NWSL Commissioner Lisa Baird is open to the idea of playing the ’20 season beyond just the Challenge Cup, which began over the weekend outside Salt Lake City, but she said the league is focused more on making sure the month-long event “is a smooth operation,” according to Julia Poe of the ORLANDO SENTINEL. Baird said, “We’re going to learn lessons of things that work and things that didn’t work. As long as the pandemic goes on, we’re all gonna have to approach sports differently and approach it sensibly.” Baird suggested that the “success of this tournament” would be defined by safety. She said, “I think about that word, like, almost every minute. But second is always, are we going to be able to capture the imagination of America? … We’re going to be looking at doing some research to see if [we’re] able to capture the attention of the more casual fan” (ORLANDO SENTINEL, 6/27). Baird said at halftime of Saturday’s North Carolina Courage-Portland Thorns broadcast, “We want Americans to fall in love with the sport, fall in love with our players, and realize that we have an exciting tournament ahead of us.” The NWSL is the first U.S. pro team league to return, and Baird called it a “significant statement for all sports.” Baird: “We want to bring sports back with health and safety and wellness in mind for all the players” (“Courage-Thorns,” CBS, 6/27).
All players before the start of the Courage-Thorns match knelt during the national anthemGETTY IMAGES
TAKING A KNEE: ESPN.com's Graham Hays noted all players before the start of the Courage-Thorns match "knelt during the national anthem" while also kneeling briefly "for a second time immediately before kickoff." All players "wore Black Lives Matter shirts over their jerseys during the anthem and Black Lives Matter armbands during the game." A "few players remained standing" during Saturday's Chicago Red Stars-Washington Spirit match. However, there was a "touching moment" when Red Stars MF Julie Ertz "consoled teammate Casey Short, who was overcome by emotion" while kneeling. Spirit coach Richie Burke knelt as well as said, "I feel the need to support the Black Lives Matter movement because I know this privilege isn't the same for everyone. This is just the start. There is much more work to be done" (ESPN.com, 6/27). The NWSL on Friday confirmed it "would play the national anthem before the Challenge Cup games and that it would support the players in whatever they chose to do" (AP, 6/28). The league indicated that it "had been 'collaborating' with the union 'to assist a player-led initiative in support of the Black Lives Matter movement and the goal of eliminating racism and injustice.'" The efforts "have been led by black players" like Courage F Lynn Williams, Orlando Pride F Sydney Leroux Dwyer and Courage MF Crystal Dunn (N.Y. TIMES, 6/27).
DECISIONS STILL TO BE MADE: THE ATHLETIC’s Meg Linehan reports the NWSL is holding “internal conversations … regarding the playing of the anthem,” and it is “still to be determined if the league will adjust its approach to the pregame ceremonies.” The league could “elect not to play the anthem at all or play it before the teams take the field.” MLS Commissioner Don Garber earlier this month indicated that his league “would not play the anthem before matches at the MLS is Back Tournament” (THEATHLETIC.com, 6/28).
