A day of extreme emotion at NWSL Challenge Cup
- by Paul Kennedy @pkedit, Jun 28, 2020
The opening game between the 2018 and 2019 champion North Carolina Courage and 2017 champion Portland Thorns wasn't decided until the fourth minute of stoppage time when Lynn Williams scored to give the Courage a 2-1 win.
In the nightcap, another U.S. national team player, midfield star Rose Lavelle, scored in the eighth minute to ignite the Washington Spirit to a 2-1 victory over the Chicago Red Stars.
Much of the attention was on what took place before the two games.
Before the first game, aired on CBS, all 22 starters, along with most reserves from both teams, wore "Black Lives Matters" T-shirts and took a knee during the playing of the national anthem.
“We took a knee today to protest racial injustice, police brutality and systemic racism against Black people and people of color in America," the Courage and Thorn players said in a joint statement. “We love our country and we have taken this opportunity to hold it to a higher standard. It is our duty to demand that the liberties and freedoms this nation was founded upon are extended to everyone."
Unlike MLS, which will not play the national team before games when it resumes play on July 8 in Florida, the NWSL said on Friday that it would play the national anthem before Challenge Cup games and support the players in whatever they chose to do.
Before the second game, most Spirit and Red Star players knelt, but a few stood. Chicago defender Casey Short was in tears as she knelt, and fellow U.S. national team player Julie Ertz embraced her, while another teammate, Rachel Hill, stood behind her. The players then all knelt for a moment of silence.
This moment and this movement means everything to our players.#BlackLivesMatter pic.twitter.com/g0BOzN9hoF
— NWSL (@NWSL) June 28, 2020
Short, a late cut for the 2019 U.S. Women's World Cup team, was the best outside back in the NWSL last season, but her coach, Rory Dawes, said she wasn't herself in the first half but got back into the game after the break.
"It’s been an extremely emotional day for our group," he said. "I think everybody's exhausted. We were exhausted before we got here."
Dawes said the only way to learn and grow is to have conversations like those about how to handle the national anthem.
"There were a lot of real conversations that were uncomfortable and difficult for people throughout the course of the day," he said. "But that's how, the only way things gets better."
The statements made on Saturday will certainly continue.
"I think we want to keep this momentum and keep the attention on the Black Lives Matter movement throughout this tournament," said Courage midfielder Sam Mewis, another of the U.S. national team stars playing in the tournament.
You love to see it. You love to see these women using their voice, demanding better for America, and for black people and people of color. @TheNCCourage and @ThornsFC kneeling in solidarity with @Kaepernick7 and @Blklivesmatter pic.twitter.com/8Urlj5FMPn
— Megan Rapinoe (@mPinoe) June 27, 2020
June 27 in Herriman, Utah
NC Courage 2 Portland 1. Goals: Debinha (Mace) 75, L.Williams (Mewis) 90+3; Charley 80.
NC Courage -- Labbe, Daniels, Erceg, Dahlkemper, Merrick (Roccaro, 57), Debinha, Mewis, O’Sullivan, Dunn (Milliet, 65), L.Williams, Hamilton (Watt, 58; Mace 74).
Portland -- Bixby, Hubly (Westphal, 73), Menges, Sauerbrunn, Klingenberg (Pogarch, 80), Salem (Boureille, 45), Rodriguez, Horan, Sinclair, Lussi (Weaver, 54), Everett (Charley, 54)
June 27 in Herriman, Utah
Washington 2 Chicago 1. Goals: Lavelle 8, Hatch 46; Gautrat 51.
Washington -- Bledsoe, Nielsen, McGrady (Bailey 64), Staab, Sullivan, Huster (Hellstrom 66), Lavelle (Dougherty 65), DiBiasi, Yokoyama (Feist 64), Sanchez, Hatch (Collins 86).
Chicago -- Naeher, Short, Ertz, St Georges, Gorden, Morse, Gautrat (Colaprico 86), DiBernardo (Johnson 78), Nagasato (Doniak 73), Watt (McCaskill 78), Hill (Vasconcelos 73).
