Chicago Sports

Billy Donovan wanted adversity.

The Bulls coach is getting it, and then some.

For the second-straight game, the Bulls fought and clawed to get a game into overtime, only to see it slip away in heartbreaking fashion.

After Atlanta got them on Sunday, it was a much more familiar face on Wednesday, with Tom Thibodeau’s New York Knicks coming into the United Center for the first of two consecutive games, and pulling away in Game 1 with a 128-120 win.

Iron may sharpen iron, but right now at 11-16, the Bulls look very dull.

“I think we’re fighting and competing, but there’s detailed things that we’ve got to get better at,” Donovan said. “The disciplined stuff hurt us.”

It seemingly always does. Or at least some sort of detail that’s lacking does.

“Just got to do a better job of paying attention to the details earlier in the game,” veteran guard Alex Caruso said. “We’ve had games this year where we’ve put it together and looked really good. Problem is some nights we’re not there for 48 minutes, and that’s just the difference in professional sports. If you’re not locked in for the full game, it’s kind of a coin flip at the end.”

Getting outscored 11-3 in the overtime was hardly a coin flip, and neither was the Bulls’ 3-11 record in clutch games so far this season. Much different last year, when the Bulls were fourth in that category. That’s what had Donovan worried in that 2021-22 campaign – too many magical moments where the ball bounced their way.

His hope was some adversity this season would toughen this roster into a mentality that was more sustainable, but so far that hasn’t been the case. Evident by the fact that the Bulls were currently dead last in clutch games.

“I know the character of the guys and how competitive we are,” Caruso said. “We don’t have guys that will just fold. That’s not our MO.”

What has been their MO, however, was digging themselves a hole in the first half.

That remained an all-too familiar blueprint for this team, and one that they still had trouble explaining. What was also familiar was how the Bulls fell into that hole, allowing the opposition to once again have a field day from beyond the three-point line.

New York came into the night dead last in three-point percentage, sitting at 31.9% for the season.

All they did in the first 24 minutes was go 8-for-17 (47.1%) from three, taking a 65-55 lead into the locker room at the half.

The Bulls did get back into the game going into the fourth, and it looked like the Knicks would have the final say, as Julius Randle went isolation on Patrick Williams with 24.1 left in the fourth quarter, but all Randle could get out of the possession was an air ball that left one prayer for the Bulls to try and pull off with 0.1 seconds left.

Like Atlanta did to them Sunday night, the Bulls tried the alley-oop from the inbounds, with Caruso throwing the ball up to Williams. But Williams was no A.J. Griffin, as the pass and attempt failed.

Then it all fell apart in the overtime.

“We were in a little bit of trouble, but we found a way to get the game into overtime,” Donovan said. “We didn’t shoot the ball particularly well. I thought we really competed. The challenge for us was we really got caught in a lot of situations of leaving our feet, which led to a lot of fouls, and then the other part of it too was we really got hurt on the glass.”

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It wasn’t the usual trip back home for Derrick Rose on Wednesday.

The love was still there from a United Center crowd that used to chant “MVP … MVP,” anytime Rose would touch the ball. That will likely never go away.

But the playing time? That was long gone for the kid from Englewood.

With Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau searching for some sort of spark to a mediocre start, Rose was bumped out of the rotation five games ago, last getting regular minutes in a loss to Dallas on Dec. 3.

Since then it was four DNP [Did Not Play] Coach’s Decision for Rose coming into the game with the Bulls, and four-straight wins for Thibodeau’s Knicks.

Not an easy decision for Thibodeau, especially considering the long history Rose and the coach have shared going back to their Bulls days, then in Minnesota, and now in the “Big Apple.”

“Derrick has always been great in terms of handling whatever comes his way,” Thibodeau said. “What’s neat is he’s sort of been a mentor to Jalen [Brunson]. He’s really helped Jalen, helped [backup Miles] Deuce McBride, and he’ll help the team anyway he can. We can start [Rose], we can bring him off the bench, and if he’s not in the rotation he’s going to be great in practice, he’s going to be in everyone’s ear. And he’s always been that way. When he was the MVP of the league he cared deeply about his teammates, and whatever he could do to help the team, that’s what he did first.

“I have obviously great respect for him because of our relationship, and I think whatever comes he’s going to handle it well. He’s been through so many different things, and look, things can change very quickly in this league.”

Where it will get interesting will be trade deadline time.

