USWNT MF Megan Rapinoe last night again "knelt during the national anthem" prior to the team's game at the Georgia Dome against the Netherlands, leaving her "at odds with the stated expectations of her coach and U.S. Soccer for the second time in four days," according to Graham Hays of ESPNW. A U.S. Soccer spokesperson said that "no punishment was levied on Rapinoe" after she knelt prior to Thursday's game against Thailand. However, U.S. Soccer "indicated that the situation could be re-evaluated if Rapinoe continued to kneel during the anthem." Hays noted any displeasure among the fans in attendance "was muted, though in the silence before the anthem a lone voice in the stands could be heard yelling, 'Stand up'" (ESPNW.com, 9/18). Rapinoe during a postgame Q&A called the kneeling experience a "positive," and that she has "had a lot of conversations with teammates." Rapinoe said she met with U.S. Soccer Dir of Communication Aaron Heifetz and coach Jill Ellis and "talked through my process." She said, "I haven’t talked to U.S. Soccer outside of these guys, and they are the ones here with me. ... It’s sort of an ongoing process and thought process and what’s the best way to handle everything." Rapinoe continued, "Do I kneel forever? I don’t know. Probably not. But I think until I can be more effective in other ways then this seems appropriate to me." In Atlanta, Doug Roberson notes Rapinoe yesterday was "booed when she came in during the 64th minute," and then was "booed every time she touched the ball, though there were a few cheers also" (ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION, 9/19).
TEAMMATES ON THE FENCE: SI.com's Grant Wahl cited a USWNT member as saying that several players "support Rapinoe’s cause but not her action of kneeling, adding that a few players tried to talk her out of kneeling" Thursday night. The player said that there were not suggestions of "linking arms with Rapinoe or joining her in kneeling during the anthem" (SI.com, 9/18). ESPN's Israel Gutierrez said it is "difficult to understand the reaction from U.S. Soccer" towards Rapinoe, as the organization is "essentially suggested patriotism become blind when wearing the flag, regardless of your experience actually living in the U.S." Gutierrez: "Those liberties that U.S. Soccer insists players should reflect upon during the Anthem aren't all the same for Rapinoe as they are for many of her teammates" ("The Sports Reporters," ESPN2, 9/18).
STAY TUNED: SI.com's Wahl noted the next CBA talks between the players and U.S. Soccer are "set to take place in October." One source on the players’ side said that "there’s a realistic chance there will be a work stoppage in January, not least because the two sides remain far apart on several issues and there are no important international games in the near future." But one U.S. player "was a bit more encouraging, saying there had been limited progress between the two sides and that she hopes there won’t be a work stoppage." Wahl noted any strike could also "affect the NWSL, since U.S. Soccer pays the league salaries of the national team players as well" (SI.com, 9/18).
