Tag: Rory Dames

Following Yates investigation, USA Curling board backs former NWSL commissioner Jeff Plush

Amid calls for Plush’s resignation, USA Curling is sticking with the former NWSL commissioner

The aftermath of the Sally Yates investigation into NWSL misconduct has reached beyond the pitch, and onto the ice.

USA Curling released a statement Thursday affirming that it will keep former NWSL commissioner Jeff Plush on as its CEO.

“The USA Curling Board of Directors called a special session and immediately commissioned an investigation of the information contained in the Yates report regarding USA Curling CEO Jeff Plush’s actions during his time as NWSL Commissioner,” read the statement from USA Curling’s Board of Directors.

“After reviewing the results of this investigation, the USA Curling Board of Directors is confident in Jeff’s ability to continue as an effective leader of the organization. The findings in this investigation, Jeff’s candor during interviews with the Board, and his actions during his time as USA Curling CEO reassured the Board about his strong commitment to upholding the very highest standards for athlete well-being. Additionally, the Board is encouraged by Jeff’s willingness to fully cooperate in the ongoing NWSL and its Players Association investigation.”

Plush did not respond to investigators

Plush, whose tenure with the NWSL ran from 2014 to 2017, has been the subject of calls to resign after the Yates investigation. Several of the major complaints that went ignored happened during Plush’s time as commissioner, and the report specifically said that he “never responded to (the investigation’s) outreach.”

Per the investigation’s findings, Plush did seem to facilitate some level of information sharing between the NWSL, its clubs, and U.S. Soccer. However, according to the report, Plush — despite Mana Shim emailing him directly with her allegations against Paul Riley — did not take action to prevent the Western NY Flash from hiring Riley after he had been fired for cause by the Portland Thorns. Riley would remain in the league, coaching the Flash and North Carolina Courage, until 2021.

Courage owner Stephen Malik told investigators that when he asked Plush about Riley’s departure from Portland, “Plush either demurred that he would look into it or declined to share,” citing legal confidentiality as a reason for the inaction.

Plush was also said to have received a survey in which players said former Chicago Red Stars coach Rory Dames had created an abusive work environment. Though Plush emailed officials at U.S. Soccer to call the survey “disturbing,” no action was taken against Dames or the Red Stars while Plush was with the league.

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Chicago Red Stars board of directors strips owner Arnim Whisler of power

Whisler isn’t completely out in Chicago, but the club’s board has reduced his power

The dominoes continue to fall across the NWSL following devastating revelations from the Sally Yates investigation.

Wednesday evening, the Board of Directors for the Chicago Red Stars released a statement, saying that they had ousted the team’s controlling owner Arnim Whisler from his position as Chairman of the Board.

“The Board of Directors of the Chicago Red Stars voted this morning to remove Arnim Whisler as Chairman of the Board, to transition him out of his board seat immediately with the Chicago Red Stars (Chicago Women’s Soccer Academy, LLC) and to codify his removal from any further participation with either club or board operations,” read the board’s statement.

“The Board was deeply disappointed after reading the Yates report and believes the club cannot move forward in rebuilding trust with players, staff and the Red Stars community with his continued involvement. Job one for board members is to continue building a culture where players, and all who work at the club, feel that they are in a safe and supportive environment. Lastly, the board wants to extend its gratitude for all who displayed such bravery in sharing their stories. Thank you for coming forward.”

The changes do not mean that Whisler has sold his share of the club. On Tuesday, he posted a statement to Chicago’s site saying that he had stepped down from the league’s Board of Governors and had given operational control of the club to the Red Stars’ “executive team.”

Whisler not gone yet

While Whisler’s step back being followed by the board’s move to strip him of power does provide some distance between an owner who per the Yates investigation repeatedly shielded former coach Rory Dames despite numerous complaints, it does not mean he is no longer involved with the club.

At the moment, Whisler still holds a controlling share of the club, and based on his history — which includes a claim he had stepped back from day-to-day control early in 2022, only for him to announce in Tuesday’s statement that he was only now moving away from operational control — it is impossible to believe that the team and organization will be free of his influence until he has divested his financial stake in the club.

Chicago, on Whisler’s watch, was found to have let players down beyond simply hiring and empowering Dames for many years. Players ended up having Whisler as a landlord rather than a proper team housing environment, while both the Yates investigation and Local 134 have said that statements Whisler made to them were later proven to be false or misleading. Dames was allowed to resign — and praised by a club statement announcing the move — just before a Washington Post report spelled out extensive allegations of sexist and racist comments, abusive conduct, and inappropriate relationships with players.

In other words, how can anyone believe that Whisler will actually stay out of team business? And how can the players and staff that remain heal and move on with him in place, even at a distance?

According to CBS Sports, the club’s board “wants to help facilitate a sale of Arnim’s shares,” but that necessarily means he still holds those shares.

Red Stars supporters’ group Local 134 said they will “boycott all in-person events including attendance at games, merchandise purchases, and other Red Stars events that directly or indirectly benefit Arnim Whisler.” The group also urged fans who had already purchased 2023 season tickets to demand a refund in full.

Just as players and employees shouldn’t have to suffer through the environment Whisler fostered, fans should not have to choose between completely staying away and turning their backs on something they love or feeling like they’re supporting someone who has let them down in such an egregious manner.

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Chicago Red Stars owner Arnim Whisler surrenders operational control after Yates investigation

Chicago is the latest club undergoing massive upheaval after the Yates investigation

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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