Major change continues in the NWSL, with Chicago Red Stars majority owner Arnim Whisler reducing his role at the club.
In the aftermath of the investigation led by Sally Yates that has shaken the league to its core, Whisler released a statement via the Red Stars’ site on Tuesday, announcing that he has stepped down from the NWSL Board of Governors and will not have operational control of the team going forward.
“In the interest of the club and the players, and fans we serve, effective immediately, I will remove myself from my governance role within the NWSL board of governors and will hand over operational control of the club to our executive team in Chicago,” wrote Whisler.
It is not immediately clear who that executive team is. Curiously, Whisler was supposed to have already reduced his day-to-day role with the club, with the Red Stars’ CBO Vicky Lynch reportedly saying in February that she was “running the day-to-day” operation. The Red Stars’ site only lists Lynch and associate General Manager Michelle Lomnicki with job titles that could be recognized as those of club executives, while a section on team ownership lists a Board of Managers and Advisory Board Co-Chairs, but contains no indications of which owner would have a controlling share.
Whisler’s choice comes one day after the report from the lengthy investigation from Yates, the former U.S. attorney general, revealed findings that portrayed his inaction as the club’s controlling owner as a major factor in how Rory Dames — the subject of extensive allegations of abuse, sexual advances, usage of slurs, and other misconduct in the report — continued for years as Chicago’s head coach.
Dames was in place as Chicago’s head coach when NWSL began in 2013, and was retained until the end of the 2021 season, when he abruptly stepped down just a day before a Washington Post report detailing years of misconduct came out.
The Yates investigation found that complaints against Dames were filed with U.S. Soccer and/or the NWSL in 2014, 2015, and 2018, but that Whisler seemed disinterested in considering their merits. Whisler was also found to have never conducted a background check on Dames, and told investigators he had never had reason to take action against Dames despite the allegations over the years.
Ongoing turmoil around NWSL
Whisler’s step back came just hours after Portland Thorns owner Merritt Paulson said that he and club presidents Gavin Wilkinson and Mike Golub would relinquish decision-making power at the club, though in their case all remain employed and in their roles with MLS’s Portland Timbers.
The Yates investigation also contained disturbing findings about Racing Louisville coach Christy Holly, but as of now no executive has made a statement or been put on leave at the club.
Speaking from the U.S. women’s national team’s camp in England, Thorns and USWNT captain Becky Sauerbrunn called for the removal of “every owner and executive and U.S. Soccer official who has repeatedly failed the players and failed to protect the players, who have hidden behind legalities and have not participated fully in these investigations.”
NWSL commissioner Jessica Berman made a statement concerning the moves in Chicago and Portland shortly after Whisler’s move was announced.
“The NWSL is supportive of the important steps taken by the Portland Thorns and Chicago Red Stars today. As the league continues to evaluate the Yates report, I want to assure you that we remain committed to implementing reform and disciplinary action, both as a result of the Yates report and the NWSL/NWSLPA’s Joint Investigative Team’s findings,” wrote Berman. “The Joint Investigative Team is working towards concluding their report by the end of the year, and we will not interfere with that process, as the findings of that investigation will offer important input from our players.”
“While it will take time, we are fully prepared to take the necessary steps to protect the health and safety of our players, staff and other stakeholders in order to create the league that our players, fans, partners and staff deserve and expect.”
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