1 00:00:00,320 --> 00:00:02,840 Speaker 1: Long Shot is a production of McClatchy Studios and I 2 00:00:02,920 --> 00:00:07,680 Speaker 1: Heart Radio. Welcome to Part six of Payback. I'm executive 3 00:00:07,680 --> 00:00:11,840 Speaker 1: producer Davin Coburn. A listener. Note. In this episode, you'll 4 00:00:11,840 --> 00:00:15,480 Speaker 1: hear quotes from former North Carolina Courage head coach Paul Riley. 5 00:00:16,680 --> 00:00:20,040 Speaker 1: In late twenty one, former players of his alleged that 6 00:00:20,120 --> 00:00:24,360 Speaker 1: Riley committed grossmisconduct in the women's game, including sexual coercion 7 00:00:24,520 --> 00:00:29,240 Speaker 1: and emotional abuse. This episode includes descriptions of those allegations. 8 00:00:30,640 --> 00:00:33,960 Speaker 1: Prior to those players speaking out, Jessica McDonald told our 9 00:00:34,040 --> 00:00:36,360 Speaker 1: reporting team that Riley was a key figure in her 10 00:00:36,360 --> 00:00:40,479 Speaker 1: professional development, so we spoke with Riley about McDonald as 11 00:00:40,479 --> 00:00:43,400 Speaker 1: a team leader well before the allegations against him came 12 00:00:43,400 --> 00:00:47,680 Speaker 1: to light. For months after those allegations were made, Riley 13 00:00:47,720 --> 00:00:51,559 Speaker 1: did not respond to our attempts to interview him again. Recently, 14 00:00:51,600 --> 00:00:54,880 Speaker 1: though we did hear from him, so we've updated this 15 00:00:54,920 --> 00:00:58,880 Speaker 1: episode to include Riley's first public comments since those allegations. 16 00:00:59,760 --> 00:01:03,400 Speaker 1: Flowing those allegations, we also spoke with McDonald again, and 17 00:01:03,480 --> 00:01:06,040 Speaker 1: in this episode she'll share for the first time her 18 00:01:06,080 --> 00:01:10,600 Speaker 1: experiences playing for Riley. And now back to your host, 19 00:01:10,680 --> 00:01:24,200 Speaker 1: Alexandreev and Payback Part six. Previously on Payback, I got 20 00:01:24,200 --> 00:01:28,320 Speaker 1: my first start and within minutes, probably in the most 21 00:01:28,360 --> 00:01:31,400 Speaker 1: devastating moment of my entire life, when she came to me, 22 00:01:31,480 --> 00:01:33,240 Speaker 1: I was looking at her, going, holy cow, we've got 23 00:01:33,280 --> 00:01:36,160 Speaker 1: an uphill battle here. It's not uncommon to come back, 24 00:01:36,480 --> 00:01:38,960 Speaker 1: but it's uncommon to come back as good or better 25 00:01:39,000 --> 00:01:41,720 Speaker 1: than your world. I'm pregning with my son. I'm gonna 26 00:01:41,800 --> 00:01:44,720 Speaker 1: be responsible for a whole another human being. Oh dear God, 27 00:01:45,120 --> 00:01:46,959 Speaker 1: there's the nail of the coffin. All right, your mom, 28 00:01:47,040 --> 00:01:50,480 Speaker 1: Now it's over. There's no way. This might be hard physically, 29 00:01:50,840 --> 00:01:52,920 Speaker 1: but it's just as hard I think on all moms 30 00:01:52,920 --> 00:01:55,800 Speaker 1: that are working. I didn't want to use my child 31 00:01:55,960 --> 00:01:58,720 Speaker 1: as an excuse to not pursue the dreams that I 32 00:01:58,800 --> 00:02:10,000 Speaker 1: had for myself. Welcome Live to an historic night for 33 00:02:10,080 --> 00:02:13,799 Speaker 1: women's soccers, the inaugural match of the NWSL. By the 34 00:02:13,840 --> 00:02:17,240 Speaker 1: middle of women's soccer would once again be finding a 35 00:02:17,240 --> 00:02:20,680 Speaker 1: foothold in the American consciousness. That is it. That's a 36 00:02:20,800 --> 00:02:24,480 Speaker 1: really quality ninety minutes. But in order to reflect on 37 00:02:24,520 --> 00:02:27,040 Speaker 1: everything the sport has become, we have to jump ahead 38 00:02:27,120 --> 00:02:31,320 Speaker 1: here for a moment, because what became clear during our 39 00:02:31,360 --> 00:02:34,160 Speaker 1: reporting for this podcast is that while unequal pay is 40 00:02:34,160 --> 00:02:37,760 Speaker 1: a fundamental component of gender inequality, there are other, far 41 00:02:37,840 --> 00:02:41,560 Speaker 1: more traumatic ones as well, and we saw how a 42 00:02:41,639 --> 00:02:45,480 Speaker 1: game perpetually scrambling to avoid dissolution became a breeding ground 43 00:02:45,480 --> 00:02:49,960 Speaker 1: for predators. The National Women's Soccer League has suspended all 44 00:02:50,040 --> 00:02:54,560 Speaker 1: of its weekend matches amid allegations of abuse, including sexual 45 00:02:54,600 --> 00:02:58,639 Speaker 1: abuse of players by former coaches. In the last year. 46 00:02:58,840 --> 00:03:02,720 Speaker 1: Explosive reports The Athletic and The Washington Post involving male 47 00:03:02,800 --> 00:03:07,200 Speaker 1: coaches they're women's players and those responsible for protecting them 48 00:03:07,360 --> 00:03:10,600 Speaker 1: prompted reevaluation of influential figures at all levels of the 49 00:03:10,639 --> 00:03:14,760 Speaker 1: women's game. As North Carolina once again found itself at 50 00:03:14,760 --> 00:03:18,040 Speaker 1: the center of the women's soccer world, the National Women's 51 00:03:18,080 --> 00:03:21,200 Speaker 1: Soccer League faces a reckoning over charges that it ignored 52 00:03:21,240 --> 00:03:25,119 Speaker 1: abuse of its players. Professional women's soccer is turned upside 53 00:03:25,160 --> 00:03:27,959 Speaker 1: down after a shocking report that two women claim that 54 00:03:28,000 --> 00:03:30,800 Speaker 1: their former coach his name is Paul Riley, abused them 55 00:03:30,880 --> 00:03:34,120 Speaker 1: verbally and sexually. The players union demanding an into what 56 00:03:34,160 --> 00:03:38,160 Speaker 1: it calls systemic abuse plaguing the NWSL. The Commissioner of 57 00:03:38,200 --> 00:03:41,600 Speaker 1: the National Women's Soccer League has stepped down, following players 58 00:03:41,600 --> 00:03:44,200 Speaker 1: from both teams arm in arm in the middle of 59 00:03:44,240 --> 00:03:48,440 Speaker 1: the field. You can feel the weight of this moment 60 00:03:48,520 --> 00:03:55,440 Speaker 1: for the players. Man, yea are the first people I'm 61 00:03:55,480 --> 00:03:59,000 Speaker 1: talking about this with, but you know I have to 62 00:03:59,040 --> 00:04:04,280 Speaker 1: talk about eventual. From the Charlotte Observer, Raleigh News An Observer, 63 00:04:04,640 --> 00:04:09,960 Speaker 1: McClatchy Studios and iHeart Radio. This is payback. I'm Alexandrea 64 00:04:10,320 --> 00:04:23,320 Speaker 1: and this is Part six Hanging by a thread. Well. 65 00:04:23,360 --> 00:04:26,760 Speaker 1: The closest season ever in the Westfield w League culminated 66 00:04:26,800 --> 00:04:29,840 Speaker 1: in a Grand Final between Melbourne Victory and Sydney of C. 67 00:04:31,320 --> 00:04:33,839 Speaker 1: As Jessica McDonald made a name for herself in Australia, 68 00:04:40,560 --> 00:04:43,240 Speaker 1: the US women's national team once again proclaimed their own 69 00:04:43,240 --> 00:04:49,560 Speaker 1: dominance abroad. They roared through their Olympic qualifying tournament, winning 70 00:04:49,560 --> 00:04:51,800 Speaker 1: all five games by a combined score of thirty eight 71 00:04:51,800 --> 00:04:54,919 Speaker 1: to nothing. The US women's team would head to London 72 00:04:54,960 --> 00:04:59,159 Speaker 1: for the Olympic Games looking for their third consecutive Olympic golds, 73 00:05:00,440 --> 00:05:02,800 Speaker 1: but back at home, the outlook for women's soccer in 74 00:05:02,800 --> 00:05:07,960 Speaker 1: the US was not as encouraging. After bruising three year run, 75 00:05:08,320 --> 00:05:12,080 Speaker 1: the Women's Professional Soccer League officially folded, or maybe more 76 00:05:12,120 --> 00:05:16,560 Speaker 1: accurately imploded. I remember the first women the little cup 77 00:05:16,560 --> 00:05:19,240 Speaker 1: in any one, and so w s A launching was 78 00:05:19,240 --> 00:05:21,719 Speaker 1: a big deal, the first women's league, and I knew 79 00:05:21,760 --> 00:05:23,359 Speaker 1: the moment it launched, that's what I wanted to do. 80 00:05:24,040 --> 00:05:26,760 Speaker 1: Megan Burke has been a true journey woman in American soccer. 