Rose was making $14.5 million this season, and the Knicks have the $15.5 million team option on him next season. If there is a team in need of off-the-bench backcourt scoring, Rose might fill a need and do so with likely an expiring contract.

Either way, at age 34, Rose could be putting a bow on his career sooner than later.

Thibodeau, however, wasn’t counting him out, even in this season in New York.

“Whatever way you can help the team, help the team,” Thibodeau said. “Everyone has to sacrifice, everyone has to put the team first, and he’s a great example of that. For any pro player it’s not an easy transition.”

Familiar faces

Rose and Thibodeau weren’t the only memorable faces making an appearance for the Knicks-Bulls showdown.

Charles Oakley paid a visit to the UC, and Joakim Noah took it a step further, actually walking into Thibodeau’s pregame press conference as the coach was wrapping up.

“Late as usual,” Thibodeau said.

Noah then waited until the very end, and claimed he had a question.

“Are you going to go to Derrick’s wedding and you’re not going to come to mine?” Noah asked.

Thibodeau paused, and said, “Next question.”

The two then hugged and exited the interview room together.

Waiting game

Guard Ayo Dosunmu was the latest Bull dealing with injury issues, working through an abdominal bruise he suffered in the overtime loss to Atlanta on Sunday.

Bulls coach Billy Donovan was hoping for a quick recovery.

“I don’t think it’s weeks, but I don’t think it’s going to be in the next day or two,” Donovan said. “He is progressing.”

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Wednesday, December 14, 2022

CHICAGO PREP

Ida Crown at Walther Christian, 7:30

FOX VALLEY

Burlington Central at Jacobs, 7:00

Cary-Grove at Crystal Lake South, 7:00

Crystal Lake Central at Hampshire, 7:00

Huntley at McHenry, 7:00

Prairie Ridge at Dundee-Crown, 7:00

INDEPENDENT SCHOOL

Elgin Academy at University High, 6:00

LAKE SHORE ATHLETIC

British School at Roycemore, 5:30

Horizon-McKinley at Beacon, 5:30

NIC – 10

Auburn at Belvidere, 7:00

Belvidere North at Jefferson, 7:00

Boylan at Hononegah, 6:30

Guilford at Rockford East, 7:00

Harlem at Freeport, 6:00

NOBLE LEAGUE – BLUE

Golder at DRW Prep, 6:30

Hansberry at Rauner, 7:00

Muchin at Baker, 7:00

NORTH SUBURBAN

Warren at Mundelein, 7:00

NORTHERN LAKE COUNTY

Antioch at North Chicago, 7:00

Grayslake Central at Grant, 7:00

Wauconda at Grayslake North, 7:00

PUBLIC LEAGUE RED-WEST / NORTH

Clark at North Lawndale, 7:00

Farragut at Lane, 5:00

Prosser at Perspectives-MSA, 5:00

Westinghouse at Orr, 5:00

PUBLIC LEAGUE WHITE-NORTH

Foreman at Mather, 6:30

Lake View at Northside, 5:00

Senn at Von Steuben, 5:00

Sullivan at Amundsen, 6:30

Taft at Schurz, 7:00

PUBLIC LEAGUE WHITE-WEST

Austin at Payton, 6:00

Collins at Ogden, 7:00

Jones at Wells, 5:00

Legal Prep at Crane, 5:00

Raby at Marshall, 5:00

PUBLIC LEAGUE BLUE-NORTH

Alcott at Marine, 5:00

Disney at Rickover, 5:00

Intrinsic-Belmont at Steinmetz, 5:00

North-Grand at Chicago Math & Science, 5:00

Roosevelt at Chicago Academy, 5:00

Uplift at ASPIRA-Bus&Fin, 5:00

PUBLIC LEAGUE BLUE-WEST

Douglass at Clemente, 5:00

Juarez at Manley, 5:00

Kelvyn Park at Chicago Tech, 5:00

Little Village at Phoenix, 5:00

Spry at Chicago Collegiate, 5:00

SOUTHWEST SUBURBAN – CROSSOVER

Stagg at Homewood-Flossmoor, 6:30

NON CONFERENCE

Cristo Rey-St. Martin at Trinity Oaks, 6:00

EPIC at Thornwood, 5:00

Evergreen Park at Addison Trail, 6:30

Excel-Englewood at Mansueto, 5:30

Genoa-Kingston at Rochelle, 7:00

Hiawatha at Alden-Hebron, 7:30

Hinckley-Big Rock at Pecatonica, 7:30

Islamic Foundation at Westmont, 7:00

Lake Park at Willowbrook, 6:00

MCC Prep at CPSA, 5:00

Mooseheart at Morgan Park Academy, 4:30

Noble Street at Holy Trinity, 6:00

Oswego at Lockport, 6:30

Rochelle Zell at North Shore, 6:30

Tinley Park at Andrew, 6:30

Unity Christian at Hinsdale Adventist, 5:30

Waubonsie Valley at Rockford Lutheran, 7:00

Wheaton Academy at Hinsdale Central, 7:00

Winnebago at Forreston, 7:00

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If the Cubs are going to sign a top free agent shortstop this offseason, it’ll have to be Dansby Swanson.

