NWSL abuse allegations, as they occurred: Portland Thorns and Washington Spirit timelines, day-to-day

In its decade of existence, the Nationwide Ladies’s Soccer League has been rocked by widespread allegations of emotional, verbal and sexual abuse. The E60 documentary “Fact Be Informed,” which is now accessible to look at on ESPN+, chronicles a few of the most critical allegations of abuse within the NWSL, with a better take a look at two of essentially the most notable, involving former Portland Thorns coach Paul Riley and former Washington Spirit coach Richie Burke.

Right here, we take you thru how these tales unfolded, step-by-step, based mostly on contemporaneous reporting. As well as, Monday’s 319-page investigative report by former appearing U.S. legal professional basic Sally Yates serves as supporting supply materials for a lot of what’s alleged to have occurred.

In an effort to elucidate an advanced scenario, we’ve divided the 2 timelines with a view to make them simpler to comply with, specializing in the info, actions and notable quotes round every scenario.

Soar to: Portland Thorns | Washington Spirit

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Dec. 10, 2013
The Portland Thorns announce Paul Riley as their subsequent head coach after coach Cindy Parlow Cone resigns after one season to spend extra time along with her household.

Jan. 10, 2014
The Houston Sprint draft Thorns midfielder Meleana “Mana” Shim within the NWSL enlargement draft. Shim tells Riley she desires to remain in Portland, based on her interview with E60.

Jan. 17, 2014
The Thorns commerce NWSL school draft picks to maintain Shim. “We did not wish to lose her within the first place,” Riley stated. “Since Houston drafted her, our precedence had been to get her again.”

Could 9, 2015
After a recreation at Windfall Park in Portland, Thorns gamers and coaches go to a bar, the place Riley provides the bartender his bank card and says: “Get the ladies no matter they need.” Riley, an assistant coach, Shim and teammate Sinead Farrelly are the final ones to go away the bar and, strolling again, Shim wants to make use of the restroom and Riley gives his condo, which is close by.

There, the assistant coach quickly leaves, however Riley allegedly provides the gamers extra drinks and asks Shim to bounce with him, developing behind her and attempting to grind on her, Shim informed E60. When Riley leaves to make use of the restroom, the gamers resolve to go away, however wait to say goodbye to him as a result of they did not wish to upset him. When Riley returns he asks in the event that they ever hook up, after which allegedly asks them to kiss one another. He then provides an incentive: In the event that they do, he’ll cancel a workforce drill often called “the suicide mile” at coaching.

June 5, 2015
On a highway journey in Houston for a recreation the following day, Riley asks Shim to return to his resort room to look at recreation movie. Shim, who’s sharing a room with Farrelly, confides in her teammate that Riley had been making her uncomfortable since that incident in Could. He had began texting her extra often and he began asking her out for one-on-one dinners, she says.

Shim allegedly reveals Farrelly a photograph Riley had despatched her: it’s Riley sporting nothing however compression shorts. Farrelly did not inform Shim on the time, however Riley had despatched Farrelly comparable images when he coached her at a earlier membership, she has alleged.

When Shim arrives to Riley’s room for the movie evaluate session, Riley opens the door whereas standing behind it, and as soon as Shim is inside, she sees that Riley is sporting solely his underwear, white briefs, she informed E60. He allegedly tells her to get on the mattress to look at movie, however he does not have any movie prepared to look at. Shim says she wants to arrange for the following day’s recreation and leaves.

July 5, 2015
Shim sends Riley an electronic mail with the topic line “Issues” and tells him that she has “felt uncomfortable” with the best way he has handled her: “We each know that your interactions with me have been inappropriate and it has negatively impacted me on the sector,” she writes. In accordance with the Yates investigators, Riley deleted the e-mail and cleared his trash folder upon receiving it.

Afterward, Shim noticed her taking part in time with the Thorns decreased.

Sept. 8, 2015
Portland Thorns basic supervisor Gavin Wilkinson says Riley’s future on the membership is undecided after lacking the playoffs that season. “It is a resolution that we’re evaluating, to be trustworthy,” Wilkinson stated.

Sept. 16, 2015
Shim information a proper criticism to the Thorns about Riley’s conduct, which incorporates extra allegations than simply those in Could and June. She emails Wilkinson, membership proprietor Merritt Paulson, Riley and the membership’s HR director. She then forwards her electronic mail to Jeff Plush, commissioner of the NWSL, who tells her that he spoke to Paulson and the league will comply with the Thorns’ investigation.