81 00:05:27,480 --> 00:05:30,080 Speaker 1: A star goalkeeper for St. Louis University in the early 82 00:05:30,080 --> 00:05:32,720 Speaker 1: two thousands, Burke made history at the school as the 83 00:05:32,760 --> 00:05:35,440 Speaker 1: first woman ever drafted by a pro sports league when 84 00:05:35,440 --> 00:05:37,479 Speaker 1: she was selected by the Carolina Courage of the w 85 00:05:37,720 --> 00:05:40,839 Speaker 1: u s A. That was the first attempt at a 86 00:05:40,839 --> 00:05:45,960 Speaker 1: paid US pro women's soccer league. Then, once the w 87 00:05:46,120 --> 00:05:49,600 Speaker 1: USA folded in two thousand three, Burke got another shot 88 00:05:49,640 --> 00:05:53,960 Speaker 1: at professional soccer when WPS launched, But that second league 89 00:05:53,960 --> 00:05:57,400 Speaker 1: also came crashing down and with it when Burke's playing career, 90 00:05:57,960 --> 00:06:00,240 Speaker 1: when I think backed that moment, I remember this down 91 00:06:00,320 --> 00:06:03,040 Speaker 1: of like a record screeching, like like it just felt 92 00:06:03,080 --> 00:06:07,039 Speaker 1: like what what do you what do you mean? It's over? 93 00:06:07,800 --> 00:06:11,000 Speaker 1: I don't even understand. Burke story is important here for 94 00:06:11,040 --> 00:06:14,480 Speaker 1: a few reasons. For one, she actually played with Jess 95 00:06:14,520 --> 00:06:17,640 Speaker 1: McDonald in WPS during Jessic's first in with the Chicago 96 00:06:17,680 --> 00:06:20,640 Speaker 1: Red Stars. Burke's all the promise Jess brought to the 97 00:06:20,680 --> 00:06:23,960 Speaker 1: game before that knee injury derail Jess's career. She just 98 00:06:24,160 --> 00:06:27,440 Speaker 1: was someone who as a player, you notice on the 99 00:06:27,480 --> 00:06:31,080 Speaker 1: field there was some magic sauce that she had. You know, 100 00:06:31,120 --> 00:06:34,800 Speaker 1: it's light. Another reason burke story is important is that, 101 00:06:35,000 --> 00:06:37,960 Speaker 1: like most women's soccer players in the United States, Bark 102 00:06:38,080 --> 00:06:40,760 Speaker 1: never quite made the U S women's national team. Her 103 00:06:40,800 --> 00:06:44,520 Speaker 1: soccer paychecks came exclusively from club teams. That meant her 104 00:06:44,560 --> 00:06:47,360 Speaker 1: livelihood was directly tied to the sustainability of a women's 105 00:06:47,360 --> 00:06:52,000 Speaker 1: pro league, which was completely outside of her control. Let's see, 106 00:06:52,120 --> 00:06:55,920 Speaker 1: I coached. I I can't even remember all the jobs 107 00:06:56,279 --> 00:06:59,080 Speaker 1: in the years between the w USA and WPS here 108 00:06:59,120 --> 00:07:01,240 Speaker 1: in the US. Burke told me she took odd jobs 109 00:07:01,279 --> 00:07:04,840 Speaker 1: while playing wherever she could, oftentimes overseas, just to keep 110 00:07:04,839 --> 00:07:07,560 Speaker 1: her professional dreams alive. I would tell the marketing for 111 00:07:07,560 --> 00:07:09,040 Speaker 1: three days, and I was terrible at it because I 112 00:07:09,120 --> 00:07:12,120 Speaker 1: just couldn't handle the rejection. I guess um it was 113 00:07:12,160 --> 00:07:14,520 Speaker 1: a landscaper. That was my favorite job. Oh, it was 114 00:07:14,520 --> 00:07:17,800 Speaker 1: a highly unqualified gym teacher for like six months. They 115 00:07:17,840 --> 00:07:19,200 Speaker 1: hired me because I was a soccer player and the 116 00:07:19,240 --> 00:07:23,720 Speaker 1: kids love soccer. But ultimately, once the Second Women's League 117 00:07:23,720 --> 00:07:26,560 Speaker 1: fell apart in two thousand twelve, Burke left her cleats 118 00:07:26,600 --> 00:07:29,200 Speaker 1: behind and pursued a career in law. That's been a 119 00:07:29,240 --> 00:07:31,720 Speaker 1: common story for so many women soccer players over the 120 00:07:31,720 --> 00:07:36,200 Speaker 1: past few decades. My last game I've played September. I 121 00:07:36,280 --> 00:07:39,760 Speaker 1: remember thinking that night I could do this forever, and 122 00:07:39,840 --> 00:07:42,520 Speaker 1: yet that was my last game. I don't like calling 123 00:07:42,560 --> 00:07:45,280 Speaker 1: it retiring. It is so deep in my blood that, like, 124 00:07:45,400 --> 00:07:47,880 Speaker 1: I think I will always be a soccer player. But 125 00:07:47,920 --> 00:07:49,960 Speaker 1: I finally when I was like I'm tired of the bullshit, 126 00:07:51,440 --> 00:07:54,760 Speaker 1: it was like I have my dignity, I'm capable of 127 00:07:54,800 --> 00:07:58,640 Speaker 1: a lot, and I don't need to be treated this way. 128 00:07:59,160 --> 00:08:01,920 Speaker 1: In a key way, the collapse of WPS was similar 129 00:08:01,960 --> 00:08:04,520 Speaker 1: to the downfall of its predecessor, the w U s A. 130 00:08:05,520 --> 00:08:08,200 Speaker 1: Neither had any financial backing from the US Soccer Federation. 131 00:08:09,040 --> 00:08:11,520 Speaker 1: Despite US Soccer using those leagues as training grounds for 132 00:08:11,560 --> 00:08:14,520 Speaker 1: the players who filled the national team rosters. The w 133 00:08:14,720 --> 00:08:19,320 Speaker 1: U s A and WPS operated essentially as startups, So 134 00:08:19,360 --> 00:08:22,480 Speaker 1: when fan Attendant sagged and sponsors became harder to find. 135 00:08:23,000 --> 00:08:27,200 Speaker 1: There was little financial margin for error. But there was 136 00:08:27,280 --> 00:08:30,760 Speaker 1: one key difference between the demise of w USA and WPS, 137 00:08:32,400 --> 00:08:35,600 Speaker 1: the abusive behavior toward women players by men in positions 138 00:08:35,600 --> 00:08:41,360 Speaker 1: of power. Dan Boreslow leaves the good life. P banked 139 00:08:41,440 --> 00:08:44,120 Speaker 1: millions when he took his venture talk dot com public 140 00:08:44,360 --> 00:08:49,240 Speaker 1: pre bubble and now in late telecom magnate, Dan Borslow 141 00:08:49,440 --> 00:08:53,360 Speaker 1: came thundering into WPS, buying the Washington d C team 142 00:08:53,400 --> 00:08:57,480 Speaker 1: and relocating them to South Florida. Along the way, his 143 00:08:57,600 --> 00:09:02,400 Speaker 1: bull in a China shop approach alienated WPS executives, fellow owners, 144 00:09:02,800 --> 00:09:08,280 Speaker 1: and league sponsors. The WPS players Union filed a grievance 145 00:09:08,320 --> 00:09:12,000 Speaker 1: with the league about Borslow's treatment of his players. In 146 00:09:12,080 --> 00:09:16,160 Speaker 1: that grievance, Borslow's players accused him of bullying and threatening them. 147 00:09:16,320 --> 00:09:18,640 Speaker 1: Players had he berated them for what he called shitty 148 00:09:18,679 --> 00:09:22,520 Speaker 1: play and called them fucking idiots. They said he called 149 00:09:22,559 --> 00:09:25,320 Speaker 1: owning their team charity, and that he told players to 150 00:09:25,520 --> 00:09:30,040 Speaker 1: quote call me Daddy. Mike and Burke never played for Borslow, 151 00:09:30,440 --> 00:09:32,600 Speaker 1: but she told me that during her time overseas, she 152 00:09:32,640 --> 00:09:35,760 Speaker 1: had a similar experience with a women's Premier League team. 153 00:09:35,760 --> 00:09:37,440 Speaker 1: Our team was pretty good that year, so we were 154 00:09:37,480 --> 00:09:39,560 Speaker 1: top of the table in the Premiership and we're headed 155 00:09:39,600 --> 00:09:41,240 Speaker 1: the FA Caps in my finals. Like a week or 156 00:09:41,240 --> 00:09:44,880 Speaker 1: two later. Burke story involved her team soliciting charity donations 157 00:09:45,280 --> 00:09:48,040 Speaker 1: much like Salvation Army bell ringers, in advance of the 158 00:09:48,080 --> 00:09:51,520 Speaker 1: All English tournament, the f A Cup in England. That 159 00:09:51,600 --> 00:09:54,720 Speaker 1: kind of fundraising is sometimes referred to as shaking buckets. 160 00:09:55,480 --> 00:09:59,000 Speaker 1: Our club's management, they weren't particularly fond of the women's team. 161 00:09:59,040 --> 00:10:00,880 Speaker 1: They came to us and said, well, you need to 162 00:10:00,880 --> 00:10:02,760 Speaker 1: shake buckets to pay for your bus to London for 163 00:10:02,800 --> 00:10:05,000 Speaker 1: the f A Cup semifinals, or we're not paying for it. 164 00:10:05,480 --> 00:10:06,839 Speaker 1: But by the way, I want you to wear shorts 165 00:10:06,840 --> 00:10:10,440 Speaker 1: because it will help you raise more money. Um. I 166 00:10:10,480 --> 00:10:14,080 Speaker 1: don't remember ever being more livid in my soccer career. 