Orlando Pride

The Orlando Pride announced Tuesday they placed head coach Amanda Cromwell and assistant coach Sam Greene on temporary administrative leave.

"The decisions come following recommendations from the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) and the NWSL Players Association (NWSLPA) joint investigative team," the team said. "This is an interim step while the investigation is ongoing, and no final determinations or conclusions have been reached."

The NWSL provided additional context, saying the investigation is focused on "alleged retaliation" that would violate the league's policy to prevent and eliminate workplace discrimination, harassment, and bullying.

The Athletic's Meg Linehan reported the NWSL has frozen any movement for members of the Pride squad amid the investigation.

Seb Hines will serve as interim head coach of the Pride, who are ninth in the NWSL table after taking eight points from their first seven matches.

Cromwell and Greene's leaves of absence follow a wider reckoning across the league that involved alleged misconduct within multiple clubs.

The Washington Post's Molly Hensley-Clancy reported in August 2021 that then-Washington Spirit head coach Richie Burke had verbally abused his players and made racially insensitive remarks in the past. The Spirit's issues extended beyond the coaching staff and created what Hensley-Clancy called a "toxic work culture."

In September 2021, Linehan reported on allegations of sexual coercion and abuse against Paul Riley, who was the head coach of the North Carolina Courage at the time and had previously coached the Portland Thorns.

One month later, OL Reign CEO Bill Predmore confirmed Farid Benstiti was "asked to resign" in July 2021 after he made inappropriate remarks toward his players. Reign star Megan Rapinoe later said Benstiti used fat-shaming during one interaction with the team.

The multiple scandals resulted in the resignation of NWSL commissioner Lisa Baird, and the launch of an independent investigation by U.S. Soccer overseen by former U.S. Deputy Attorney General Sally Yates.

Still, a new report from Hensley-Clancy laid out how much work remained to address larger structural issues.

She wrote last November how players from the Chicago Red Stars approached U.S. Soccer in order to alert officials as to alleged verbal and emotional abuse by coach Rory Dames. Dames kept his job at the time, with United States women's national team star Christen Press telling Hensley-Clancy she had "been told to be quiet, that this was fine."

In April, the Houston Dash announced they suspended head coach and general manager James Clarkson "in light of initial findings, received this week, from the joint NWSL and NWSLPA investigation that was launched last year to review current and historic complaints of discrimination, harassment and abuse."

The Orlando Pride announced on Monday that they will not participate in the 2020 NWSL Challenge Cup after multiple players and staff members tested positive for COVID-19.

The announcement noted all those who tested positive were asymptomatic, but the decision was made with the health of the team and overall league in mind. 

"This was obviously a difficult and disappointing outcome for our players, our staff and fans, however this is a decision that was made in order to protect the health of all involved in the Challenge Cup," Orlando Pride EVP Amanda Duffy said. "While we were all excited to see the 2020 Pride on the field this weekend, our priority is now making sure our players and staff safely recover and providing any support wherever and however possible."

The announcement made clear all those who tested positive would be isolated for at least 14 days, while anyone who was in close contact with them would be monitored and undergo additional testing.

According to Julia Poe of the Orlando Sentinel, it was six players and four staff members who tested positive, although one team source said some of the results were inconclusive. Poe noted the Pride were scheduled to start the NWSL Challenge Cup against the Chicago Red Stars in Utah on Saturday.

As a result, the tournament will now feature eight teams instead of nine, leaving the Red Stars, Washington Spirit, Houston Dash, Utah Royals FC, North Carolina Courage, Sky Blue FC, Portland Thorns FC and OL Reign.

On June 1, the NWSL announced the schedule for the preliminary rounds of the tournament, which starts Saturday.

The Challenge Cup was scheduled to be 25 games with the top eight teams advancing to the quarterfinals. The semifinals and finals are scheduled for July 22 and July 26, respectively.

The Orlando Pride announced Wednesday that defender Toni Pressley underwent surgery Friday to treat breast cancer.

According to Julia Poe of Pro Soccer USA, Pressley has been placed on the 45-day disabled list and is set to continue undergoing treatment.

Pressley vowed to eventually return to the pitch:

The National Women's Soccer League also tweeted its support for the 29-year-old:

Per Poe, Pride general manager Erik Ustruck assured that she will receive quality treatment:

"We can't imagine what Toni is going through. On behalf of everyone at the Club, I would like to extend our unconditional support to Toni, her family and the members of our Orlando Pride family throughout the entirety of the treatment process. Toni's health and well-being is, of course, our biggest priority. We are happy to be able to provide her with the full backing of the Club, the NWSL and our partners at Orlando Health."

Pressley has been a member of the Pride since they selected her in the expansion draft in 2015. In 52 career matches for the club, the former Florida State standout has netted three goals.

Poe noted that Pressley is the second player under the Orlando City umbrella to undergo cancer treatment. Goalkeeper Mason Stajduhar of MLS squad Orlando City was diagnosed with a form of bone cancer in 2017.

Stajduhar returned to action after six months of treatment and is out on loan with the USL Championship's Tulsa Roughnecks this season.