After speaking out in support of Chicago Red Star’s Sarah Gorden, Red Stars co-owner Sarah Spain and Gotham FC GM Alyse LaHue have reportedly been fined.

LaHue and Spain were allegedly fined for violating a memo reportedly sent out by the NWSL urging front office members not to comment on the ongoing investigation.

Source with knowledge of the situation tells me Chicago owner Sarah Spain & Gotham FC GM Alyse LaHue were indeed fined by the NWSL for tweeting about the Houston racial discrimination investigation after the league sent its board of governors notice & directed them not to comment

— Grant Wahl (@GrantWahl) April 14, 2021

The fines come after tweets from Spain and LaHue in which they spoke out and showed their support for those involved.

Owners too, @sarahlgorden. https://t.co/tL470a53eB

— Sarah Spain (@SarahSpain) April 13, 2021

I am disappointed by some of the events that took place in @NWSL over the last weekend, and especially so in some of the responses.

Soccer in America has not always been welcoming for black players, but I have hoped for a safe place in our (women's) pro league. [con't below]

— Alyse LaHue (@alahue) April 13, 2021

Reportedly, the directive does not apply to the league’s players.

Gorden’s spoke out this weekend in a Twitter thread that went viral after the game, detailing how she and her boyfriend were racially profiled by a security guard.

At first I didn’t realize this was a racial issue until I saw white @HoustonDash players surrounding the stadium talking closely to their family and we were the only ones targeted

— Sarah Gorden (@sarahlgorden) April 10, 2021

When asked by Gorden why the guard was only talking to her and her boyfriend, the guard alleged he would address the other players later. Gorden asserts that the guard never approached the other players.

The Dash initially apologized, citing COVID-19 safety being partially behind the incident. After receiving backlash, the team issued another statement stating, “we recognize now that the initial statement was off the mark and we apologize to Sarah, the NWSL and our fans.”

Red Stars assistant coach Scott Parkinson posted on Twitter Saturday, calling the situation “extremely upsetting” and that his instincts “told me they were being unfairly treated because of the color of their skin.”

“I wasn’t upset that it was one of our players,” Parkinson added. “I was upset that the only people being harassed were people of color.”

Gorden’s fellow teammates also took to Twitter with a joint statement in support: “It is unacceptable that a player is left in tears due to the actions of a stadium employee…we stand with our teammate and will continue to speak out against unjust and unequal treatment, especially for our teammates of color.”

The NWSL also issued a statement stating that an investigation was launched Saturday and asking that respective clubs “refrain from commenting further.”

The league added that their policy is part of an “ongoing commitment to creating and maintaining a safe and respectful work environment free from all forms of harassment and discrimination based on a person’s race, religion, national origin, or any other protected status.”

Loads took to Twitter to express their disappointment over the NWSL’s policy.

So the NWSL is fining teams for speaking out against racism....

This is abominable. https://t.co/97hSU6SfAn

— Alex Ibaceta (@alexibaceta23) April 13, 2021

With these decisions, the NWSL's Disciplinary Committee is basically saying, "Stick to sports."

The NWSL needs to do better. A lot better. https://t.co/QOG6rG9mvA

— GOALS (@goals_sports_) April 14, 2021

Just to be clear, what's happening in the NWSL is censorship.

— Kai (@hiyakaiya) April 14, 2021

The league has yet to respond to any of the backlash or to provide updates on the ongoing investigation.

Ticket prices are skyrocketing across the WNBA, with commissioner Cathy Engelbert addressing the surge after several New York Liberty fans wore T-shirts in protest of the increase.

Donning orange shirts emblazoned with the phrase "We've been priced out," New York fans came together to express their frustrations at a recent game.

The WNBA fans' custom shirts referred to season ticket price jumps of more than 250%, saying the Liberty is asking upwards of $30,000 for 2026 renewals.

Some New York season ticket holders noted that their 2026 renewal more than triples the cost they paid for the team's 2024 championship-winning campaign.

The exponential increase isn't just occurring in the New York market, however — it points to an overall rise in ticket prices across the WNBA.

The WNBA's recent ticket surge has seen seats across the league jumping by an average cost increase of 43% in the last year alone.