167 00:10:14,679 --> 00:10:16,720 Speaker 1: And also like I didn't know how to channel it. 168 00:10:16,800 --> 00:10:18,800 Speaker 1: You know, we all talked to each other, but we 169 00:10:18,880 --> 00:10:21,400 Speaker 1: showed up, you know, we wore pants, but we did 170 00:10:21,440 --> 00:10:24,840 Speaker 1: it and it was humiliating and and infuriating frankly, and 171 00:10:25,160 --> 00:10:29,160 Speaker 1: I didn't speak out when I was twenty four, you know. 172 00:10:30,600 --> 00:10:33,200 Speaker 1: So there's a very clear need for labor gain in 173 00:10:33,240 --> 00:10:35,600 Speaker 1: that context to have an advocate and someone who's looking 174 00:10:35,600 --> 00:10:41,720 Speaker 1: out for you. In WPS, the league publicly admonished Borslow 175 00:10:42,080 --> 00:10:46,840 Speaker 1: and then in terminated the South Florida franchise entirely. Borslow 176 00:10:46,880 --> 00:10:48,960 Speaker 1: sued the league, and in the midst of the costly 177 00:10:49,040 --> 00:10:52,840 Speaker 1: legal battle, the remaining team owners announced WPS would permanently 178 00:10:52,840 --> 00:10:59,360 Speaker 1: suspend operations. That announcement came just months before those twelve 179 00:10:59,360 --> 00:11:02,880 Speaker 1: Olympic Games, but the U S women's national team didn't 180 00:11:02,880 --> 00:11:06,679 Speaker 1: miss a beat in London. They defeated Japan two to 181 00:11:06,760 --> 00:11:08,840 Speaker 1: one in the gold medal match in front of more 182 00:11:08,880 --> 00:11:12,000 Speaker 1: than eighty thousand fans, a new record for women's soccer 183 00:11:12,040 --> 00:11:15,800 Speaker 1: at the Olympics. But by the summer of with no 184 00:11:15,840 --> 00:11:18,440 Speaker 1: more league at home, it was unclear where many of 185 00:11:18,440 --> 00:11:21,880 Speaker 1: those national team stars would play soccer next, or whether 186 00:11:21,920 --> 00:11:24,920 Speaker 1: players like Jess McDonald could hope for any future for 187 00:11:25,000 --> 00:11:29,720 Speaker 1: soccer careers in America at all. We'll be right back. 188 00:11:34,120 --> 00:11:36,800 Speaker 1: Welcome live to an historic night for women's soccers, the 189 00:11:36,800 --> 00:11:40,679 Speaker 1: inaugural match of the NWS. By the spring of a 190 00:11:40,760 --> 00:11:44,360 Speaker 1: new league was created, the National Women's Soccer League, bankrolled 191 00:11:44,400 --> 00:11:47,640 Speaker 1: in part by the top body in American soccer, that 192 00:11:47,880 --> 00:11:52,240 Speaker 1: is it. That's a really quality ninety minutes. The NWSL 193 00:11:52,320 --> 00:11:54,600 Speaker 1: was designed to have a five month long season, and 194 00:11:54,640 --> 00:11:56,800 Speaker 1: team salary caps were only a fraction of what they 195 00:11:56,840 --> 00:12:00,160 Speaker 1: had been in either of the earlier leagues. Why your 196 00:12:00,160 --> 00:12:03,160 Speaker 1: salaries initially ranged from about six thousand dollars to roughly 197 00:12:03,240 --> 00:12:06,600 Speaker 1: thirty thousand dollars incomes that were totally unlivable in most 198 00:12:06,600 --> 00:12:09,600 Speaker 1: cities where those teams played. According to US Census Bureau data, 199 00:12:10,800 --> 00:12:13,160 Speaker 1: in the Washington metro area, where one of the teams 200 00:12:13,200 --> 00:12:16,800 Speaker 1: was located, the estimated median household income was roughly three 201 00:12:16,840 --> 00:12:20,960 Speaker 1: times more than the league's maximum salary. Olympic medalists on 202 00:12:20,960 --> 00:12:24,000 Speaker 1: that Washington team lived at a retirement community in the area. 203 00:12:24,880 --> 00:12:28,240 Speaker 1: Other players lived with host families. But for the first time, 204 00:12:28,559 --> 00:12:31,000 Speaker 1: the nws L had the financial backing of the US 205 00:12:31,040 --> 00:12:34,640 Speaker 1: Soccer Federation. The national team players were allocated among the 206 00:12:34,720 --> 00:12:38,280 Speaker 1: nws LS eight teams, and US Soccer paid their league salaries, 207 00:12:39,160 --> 00:12:41,160 Speaker 1: So with US Soccer covering the cost of the highest 208 00:12:41,200 --> 00:12:43,720 Speaker 1: paid names in the nbs L, teams could spend their 209 00:12:43,720 --> 00:12:47,400 Speaker 1: remaining budgets on promising young players. We're veterans looking for 210 00:12:47,440 --> 00:12:49,240 Speaker 1: a chance to prove they could still have an impact. 211 00:12:49,840 --> 00:12:54,160 Speaker 1: Like Jess McDonald. This is in the spring at this point, 212 00:12:54,520 --> 00:12:58,960 Speaker 1: coming off of the plane from Australia and Arnhum Whistler, 213 00:12:59,200 --> 00:13:01,600 Speaker 1: the owner of Shica our Red Stars, calls me literally 214 00:13:01,600 --> 00:13:02,920 Speaker 1: as soon as I landed. I'm like, how did you 215 00:13:03,000 --> 00:13:06,840 Speaker 1: even know my flight information? I'm just getting back into 216 00:13:06,840 --> 00:13:11,000 Speaker 1: the country. Five of those NWSL teams were holdovers from 217 00:13:11,000 --> 00:13:14,199 Speaker 1: the prior WPS, including the Chicago Red Stars team that 218 00:13:14,280 --> 00:13:18,160 Speaker 1: had once drafted Jess. Having just led the Melbourne Victory 219 00:13:18,200 --> 00:13:20,880 Speaker 1: to their league finals in Australia, she was eager to 220 00:13:20,880 --> 00:13:24,480 Speaker 1: be home with her young son, Jeremiah. I knew that 221 00:13:25,160 --> 00:13:28,440 Speaker 1: he wasn't gonna remember me being gone. It was hard 222 00:13:28,480 --> 00:13:31,240 Speaker 1: some days, but that was like the thing I was 223 00:13:31,280 --> 00:13:34,360 Speaker 1: holding onto. It's like, thank God for Skype and in 224 00:13:34,480 --> 00:13:36,480 Speaker 1: face time, you know what I mean, things like that, 225 00:13:36,559 --> 00:13:39,839 Speaker 1: So that ship was on my shoulder. I couldn't do 226 00:13:40,000 --> 00:13:44,040 Speaker 1: anything but trying and succeed. I hope you guys are 227 00:13:44,080 --> 00:13:46,640 Speaker 1: set at home wherever you'll be watching the Chicago Red 228 00:13:46,679 --> 00:13:50,160 Speaker 1: Stars television network. Jess signed back with the Red Stars 229 00:13:50,200 --> 00:13:53,520 Speaker 1: as a free agent in She made nine appearances for 230 00:13:53,559 --> 00:13:56,560 Speaker 1: the team and notched one assist I got limited playing 231 00:13:56,559 --> 00:13:59,640 Speaker 1: time and was waved from the team mid season, but 232 00:13:59,679 --> 00:14:01,440 Speaker 1: it was a start of a winding comeback that was 233 00:14:01,480 --> 00:14:06,880 Speaker 1: equal parts extraordinary and extraordinarily frustrating. To be honest, I 234 00:14:06,880 --> 00:14:10,040 Speaker 1: had no idea what to expect. Financially. We were struggling 235 00:14:10,040 --> 00:14:12,960 Speaker 1: at the beginning with the USL and kind of hanging 236 00:14:13,000 --> 00:14:17,000 Speaker 1: on by a thread. I got traded to six different 237 00:14:17,040 --> 00:14:20,840 Speaker 1: teams in the first five years. That was really frustrating. 238 00:14:23,520 --> 00:14:26,240 Speaker 1: Some new faces on this roster, and one will be 239 00:14:26,280 --> 00:14:29,360 Speaker 1: in the starting lineup tonight playing up front. Jessica McDonald, 240 00:14:29,720 --> 00:14:33,800 Speaker 1: a unique blend of size and speed. Days after being 241 00:14:33,840 --> 00:14:36,720 Speaker 1: waived by Chicago, she was scooped up by the Seattle Rain. 242 00:14:37,120 --> 00:14:39,360 Speaker 1: Left footed service in McDonald with a shot in the 243 00:14:39,400 --> 00:14:45,520 Speaker 1: goal Jessica McDonald in her Rain debut, giving Seattle the 244 00:14:45,560 --> 00:14:49,480 Speaker 1: one Neil lead. Just ended the year with Seattle tied 245 00:14:49,520 --> 00:14:52,640 Speaker 1: for third on the team and goal scored. But after 246 00:14:52,640 --> 00:14:55,840 Speaker 1: Seattle's lackluster season in which they won only five games 247 00:14:55,840 --> 00:14:59,880 Speaker 1: of twenty two, ownership began cleaning house. I wanted to 248 00:15:00,000 --> 00:15:05,400 Speaker 1: at her It's Portland's when I was coaching there. Here's 249 00:15:05,400 --> 00:15:09,120 Speaker 1: Cindy Parlo Cone, former national team player in unc assistant 250 00:15:09,120 --> 00:15:12,440 Speaker 1: coach with Jessic's championship teams. In a stroke of fate, 251 00:15:12,880 --> 00:15:15,080 Speaker 1: or perhaps more so as a sign of how small 252 00:15:15,120 --> 00:15:18,160 Speaker 1: the world of US women's soccer is, Parlo Cone had 253 00:15:18,160 --> 00:15:20,840 Speaker 1: become the Portland Thorns head coach for their inaugural season. 