The Cubs have been showing interest in Swanson entering the winter meetings, before any of the Big 4 had signed. But as of Wednesday evening, the other three had found new homes, and Swanson was the belle of the ball.

Waiting out the market has only brought good news for Swanson. Trea Turner signed first, agreeing to an 11-year, $300 million contract with the Phillies last week. Xander Bogaerts was next, signing with the Padres on an 11-year, $280 million deal. Then, late Tuesday night news broke that Carlos Correa had agreed to a 13-year, $350 million contract with the Giants.

Correa’s contract was the largest ever for a shortstop in terms of guaranteed money, surpassing the 10-year $341 million deal Francisco signed with the Mets in 2021.

More good news for Swanson, who got married to World Cup champion and Chicago Red Stars standout Mallory Pugh over the weekend. Not great news for the Cubs’ “intelligent spending” plan.

The Cubs have been active on the free agent shortstop market, also taking meetings with Correa and Bogaerts’ agent Scott Boras. Even early on, Swanson seemed to be the most likely of the four to land with the Cubs. But as the other three top shortstops have found landing places, Swanson has gained suitors.

The Twins are in the market for a shortstop after losing Correa. The Red Sox are looking for a shortstop after losing Bogaerts. And the Dodgers are down a shortstop after losing Turner. According to multiple reports, all three teams – plus the Braves, who Swanson has spent his whole MLB career with, and others – are also in the Swanson sweepstakes.

In recent history, the Cubs have been reluctant to offer contracts approaching double digits. President of baseball operations Jed Hoyer hasn’t signed a free agent to seven-plus years – in his current role or as general manager under Theo Epstein – since Jason Heyward inked his eight-year, $184 million deal December 2015.

The shortstop market, however, has swung into double-digit depths. Turner, Bogaerts and Correa will all be over 40 when their contracts expire. The Cubs have had to weigh whether the payoff in peak years would be worth breaking from their recent track record.

Meanwhile, the Phillies and Padres, both in smaller media markets than No. 3 Chicago, have pushed their wealth to the middle of the table in this fast-paced offseason. Their approach may not exemplify “intelligent spending,” but it sure does signal a commitment to winning.

If the Cubs don’t sign Swanson, homegrown middle infielder Nico Hoerner has proven himself on offense and defense at shortstop. But the whiff would also show how much more work they need to do to open their next championship window.

Cubs announce Bellinger

The Cubs on Wednesday made official center fielder Cody Bellinger’s one-year deal with a mutual 2024 option. The team did not disclose the terms of Bellinger’s contract, but a source confirmed last week that it was worth $17.5 million guaranteed.

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After missing the past two games while in concussion protocol, Bears rookie defensive backs Kyler Gordon and Jaquan Brisker are eager to get back on the field — but against the red-hot Eagles? The No. 1 offensive team in the NFL?

“All the time. Every time,” Gordon said. “I never want to shy away from the opportunity. That’s stuff for me to get better, for me to compete and show that I can play the game. I’m never going to shy away from the competition and the best. That’s what we live for — [to] play the best.”

It will be a supreme test for both players. The Eagles not only lead the NFL in scoring (29.7 points per game) and third in total offense (392.0 yards per game), but are on a particularly hot roll heading into Sunday’s game against the Bears at Soldier Field.

They’ve scored 40, 35 and 48 points in their last three games against the Packers, Titans and Giants, averaging 463.3 yards per game in that span. Quarterback Jalen Hurts leads the NFL in passer rating (108.4), with 22 touchdowns and just three interceptions.

“It’s always a great opportunity when a team like this comes into our home turf,” Brisker said. “That’s why you play the game — against great quarterbacks, the great receivers, a thousand-yard rusher in Miles Sanders. It’s always great to be challenged every week. No one’s going to shy away from the Eagles or whoever comes in here or wherever we go.”