49 comments about "A day of extreme emotion at NWSL Challenge Cup".
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I changed the Channel... Done With NWSL.!!!
Santiago:
I'd call that poor sportsmanship.
I stand with Santiago. Disrespecting our flag because a career criminal was murdered is unacceptable for me and the millions of men and women who fought for this country.
I'm also done with this league and if the MLS does the same ...Ciao Ciao... Despicable; this DOES NOT unite, but separate even more. Shame on the USSF that has approved this new way to listen to the National Anthem!
Santiago , I'm done with this league of which I never watched for I can only take about 2minutes of this low level quality of soccer that masquerades under the name of 'professional soccer".
@Ken, Poor Sportsmanship is when you Disrespect Someones Flag, During The National Anthem Of The Opposing Team... So, How does Disrespecting YOUR OWN FLAG, show Good Sportsmanship.!?!?!? ... Totally illogical Comment from you.!!!
Santiago:
The flag is NOT the country and it is not the people ... unless it can stand for ALL people. Until it does, some may rightly kneel. i prefer to think of kneeling before the flag as a sign of respect for the IDEAL of America and of faith that we can live up to that ideal.
Ken, you're so phony. When will the country meet your ideal? Do you wear a mask part time?
WS: Yes
@Ken, So, To Follow Your Logic: No Countries should have Flags, because, For Sure, Not "Everyone" in ANY Country Believe in the Same Things... Under your Definition; A Flag can Only Represent a Country if ALL agree ... That is a Scary Country to be In.!!!
A great start! And, your Tweet du Jour from Alex Morgan said it all.
I'm happy they are playing again. Like Santiago I won't be watching. From what I'm witnessing the wokesters are destroying a nation.
Wow you can sure tell trolls from the comments of Jack, John, Ken, and Wooden-You've clearly missed the boat on what has been happening in this country. Strong Women and Men who Love this country understand the courage it takes move forward to change systemic racism. Perhaps you should start reading more about our horrible history and the people who have had to deal with far greater abuses than your words.
Thanks Rita. New to the show are we?
Thank you Rita.
By the way I was being sarcastic. So, you prefer to destroy a nation? You do realize autrocities are of the past, present and future. You won't be able to VAR that away. Today, systemic/institutionalized racism is erroneous, it's not written or a formal law. To the extent it happens, it is due to individuals. But, we are way beyond BLM. I just would ask you this, will you leave a little room for scepticism, in the event the wokesters are at your door?
Rita,systemic racism? Instead of employing 'general words' like 'Systemic', try being a little more specific and POINT OUT EXACTLY, where the systemic racism is in the system. I look at Minneapolis, a town that has a democratic mayor for decades, a democratic governor, a city council that's totally democratic and police chief that's a democrat. How 'bout Baltimore, a black mayor, a black police chief, a democratic city council of which half is black, in a democratic state....again , would you like to point out where the systematic racism is ?
We should read about our horrible history? Well , I'll tell you what Rita,our horrible history of having so many blacks killed and abused is still going on in democratic cities like Chicago, Baltimore, Oakland,etc. but this time it is done by their own kind. And I think that is where we need to solve the problem(s)
Just want to let you know there were 10 dead 35 wounded in Chicago just this weekend. And you're about some ephemeral notion of 'systemic racism', open your eyes. How 'bout comparing the numbers of those who died of your so-called 'systematic racism' as compared to what's happening in those cities ,everday
@Frank, Black Lives only Matter when they are Politically Expedient To Further The aims of Socialism/Communism... There are enough people out there who want to see USA Fail...I had a Team Of High School Kids on a Soccer Tour in Veenendaal...During the Pre-Game Walk-In... Some Nuts show up Waving a Soviet Union Flag At Us.!?!?... The Number Of Blacks Killed by Black-on-Black Shootings and the Number Of Black Babies Aborted, Show that there are too many willing to only Look at One Side Of The Slogan: Black Lives Matter ... All Lives Matter, ALL THE TIME.!!!
