The Portland Thorns were once the pride of U.S. women’s soccer. But after a report said the club shielded a disgraced coach and thwarted an abuse investigation, even the players are demanding a housecleaning.
Everybody knew Paul Riley was a problem.
The first tangible sign came after the 2014 season, when players on the women’s soccer team he coached, the Portland Thorns, complained about his behavior in an anonymous survey.
“We got used to being called dumb, stupid, slow, idiotic, retarded,” one player wrote.