254 00:15:21,440 --> 00:15:24,440 Speaker 1: I knew what kind of teammates she is, and so 255 00:15:24,720 --> 00:15:28,000 Speaker 1: I knew I wanted that on my team. She eventually 256 00:15:28,080 --> 00:15:31,720 Speaker 1: joined the Portland Thorns later, which was great to see, 257 00:15:31,920 --> 00:15:34,000 Speaker 1: but I didn't have the pleasure of coaching her as 258 00:15:34,000 --> 00:15:37,880 Speaker 1: a pro. Cone would resigned from the Thorns after season 259 00:15:37,960 --> 00:15:40,480 Speaker 1: to spend more time with her family, but Portland's soon 260 00:15:40,480 --> 00:15:42,480 Speaker 1: made a trade to get the goal scorer from Seattle. 261 00:15:43,640 --> 00:15:48,880 Speaker 1: Then before the season, with Cone having left, Portland brought 262 00:15:48,920 --> 00:15:53,080 Speaker 1: another face into the clubhouse, a manager with a track 263 00:15:53,120 --> 00:15:56,760 Speaker 1: record of success in the women's game named Paul Riley. 264 00:15:56,920 --> 00:15:59,000 Speaker 1: I've been a women's side probably twelve years. I think 265 00:15:59,000 --> 00:16:00,960 Speaker 1: something like twelve years full teen years, maybe a little 266 00:16:00,960 --> 00:16:03,200 Speaker 1: bit longer. So I was coach men's soccer. I coach 267 00:16:03,240 --> 00:16:07,560 Speaker 1: men youth college professionally, and then on the girl's side. 268 00:16:07,640 --> 00:16:09,160 Speaker 1: I didn't do college on the other side, and then 269 00:16:09,240 --> 00:16:11,800 Speaker 1: straight to the pros. We spoke with Riley earlier in 270 00:16:11,800 --> 00:16:14,640 Speaker 1: our reporting for this podcast when he was head coach 271 00:16:14,680 --> 00:16:18,400 Speaker 1: of the North Carolina Courage. Riley, who was from Liverpool, 272 00:16:18,680 --> 00:16:23,760 Speaker 1: played professional soccer himself until Riley broke into coaching major 273 00:16:23,760 --> 00:16:27,200 Speaker 1: women's professional soccer in two thousand nine, when the Philadelphia 274 00:16:27,240 --> 00:16:30,760 Speaker 1: Independence named him head coach of their WPS franchise. He 275 00:16:30,840 --> 00:16:33,360 Speaker 1: soon led that team to the WPS title game and 276 00:16:33,400 --> 00:16:35,720 Speaker 1: became the league's Coach of the Year. I mean, the 277 00:16:35,760 --> 00:16:37,840 Speaker 1: speed of the game on the men's side is fabulous. 278 00:16:38,240 --> 00:16:41,880 Speaker 1: The adrenaline, strength, the power, all that stuff is great. 279 00:16:42,040 --> 00:16:45,040 Speaker 1: But the tactical beauty of the women's game is something 280 00:16:45,080 --> 00:16:47,480 Speaker 1: that I don't think everyone in this country yet appreciates. 281 00:16:47,920 --> 00:16:49,840 Speaker 1: And I found him different, you know, I found him 282 00:16:49,880 --> 00:16:54,160 Speaker 1: like better tactically, better listeners. It was a more naturing environment. 283 00:16:54,160 --> 00:16:56,960 Speaker 1: It forced me to change my coaching philosophy. I've learned 284 00:16:56,960 --> 00:16:59,760 Speaker 1: to collaborate, and I feel like women are better collaborating 285 00:17:00,080 --> 00:17:02,240 Speaker 1: than the men's side. You know, the men's side will 286 00:17:02,280 --> 00:17:04,359 Speaker 1: just go out and give him tactics and they'll just 287 00:17:04,400 --> 00:17:06,800 Speaker 1: play anyone. They'll do whatever an earth they want normally, 288 00:17:07,040 --> 00:17:10,919 Speaker 1: but the women that brilliant, disciplined intelligent. I think it literally, 289 00:17:10,960 --> 00:17:12,720 Speaker 1: it's gonna be. How you lay it out is the 290 00:17:12,720 --> 00:17:16,960 Speaker 1: way it's gonna be. After WPS folded, Riley too was 291 00:17:17,000 --> 00:17:19,080 Speaker 1: looking for a way back into the elite women's game. 292 00:17:19,800 --> 00:17:22,040 Speaker 1: When he got the Portland's job and saw that Jess 293 00:17:22,040 --> 00:17:24,600 Speaker 1: was available from Seattle. It seems like the start of 294 00:17:24,640 --> 00:17:27,920 Speaker 1: something great. So the Portland Thorns in front of over 295 00:17:28,000 --> 00:17:31,800 Speaker 1: fourteen thousand of their fans in the driving rain and 296 00:17:31,880 --> 00:17:35,520 Speaker 1: the thorns April home opener just scored two goals to 297 00:17:35,520 --> 00:17:40,640 Speaker 1: secure the win. Jess McDonald breaking the tie with two 298 00:17:40,960 --> 00:17:45,000 Speaker 1: late game goals and a huge victory for these Thorns. 299 00:17:45,840 --> 00:17:49,000 Speaker 1: Jes went rampaging through the nbs AL that season, becoming 300 00:17:49,000 --> 00:17:52,520 Speaker 1: one of the league's top scorers. Portland has definitely thrown 301 00:17:52,520 --> 00:17:56,320 Speaker 1: his curveball. Instead of starting Alex Morgan, it's Christine and 302 00:17:56,320 --> 00:17:59,320 Speaker 1: Sinclair and Jeff McDonald up chopped for the Thorns. In 303 00:17:59,359 --> 00:18:02,320 Speaker 1: this July him against Chicago, Jess had her first record 304 00:18:02,320 --> 00:18:05,960 Speaker 1: breaking moment in the end of BSL. We have Lorie 305 00:18:06,040 --> 00:18:08,720 Speaker 1: collump me standing in the center circle in she gets 306 00:18:08,720 --> 00:18:12,919 Speaker 1: asunder way. Three seconds later. At a quick start for 307 00:18:12,920 --> 00:18:17,080 Speaker 1: the Portland Thorns in the first minute McDonald with the goal. 308 00:18:17,640 --> 00:18:19,880 Speaker 1: At the time, it was the fastest goal in league 309 00:18:19,920 --> 00:18:24,320 Speaker 1: history for Jess McDonald. That is her tenth goal of 310 00:18:24,520 --> 00:18:29,000 Speaker 1: the campaign. But despite a breakout season in which Jess 311 00:18:29,080 --> 00:18:31,880 Speaker 1: led the team in scoring Portland's center on her way 312 00:18:33,080 --> 00:18:36,320 Speaker 1: in early Jess was traded to the Houston Dash in 313 00:18:36,440 --> 00:18:39,879 Speaker 1: exchange for draft picks. Oh what a pass and what 314 00:18:40,000 --> 00:18:44,960 Speaker 1: a finish by Jess McDonald. Season just led Houston in 315 00:18:45,040 --> 00:18:50,879 Speaker 1: scoring McDonald towards the near post score and it's too 316 00:18:50,920 --> 00:18:56,719 Speaker 1: long enugh. But then she was moved again a bargaining 317 00:18:56,800 --> 00:18:58,720 Speaker 1: chip in a three team trade that landed her at 318 00:18:58,720 --> 00:19:01,960 Speaker 1: the Western New York Flash. Jess was fast becoming the 319 00:19:02,000 --> 00:19:06,240 Speaker 1: most underrated and perhaps undervalued player in the league. Had 320 00:19:06,320 --> 00:19:10,560 Speaker 1: my son, and so you know, I'm scraping pennies every offseason. 321 00:19:10,600 --> 00:19:13,440 Speaker 1: I was working full time jobs to our season was 322 00:19:13,480 --> 00:19:16,159 Speaker 1: only six months out of the year. So what are 323 00:19:16,160 --> 00:19:21,040 Speaker 1: we gonna do the next six months? For any player, 324 00:19:21,440 --> 00:19:25,159 Speaker 1: cross country moves year after year could be maddening. I 325 00:19:25,240 --> 00:19:26,960 Speaker 1: hope you guys are set at home wherever you'll be 326 00:19:26,960 --> 00:19:31,080 Speaker 1: watching the Chicago Red Stars television network. Welcome to Starfire 327 00:19:31,119 --> 00:19:34,240 Speaker 1: Stadium just south of Seattle, Aget a gorge. Portland has 328 00:19:34,359 --> 00:19:38,639 Speaker 1: definitely thrown US curveball McDonald towards the neper post and 329 00:19:38,680 --> 00:19:46,040 Speaker 1: it's too long. Jessin quietly married Jeremiah's father in hopes 330 00:19:46,080 --> 00:19:48,480 Speaker 1: of providing a stable home for her son. I was 331 00:19:48,520 --> 00:19:53,639 Speaker 1: making one three, I couldn't afford child care. I couldn't 332 00:19:53,640 --> 00:19:58,680 Speaker 1: even afford a babysitter. But that marriage quickly unraveled. By 333 00:19:58,680 --> 00:20:00,400 Speaker 1: the time she was traded to the Western New York 334 00:20:00,400 --> 00:20:04,840 Speaker 1: Flash in early Just had become a trailblazer. There were 335 00:20:04,920 --> 00:20:06,760 