@Rita; Define "Systematic Racism".!!! Betcha Can't
Santiago....that's exactly what BLM movement is ....their founder is Marxist.
..I was hoping to bike around Veenendaal this summer...but who knows about the flights....
Enjoy Frank.!!! I doubt I can even get Out Of my State for Vacation.!!
Frank, professionals have been discussing systematic racism in the criminal justice system for 50 years. Just because you aren't aware of it, doesn't mean it isn't a real problem. The solution has proved to be elusive. Gender discrimination is real too. There has been some success with that problem. More progress appears to be coming in the future because a majority of graduate students are now women. Organizations will be forced to hire and promote more women.
@Bob... Your the Lawyer... Tell us what Systematic Racism is going on in the USA, in the Year 2020.???
Rita thanks so much for the information. whatever it was.
NWSL has been on the bubble for a long time. Disrespecting the flag will burst the bubble. Goodbye.
It's a bad look for the league and overall it will hurt the public image of an already struggling pro league. Personally, I wish they would stay away from the anthem and stay away from the flag salute as a venue for protest. Personally, I wish they would stay away from the anthem and stay away from the flag salute as a venue for protest. Pick another time in another place. If you must protest, pick another time in another place. And lose the Black Lives Matters T-shirts. Support the sentiment, but not the organization, which advocates violent government overthrow and has been part of the property destruction an mayhem across the U. S.
I’m my day.. the prevailing wisdom was to keep politics out of sports in both local & international sporting events. Case in point, I wasn’t a fan of US boycott of the Russian Olympics in the day. I can’t even recall the reason for the boycott to be honest.
@Larry; Invasion of Afghanistan by Soviet Union.!!! Was the reason 65 Countries Boycotted... Watch the Movie; "Charlie Wilson's War"... It starts Tom Hanks and Julie Roberts... Ties Directly to Taliban, Al Qaeda and why we are still there.!!! ... I actually agree that there should have been NO Boycott.
Taking a knee during the national anthem is beyond lame. Shame on the NWSL. They have the right to their opinion and I have the right to mine and I choose NOT to support them. You fixed NOTHING but you did insult many who died to make you free. Nothing but shame on you.
It's Rory Dames, not Dawes.
I'm not sure why people are so bent out of shape about taking a knee during the anthem. I thought that people in the United States were proud that the U.S. is a democracy, where people are allowed, and in fact encouraged, to have multiple points of view. I thought that the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution protected freedom of expression. People who take a knee during the anthem are expressing their rage against the racism within the country. How is listening respectfully while taking a knee considered disrespecting the flag? And shouldn't respecting the country and the values that it was founded on be more important than an insincere standing for a "flag," which is merely an object? The United States is not a fascist country where one leader requires all to show loyalty to his version of patriotism and the truth, right? I am sorry to hear that people are so bound up in their own views that they are intolerant of the views of others.
Here's what's missing in your analysis. The flag and the anthem are front and center with our military. Everything stops on a military base to raise and lower the flag. When the anthem is played every serviceman stands at attention and salutes. Taking a knee during what is a very solemn time for the military, is collaterally disrespectful to all those military people and their families who have experienced loss. Taking something as sacred as the flag in the anthem and co-opting it for personal reasons shows disrespect, no matter how authentic you think your personal cause might be. I'm not against protests. Protest all you want. Just leave the flag and anthem alone. Because when you kneel down, it's cruel to these families. Why co-opt for a personal reason a national symbol and song that are so sacred to so many, when doing so inflicts collateral cruelty on people who've already suffered so much through the loss of a loved one?
@Rey,,, You or ANY of our Players Going to Kneel down During the Playing Of "God Save The Queen" or "La Marseille".??? NO, because that would be Disrespectful.!!! But, they are having the same Protests over in France and England, for the Same Reason... Black Men being Killed by Police... Try to see the Hypocrisy Of these people... They are Advocating a POLITICAL Point Of View ... Not REAL Reform ... How many Black Lives Lost in Chicago this Weekend.??? How Many Black Babies Aborted this Week.??? Hypocrisy, Plain and Simple; and you MilLEMMINGalls will Vote us Over the Cliff to Socialism, Cause you are Soooo WOKE.!!! Just Remember: You can Vote Your way into Socialism; But, You have to SHOOT YOUR WAY OUT.!!!