Sept. 17-22, 2015
The Thorns start an investigation into Shim’s allegations. The Thorns HR director interviews Shim alone. Farrelly can be interviewed by the HR director alone, one time, for 20 minutes, she has stated.

Sept. 22, 2015
One other NWSL workforce, Sky Blue FC, contacts the Thorns expressing curiosity in hiring Riley. Paulson sends a observe to Wilkinson about this: “Good and thanks.”

Plush shares Sky Blue FC’s curiosity with Lisa Levine, U.S. Soccer’s authorized counsel, U.S. Soccer president Sunil Gulati and U.S. Soccer CEO Dan Flynn. Gulati responds: “Let’s ensure we’re on top of things on how the Portland scenario is being dealt with/investigated.”

Levine calls Sky Blue FC that day to disclose {that a} participant had “alleged sexual harassment in opposition to Riley.” Sky Blue FC says it’ll discover a totally different coach, and that data would keep confidential.

Sept. 23, 2015
The Thorns publicly announce that the membership “wouldn’t be retaining” Riley as coach, however the membership doesn’t disclose that Riley’s contract has been terminated. In a press launch, Wilkinson is quoted as saying, “On behalf of Thorns FC, I want to thank Paul for his companies to the membership these previous two seasons.”

In Riley’s termination letter, additionally dated for Sept. 23, 2015, the Thorns cite trigger for firing him, together with “neglect, refusal or willful failure to render companies,” “gross negligence or willful misconduct,” and behaving in an “adversarial method” together with “dishonesty, fraudulent conduct, unethical conduct and the like.” The letter additionally states: “Whereas our investigation didn’t reveal any illegal conduct by anybody, we did verify that once in a while, you exercised poor judgment in your interactions with a number of gamers.”

Oct. 26, 2015
The Thorns commerce Farrelly to the Boston Breakers. Farrelly asks Wilkinson if it needed to do with the Riley investigation, which Wilkinson denies. Farrelly additionally asks if Riley shall be allowed to educate within the NWSL once more, however Wilkinson does not reply, based on Farrelly’s account.

January 2016
The Western New York Flash, one other NWSL workforce, considers Riley to be the membership’s new head coach. Aaran Strains, vice chairman of the Flash seeks a referral from Wilkinson, a former teammate of Strains’ on the Portland Timbers and the New Zealand nationwide workforce.

Wilkinson tells Strains that the Flash ought to rent Riley if they’ve the possibility, and Wilkinson “would rent him in a heartbeat.” Wilkinson does point out Shim’s allegations, however suggests Shim is a “disgruntled participant” and tells Strains that Riley “was put in a nasty place by the participant,” per the Yates report.

Feb. 19, 2016
The Flash announce Riley as the following head coach. “After matching up with him for a few years, I am thrilled to announce Paul Riley because the second coach in our membership’s eight-year historical past,” Strains stated.

March 2016
Paulson emails the president of the Flash: “Better of luck this season and congrats on the Riley rent. I’ve plenty of affection for him.”

Jan. 9, 2017
Stephen Malik, a businessman and proprietor of a USL males’s soccer workforce in Cary, North Carolina, declares he has purchased the Western New York Flash, and he’ll relocate the workforce and rename it the North Carolina Braveness.

Jan. 30, 2017
The Braveness announce Riley would be the membership’s first-ever head coach.

Earlier than selecting to rent Riley, Malik reached out to Paulson on the recommendation of Gulati. Paulson by no means informed Malik that Riley had been fired and stated Riley had been investigated for “poor judgement” when gamers got here to Riley’s condo after an evening of consuming, per the Yates report. Paulson additionally reportedly informed Malik that Riley was “an excellent match” for the roster on the Braveness.

Malik requested Plush for a duplicate of the Thorns investigation report, and Plush didn’t share it.

Oct. 8-14, 2017
Because the Braveness and the Thorns face each other within the NWSL playoffs, Paulson and Riley have interaction in pleasant public banter on social media and reward each other, which they are going to proceed to do publicly for years.

July 30, 2019
Jill Ellis declares she’s going to step down as head coach of the U.S. ladies’s nationwide workforce.

