If you watched the 2018 NWSL semifinal between the North Carolina Courage and the Chicago Red Stars, you probably heard very loud boos cascading throughout the stadium. You also probably noticed that these boos were particularly focused whenever one Courage player touched the ball: Jaelene Hinkle.
By now it’s well-documented that Hinkle is not a supporter of LGBT rights - or at the very least, she refused to wear a symbol of support for those rights, which had exactly the same effect. At NWSL media day, I had the chance to ask her directly, one-on-one, if she was aware why she was being booed and what it meant to her, and if it might spur any reflection on the course of events that has led to such loud and public disapproval.