Speaker 1: days where by Sun be sitting in a stroller on 336 00:20:06,800 --> 00:20:10,679 Speaker 1: the sideline at training by himself, without you know, anyone 337 00:20:10,720 --> 00:20:16,320 Speaker 1: watching him, and that really sucked. And so I guess 338 00:20:16,359 --> 00:20:19,160 Speaker 1: at that point, is Jeremy's dad like still involved with Yeah, 339 00:20:19,160 --> 00:20:22,560 Speaker 1: he facetimes him very frequently. Yeah, Yeah, he lives in 340 00:20:22,600 --> 00:20:25,200 Speaker 1: Arizona those so physically Nope, but I do try and 341 00:20:25,200 --> 00:20:27,199 Speaker 1: get him out to Arizona as much as possible every 342 00:20:27,280 --> 00:20:31,280 Speaker 1: year to spend time with him. Yeah. Even after breaking 343 00:20:31,320 --> 00:20:33,840 Speaker 1: records in the end of USL Just hadn't been called 344 00:20:33,880 --> 00:20:36,399 Speaker 1: up for a chance with the US national team. She 345 00:20:36,520 --> 00:20:38,960 Speaker 1: was closing in on thirty years old, when most players 346 00:20:38,960 --> 00:20:41,399 Speaker 1: best years are behind them to say nothing of her 347 00:20:41,400 --> 00:20:45,119 Speaker 1: major knee surgery or motherhood. I was like, is this 348 00:20:45,280 --> 00:20:48,840 Speaker 1: career even worth it anymore? National teams not happening. I 349 00:20:48,880 --> 00:20:52,560 Speaker 1: am making nothing, you know? Am I doing everything I 350 00:20:52,560 --> 00:20:56,320 Speaker 1: can for my son? Ultimately, Jess agreed to report to 351 00:20:56,400 --> 00:20:59,960 Speaker 1: Rochester thanks largely to the coach who helped guide break 352 00:21:00,000 --> 00:21:04,440 Speaker 1: out season with Portland Thorns, Paul Riley. Portland had chosen 353 00:21:04,440 --> 00:21:08,040 Speaker 1: not to renew Riley's contract after the season, and he 354 00:21:08,080 --> 00:21:13,560 Speaker 1: would be taking over for Western New York in And 355 00:21:13,600 --> 00:21:16,560 Speaker 1: this is where our story takes a turn because late 356 00:21:16,560 --> 00:21:19,840 Speaker 1: in my reporting for this podcast, soccer fans learned there's 357 00:21:19,880 --> 00:21:23,160 Speaker 1: much more to Riley's arrival in Rochester, and the public's 358 00:21:23,200 --> 00:21:26,439 Speaker 1: all firsthand. That's the stomach devaluation of women in soccer 359 00:21:26,920 --> 00:21:30,399 Speaker 1: at all levels throughout the game goes far beyond their paychecks. 360 00:21:31,320 --> 00:21:34,399 Speaker 1: The National Women's Soccer League faces a reckoning over charges 361 00:21:34,480 --> 00:21:38,080 Speaker 1: that it ignored abuse of its players. Professional women's soccer 362 00:21:38,240 --> 00:21:41,400 Speaker 1: is turned upside down after a shocking report that two 363 00:21:41,400 --> 00:21:44,119 Speaker 1: women claim that their former coach his name is Paul Riley, 364 00:21:44,280 --> 00:21:47,840 Speaker 1: abused them verbally and sexually. The players union demanding an 365 00:21:47,920 --> 00:21:51,320 Speaker 1: end to what it calls the stemic abuse plaguing the NWSL. 366 00:21:52,119 --> 00:21:56,000 Speaker 1: In an explosive report by Meglenahan of The Athletic, two 367 00:21:56,000 --> 00:21:59,439 Speaker 1: former players of Riley's on the Portland Thorns said fairly 368 00:21:59,720 --> 00:22:02,240 Speaker 1: and on a sham alleged that Riley had verbally and 369 00:22:02,240 --> 00:22:06,520 Speaker 1: emotionally abused them in Portland, made sexual advances toward them, 370 00:22:06,560 --> 00:22:09,000 Speaker 1: and had coerced fairly into sleeping with him to further 371 00:22:09,040 --> 00:22:12,520 Speaker 1: her career. Those players said that some of Riley's alleged 372 00:22:12,520 --> 00:22:15,560 Speaker 1: abuse had gone on for years, partly because there was 373 00:22:15,600 --> 00:22:18,359 Speaker 1: an unspoken belief that the nd WUSL was the third 374 00:22:18,400 --> 00:22:21,639 Speaker 1: try at professional women's soccer in the United States. The 375 00:22:21,720 --> 00:22:23,960 Speaker 1: league was seen as the last fragile hope many of 376 00:22:24,000 --> 00:22:26,240 Speaker 1: them had at a career playing the game they love. 377 00:22:27,480 --> 00:22:29,639 Speaker 1: If a scandal like theirs had the potential to destroy 378 00:22:29,680 --> 00:22:33,720 Speaker 1: their own futures, how long would they stay silent? Man, 379 00:22:34,560 --> 00:22:36,640 Speaker 1: y'all are the first people I'm talking about this with, 380 00:22:37,720 --> 00:22:41,440 Speaker 1: But you know I have to talk about eventually. Jess 381 00:22:41,440 --> 00:22:45,160 Speaker 1: played Portland team. I spoke with her over Zoom after 382 00:22:45,160 --> 00:22:48,920 Speaker 1: the news broke about Riley. Paul wasn't like the nicest 383 00:22:49,000 --> 00:22:52,560 Speaker 1: of people to me when I was there, you know, 384 00:22:52,880 --> 00:22:56,199 Speaker 1: Paul was such a good coach, but you know a 385 00:22:56,200 --> 00:22:59,400 Speaker 1: lot of his comments would be very personal. Just told 386 00:22:59,440 --> 00:23:02,120 Speaker 1: me she never all or was subjected to the sort 387 00:23:02,160 --> 00:23:05,760 Speaker 1: of sexual abuse her teammates alleged in The Athletic. However, 388 00:23:06,359 --> 00:23:08,800 Speaker 1: the article did mention an unnamed player mom on that 389 00:23:09,560 --> 00:23:13,359 Speaker 1: team who was allegedly subjected to Riley's verbal assaults. It 390 00:23:13,480 --> 00:23:15,960 Speaker 1: was brutal. You know, there was a point in time 391 00:23:16,040 --> 00:23:19,240 Speaker 1: where he would be like, why are you playing like 392 00:23:19,320 --> 00:23:22,520 Speaker 1: craps days because your son was up all night? Comments 393 00:23:22,560 --> 00:23:26,320 Speaker 1: like that, And I'm okay with getting yelled at, and 394 00:23:26,359 --> 00:23:28,720 Speaker 1: that's fine as an athlete, but like when it gets personal, 395 00:23:29,280 --> 00:23:31,800 Speaker 1: you know, that's a little more gut wrenching. And so 396 00:23:32,520 --> 00:23:36,080 Speaker 1: there were a lot of like personal comments coming at me. 397 00:23:36,480 --> 00:23:39,199 Speaker 1: It was just awkward and I feel like I was 398 00:23:39,200 --> 00:23:41,480 Speaker 1: walking on a shells when I was in Portland, but 399 00:23:41,560 --> 00:23:45,359 Speaker 1: like this is my breakout season two. At the same time, 400 00:23:46,040 --> 00:23:49,679 Speaker 1: everything outside of the soccer field, outside of games, it 401 00:23:49,840 --> 00:23:55,480 Speaker 1: was just very uncomfortable. For months after those allegations were made, 402 00:23:55,920 --> 00:23:58,399 Speaker 1: probably did not respond to our attempts to interview him again, 403 00:23:59,200 --> 00:24:01,879 Speaker 1: but The Athletic a response from Riley which said that 404 00:24:01,920 --> 00:24:04,920 Speaker 1: over the course of his career. Quote there's a chance 405 00:24:04,920 --> 00:24:07,200 Speaker 1: that I've said something along the way that offended someone, 406 00:24:07,760 --> 00:24:10,479 Speaker 1: but he insisted, quote I have never had sex with 407 00:24:10,640 --> 00:24:13,919 Speaker 1: or made sexual advances towards these players. He said, the 408 00:24:13,920 --> 00:24:20,159 Speaker 1: majority of these allegations were quote completely untrue. Then I 409 00:24:20,240 --> 00:24:23,879 Speaker 1: heard from Riley himself in his first comments since that 410 00:24:23,920 --> 00:24:28,080 Speaker 1: initial report. Riley told me, quote, I have a ton 411 00:24:28,119 --> 00:24:31,040 Speaker 1: to say, but not ready yet. But when I do, 412 00:24:31,240 --> 00:24:32,919 Speaker 1: I think it will be a forth right and honest 413 00:24:32,960 --> 00:24:35,879 Speaker 1: insight into the state of women's soccer and the social 414 00:24:35,960 --> 00:24:39,280 Speaker 1: political implications of the woke culture who find a huge 415 00:24:39,280 --> 00:24:46,639 Speaker 1: audience in women's soccer. End quote. The coach athlete relationship 416 00:24:46,800 --> 00:24:50,200 Speaker 1: is a very special one in terms of the impact 417 00:24:50,800 --> 00:24:54,480 Speaker 1: one caring relationship with the coach figure can have on 418 00:24:54,560 --> 00:24:57,520 Speaker 1: an athlete. Dr Nicole Lavoy is the director of the 419 00:24:57,560 --> 00:25:00,680 Speaker 1: Tucker