SAN DIEGO — Between the Wave's season finale Sept. 30 and the upcoming playoff game Sunday night in Mission Valley, a bombshell report was released that chronicled alleged abusive behavior, sexual misconduct and predation in the National Women's Soccer League before the San Diego team's arrival.
"Abuse in the NWSL is rooted in a deeper culture in women's soccer beginning in youth leagues, that normalizes verbally abusive coaching and blurs boundaries between coaches and players," investigators said in a statement Oct. 3.
Coming to grips with disturbing allegations against the NWSL, drawn from 2021 and earlier, wasn't what the Wave had in mind when they qualified for the 7 p.m. playoff home match against the Chicago Red Stars. Then again, nor did the Red Stars, whose players have called for the expulsion of majority owner Arnim Whisler stemming from reports of abuse by former coach Rory Dames.