Keep doing your thing ladies! Don't mind all the haters it's what they do, clearly those with any sense can see what's really going on, unfortunately prejudice and hatred can blur even a genius' perspective... Proud to be American, proud of all those fighting for equality and sickened by those that believe it's ok for any race to be treated unjust let alone be murdered. How would these people feel if they were the ones being hunted on our great American soil???
Racer Exxe: Thank you for your insightful comment. As a Cold War Veteran, I defend what the ladies did and hopefully continue doing so. It is very sad to read the nayaers,negativism, then again they have every right to express their opinion, even though painfully. And as a Mexican immigrant, naturalized citizen, and veteran, I am proud to have served, and as a teacher of history, I stand ready to provide and teach some history to those who don't know it and are bound to repeat it.
@Ric, What they did was This: "I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color," Kaepernick told NFL Media (nfl.com 8/27/16)... You OK with that.??? Do you Believe, in 2020, even 2016, that this "COUNTRY" Oppresses Black People and People Of Color.???
Just prior to kickoff, all 22 players (and the referee) took a knee for 46 seconds. Fantastic! That was an appropriate demonstration in support of BLM and racial inequality.
NOW, STAND UP FOR THE NATIONAL ANTHEM and find other ways to express your concerns for social issues.
The purpose of the standing and facing the flag of the US in either quietness or while singing the National Anthem is to show respect for our great country. We are very lucky to live here. Is the US perfect? No. And, we need to work on all issues of imperfection.
But, kneeling during the playing of the National Anthem is inherently disrespectful. A person can say "I wasn't trying to be disrespectful", but that casts a blind eye to the fact that it is inherently disrespectful because they are not showing respect for the US flag at a time when that is the specific purpose of the event. It is disrespectful - period.
While this country is not perfect, the US has provided female soccer players opportunities over the last 40 years that were not present in many other countries until the last 5-15 years. Women from national teams from all over the world come to college in the United States because of the great opportunities female soccer players have in the US. Name one other country where female national team players go other than the US for college. There is no other.
I will do everything I can to show respect for people of all colors, not only in the US, but throughout the world. The NWSL can show respect for people of color before a game. But, this must not be done during the event that is intended for us to show respect and give thanks for the great aspects of our country. Kneeling during the National Anthem is disrespectful and a disgrace. It is very logical that this act of disrespect will cause people to turn away from the league.
Yes - I am Caucasian. And Black lives matter to me. I was a member of the NAACP for about 20 years. I was a member of the Southern Poverty Law Center for 15-20 years while they were focused on taking down the KKK. I have supported Jubilee Housing in DC for about 35 years. The last number of years I have been contributing to the United Negro College Fund and the American Indian College Fund because I believe education is one of the best ways to help people. I provide monthly support to a fatherless child in a Central American country.
There are many ways to be supportive in a respectful manner of people of all colors. On the other hand, do some people not want to "put their money where their mouth is" or they think that the US must be perfect before they show respect for the US? Then those people can ignore all the great things the US has done and the respect that has been shown to our flag, including the several hundred thousand white men who died while following the American flag during the Civil War, etc. - and they can just kneel during the National Anthem.
It is not a questrion of disrespecting anything. it is instead a way of shoqing that we do not live up to what our flag supposedly stands for and that, if we are to stand, we must. The women are showing the way. Hopefully the men will follow. And maybe the nation as a whole.
James, how will you know when that threshold is achieved?
Well it IS a case of disrespecting something and a great many people agree that it is. The fact that you don't even recognize or care that the families of a many thousands who've died in wars could be hurt by a bunch of young entitled athletes doing this says a lot to me.