Center for Girls and Women in Sport. And so 420 00:25:00,880 --> 00:25:04,560 Speaker 1: we cannot underestimate that the coach holds a lot of 421 00:25:04,640 --> 00:25:08,840 Speaker 1: power in a good way, and oftentimes that's used in 422 00:25:08,880 --> 00:25:11,960 Speaker 1: not a good way when it turns towards emotional, physical, 423 00:25:12,680 --> 00:25:16,520 Speaker 1: psychological abuse. What we're seeing right now is that the 424 00:25:16,560 --> 00:25:20,880 Speaker 1: female athletes who have visibility and power and popularity are 425 00:25:21,000 --> 00:25:24,520 Speaker 1: using their platforms to advocate for themselves and that is 426 00:25:24,800 --> 00:25:30,240 Speaker 1: unprecedented disruption in the space. The young women and the 427 00:25:30,359 --> 00:25:33,960 Speaker 1: veteran women are using their platforms for social change in 428 00:25:34,040 --> 00:25:37,800 Speaker 1: ways that we have never seen before. In our conversation, 429 00:25:38,119 --> 00:25:41,480 Speaker 1: Lavoy wasn't referencing any specific report about abuses of power, 430 00:25:42,040 --> 00:25:44,800 Speaker 1: but in the past two years, the NBUSL has provided 431 00:25:44,800 --> 00:25:48,240 Speaker 1: a terrifying number to choose from. In Washington, d C. 432 00:25:48,680 --> 00:25:51,560 Speaker 1: The Washington Spirits soccer team has been suspended by the 433 00:25:51,640 --> 00:25:54,760 Speaker 1: National Women's Soccer League and their former head coach, Richie 434 00:25:54,760 --> 00:25:57,880 Speaker 1: Burke has been fired and banned from working with any 435 00:25:57,920 --> 00:26:01,200 Speaker 1: other players. In Salt Lake City, the Major League Soccer 436 00:26:01,240 --> 00:26:04,480 Speaker 1: continues to investigate Royal Salt Lake and Utah Royals owner 437 00:26:04,520 --> 00:26:08,359 Speaker 1: Delois Hanson for improper language and conduct. In New York, 438 00:26:08,600 --> 00:26:11,800 Speaker 1: where Gotham FC dismissed manager Alias La Hu after an 439 00:26:11,840 --> 00:26:15,680 Speaker 1: investigation that revealed violations to the league's anti harassment policy, 440 00:26:16,520 --> 00:26:19,520 Speaker 1: the commissioner of the National Women's Soccer League has stepped 441 00:26:19,560 --> 00:26:24,359 Speaker 1: down following allegations of misconduct. The resignation of the NWSL 442 00:26:24,400 --> 00:26:28,720 Speaker 1: commissioner came in after the Paul Riley scandal broke, but 443 00:26:28,840 --> 00:26:31,800 Speaker 1: Riley was hardly the only person in women's soccer alleged 444 00:26:31,840 --> 00:26:37,040 Speaker 1: to have violated his player's trust final day seconds the 445 00:26:38,840 --> 00:26:41,359 Speaker 1: five minute. He's not even the only one of justice. 446 00:26:41,440 --> 00:26:53,000 Speaker 1: Former coaches in the University of North Carolina and several 447 00:26:53,000 --> 00:26:56,520 Speaker 1: school officials, including coach ants and Lawrence were sued by 448 00:26:56,560 --> 00:26:59,880 Speaker 1: two of his former players. The women played at UNC 449 00:27:00,080 --> 00:27:03,760 Speaker 1: long before adjusted and alleged that at the time Dorens 450 00:27:03,800 --> 00:27:06,880 Speaker 1: talked regularly about his players bodies and sex lives, which 451 00:27:06,880 --> 00:27:10,520 Speaker 1: amounted to sexual harassment and therefore violated their Title nine 452 00:27:10,600 --> 00:27:14,600 Speaker 1: rights to an equal education. They sought various remedies, including 453 00:27:14,640 --> 00:27:18,800 Speaker 1: financial damages of twelve million dollars. Dorn's declined to comment 454 00:27:18,800 --> 00:27:21,840 Speaker 1: on the allegations when I asked, but many years later 455 00:27:22,240 --> 00:27:24,840 Speaker 1: UNC paid more than four hundred fifty thousand dollars to 456 00:27:24,840 --> 00:27:28,760 Speaker 1: settle those two cases. As part of the settlement, one 457 00:27:28,800 --> 00:27:32,560 Speaker 1: of the plaintiffs released a statement saying that quote neither 458 00:27:32,680 --> 00:27:35,080 Speaker 1: Mr Dorance nor any member of the coaching staff for 459 00:27:35,160 --> 00:27:37,920 Speaker 1: the UNC Chapel Hill women's soccer team made a pass 460 00:27:37,960 --> 00:27:41,119 Speaker 1: at me or asked for a sexual relationship. Dorrence was 461 00:27:41,200 --> 00:27:44,879 Speaker 1: enrolled in sensitivity training, and he issued an apology, acknowledging 462 00:27:44,920 --> 00:27:48,480 Speaker 1: that he quote participated with members of the UNC Chapel 463 00:27:48,520 --> 00:27:51,200 Speaker 1: Hill women's soccer team in group discussions of those team 464 00:27:51,200 --> 00:27:55,840 Speaker 1: members sexual activities or relationships with men. He continued, I 465 00:27:55,920 --> 00:27:59,800 Speaker 1: understand that my participation in those discussions was inappropriate and unacceptable. 466 00:28:01,840 --> 00:28:04,840 Speaker 1: I talk a lot to those and positions of power 467 00:28:05,160 --> 00:28:09,320 Speaker 1: in all levels of organized sport. Dr Lavoy again, and 468 00:28:09,400 --> 00:28:14,320 Speaker 1: the conversations I have are usually one is to educate 469 00:28:14,359 --> 00:28:18,320 Speaker 1: and create awareness. To then is how do you change 470 00:28:18,480 --> 00:28:23,359 Speaker 1: the culture of your organization to one that values and 471 00:28:23,440 --> 00:28:27,080 Speaker 1: supports women in a legitimate way, not just lip service, 472 00:28:27,800 --> 00:28:31,600 Speaker 1: but real cultural change, And that starts at the top. 473 00:28:32,200 --> 00:28:35,160 Speaker 1: If we don't get changed from the top down, real 474 00:28:35,400 --> 00:28:41,040 Speaker 1: systemic change will never happen. So those are the conversations 475 00:28:41,080 --> 00:28:45,000 Speaker 1: I end up having and will continue to have, unfortunately, 476 00:28:45,080 --> 00:28:49,600 Speaker 1: because the change has been slow, uneven, or in some 477 00:28:49,720 --> 00:28:57,280 Speaker 1: cases backwards. So what Jess and the general public didn't 478 00:28:57,280 --> 00:29:01,240 Speaker 1: know in was that her reconnection Paul Riley in Western 479 00:29:01,240 --> 00:29:04,040 Speaker 1: New York came from a dark place. Just a few 480 00:29:04,040 --> 00:29:06,800 Speaker 1: months earlier, one of those Portland Thorns players interviewed in 481 00:29:06,800 --> 00:29:09,800 Speaker 1: the Athletic had complained to team management about Riley's behavior. 482 00:29:10,520 --> 00:29:13,640 Speaker 1: The Thorns recently acknowledged they conducted an internal review at 483 00:29:13,640 --> 00:29:16,720 Speaker 1: the time and quickly decided not to renew Riley's contract. 484 00:29:17,720 --> 00:29:22,160 Speaker 1: That's the reason he ended up coaching Jess again. During 485 00:29:22,200 --> 00:29:25,320 Speaker 1: my early conversation with him for this podcast, Riley obviously 486 00:29:25,360 --> 00:29:27,920 Speaker 1: didn't mention any of that. He just told us he 487 00:29:27,960 --> 00:29:30,600 Speaker 1: was excited at the time to have Jess on his team. 488 00:29:30,720 --> 00:29:32,240 Speaker 1: She has a lot of tools and a lot of 489 00:29:32,280 --> 00:29:34,960 Speaker 1: pieces to us. She did well in Portland for us, obviously, 490 00:29:34,960 --> 00:29:37,280 Speaker 1: and then she got traded to Houston. She's never forgiven 491 00:29:37,320 --> 00:29:39,520 Speaker 1: me for that one. We traded to Houston. I don't 492 00:29:39,560 --> 00:29:41,880 Speaker 1: even remember why or how what it was for, but 493 00:29:42,280 --> 00:29:45,240 Speaker 1: she ended up going to Houston. And then obviously I 494 00:29:45,360 --> 00:29:47,640 Speaker 1: left and came to Buffalo to Western New York, and 495 00:29:48,160 --> 00:29:50,120 Speaker 1: by the time I got there, Jess was who already 496 00:29:50,160 --> 00:29:53,360 Speaker 1: been traded to Western New York. Like, oh my god, 497 00:29:53,600 --> 00:29:56,240 Speaker 1: Jeff McDonald's on the roster. I got a cool Jess 498 00:29:56,240 --> 00:29:58,600 Speaker 1: because I want if she's still has something against me 499 00:29:58,640 --> 00:30:01,120 Speaker 1: for trading them, but gold out HS, So I'll let 500 00:30:01,120 --> 00:30:02,840 Speaker 1: you know. I took over the jump shoes. Oh my god, 501 00:30:02,880 --> 00:30:04,400 Speaker 1: I'm so happy and I'm like, you know what, just 502 00:30:04,520 --> 00:30:07,480 Speaker 1: so much. Anytime you bring a relationship back and I 503 00:30:07,520 --> 00:30:09,920 Speaker 1: bring a player back, I'm like, man, yeah, there's just something. 