A slumping Bears defense that has dropped from a tie for seventh to 29th in points allowed during a six-game losing streak needs all the help it can get. Gordon, a cornerback from Washington drafted 39th overall in the second round, and Brisker, a safety from Penn State drafted 48th overall in the second round, are foundation pieces for Matt Eberflus’ defense. Both rookies had started every game this season before getting injured.

With the 3-10 Bears building for next season, Gordon and Brisker can benefit from the final four games of the season as much as any player besides quarterback Justin Fields. The Bears face four of the top-10 scoring teams in the NFL in the final month — the Eagles (first), Bills (fourth), Lions (fifth) and Vikings (10th).

Gordon has had his share of rookie moments in an up-and-down season, with one interception, four pass break-ups and one forced fumble.

“He’s done a lot of good things,” Eberflus said. “[It’s] just consistency. He’s had games in which he’s tackled really well. And then games when he’s had opportunities where we wish he’d have been better.”

Brisker has exceeded expectations. He has a team-high three sacks to go with 73 tackles, five tackles for loss, one interception, one pass break-up, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery. He was eighth in fan voting for the Pro Bowl at strong safety as of Wednesday morning.

“He’s a really good blitzer. We like to send him a lot,” Eberflus said. “We’re pleasantly surprised where he is. Every time we’ve asked him to do something to get better at, he’s done it. We’re excited to see where this is going here the next four games.

Brisker said he has not felt any concussion symptoms since the day after the Falcons game, and will be ready to go full-speed Sunday.

“I’m going to still play aggressive. Having a concussion doesn’t change that,” Brisker said. “It’s just now that I’m cleared, everything is a thousand percent. So it doesn’t really change the way I’m going to go out there.”

Gordon also said there will be no mental hurdle to clear when he returns.

“It’s like an annoying thing, really,” Gordon said. “Once I got cleared, it was behind me. I just try to focus on Philadelphia and the next step of the [developmental] process of everything I’m doing. I don’t really think about it at all.”

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Chicago native Najeeb Echols died on Wednesday in Kansas after suffering a heart attack. He was 39.

Echols is survived by his wife Jaime, his daughter Jada and his son Jalen.

“I’m just distraught,” said Jason Straight, a longtime friend of Echols and the current basketball coach at Providence-St. Mel. “I had to leave practice, leave school today. He was an unbelievable guy, not just a basketball player. He was a talented singer and piano player.”

Echols was a key member of Young’s 1998 state and city championship team, considered one of the best in state history.

Former NBA player Quentin Richardson was the star of that group, along with Dennis Gates and Cordell Henry.

Echols was just a freshman in 1998 and went on to be one of the top scorers in the state and a top 10 prospect in the country the next two years. He had to sit out his entire senior season after transferring from Young to Morgan Park and being ruled ineligible.

“This is a shock,” said Cyrus McGinnis, who was an assistant coach at Young in 1998 and currently works at Proviso West. “He was a loving person. I was very close to him.”

Straight, Echols, Eddy Curry and a few other players were the subjects of a popular television show, “Preps: Chicago Hoops” that aired on Fox Sports in 2001. The three high school stars were good friends at the time and the friendships have survived the past two decades.

“Eddy and I used to make fun of Jeeb all the time and ask him if he was going to be a baller or a singer,” Straight said. “We were all recently talking about getting together to do a where are they now-type look back on the guys from the show.”

Echols played college basketball at Missouri and Illinois State. Recently, he worked for Farmers Insurance and in 2012 he started a non-profit youth sports program, Whatever It Takes Premiere Youth Club, focused on basketball and track.

Echols’ daughter Jada is a promising runner.

“She is amazing,” Straight said. “She’s had some unbelievable times. [Echols] was really looking forward to her being a collegiate athlete. He was helping her and a lot of other kids.”

Echols wife Jaime posted a message on Facebook Wednesday night:

“My heart is breaking as I write these words… My husband, teammate, best friend, and the love of my life passed away early this morning. The world has lost an amazing man, but heaven has gained an amazing angel. My husband has earned his wings. His life was wonderfully lived, and is deserving of being wonderfully remembered.

The funeral arrangements are pending through Eli and Sons Funeral Home. Jalen, Jada, and I appreciate the love, thoughts, prayers and condolences you all have sent our way. Thank you so much.”

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The Bears had to finish Wednesday’s practice on an outdoor field because of a small fire — quickly extinguished by a staff member — caused by a furnace inside the Walter Payton Center.