July 31, 2019
In a recorded section for ESPN, former U.S. ladies’s nationwide workforce defender and analyst Kate Markgraf provides her shortlist of candidates for the vacant publish of the U.S. ladies’s nationwide workforce head coach. Riley, who had reached two NWSL championships with the Braveness, is likely one of the names.

Aug. 12, 2019
Markgraf is introduced as U.S. Soccer’s first basic supervisor for the ladies’s nationwide workforce program. Her first duty is to rent the following USWNT coach.

Aug. 14, 2019
Representatives for the U.S. ladies’s nationwide workforce gamers’ union, the USWNTPA, contact U.S. Soccer authorized counsel Lydia Wahlke and inform her that the gamers wouldn’t help Riley as coach as a consequence of his previous in Portland. Wahlke communicates this to the Thorns.

That very same day, Paulson and Malik have a telephone dialog to debate that it might “be a good suggestion” if Riley withdrew from the working for the nationwide job. Per the Yates report, Paulson doesn’t explicitly state why, although — messages present Paulson nonetheless tried to maintain the truth that Riley had been fired a secret from Malik, with Paulson explaining: “Paul’s contract was up when he left us and we did not renew it. A technicality however a distinction.”

Aug. 20, 2019
Riley declares on Twitter that he isn’t within the USWNT job. Malik shares the information on his personal Twitter account and provides: “Braveness nation must be smiling.”

March 15, 2021
Shim sends her 2015 criticism about Riley to Lisa Baird, Plush’s everlasting successor as NWSL commissioner. Shim notes she had despatched it to Plush, however Riley continues to be teaching within the league, and she or he is requesting a brand new investigation so the NWSL “will lastly enact the mandatory protecting measures that present gamers are entitled to have within the office.”

Baird responded by thanking Shim for the e-mail, however she ignored the request to reinvestigate.

April 28, 2021
Farrelly emails Baird asking for Riley to be reinvestigated as a result of the Thorns by no means adopted up on allegations Farrelly shared in the course of the membership’s 2015 investigation into Riley.

“Nobody from both the workforce or the NWSL ever independently investigated my allegations that I raised within the 2015 investigation, regardless of their critical nature,” Farrelly wrote. She provides that she is “deeply involved for the security of present gamers provided that Mr. Riley continues to educate within the NWSL.”

Could 5, 2021
Baird responds to Farrelly’s electronic mail and tells her that “the preliminary criticism was investigated to conclusion” and, “Sadly, I can not share any further particulars.” She closes her response: “Thanks once more to your electronic mail and I want you one of the best.”

Sept. 7, 2021
Malik texts Baird that Riley had resigned from his place with the Braveness as a consequence of his anger over the league’s scheduling.

Sept. 8, 2021
Baird texts Malik: “I had a protracted speak with [Riley] and I strongly urged him to not resign and I’m glad you did not settle for it.”

Sept. 30, 2021
The Athletic publishes an article by which Shim and Farrelly share publicly for the primary time their experiences with Riley, together with allegations of predatory sexual harassment and coercion, in addition to different inappropriate conduct. Riley denies any wrongdoing.

The Braveness hearth Riley shortly after the article is printed. “In mild of immediately’s experiences, the North Carolina Braveness have terminated head coach Paul Riley, efficient instantly, following critical allegations of misconduct,” an announcement stated.

Baird points an announcement, saying she is “shocked and disgusted to learn the brand new allegations reported in The Athletic.” In response, Alex Morgan, who had helped Shim file her criticism with the Thorns in 2015, shares screenshots of Baird’s electronic mail alternate with Farrelly.

Oct. 1, 2021
The NWSL Gamers Affiliation and gamers across the league announce video games shall be canceled that weekend.

“Yesterday was a profoundly painful day for us, as gamers, and so many. For a lot of gamers, the ache has stretched throughout years,” an NWSLPA assertion reads. “The outpouring of help we’ve felt has been a beacon of sunshine on a darkish day.”

Baird points her personal assertion saying the choice to postpone video games: “This week, and far of this season, has been extremely traumatic for our gamers and employees, and I take full duty for the function I’ve performed. I’m so sorry for the ache so many are feeling.”

Hours later, Baird resigns as NWSL commissioner.