504 00:30:09,960 --> 00:30:11,720 Speaker 1: There's a connection. And when you have a connection with 505 00:30:11,720 --> 00:30:14,880 Speaker 1: a player, they could be okay for one thing, but 506 00:30:14,920 --> 00:30:16,680 Speaker 1: they could be great for you. And I have had 507 00:30:16,720 --> 00:30:19,400 Speaker 1: that connection with obviously a lot of players over my lifetime, 508 00:30:19,440 --> 00:30:21,760 Speaker 1: and I think Jess is definitely one of them for sure. 509 00:30:23,840 --> 00:30:26,840 Speaker 1: Despite everything that happened in Portland, I was still willing 510 00:30:26,920 --> 00:30:32,000 Speaker 1: to go, you know, be coached under him, and he 511 00:30:32,760 --> 00:30:36,240 Speaker 1: accepted me more as a mom. He accepted my son 512 00:30:36,400 --> 00:30:39,360 Speaker 1: was going to be around. Whereas when I was in Portland, 513 00:30:39,480 --> 00:30:42,040 Speaker 1: I never brought my son around ever because I felt 514 00:30:42,040 --> 00:30:44,400 Speaker 1: like I was walking on eggshells. You know. I didn't 515 00:30:44,400 --> 00:30:46,600 Speaker 1: bring them on very many trips that season, Like I 516 00:30:46,680 --> 00:30:49,520 Speaker 1: just I couldn't because I didn't feel comfortable doing so. 517 00:30:49,880 --> 00:30:53,479 Speaker 1: But like Western yr Flash, it was just different. So 518 00:30:53,760 --> 00:30:57,160 Speaker 1: I gave him credit for the impact he has had 519 00:30:57,200 --> 00:31:01,960 Speaker 1: in my life. I just hate the bad parts. I 520 00:31:02,120 --> 00:31:06,760 Speaker 1: just lost someone that was important in my life for 521 00:31:07,000 --> 00:31:09,120 Speaker 1: seven years out of the ten I've been a pro. 522 00:31:10,400 --> 00:31:13,080 Speaker 1: I was heartbroken for my friends because I played with 523 00:31:13,200 --> 00:31:16,880 Speaker 1: Shannad and Mona. When I was in Portland's I just 524 00:31:18,760 --> 00:31:33,200 Speaker 1: h we'll be back after this. The Western New York 525 00:31:33,240 --> 00:31:36,520 Speaker 1: question Regorger Rochester for a seven game closed in and 526 00:31:36,600 --> 00:31:40,120 Speaker 1: it kicks off to like a very special guest at midfield, 527 00:31:41,000 --> 00:31:44,600 Speaker 1: Jill Ellis, that coach of the US women's national team 528 00:31:44,600 --> 00:31:47,720 Speaker 1: in Talent getting ready for the camp later this week. 529 00:31:47,760 --> 00:31:50,520 Speaker 1: We're gonna look at some of our players. By April, 530 00:31:50,800 --> 00:31:55,000 Speaker 1: thatws L season was underway, and no matter how that 531 00:31:55,080 --> 00:31:58,360 Speaker 1: year's club came together in Rochester, they came together for 532 00:31:58,440 --> 00:32:02,520 Speaker 1: something special. We're just these underdogs, all these young people, 533 00:32:03,040 --> 00:32:05,720 Speaker 1: and such an incredible year, one of the best years 534 00:32:05,720 --> 00:32:09,360 Speaker 1: of my career. Just scored ten goals that season and 535 00:32:09,400 --> 00:32:12,800 Speaker 1: recorded seven assists as the Flash became a team of destiny. 536 00:32:13,240 --> 00:32:15,640 Speaker 1: We were so naive to soccer, I think, and like 537 00:32:15,760 --> 00:32:18,080 Speaker 1: the success that we were gonna have in the journey 538 00:32:18,120 --> 00:32:20,480 Speaker 1: we were going to go on. But we won that year. 539 00:32:20,520 --> 00:32:22,640 Speaker 1: We had no business winning, but we did, and I 540 00:32:22,680 --> 00:32:24,440 Speaker 1: think it's because of the love and the joy of 541 00:32:24,480 --> 00:32:27,320 Speaker 1: the game. Lynn Williams was Justice's teammate on the Flash 542 00:32:27,720 --> 00:32:30,440 Speaker 1: and was a star on the rise herself, thanks in 543 00:32:30,520 --> 00:32:34,880 Speaker 1: part to justice leadership and her assists even for Lynn 544 00:32:34,920 --> 00:32:37,760 Speaker 1: Williams getting the m v P, A lot of credit 545 00:32:38,040 --> 00:32:40,840 Speaker 1: should be given to Jessica McDonald and just the partnership 546 00:32:40,880 --> 00:32:43,720 Speaker 1: that they have had up there. Coach Paul Riley said 547 00:32:43,760 --> 00:32:45,880 Speaker 1: it should be almost a joint one at least between 548 00:32:45,920 --> 00:32:50,040 Speaker 1: those two, just because of the partnership. She had played 549 00:32:50,080 --> 00:32:52,680 Speaker 1: for Paul in Portland before going to Houston, and she 550 00:32:52,720 --> 00:32:55,680 Speaker 1: hadn't been bopping around a bit and she was such 551 00:32:55,720 --> 00:32:58,840 Speaker 1: a huge part of us winning that year and in 552 00:32:58,920 --> 00:33:03,480 Speaker 1: triple Peace to development in that year. Together, the duo 553 00:33:03,600 --> 00:33:06,720 Speaker 1: led the Flash to the NWSL championship game and combined 554 00:33:06,720 --> 00:33:08,280 Speaker 1: on the goal that may have changed the fate of 555 00:33:08,320 --> 00:33:12,920 Speaker 1: the franchise and Jesse's future. Perhaps a chance for McDonald 556 00:33:12,960 --> 00:33:15,080 Speaker 1: here she can catch up to the ball of all 557 00:33:15,120 --> 00:33:17,840 Speaker 1: the students from just outside the top left corner of 558 00:33:17,840 --> 00:33:21,160 Speaker 1: the Spirit penalty box. Jessaw Williams battling for space near 559 00:33:21,200 --> 00:33:30,320 Speaker 1: the goal. McDonald, the seconds winding down, Oh my goodness, 560 00:33:30,840 --> 00:33:33,720 Speaker 1: it's so it's time. You've got to be kidding me. 561 00:33:38,200 --> 00:33:39,960 Speaker 1: The Flash went on to win the championship in a 562 00:33:40,000 --> 00:33:42,960 Speaker 1: penalty shootout, and in that glow of winning yet another 563 00:33:43,040 --> 00:33:46,400 Speaker 1: championship in her soccer career, Jess's old dream may not 564 00:33:46,480 --> 00:33:49,160 Speaker 1: have felt so far out of reach anymore. I mean, 565 00:33:49,240 --> 00:33:52,480 Speaker 1: Jessica has always been a topical scorer in the women's professionally. 566 00:33:53,320 --> 00:33:55,760 Speaker 1: Dave Cameron is the men's soccer coach at Phoenix College. 567 00:33:56,440 --> 00:33:58,600 Speaker 1: He was the one jess first confided in about wanting 568 00:33:58,640 --> 00:34:01,120 Speaker 1: to make the US women's national team even if she 569 00:34:01,200 --> 00:34:05,800 Speaker 1: recovered from heranger knee. She's working below minimum wage playing 570 00:34:05,840 --> 00:34:10,720 Speaker 1: professional soccer and hopes to make that national team. To 571 00:34:10,760 --> 00:34:13,400 Speaker 1: watch her go from Seattle Rain get traded to go 572 00:34:13,560 --> 00:34:16,680 Speaker 1: to the Thorns. She breaks the scoring record, she's a 573 00:34:16,719 --> 00:34:20,040 Speaker 1: Golden Boot champion, and she finds on Twitter she got traded. 574 00:34:20,520 --> 00:34:24,040 Speaker 1: She's now at Houston Dash and Houston is hot and 575 00:34:24,120 --> 00:34:27,920 Speaker 1: miserable and humid. It's not fun. And then she gets 576 00:34:27,920 --> 00:34:31,719 Speaker 1: traded again, going whereever she had to go. She had 577 00:34:31,719 --> 00:34:34,600 Speaker 1: to fine people to watch her son. I go watch 578 00:34:34,880 --> 00:34:38,080 Speaker 1: Jessica play when she's playing for Seattle, and we're watching 579 00:34:38,320 --> 00:34:41,040 Speaker 1: Jeremiah during the game and she's just like getting up 580 00:34:41,280 --> 00:34:43,719 Speaker 1: like you're playing in like twenty minutes, and she's still 581 00:34:43,719 --> 00:34:46,600 Speaker 1: struggling to find help because she didn't he can't afford it, 582 00:34:46,600 --> 00:34:49,880 Speaker 1: and he she ket doing these things. Jess always had 583 00:34:49,960 --> 00:34:53,160 Speaker 1: rare talent on the soccer field, but at the professional game, 584 00:34:53,400 --> 00:34:56,719 Speaker 1: so did everyone. With teammate Lynn Williams having just won 585 00:34:56,760 --> 00:34:59,600 Speaker 1: the league MVP Award, you could make a case Jess 586 00:34:59,640 --> 00:35:01,799 Speaker 1: wasn't even the best forward on her own team, much 587 00:35:01,880 --> 00:35:04,960 Speaker 1: less a prime candidate to make the national team. And 588 00:35:05,000 --> 00:35:08,000 Speaker 1: now Jess had a son to care for. All her life, 589 00:35:08,080 --> 00:35:10,359 Speaker 1: she'd been able to funnel off the field adversity into 590 00:35:10,440 --> 00:35:13,880 Speaker 1: game time success, but once the season ended in October, 591 00:35:14,400 --> 00:35:17,719 Speaker 1: the adversity was still there. I was packing boxes at 592 00:35:17,719 --> 00:35:20,120 Speaker 1: Amazon for a while, which was after the Navy SO 593 00:35:20,280 --> 00:35:23,840 Speaker 1: Championship with Western New York Flash, and I thought I 594 00:35:23,880 --> 00:35:26,520 Speaker 1: was done playing. To be honest, had been with the 595 00:35:26,600 --> 00:35:29,759 Speaker 1: national team, so that was the point of becoming a pro. 596 00:35:30,080 --> 00:35:33,839 Speaker 1: My goal was to make the USA team, all right. 