At least a half-dozen Lake Forest emergency vehicles arrived after the fire had been put out inside the team’s indoor practice facility.

“In the middle of the down, we’re getting down, getting the cadence, and out of nowhere you hear an alarm going off,” right guard Teven Jenkins said. “I was like, ‘Hmm, oh well, I’m getting down in my stance real quick.’ … And out of nowhere, they were like, ‘We gotta go outside.’

“What do you mean we have to go outside?”

Center Sam Mustipher didn’t see the flames.

“I just smelled the smoke, and the siren was going off,” he said.

The Bears finished the last segment of practice outside.

“It was something we didn’t prepare for — it was kinda weird …” Jenkins said. “That was crazy. I think it was the first of my career.”

They began practice inside the Payton Center because of rain. Head coach Matt Eberflus said earlier Wednesday the team planned to practice outside Thursday and Friday.

Defensive personnel ‘status quo’

The Bears used the bye week to make changes to their woeful defense, but Eberflus hinted that those changes would be more centered on scheme. There’s only so much the Bears can change about their personnel.

“We might put some guys in different positions along the defensive line,” said Eberflus, who moved tackle Justin Jones to end for six snaps against the Packers. “I think that’s important to do to see what we have and those types of things.

“But the linebackers are status quo right now. And getting our secondary a little healthier will certainly help us.”

Safety Jaquan Brisker and cornerback Kyler Gordon, both rookie starters, returned to practice Wednesday after being in concussion protocol.

The Bears are allowing 25.6 points per game, the fourth-most in the NFL. They’re limping toward the finish line; over the last three games, only six teams have given up more than the Bears’ 28.7.

This and that

o The Eagles opened up the 21-day window for tight end Dallas Goedert (shoulder) to return from injured reserve. Goedert, who has 53 catches for 544 yards this season, seems likely to play Sunday.

“Getting their tight end back, obviously that’s gonna help them a lot,” Eberflus said.

o Eberflus said that he “became a better coach by going up against” Mike Leach when he was the defensive coordinator at Missouri and Leach the head coach at Texas Tech from 2001-08. Leach, one of the creators and evangelists of the “Air Raid” offense — which he named — died Monday night due to complications from a heart condition.

o Bears tackle Larry Borom (knee) and tight end Trevon Wescoe (calf) did not practice.

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Tuesday told a tale of two Toewses.

In the morning, Jonathan Toews looked and sounded no different than he has throughout his highly successful Blackhawks tenure.

With the right combination of seriousness and lightheartedness, he took accountability for his imperfect recent play but expressed optimism that he and the team could soon turn things around — something he has needed to do a lot, often with little evidence to support it, the past few years.

In quieter moments, he has admitted that hasn’t always been easy. It has forced him to take his career-long “one day at a time” mentality to the next level, to reflect more deeply on what it truly entails and to integrate it into his life even away from the rink. But he insisted again Tuesday morning he mostly appreciates the adversity.

“The test is special when things aren’t going your way in your external world,” he said. “It’s a challenge, for sure, to keep showing up and having that attitude [that] you’re going to have fun, you’re going to work hard, you’re going to enjoy the grind and the not-so-good aspects of the game.

“I think if you keep doing that, [if] you show up and you work hard and you do the right things, things do turn for you. So you just try to show up with that mentality.”

At night, however, after the Hawks’ embarrassing 7-3 loss to the Capitals in which Alex Ovechkin made history on United Center ice and wooed the Hawks’ own home crowd, Toews sounded much different.

The Hawks’ regular spokesman after their worst-of-the-worst losses, Toews usually strikes an appropriate, captain-like balance of criticism and self-belief. He did exactly that just a couple weeks ago, for example, after the Hawks’ ugly 7-2 defeat against the Jets on Nov. 27.

But this time, Toews sounded more discouraged, overwhelmed and exhausted by the Hawks’ endless and largely predestined struggles than he ever has before. The toll of 18 losses in 21 games seemed to have finally cracked his shell.

“Nothing was good,” he said. “[There’s] not really a straight answer there.”

What’s the biggest area that needs fixing?

“I don’t know what the first thing is,” he said. “There’s a lot of things right now.”

How hard is it getting to stay positive?

“What choice do we got?” he asked, rhetorically, in response. “What else are [we] going to do?”

While rare, this isn’t the first time post-pandemic that Toews has allowed this side of himself slip out publicly.

