Seattle Reign Loses GM
Only a week before the beginning of the inaugural NWSL season, the Seattle Reign FC found itself without a General Manager. Amy Carnell resigned before the season began, and was replaced by head coach Laura Harvey.
Cited for Carnell’s departure were the familiar “personal reasons” explanation. Carnell had been the club’s first employee, and came to the franchise from the Seattle Sounders Women who played in the USL W-League.
TV Deal For NWSL
In what may be the last television deal for FOX Soccer, FOX Sports Media Group announced a one-year agreement to televise nine National Women’s Soccer League games. That includes six regular season games near the end of the season, along with both semifinal playoff games and the championship game on August 31.
The regular season telecast begin on July 8, with one game a week over the final weeks of the season. The games being televised will be announced at a later time.
Huge Crowd In Portland
Portland FC Thorns expected a big crowd for the NWSL club’s home opener. Over 7,000 season tickets had been sold. But the turnout of 16,479 fans who turned out at JELD-WEN Field exceeded all expectations. They saw Cindy Parlow-Cone’s team top the Seattle Reign 2-1.
Portland’s high powered offensive duo of Canadian Christine Sinclair and American Alex Morgan, provided what turned out to be the winning goal. Sinclaire stole the ball from fellow Canadian Emily Zurrer and found Morgan on the back post. She easily put it away.
“It felt like that atmosphere we had at the World Cup and at the Olympics, said Parlow-Cone, herself a former U.S. Women’s National Team player. Atmosphere’s like are why you want to be involved in the game and play in these types of games.”