Former players have accused three-time NWSL champion and two-time Coach of the Year Paul Riley of sexual coercion and inappropriate comments that span decades and multiple teams, The Athletic's Meg Linehan and Katie Strang reported Thursday.
Hours after the report, the NWSL and North Carolina Courage, where Riley has coached since 2017, announced the club had fired Riley, effective immediately. NWSL commissioner Lisa Baird issued a statement regarding "new allegations" and announcing an investigation, which two-time World Cup champion Alex Morgan quickly pushed back on with apparent email receipts of Baird's knowledge of the incidents.