Oct. 4, 2021
Paulson points an open letter in response to The Athletic’s article, stating that the Timbers and Thorns “disavow the tradition of silence which will have allowed for extra victimization by a predatory coach.” He admits the membership “made an opaque announcement about not renewing Riley’s contract versus explicitly saying his termination,” however says the membership was “guided by what we, on the time, thought was the best factor to do out of respect for participant privateness.”

Paulson vows to conduct an investigation into how the membership dealt with the 2015 criticism in opposition to Riley, and he provides: “No matter findings outcome from this evaluate, I decide to you, we are going to make public in abstract type.”

Oct. 6, 2021
Malik points an announcement by which he says somebody assured him Riley was high-quality to rent: “Once we purchased the Western NY Flash in 2017, we performed due diligence to proceed with Mr. Riley and the teaching employees. We have been made conscious of an investigation into Mr. Riley’s conduct in 2015 and have been subsequently assured that he was in good standing.” When media, in response to his assertion, ask who supplied these assurances, Malik doesn’t return requests for clarification.

Malik’s assertion continues: “Throughout his employment with the Braveness, we had no information of allegations of sexual harassment or coercion.”

After Thorns gamers challenge a set of calls for, the membership locations Wilkinson on administrative go away from Thorns duties solely. He continues in his function for the Portland Timbers.

Jan. 25, 2022
The Thorns shut their investigation into the Riley ordeal with out interviewing any gamers. Wilkinson is reinstated to a task overseeing the Thorns because the Timbers/Thorns “president of soccer.” When requested by the media, the membership declines to make the outcomes of the investigation public.

Oct. 3, 2022
U.S. Soccer’s yearlong investigation performed by former deputy U.S. legal professional basic Sally Yates is launched. The report says the Thorns didn’t cooperate with the investigation and the membership refused to share its 2015 investigation into Riley and tampered with witnesses who had agreed to talk with investigators.

The report reveals that Paulson had warnings about Riley previous to Shim’s criticism that he did not act on. Gamers report that each Paulson and Wilkinson made sexist, demeaning and/or inappropriate feedback to Thorns gamers and feminine employees.

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Oct. 10, 2018
The Washington Put up experiences {that a} native tech government, Steve Baldwin, is in talks to purchase the Washington Spirit from the proprietor who based the membership in 2013. Neither the membership nor the NWSL formally declares the sale, however by December, Baldwin has taken management of the workforce.

Dec. 27, 2018
Experiences emerge that Baldwin has selected Richie Burke because the Spirit’s new head coach, and Baldwin reportedly didn’t think about anybody else for the place.

Burke, an area youth coach within the D.C. space, has by no means managed an expert workforce, however he had coached Baldwin’s daughter, Carlyn, when she was in highschool taking part in for Nationwide Cathedral College.

Jan. 4, 2019
The Spirit announce Larry Greatest because the membership’s new CEO. Greatest has no expertise working an expert sports activities workforce, however he had coached Baldwin’s daughter, Carlyn, when she performed for an area youth academy workforce within the D.C. space.

Jan. 8, 2019
The Spirit formally announce Burke because the membership’s new head coach.

Feb. 25, 2019
A dad or mum of a boy who had been coached by Burke at FC Virginia speaks out on social media, alleging that Burke used “homophobic slurs” and engaged in “disturbing teaching conduct,” which resulted in boys on the workforce looking for “medical intervention for the abuse.” In interviews with native reporters, the dad or mum confirms the identical particulars and says Burke berated the boys.

The Spirit challenge an announcement saying they’ve seemed into the allegations and are conscious of an investigation that passed off when Burke coached at FC Virginia, however that different dad and mom have been pleased with Burke’s teaching.

“What we’ve discovered from FC Virginia and from Coach Burke is that at time of the problem, FC Virginia investigated the matter and decided no motion was mandatory,” the assertion says. It provides: “As consideration to this incident grew on-line, we have been more than happy to obtain help from quite a few dad and mom who’ve labored with Coach Burke all through the years, together with many from dad and mom of this FC Virginia workforce.”

March 6, 2019
One other former participant of Burke’s from D.C. United’s under-23 workforce alleges that Burke was abusive as a coach. Burke would use anti-gay language and insults towards members of the workforce, the participant stated.

