Ex-NWSL commissioner Jeff Plush under scrutiny over abuse report
Plush served as NWSL commissioner from 2014-17.
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Adrianna Franch is returning home.
According to reporting by The Athletic, the Portland Thorns are trading the goalkeeper to Kansas City in exchange for goalie Abby Smith and $150,000 in allocation money. Franch, a native of Salina, Kan., won a bronze medal with the U.S. women’s national team this month at the Tokyo Olympics.
In seven starts with the Thorns this season, Franch has four clean sheets. While she was away with the national team, fourth-year goalkeeper Bella Bixby has excelled in net, breaking the record for shutout minutes to begin an NWSL career.
Meanwhile, Smith has recorded 19 saves and allowed seven goals in five starts for Kansas City, which is currently last in the league with seven points in 14 games.
Franch has been with the Thorns since 2016 and won two NWSL Goalkeeper of the Year awards in 2017 and 2018.
Plush served as NWSL commissioner from 2014-17.
Sauerbrunn plays for the Thorns, whose leaders have been caught up in scandal.
The news comes in the wake of U.S. Soccer's bombshell report.
One investigation could only do so much, U.S. Soccer's lead investigator said.