Posted on 12/05/2022 11:06:54 AM PST by Loyalist
Portland Thorns FC head coach Rhian Wilkinson reacts after Portland defeated the Kansas City Current in the NWSL soccer championship match against the Kansas City Current, Saturday, Oct. 29, 2022, in Washington. Wilkinson resigned Friday, Dec. 2, 2022, just five weeks after she led the team to the championship. (AP Photo/Nick Wass, File)
Canadian Rhian Wilkinson has resigned as the head coach of the Portland Thorns FC of the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) at the request of the players following her "friendship" with a player, she said Friday.
"During my time as the Thorns coach, a player and I formed a friendship that turned into more complex emotions," Wilkinson wrote on Twitter.
"In mid-October the player shared her feelings for me, and I reciprocated. While this was a human moment, it went no further than this expression of feelings for one another.
"In an effort to follow NWSL and NWSLPA [The National Women's Soccer League Players Association] processes to protect player safety, and to be as transparent as possible, the player and I immediately stopped spending time outside of training together, and soon after stopped all communication outside of work.
"In less than a week, I reported myself to human resources to make sure I had not crossed any ethical lines."
The NWSL and the players' union investigated and found no wrongdoing, according to the Thorns.
"The Portland Thorns and Coach Wilkinson followed all League processes and policies and fully cooperated with this investigation," NWSL Commissioner Jessica Berman said in a statement posted on Portland's website.
"The joint investigative team conducted a thorough investigation that resulted in a finding of no violation of League policies."
Wilkinson said she informed the team of what took place after the investigation concluded but the players had already "found out" before she was able to tell them herself.
"The narrative regarding my actions has now taken on a life of its own, and as a result I can understand that the Portland players feel hurt and have to deal with another non-soccer related situation," Wilkinson wrote.
"The result of this being that the players have asked for my resignation, and I have agreed to it.
"The investigative process and player and staff willingness to use human resources and league reporting is critically important," Wilkinson tweeted.
"If the women's game is to avoid further power imbalances and player abuses, these systems must be used and there must be trust in the process and its results. We must keep highlighting these processes," added Wilkinson.
Wilkinson led the club to a 10-3-9 record and Portland's league-best third championship in her only season as head coach.
Why should it be any different in soccer?
f you’re ever in a jam, here I am
If you’re ever in a mess, S-O-S
If you ever feel so happy, you land in jail, I’m your bail.
It’s friendship, friendship, just a perfect blendship.
When other friendships have been forgot,
Ours will still be hot.
Lah-dle-ah-dle-ah-dle dig, dig, dig.
If you’re ever up a tree, phone to me.
If you’re ever down a well, ring my bell.
If you ever lose your teeth, and you’re out to dine, borrow mine.
It’s friendship, friendship, just a perfect blendship.
When other friendships have been forgate,
Ours will still be great.
Lah-dle-ah-dle-ah-dle, chuck, chuck, chuck.
If they ever black your eyes, put me wise.
If they ever cook your goose, turn me loose.
If they ever put a bullet through your brain, I’ll complain.
It’s friendship, friendship, just a perfect blendship.
When other friendships have been forgit,
Ours will still be it.
Lah-dle-ah-dle-ah-dle, hep, hep, hep.
“During my time as the Thorns coach, a player and I formed a friendship that turned into more complex emotions,” Wilkinson wrote on Twitter.
Women’s soccer and basketball have done more to promote lesbianism among young women today than any other force within society.
Somewhere, Vince Lombardi must be watching all of this and shaking his head in utter disbelief.
I would add that college women roommates are another force, but usually temporary. A lot of girls have a lesbian fling in college and then straighten out and get married and raise a family, with no long-term after-effects other than “what to tell hubby”.
Who pays money to watch lesbians play pro soccer?
More complex emotions. Hmm....
Funny how Don Shula never had a thing for Dan Marino, nor Bill Walsh for Joe Montana.
I don’t watch Women’s soccer, but Thorns and Currents are stupid names.
It’s a shame that some people are so sensitive about team names that everyone ends up with unexciting names.
Yup- used to be athletic girls wanted to play sports semi pro- but now that lesbianism is so prevalent it is driving them away from sports leagues- others are naive, get into the sports- find out it’s infested with gay women, and so they end up quitting
Wow! I mean... I didn’t even know there was a NWSL.
“Funny how Don Shula never had a thing for Dan Marino, nor Bill Walsh for Joe Montana.”
And over in the NHL, you could probably say the same about Glen Sather and Wayne Gretzky or Scotty Bowman and Guy Lafleur or Don Cherry and Bobby Orr, lol.
I recall reading an interview with Bryan Watson and he said that at his first training camp with Montreal in about 1965 or thereabouts, he politely said hello to legendary coach Toe Blake and Blake basically walked by and ignored him. Later, Watson told captain Jean Beliveau about the encounter and Beliveau told him that at a golf tournament that he and Blake were both at, Blake barely acknowledged him, even though Beliveau had been with the Montreal organization for about 15 years by that time. “He basically treats every player that way”, Beliveau told Watson.
Back in the day (late 60s?) they used to say that there were 3 gay quarterbacks in the NFL. I was young an nieve and could only figure out 2.
Lesbians ought to go back to Lebanon where they came from!
They should change their name to the Portland Carpet Munchers!
Why couldn’t they just keep it private? It was no one’s business.
Don’t worry, the trannies are going to push out all the lesbians next. What comes around goes around.
Don’t forget women’s college fast pitch softball.
Yes...keep it to yourself...I was a young woman jock...never occurred to me to have these kind of interactions...course it was 40plus yrs ago
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