D.C. United points an announcement saying that Burke had labored for D.C. United youth groups in solely a brief capability and he “was by no means an worker of D.C. United,” however the membership was not conscious of any allegations from his time with D.C. United’s academy groups.

April 9, 2019
Baldwin points his first assertion as the brand new proprietor of the Spirit and acknowledges formally for the primary time the membership’s sale.

“I come to the Washington Spirit as a father of two daughters, one which performs the sport. So, sure, I’m a soccer dad,” he writes. Being a soccer dad, he provides, provides him “an understanding of the sentiments a dad or mum has when their grownup daughter strikes throughout the nation or the planet to start out their skilled profession with the Spirit in a brand new place with new individuals. I am aware in all we do this our gamers have soccer dad and mom, identical to me, that care most in regards to the lives of their daughters off the pitch.”

Could 26, 2019
Burke is requested by a reporter if he plans to deal with along with his present Spirit gamers the allegations that he had beforehand used homophobic slurs. “Not likely as a result of I’ve acquired no real interest in exhibiting a bias in any approach,” he says. “It isn’t a metric I take into consideration. I take into consideration individuals — I like individuals.”

Dec. 29, 2020
Y. Michele Kang, an area CEO of a tech firm, is introduced as a brand new minority stakeholder within the Spirit’s possession group after buying 35% of the workforce. “I consider it’s important for profitable ladies to take the lead in advancing different ladies, and I sit up for doing so for the ladies of the Washington Spirit,” she says in an announcement.

Aug. 10, 2021
The Spirit announce that Burke has stepped down as head coach and has been “re-assigned” to the membership’s entrance workplace as a consequence of well being issues.

“Yesterday Richie suggested me of some well being considerations,” Greatest says in an announcement, “and we mutually agreed that it was in one of the best pursuits of him and of the membership for him to step down as our coach. As soon as Richie’s well being improves, he’ll be a part of the sporting operations entrance workplace employees.”

Aug. 11, 2021
The Washington Put up releases a report that features interviews from present and former Spirit gamers alleging abuse from Burke.

Kaiya McCullough is the one participant to permit her title for use within the article — she says she left the Spirit as a consequence of Burke’s emotional and verbal abuse. McCullough and different gamers say Burke known as the gamers “canine s—” and “a waste of area,” amongst different insults. McCullough alleges that Burke repeatedly made racially insensitive remarks, joking to a Black participant who had been hit within the eye that “Black eyes matter.” After George Floyd’s homicide, Burke joked that, for {a photograph} of gamers kneeling on the sector, they need to pose with an inflatable dummy underneath their knees.

After being contacted by the reporter, Baldwin points an announcement vowing an investigation. “We, as a workforce, is not going to tolerate any scenario for our gamers and employees that’s lower than skilled,” he writes. “Our athletes, and all of those that help them, deserve the very best.”

The NWSL begins conducting an investigation.

Aug. 13, 2021
Kang and NWSL commissioner Lisa Baird are seen watching a Spirit recreation collectively. After the Put up’s article, Kang had flown in a non-public jet to fulfill with Baird, and each met with gamers after the sport.

Aug. 30, 2021
An influence battle for management of the Spirit between Baldwin and Kang turns into public. Baldwin had provided to promote the workforce to Kang in April 2021 after she raised considerations in regards to the course of the membership, however he later modified his thoughts.

In an electronic mail to NWSL homeowners, Baldwin had accused Kang of meddling within the workforce’s “day-to-day affairs” and “compromising” the workforce’s messaging, and he alleged that she met with Baird after the Put up article to pressure him out of working the membership.

Sept. 2, 2021
The Spirit announce that Ben Olsen has been employed as membership president. In his function, he’ll “oversee all day-to-day operations, driving the event of the workforce’s enterprise and sporting operations, and the general effort to reinforce the membership’s tradition and id.”

Olsen has no expertise in ladies’s soccer, and he comes into his new function after a decade as head coach of MLS workforce D.C. United.

Sept. 4, 2021
An area D.C. sports activities radio host tweets that Kang is being investigated underneath the NWSL’s new anti-harassment coverage. Reporters, following up on that tweet, be taught that it was Greatest who had lodged the criticism in opposition to Kang.