@Pres Madison.. "What our Flag "Supposedly" Stands For" ... Obviously, it's Stand for Nothing to you, You might as well have the Ladies "Burn it" in the Center Circle ... We STAND, In Respect, for the Playing Of The National Anthem... We take our HATS OFF, in Respect, for the National Anthem... We FACE THE FLAG, In Respect, for The Flag and The National Anthem... And Why do we even Bother doing this.??? To Remember those who have Fallen in Service to this Country... Look it Up... So, Disrespectfully, You Flag Protesters are Full of Sxxt.!!!
Santiago if you remember the Vietnam war and people in this country burned the flags and went into the street to oppose a wrong war that many young Americans died in especially lots of poor young men that couldn't get out of the draft.
so those demonstrations put an end to a war that never should been done in first place.
now we fighting something well worth as in ending racist for good as in this got to change.
no one is burning flags just a simple kneel down to let our leadership and people like you it's time for our country to deal with an issue that's long overdue.
its not just about black people but Hispanic as well Asian people. You will see that it's time for real change not some politicians spouting some stuff we already heard but like the burning flag people back during the Vietnam war. So you better start to inform yourself in how to make a change for the better.
@Uffe ... and who got us into that War.??? Kennedy/Johnson ... Who has been Releasing Blacks That have been Unjustly Incarcerated(see Kim Kardasian) ...Who has Revamped the Penal Code To Release Over-Incarcerated Blacks, ... who had The Black Unemploment Rate down to the Lowest in History, and Who wants to give Blacks, School Vouchers so their kids aren't Stuck in Government Schools ... All these things are being Done by the US Government, NOW.!!! ... This Country Continues to "Make Changes for The Better"... Faster Now, than any Previous Administration, Since The 60's... What more is there you want??? ... Oh, and we're getting Out Of All those Overseas Wars.!!! ... And the Vietnam Protesters didn't BURN the Flag, during the National Anthem, which is what were talking about.!!!
Santiago
i was not talking about red vs blue they both have a hand in this issue.
but taking a knee is just a small symbolic statement and it's just getting over blown.
but the simplest way is not to play the National anthem during domestic games, leave it to international games.
and by the way BLM might been started by a fringe group of people but it's no longer it's an international agenda now with regular people marching this forward. I assume you watched EPL games.
this have transformed from black people in this country to all people of colors in the world.
uffe:
I agree
Santiago (this is Spanish for the name of Saint James - Diego, is another meaning for Jaime or James, or better put it is also for St. James of Campostella (Spain) a religious site where thousands of Roman Cathlic pilgrims visit annually) So, question: are you Latino, Hispanic, Latin American, Latinex? Just wondering. And in answer to your question if I feel/think that even now in 2020 or even "2016...(sic)" that Black people or People of Color are oppressed, yes I do. I personally experienced it even while I was serving in both the US NAvy Air Reserve in 1958, and then when I was serving in the Army and stationed with the 7th Infantry Division in South Korea in 1960-61; and even more so during the student demonstrations of the 60's. Oh, and BTW, we also had some demonstrators against the Vietnam War, and for then racial equality, e.g. Black Panther Party, Chicano/MECHA, just to name two groups, whose some members were Marxists/Che Guevara-Castroites types, etc., but when pressed to express their philosophies, they were sure as hell very hard pressed to give a cogent response and explanation. And would you believe that one of our MeCHA university leaders eventually got himself a PhD and became a very prominent and highly placed UC administrator.
So in the long run, Santiago, yes oppression is still very much of our society, and BTW, I have better reception and understanding from the college students I've taught. Hey mi distinguido amigo, where do you live?
