There apparently was a media conference call with coaches, so some things I'm seeing reported (I'll just give attribution at the end to avoid just a post full of tweets): -Harrington said USWNT players will have their minutes limited according to an agreement between USSF and the NWSL. Press and O'Hara have not arrived in Utah yet, but should be there by the end of the week. (Alex Vejar @AlexVReporting tweets) -Parsons said Sophia Smith is not in full training due to a "small knock." (@thrace tweet) -The Thorns got permission from Multnomah County to have full team training, even though Portland is not yet in Phase 1 of reopening. (Jeff Kassouf tweet) -Full answer of Mark Parsons on players opting in or out: Asked @mparsons_1 whether he's got any nos or yeses yet from his players on going to Utah.His answer: pic.twitter.com/urErpPCenx— Jonathan Tannenwald (@thegoalkeeper) June 1, 2020
I know its cliche, but things would have been so different for NWSL as well as for everybody had the virus didn't show up. Big time sponsorships which NWSL has been fighting for, for years finally comes up at a bad timing!
We have our first confirmed opt-out: Rapinoe will not participate (She is absent as well from the training camp in Montana.) Football féminin | Megan Rapinoe (@mPinoe) ne participera pas au tournoi organisé par la @NWSL, fin juin dans l'Utah, avec son club @OLReign https://t.co/irej8q5LqB pic.twitter.com/3LKhOfa9EW— Le Progrès OL (@LeProgresOL) June 3, 2020
Same news but in English. Here they also report that all other Reign players are in camp, except for Celia Jimenez Delgado, but she is expected to report this next week.
Rapinoe (and any other players who don't participate) should return their salaries during the time they are non-participants. No pay for no work.
It strikes me as elitism to get paid when you choose not to work. If the groundskeeper for this tournament can decide not to work -- and still get paid -- then I withdraw my complaint. .
I suppose I should mention that Rapinoe has been my favorite player since the 2011 World cup. I am not supporting those who criticize her political activities. Politically, she's fabulous -- and a fabulous soccer player also.
Elitism? Even if that's what the PA worked out for all players? For Rapinoe, I'm really not surprised. She's a player who I think would have retired after the Olympics this year, so this would have been her last year. She might be trying to stick around for the Olympics next year at this point, but doesn't want an injury this year to preclude that.
Normally, you write smart and thoughtful things. This is not one of those. The agreement with the NWSL players and owners, and subsequently announced between USSF and its players was players had the choice not to participate with no loss of pay or benefits. Would you have had the same reaction if, for example, Kelli Hubly or Meredith Speck had announced they decided not to participate?
RE: Elitism. I suppose I can give the benefit of the doubt to the National Team Players who decide not to play, even though I reacted negatively when I read the initial rumors that several Nats were not going to participate, when I wasn't reading that any of the prominent non-Nats were staying home. I believe the Nats, especially the older Nats, have more to lose if something negative happens if they participate. Pehaps a worse case of elitism was when Abby sat out the club season prior to the 2015 world cup. PS. And maybe now, there are human rights/social/political reasons a player may not want to play, over and above COVID concerns.
At least you are consistent. I was tempted to quote Ralph Waldo Emerson, but it does not apply in this context. I tend to agree with your groundskeeper comment. OTOH, as an engineer, who has worked in construction and industrial settings, our company puts safety first. We tell our employees that if you do not think it is safe, within the context of proper task training, safety procedures and protective systems, do not do it. There are no consequences. It is not elitism.
Not to be a Debbie Downer, but I was having a discussion with friends about "second wave" stuff and, uh... Utah was definitely a good choice based on how well they kept numbers down through the first wave, but I would not be surprised now if players suddenly started opting out
I have been following the state virus trends since the Johns Hopkins website first went up. It is true that Utah is trending upward. We do not know whether the number of cases really is trending up or whether the testing is trending up so it is showing more accurately the number of cases that were there all along. The thing I have learned looking at the numbers each day is that when you look at a chart like this, you have to look not only at the trends but also at the absolute numbers, which you most easily can get an idea of from the scales of the charts. One state chart is not the same as another, because they have different scales. So far as absolute numbers go, Utah remains on the relatively low end of the states, notwithstanding its trend.
Sorry, when I realized my mistake it was too late to change my post. Bouhaddi had been contacted by Utah Royal, not OL Reign. The signing had seemed like it was already a done deal back then, but actually I am not sure if it was ever finalized (they were also talking about Maroszan at the time, who received different offers instead). In short: does anyone know better than me what is Bouhaddi going to do? I remember she had anyway already released a video where she was saying goodbye & thank you to OL supporters...
most probable is that she'll play in England, but there's some talk that she may end up staying in Lyon for the coming season because the general situation all over is so unclear.
So I just read the MLS is back tournament this morning and they actually will return to playing regular season and playoff championship stuff later on in the year. Is the NWSL also going to return to somewhat of a regular season or is the tournament the only thing they will do?
No one knows, including the league leadership. The answer leans toward the tournament being the only thing this year.
A couple of things. On the Catch the Spirit podcast tonight, when asked about being able to scout the other teams, asst. coach Tom Torres said they asked the league whether the players and coaching staff would only be able to watch games via the TV/livestream or if they could go to the games live. It sounded to me like teams will be able to watch games in person - that should be fun for the camera crews! Also, in the tradition that most supporter's groups display the national flags of their team's players, I think the stadiums in Utah should do the same and display all the flags from throughout the league. On that train of thought, I think it would be cool if the supporter's groups could send in banners to be displayed (I know it is only two weeks away, but where there is a will......).