Shortly after, the sports activities radio host additionally tweets that sources have informed him a “dumpling making social gathering” hosted by Kang, who’s Asian-American, “is believed” to have brought on an ongoing COVID-19 outbreak throughout the Spirit workforce, which pressured them to forfeit a recreation. Experiences later reveal that the outbreak really occurred after certainly one of a number of unvaccinated gamers on the workforce traveled and didn’t comply with isolation protocols.

Sept. 22, 2021
A brand new Washington Put up investigation reveals what workers name a “misogynistic” “outdated boys’ membership” at that Spirit.

The report particulars a number of high-ranking feminine staffers who’ve just lately give up. Sources allege Greatest had demeaning nicknames for gamers and feminine workers, together with “Mexican Mama” and “Japanese Woman,” and he repeatedly joked that one participant must be often called “Dumb Broad.” An inner survey from months prior had discovered that gamers and employees felt misogyny was an issue.

Sept. 28, 2021
The NWSL concludes its investigation into Burke, and the league declares that he’s now not allowed to educate within the NWSL. The NWSL’s board of governors, which is made up of householders from groups all through the league, voted for the choice.

“After contemplating the substance of the report, and considering prior actions of the Spirit, the NWSL’s board of governors has decided that the Spirit and its possession have did not act in one of the best pursuits of the league,” an NWSL assertion says.

Oct. 5, 2021
Baldwin declares that, on the request of Spirit gamers, he is resigning as CEO and “Managing Accomplice” of the Spirit, and Olsen may have full authority over membership operations. “I hope that stepping again removes me as a distraction and permits the membership to thrive,” he says.

Hours later, the Spirit’s gamers launch a joint assertion asking Baldwin to promote the membership to Kang, and so they criticize Baldwin for appointing Olsen as his alternative.

“Once we requested you to step apart, step again from administration, we clearly meant you shouldn’t retain any administration management. We’re certain you perceive that,” the assertion says. “You continue to have a agency grip as majority proprietor on the choices that should be made on the membership, even when they’re created from behind a veil. In your ultimate act as Managing Accomplice, you handed the baton to somebody who has just about no expertise within the function you left to him. … We do not have a motive to consider you will not be concerned.”

“Allow us to be clear. The particular person we belief is Michele,” the gamers proceed. “She repeatedly places gamers’ wants and pursuits first. She listens.” The gamers end by asking Baldwin to “please promote to Michele at an affordable value.”

Oct. 29, 2021
In an electronic mail to membership employees, Greatest resigns from his function as president of sporting operations for the Spirit. The NWSL’s investigation discovered Greatest had been conscious of the allegations in opposition to Burke.

Nov. 20, 2021
The Spirit win the NWSL Championship, the membership’s first trophy because it began taking part in in 2013.

Dec. 14, 2021
After Baldwin had entered unique negotiations to promote the Spirit to Los Angeles Dodgers co-owner Todd Boehly for $25 million, Kang informs the NWSL board of governors that she has elevated her supply to purchase Baldwin’s shares of the Spirit to $35 million.

“I consider that is the best supply, and is effectively above market given previous sale costs to say the least,” she tells the NWSL board. “It’s based mostly on my sturdy dedication to the workforce and the NWSL as a complete, and shall be accompanied by further funding into the membership’s infrastructure.”

Jan. 11, 2022
Though the NWSL’s board of governors had backed Boehly to take over the Spirit, Kang sends an electronic mail to the board saying that she has maneuvered her strategy to majority management of the Spirit with out Baldwin’s cooperation.

“As a few of it’s possible you’ll know, there are numerous league-approved buyers within the Spirit who maintain promissory notes convertible at their election into an fairness stake within the membership,” she opens the e-mail, earlier than explaining she and ally buyers had acquired and transformed sufficient these notes to signify a majority stake within the membership.

She gives to honor her $35 million valuation for Baldwin’s shares and provides that Baldwin can not promote his shares to Boehly for $25 million: “Steve now not has management of the workforce or the power to dictate the phrases of any sale.”

Jan. 25, 2022
Baldwin sends an electronic mail to fellow Spirit buyers accusing Kang of “a coup try” for management of the membership. Baldwin accuses Kang of getting “secret conferences” with staffers and criticizes Kang’s relationship with the gamers and their households.

Feb. 8, 2022
After Baldwin agreed to promote his shares within the Spirit to Kang, the NWSL declares that the board has permitted the sale.