‘Some things are bigger than soccer’ – Mewis and Williams address Albert controversy

Williams admitted that there could be some issues in the USWNT locker room

Sam Mewis and Lynn Williams have addressed the controversy surrounding U.S. women’s national team midfielder Korbin Albert, with the pair both voicing their support for the LGBTQ+ community that Albert maligned on social media.

Albert was forced to apologize last week after fans discovered that Albert’s TikTok account had either shared or reposted a host of anti-LGBTQ+ content. The 20-year-old also appeared to like an Instagram post celebrating Megan Rapinoe’s injury in last year’s NWSL championship game.

Rapinoe quickly went on the offensive against Albert in an Instagram story, with the former USWNT star’s words of condemnation reposted by both Mewis and Williams.

The pair offered more perspective on the controversy in the latest episode of the Good Vibes FC podcast

“You and I are both supportive of the LGBTQ community. We want our teammates, we want everybody who identifies in any way to be able to express themselves freely and live a happy, safe existence,” said Mewis, who retired earlier this year.

Williams is still an active member of the USWNT, and was on the roster with Albert for the W Gold Cup in February and March. The Gotham FC forward missed the SheBelieves Cup squad this month due to injury, while Albert is a part of the group that will play a pair of upcoming matches.

Both Williams and Mewis played alongside Jaelene Daniels for club and country, and compared the current situation with Albert to that of the former North Carolina Courage and USWNT defender.

Daniels declined a USWNT call-up in 2017 over her refusal to wear Pride-themed rainbow numbers, citing her Christian faith. The defender would then refuse to play for the NC Courage on the team’s Pride Night in 2022.

“Back then we didn’t know how to approach the situation and we put soccer first,” Williams said. “I feel like if I’ve learned anything, it’s that there are some things that are just bigger than soccer. And one of them is human rights, and making sure that people feel safe in their body and just safe in this world. So I think it is a moment for us to say you know what, this topic is bigger than soccer.

“At the same time, women’s soccer has been a safe space for the LGBT community. And I think that it does affect the locker room a little bit. But again, I think this is bigger than the locker room.”

Mewis added that Albert’s apology was a good start, but said that the PSG midfielder still has plenty of work to do.

“Zooming out, making an apology is a solid first step,” Mewis said. “And I think you and I in many cases want to leave room for there to be growth and a change in behavior. But first and foremost, I don’t accept intolerance or the exclusion of people on a human level.”

[lawrence-related id=56092,55981,55699]