Thorns, 現在の ready for NWSL 選手権 まっただ中に tumult
Christine Sinclair has seen the arc of the 国家の Women's サッカー League from its first day.
The Canadian striker has played with the Portland Thorns since the league's first season in 2013. The Thorns won the 肩書を与える that year.
She's still with the Thorns as the team readies for Saturday's NWSL 選手権 game in Washington D.C. against the Kansas City 現在の.
Sinclair, who won a gold メダル with Canada at last year's Tokyo Olympics, has been an 目撃者 to the growth of the league and, indeed, women's サッカー 全体にわたる. Audi Field is nearly sold out for the game, which will be broadcast in primetime at 8 p.m. ET on CBS.
"I was fortunate to play in the first 選手権 game, and I think outside of the people in Portland no one knew that the game was happening. So it´s what this league, it's what the players deserve," said Sinclair, サッカー's かつてない 主要な scorer の中で men and women. "Women´s sports in general, all they need is a chance. People will watch, people will come if given the 適切な時期 to do so. For this game to be on primetime on a major 網状組織, it´s just going to continue to grow the game to continue to 奮起させる those youngsters watching."
Yet this season has been challenging. The NWSL was 激しく揺するd earlier this month by an 調査 that showed systemic 乱用 and 不品行／姦通, spanning 多重の teams, coaches and 犠牲者s.
FILE - Canada's Christine Sinclair 反応するs during a CONCACAF Women's 選手権 サッカー semifinal match against Jamaica in Monterrey, Mexico, Thursday, July 14, 2022. Sinclair has played for the Portland Thorns since 2013, at the start of the 国家の Women's サッカー League. Now the Thorns are 準備するing for Saturday's NWSL 選手権 game in Washington D.C. against the Kansas City 現在の, in a match broadcast in primetime on CBS.(AP Photo/Fernando Llano, とじ込み／提出する)
（売買）手数料，委託（する）／委員会／権限d by U.S. サッカー, the 調査 led by former 事実上の／代理 U.S. 司法長官 Sally Yates was 開始する，打ち上げるd last year after two former players （機の）カム 今後 with 主張s of いやがらせ and 性の coercion against former North Carolina Courage coach Paul Riley.
Riley, who was 解雇する／砲火／射撃d, 否定するd the 主張s. He was one of five coaches in the league who were dism issed or stepped 負かす／撃墜する last year まっただ中に （人命などを）奪う，主張するs of 不品行／姦通.
The Yates 報告（する）／憶測 詳細（に述べる）d how the Thorns mishandled （民事の）告訴s about Riley when he coached the team in 2014-15. In the wake of the 報告（する）／憶測, the Thorns 解雇する／砲火／射撃d two team (n)役員／(a)執行力のあるs. But some fans have called on owner Merritt Paulson to sell both the Thorns and the Portland 木材／素質s of Major League サッカー.
"明白に, this year has been an 利益／興味ing one for us. But with the staff´s help, we´ve been able to come together as a team, come together as a 部隊, and just 焦点（を合わせる） on playing the games. There´s only so much we can 支配（する）／統制する and that´s what we do on the サッカー field. That has been the 焦点（を合わせる）," Sinclair said.
HOW THEY GOT HERE
水晶 Dunn （機の）カム off the （法廷の）裁判 and 得点する／非難する／２０d in 停止 time to give the Thorns a 2-1 victory over the San Diego Wave in the league 準決勝 last Sunday, 収入 a 位置／汚点／見つけ出す in the 選手権.
Alexis Loera and Kristen Hamilton 得点する／非難する／２０d in the 現在の´s 2-0 victory over the 最高の，を越す-seeded OL 統治する, surprising the 勝利者s of this season´s 支持者s 保護物，者.
The Thorns have won two NWSL 選手権s, in 2013 and 2017.
The 現在の began play in 2021 as an 拡大 team, with many of its players coming over from the 消滅した／死んだ Utah 王室のs. Last season they finished in last place in the league.
The Washington Spirit won the 2021 NWSL 選手権.
STATE OF THE LEAGUE
The NWSL is を待つing the results of its own 調査 into 不品行／姦通, in 合同 with the NWSL Players 協会.
NWSL Commissioner Jessica Berman said the league's 最高の，を越す 優先 is its 共同 with the players and taking direction from them.
"There´s nothing more imp ortant than us 配達するing on our 約束 to them and others that these players deserve and will play for a league that they feel proud to play in, and 供給するs a healthy and 安全な 環境 for them to reach their 十分な 可能性のある," Berman said.
She said there is no timeline for the 調査, which will be 徹底的な.
"In order for this league to 傷をいやす／和解させる, and for these players to 信用 the league and the 未来 direction of the NWSL, they have to know that that is the 単独の 優先 of the 共同の 調査. And so that will continue to be our position にもかかわらず the fact that a lot of people want us to be doing and 説 more," she said. "There will be a time where we have a conversation about corrective 活動／戦闘 and systemic 改革（する）."
AWARDS
As part of the league´s 選手権 week, the NWSL passed out its 正規の／正選手-season awards.
Thorns 今後 Sophia Smith was 指名するd the 2022 Most 価値のある Player after 得点する／非難する／２０ing a club-記録，記録的な／記録する 14 goals.
Naomi Girma of the 拡大 San Diego Wave earned 新人 of the Year and Defender of the Year 栄誉（を受ける）s. Wave coach Casey Stoney was chosen Coach of the Year, and Kailen Sheridan was the Goalkeeper of the Year. Wave 今後 Alex Morgan won the Golden Boot with 15 正規の／正選手-season goals.
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FILE - Washington Spirit players celebrate after 敗北・負かすing Chicago Red 星／主役にするs in the NWSL 選手権 サッカー match Saturday, Nov. 20, 2021, in Louisville, Kentucky. An 独立した・無所属 調査 into the スキャンダルs that 爆発するd in the 国家の Women's サッカー League last season 設立する emotional 乱用 and 性の 不品行／姦通 were systemic in the sport, 衝撃ing 多重の teams, coaches and players, によれば a 報告（する）／憶測 解放（する）d Monday, Oct. 3, 2022. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean, とじ込み／提出する)