597 00:35:34,040 --> 00:35:36,760 Speaker 1: I feel as if I'm too old at this point, 598 00:35:37,120 --> 00:35:39,840 Speaker 1: and I accepted it because most people when they're in 599 00:35:39,880 --> 00:35:42,480 Speaker 1: their first camp with the USA team, you're a teenager, 600 00:35:42,840 --> 00:35:46,120 Speaker 1: early twenties college and here I am pushing thirty, which 601 00:35:46,160 --> 00:35:48,840 Speaker 1: is unheard of. I look at Jess and I'm like, 602 00:35:48,880 --> 00:35:51,040 Speaker 1: she has a son. I know other people in the 603 00:35:51,120 --> 00:35:53,960 Speaker 1: league's have kids, and I'm like, how on earth is 604 00:35:54,000 --> 00:35:58,120 Speaker 1: she going to support them? Jess as teammate Lynn Williams, 605 00:35:58,800 --> 00:36:01,120 Speaker 1: I think I made ten thousand dollars my first year. 606 00:36:01,640 --> 00:36:03,640 Speaker 1: I think the next year I was like I need 607 00:36:03,680 --> 00:36:05,960 Speaker 1: a raise, and I got up to twelve thousand dollars. 608 00:36:07,440 --> 00:36:09,640 Speaker 1: And at the time, going from ten to twelve, I 609 00:36:09,680 --> 00:36:12,160 Speaker 1: was like, this is amazing. But looking back, I was like, 610 00:36:12,200 --> 00:36:16,480 Speaker 1: how on earth did I even survive? But fate had 611 00:36:16,480 --> 00:36:20,680 Speaker 1: a funny way of intervening that year. In those Olympics, 612 00:36:20,800 --> 00:36:23,240 Speaker 1: the US women's national team had been stunned by Sweden 613 00:36:23,280 --> 00:36:26,560 Speaker 1: and a quarterfinal loss, marking the first ever time that 614 00:36:26,640 --> 00:36:31,120 Speaker 1: the US women did not meddle at the games. Following 615 00:36:31,160 --> 00:36:34,000 Speaker 1: that loss, U S national team head coach Jill Ellis 616 00:36:34,000 --> 00:36:36,120 Speaker 1: brought a collection of new faces to the team's year 617 00:36:36,200 --> 00:36:39,440 Speaker 1: end training camp. Those camps last about a week and 618 00:36:39,520 --> 00:36:42,400 Speaker 1: offer US team coaches a chance to evaluate new players 619 00:36:42,880 --> 00:36:45,080 Speaker 1: who are effectively on a two year long tryout to 620 00:36:45,120 --> 00:36:50,040 Speaker 1: make the next World Cup roster. In those new players 621 00:36:50,040 --> 00:36:53,720 Speaker 1: at camp included Linn Williams. And then at the last minute, 622 00:36:54,400 --> 00:36:57,560 Speaker 1: I get a text from Jill Ellis like, hey, like, 623 00:36:57,600 --> 00:37:00,400 Speaker 1: I want to invite you into camp. Western New York's 624 00:37:00,440 --> 00:37:04,040 Speaker 1: other star forward, and I was like, holy, grab my 625 00:37:04,120 --> 00:37:06,439 Speaker 1: first national team camp when I was twenty eight years 626 00:37:06,440 --> 00:37:09,600 Speaker 1: old at the time. Oh my gosh, Like finally, you 627 00:37:09,600 --> 00:37:12,439 Speaker 1: know what I mean? Who waiting so long for this opportunity. 628 00:37:13,080 --> 00:37:17,319 Speaker 1: On November, Jess McDonald made her debut for the U 629 00:37:17,360 --> 00:37:20,440 Speaker 1: S women's national team, coming on at halftime and a 630 00:37:20,480 --> 00:37:24,440 Speaker 1: friendly against Romania. Jess played forty five minutes of that 631 00:37:24,480 --> 00:37:27,160 Speaker 1: match and took one shot on goal, a header that 632 00:37:27,200 --> 00:37:31,560 Speaker 1: was stopped by the keeper. But Jess's relentlessness impressed Ellis 633 00:37:31,600 --> 00:37:34,080 Speaker 1: the same way had impressed her youth coaches that are 634 00:37:34,120 --> 00:37:38,720 Speaker 1: college coaches, that are professional coaches. This is an evaluation camp, 635 00:37:38,760 --> 00:37:41,080 Speaker 1: and our players have been on a bit of a break. 636 00:37:42,040 --> 00:37:45,359 Speaker 1: Joe Ellis spoke with reporters in early about the new 637 00:37:45,360 --> 00:37:48,400 Speaker 1: players getting a look from her coaching staff. The balance 638 00:37:48,440 --> 00:37:51,680 Speaker 1: for US season, we want to test ourselves and you 639 00:37:51,680 --> 00:37:53,080 Speaker 1: know some of the things that we've been working on, 640 00:37:53,640 --> 00:37:56,879 Speaker 1: and yeah, some of these players, you've got to see 641 00:37:56,920 --> 00:37:59,239 Speaker 1: them against the top two years, So it's it's a 642 00:37:59,239 --> 00:38:06,000 Speaker 1: two year journey this moment. Jess was invited back to 643 00:38:06,080 --> 00:38:09,480 Speaker 1: national team training camps in early but didn't log any 644 00:38:09,480 --> 00:38:12,440 Speaker 1: playing time in US matches that spring. She made a 645 00:38:12,440 --> 00:38:15,760 Speaker 1: good impression on the coaches, clearly, but that didn't guarantee 646 00:38:15,760 --> 00:38:20,440 Speaker 1: her future with the team. And privately, even her biggest 647 00:38:20,440 --> 00:38:23,239 Speaker 1: fans understood what a long shot that was to be 648 00:38:23,280 --> 00:38:26,239 Speaker 1: on the national team on the women's side, that's a 649 00:38:26,239 --> 00:38:29,520 Speaker 1: big ticket. Dave Cameron, again, that was kind of a 650 00:38:29,520 --> 00:38:33,640 Speaker 1: secret diverse because like if you have some crazy goal, 651 00:38:33,800 --> 00:38:36,440 Speaker 1: and that be honest, that's a crazy goal. A lot 652 00:38:36,480 --> 00:38:39,000 Speaker 1: of people would make fun of her. I don't know 653 00:38:39,080 --> 00:38:43,880 Speaker 1: how to explain it, Like no one believed it. And 654 00:38:43,960 --> 00:38:48,120 Speaker 1: on part seven of Payback, society has made people feel 655 00:38:48,160 --> 00:38:51,040 Speaker 1: like being vulnerable about being a mom is bad when 656 00:38:51,080 --> 00:38:52,840 Speaker 1: it shouldn't be that way at all. We need to 657 00:38:52,840 --> 00:38:55,480 Speaker 1: know our history, who we come from, where we come from, 658 00:38:55,480 --> 00:38:57,480 Speaker 1: where we've been, and where we want to go. I 659 00:38:57,480 --> 00:38:59,080 Speaker 1: went up to Paul Riley and I was like, what 660 00:38:59,120 --> 00:39:01,439 Speaker 1: do you think my chances are? And he was like, Jess, 661 00:39:01,440 --> 00:39:05,319 Speaker 1: I just I don't see happening ahead for mcdattal who 662 00:39:05,640 --> 00:39:09,399 Speaker 1: Carolina is the nineties? Second minute, I get a text 663 00:39:09,440 --> 00:39:12,600 Speaker 1: from Joel Elis right after the game, I might be 664 00:39:12,600 --> 00:39:16,920 Speaker 1: going into camp. I'm Alexandrea Payback is a production of 665 00:39:16,960 --> 00:39:20,440 Speaker 1: The Charlotte Observer, Raleigh News and Observer, McClatchy Studios, and 666 00:39:20,480 --> 00:39:24,200 Speaker 1: I Heart Radio. It's produced by Cotta Stevens, Casey Toth, 667 00:39:24,480 --> 00:39:28,640 Speaker 1: Julia Wall, and Davin Cockburn. The executive producer for iHeart 668 00:39:28,719 --> 00:39:31,719 Speaker 1: Radio is Sean ty Toone. For lots more on this 669 00:39:31,760 --> 00:39:35,240 Speaker 1: story and to support journalism like this, visit Charlotte Observer 670 00:39:35,320 --> 00:39:38,880 Speaker 1: dot com slash payback or News Observer dot com slash 671 00:39:38,920 --> 00:39:44,319 Speaker 1: payback and for more podcasts for my heart Radio, visit 672 00:39:44,360 --> 00:39:47,880 Speaker 1: the i heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you 673 00:39:47,920 --> 00:39:49,040 Speaker 1: listen to your favorite shows.