He was pretty grumpy throughout March 2022, a month in which he called the Hawks’ performances during an eight-game losing streak “embarrassing” and the Hawks’ deadline trades “disheartening” and wondered aloud about “what it’d be like to play for another team.”

That raised some legitimate questions about whether he — as famously one of hockey’s most relentless competitors — could mentally handle the years of losing this long-term rebuild was sure to bring.

Those concerns felt less relevant earlier this fall. Toews sounded like he’d adjusted his mindset to fit the team’s situation and also looked individually rejuvenated on the ice, starting the season on a scoring tear and reclaiming his kingdom of faceoff circles around the league.

Now, perhaps those concerns are worth revisiting again. Not only did his positivity no-show Tuesday night for the first time this season, but his on-ice play has also lagged lately. His power-play goal Tuesday marked just his second goal (and sixth point) in his last 15 games, a sharp contrast from his seven goals and nine points in his first 11 games.

They might not be revisited for long, though. Toews could easily leave Chicago by March 3 if he decides that’s what he wants. And that looming trade-or-no-trade decision will soon consume everything in the spotlight under which he stands.

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The Chicago Bears offense had a few out at Wednesday’s practice

The Chicago Bears were back at practice Wednesday following their bye last week. The Bears are preparing to play arguably the best team in the NFC, the Philadelphia Eagles, in Week 15. Head coach Matt Eberflus said earlier Wednesday that Justin Fields would be missing their first practice of the week. The Bears had more bad news for their top wide receiver on the active roster.

The Bears revealed their Week 15 injury report Wednesday afternoon. Four Bears were not practicing, including wide receiver Chase Claypool. Claypool suffered a slight knee injury against the Packers in Week 13.

This is another setback for Claypool. The Bears wide receiver was traded earlier this season and needs the reps in practice with Fields to learn offensive coordinator Luke Getsy’s complicated offense. Eberflus said recently that Claypool is not “there yet.” Claypool is the best option for the Bears at wide receiver after Darnell Mooney went on the injured reserve and is out for the season.

Chicago Bears not practicing Wednesday

OL Larry Borom, kneeWR Chase Claypool, kneeQB Justin Fields, illnessTE Trevon Wesco

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Two months after the release of Sally Q. Yates’ report detailing systemic abuse in the NWSL the NWSL/NWSLPA have released their joint investigation.

Similar to Yates’ report, the Red Stars are detailed throughout.

The 128-page report prepared by two law firms, Covington and Burling LLP which was engaged by the NWSL, and Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP which was engaged by the NWSLPA, shares similar accounts of abuse and misconduct that took place within the Red Stars organization.

After detailing their investigative process and pertinent background details on the league, the report spends 83 pages breaking down observations and findings. Reports by Christen Press that former coach Rory Dames engaged in verbal and emotional abuse going all the way back to 2014 were found to be mishandled and largely ignored by U.S. Soccer, the NWSL and Red Stars majority owner Arnim Whisler.

In October of 2014, after Press had originally shared concerns about Dames, a version of her comments were sent to the Red Stars by then-NWSL Executive Director Cheryl Bailey.

According to the report, the comments shared included: “The head coach was disrespectful to players and created a hostile work environment. He used a lot of language that was inappropriate and abrasive and his coaching style in general was not good, making sexist, racist, abusive, and other prejudicial remarks to players. His training sessions were inconsistent in intensity based on his mood.”

Whisler responded to these comments via email saying, “one or both of the [US]WNT players did not like [Dames] — probably because they did not start or play the way they wanted to. The senior [US]WNT players absolutely want this league to shut down so they don’t have as much competition for their spots and so they can make more money overseas.”

Dames offered his resignation following the original complaints made in 2014, but Whisler refused to accept it.

Press made another complaint regarding Dames’ behavior to U.S. soccer in 2018, resulting in an investigation. Within a few weeks of the investigation being opened, another player submitted another complaint about Dames to the NWSL. The league began its own investigation but stopped at the direction of U.S. Soccer.

In September 2019, the law firm hired by U.S. Soccer completed its investigation and ultimately determined the league needed to establish standards of conduct for NWSL coaches and educate them on those standards. No action was taken against Dames.

The NWSL and NWSLPA’s joint investigation detailed similar misconduct that was previously reported by Yates and outlets like the Athletic and the Washington Post. According to the report, Dames focused on yelling at fringe players. Players recounted feeling like Dames went after players who he felt didn’t have the power to report him.

Dames declined requests to be interviewed for this investigation.

Whisler officially began the process of selling his stake in the franchise the last week of November.

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