In a stunning move, the San Diego Wave fired head coach Casey Stoney on Monday.
Paul Buckle will serve as interim head coach while the club searches for a permanent successor to Stoney.
Stoney has been largely successful during her stint with San Diego, leading the team to the playoffs in its expansion season of 2022 while being named the NWSL Coach of the Year.
Last year, the Wave took home the NWSL Shield for the top regular-season record in the league, while the team started 2024 out by winning its first trophy, the Challenge Cup.
The ex-Manchester United boss has been less successful in 2024, with the Wave sitting ninth in the 14-team NWSL midway through the season.
Stoney’s last game in charge was on Saturday, as the Wave drew Houston 0-0 to extend their winless run to seven games.
Still, Monday’s move essentially came of the blue, especially because Stoney signed a new contract in January through 2027 with a mutual option for 2028.
“We are immensely grateful to Casey for her commitment to our club and the positive impact she has had both on and off the pitch.” said club president Jill Ellis in a statement.
“Over the past seasons, Casey has guided us to significant milestones, and her contributions have been instrumental in laying a strong foundation on which to build. The decision to part ways was very hard and not made in haste, but given the ambition of this club, and where we are in our season, we felt a change was necessary at this time.”
The move to fire Stoney came just two weeks after San Diego hired Camille Ashton as the club’s new general manager and sporting director. Ashton joined after serving in a similar role with the Kansas City Current.
Ashton and Ellis will now be tasked with finding a long-term successor to Stoney.
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