"In order to fund all these investments that owners are making, and obviously paying the players more which we will do in this next CBA cycle…that's the reality," Engelbert said on Thursday's episode of In Case You Missed It with Khristina Williams. "That's our responsibility as a league and team owners."

Calling the price hikes a result of "simple economics" and "high demand," Engelbert acknowledged the effect on fans, though did not address potential solutions.

"I realize there's some concern out there, certainly that we don't price out our kind of core fan base," she noted.

Chelsea FC is playing it close to the chest, with big-name new signing Alyssa Thompson and previously injured superstar Sam Kerr waiting in the wings as manager Sonia Bompastor teases a 2025/26 WSL season debut for the pair.

Kerr joined the 18-player game-day roster for Chelsea FC's opening-day victory over Manchester City last Friday, but saw her season debut delayed as the Australian remained an unused sub while Thompson greeted fans from the stands.

This Sunday's matchup against Aston Villa provides another chance for the standouts to take the pitch, as the six-time reigning WSL champs hunt another result.

"With Alyssa, we are looking for her to be able to play. We don't have the confirmation yet, but we are hoping for her to be able to play in this game," Chelsea boss Sonia Bompastor said earlier today. "I think she has already shown some good things this week in training, and we can see what she can bring to the team."

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Bompastor went on to call last week's decision to keep Kerr on the bench "my choice," saying "She's doing everything she can to be available for the squad and available to start…. The next step for her is to be involved in a short game in the league, and maybe we'll see that on Sunday."

USWNT fans will not get a glimpse of defender Naomi Girma, however, as the January 2025 Chelsea addition sat out last Friday's clash with a calf injury and remains unavailable.

How to watch Aston Villa vs. Chelsea FC this weekend

With the possibility of Thompson and Kerr taking the WSL pitch, Chelsea will visit Aston Villa at 7 AM ET on Sunday, with live coverage of the match streaming on ESPN+.

Splashy new Gotham FC addition Jaedyn Shaw is returning West, as the No. 6 NY/NJ club preps for a Friday night clash against the No. 3 San Diego Wave — Shaw's original NWSL team — days after signing the USWNT prospect from the No. 11 North Carolina Courage.

"I'm so excited to be a part of this incredible club and community," the 20-year-old said after her NWSL-record $1.25 million transfer to Gotham. "I'm looking forward to playing alongside world class players and giving my all to help the team win another championship."

After finding immediate success with the Wave in 2023, Shaw requested a trade to the Courage in January 2025, initiating what turned out to be a short stint in Cary, NC.

"I've grown so much just over the past few months, being at the Courage," Shaw told ESPN on Thursday. "I feel like I've matured a lot. I've had to experience things that I haven't necessarily experienced in my career and having to deal with those things."

Gotham and Shaw are currently "working toward an updated and extended contract," per a team release on Thursday, with the young attacker looking to boost Gotham's offense while adding to her 16-goal and five-assist NWSL career tally.

How to watch the San Diego Wave vs. Gotham on Friday

Shaw could take the pitch for No. 6 Gotham in her new club's Friday night visit to the No. 3 San Diego Wave.

The match kicks off at 10 PM ET, with live coverage airing on Prime.

The No. 1 Kansas City Current are closing in on the 2025 NWSL Shield, gearing up for a Saturday night showdown against the No. 2 Washington Spirit that could inject insurmountable distance between the Current and the rest of the league.

With a 14-point lead at the top of the NWSL standings, Kansas City has already clinched a postseason berth, and the Current only need only a few more results to secure a franchise-first league trophy.

Even more, KC enters Saturday's match on an 11-game unbeaten streak, with the Current hosting the Spirit at their home CPKC Stadium — a pitch where Kansas City has yet to drop a match this year.

Despite that dominance, it may not be smooth sailing for the Current, as Washington's future is beginning to take shape behind recently returned star Trinity Rodman, whose brace lifted the Spirit over the No. 7 Seattle Reign last Sunday.

"She's not back, because she's a different player," Washington head coach Adrián González told reporters about Rodman's level of play. "After her injury, she's more prepared mentally. She's having enough time to get the minutes, the training, and the exposures that she needs with no pressure."

How to watch the Kansas City Current vs. Washington Spirit

The No. 1 Kansas City Current will host the No. 2 Washington Spirit on Saturday, with the top-tier match kicking off live at 7:30 PM ET on ION.