has been taken there's been made clear an expectation that this would be the last time such a step would be necessary. Sadly, how Hope handled her post-Olympic comments forced us to make a significant decision. It's not simply a decision made about comments, it was based on the sum total of actions that have unfortunately shone a negative light on our program" (AP, 9/6). In S.F., Ann Killion wrote the USSF "probably wants to be rid of Solo because she makes the federation uncomfortable." Solo, on the final episode of the docu-series "Keeping Score," which aired on Friday, said, "I'm being pushed out. ... It can't be based off performance, my health. It can't be based off anything but that they don't like me. Because they know I've been fighting so hard for equal pay. They're going to use my comments as an excuse to get rid of me forever." She added, "I'm just a thorn in their side and it's time for them to cut their losses." USWNT MF Megan Rapinoe, who was "critical of Solo for her remarks, also expressed concern about the organization's action." Rapinoe on the episode said, "As a member of the team and of the CBA group and of the PA (players' association), I'm pretty unhappy with a sort of arbitrary six-month suspension for calling someone a coward." She added, "There's probably some legal strategy going on" (S.F. CHRONICLE, 9/6).