Folks, I forgot to mention that in the early '60s, after I was discharged and went back to college, in Oakland, California (Merritt College) I was duly present when the student movements began in earnest, and was even in a political science class with a couple of the founders of the Black Panther Party, now I don't recall if it was Huey Newton or Eldrige Cleaver. And when I transferred to Cal St. Hayward, in the late 60's I remember the time when the California National Guard was called out, and even surrounded UC Berkeley, strung barb wire around the perimieter of the campus, and I even remember the helicopters that rained tear gas on the protesting students that had gathered in front of the library and others at the then called Peoples Park. And I was just a couple of years removed from my discharge and had completed my six-year military obligation, and there were my former comrades in arms manning the barricades, and helicopters tear gassing us. And, oh, I forgot to mention that I'd gone to the UC library to do some research. And if some of you don't know, it was a demonstration against the Vietnam war, as well as a gathering of People of Color - Black Panthers - and many from other student minority groups, MECHA, Asian Pacific Student sGroups, American Indians, etc.
Ric, You have to go back further... to Iago.. Jacob ... Ya'aqov .... my "Latin" heritage goes back 4 Generations and I would Not Qualify Under today's Definition (Wouldn't want to be accused of pulling an Elizabeth Warren) ... I do have a LatinEx alright ... and a National Hispanic Merit Scholarship Son, thanks to Her and God .... He's Currently a JAG in US Army... I Never had to pay a Dime for his University Degree, Gracias a Dios...
And the Rest of you Tax Payers paid for his Law Degree... Muchisimas Gracias.!!!
Paso como 8 años viviendo en Paises donde Español es la lingua "Nativo" ...
"Oppression" "Systematic Oppression" ??? ...
Granted there has been a lot in this Countries History ...
I DO NOT see it in 2020 ... Certainly NOT by the US or States or Local Govts ...
The SCOTUS Just Cleared Up The Last "Oppression"; by Including LGBTQ in the interpretation of the 64 Civil Right Act (What's NWSL gonna look like when the Trans Men Start Playing On the teams.???)
I think it's a "Stretch" to say there is "Systematic Oppression or Racism" in the USA of 2020.
And for sure; The Flag had Nothing to do with Any of it... More than 300,000 dead Yankees can Attest to that...
And thank God for Citizens like You, and my Dad and Son; That were willing to Die fighting under that Flag... Otherwise we would be like Hong Kong today... Communist or Nazi's with No Dissent and REAL Oppression.!!!
"Can't we All Just Get Along" by "Judging people by the Content of their Character and Not by the Color Of their Skin "(Yeah, I took some liberty on those Quotes)
Vivo en en un Lugar, donde puedo practicar mi Español cada dia... No Quiero decir mas
y Nunca me Llamas un "Jaime" ... jajaja
Senor Santiago, thanks for your message, and yopur information. I do want to know why you don' want to be called "Jaime," ??? And thank your son for his service especially as a JAG! I do have a question on what you said above, re: "Communitst or Nazi's (sic)" and honestly speaking, I had to chuckle 'cause in my experience having taught US History for almost 40 years (in addition to Latin American and Intro to Western Civilization) at the collegiate level, it pains me to no end to learn about my students and their complete ignorance about communisim, socialism, or even nazism. And know what, amigo Jaime? Not many - if at all - even know anything about Che Guevara and there they are, wearing a likeness of the guy on their shirts. Any how, just saying, but 'tis better to just say, 'PLAY ON!!!" Saludos Senor Santiago!!!
Bueno... Dos Cosas ... en España, Un "Jaime" es un "Tanto" ... You know, Polish Jokes or Aggie Jokes , Red Neck Jokes, Blonde Jokes ... Cada Cultura tiene su proprio "Idiotas" ... It's Human nature, Not Racism...
If USA had Lost WWII or Cold War, we would be living under a Totalitarian Regime... There would be NO Kneeling during National Anthem... That would be signing your own Death Warrant or a Life Sentence in Solzhenitsyn's Gulag Archipelago ...Even the Stalemate of Korea and The "Loss" in Vietnam did stop the Dominoes from Falling... and Now Vietnam is Practically an Ally ... Current Hong Kong Protesters are headed to Life Sentences for Protesting, Probably be joining the Million Muslims Uighurs in Xi's Chinese Communist Re-Education camps.!!!
Che was an Evil Dude.!!!
Sigue Indeed.!!! Sr. Ric