STATEMENT FROM THE NWSLPA
1 October 2021
Yesterday was a profoundly painful day for us, as players, and so many. For many players, the pain has stretched across years. The outpouring of support we have felt has been a beacon of light on a dark day.
Last night, we made the difficult decision to ask NWSL to postpone this weekend’s games to give players space to process this pain. Commissioner Baird and the Board of Governors worked overnight to grant that request.
This was not an easy decision, as there is nothing we love more than playing for our fans. Suiting up for game day under the lights in front of wildly supportive fans is what brings us joy. We refuse to let that joy be taken from us. We also recognize, however, that mental health struggles are real. We know that many of our fans made travel plans, scheduled the night off, or juggled family commitments to attend our games and that this decision impacts you, too. We hope that fans will understand and support us through this time. This is far from over for any of us.
As players, we hope that those who read this statement will hear that it is ok to not be ok. It is ok to take space to process, to feel, and to take care of yourself. In fact, it’s more than ok. It’s a priority.
That, as players, will be our focus this weekend.
The WSU Team bringing you news and updates from the world of women’s football.