Second-round draft pick Sydny Nasello will not play for the Portland Thorns during the 2022 NWSL season, according to The Athletic’s Meg Linehan.

The Thorns selected the University of South Florida forward 13th overall in the 2022 NWSL Draft in December. The decision sparked immediate controversy because of views Nasello had shared on Twitter in the past.

Nasello’s social media activity drew the ire of fans, most notably the Rose City Riveters, an organized group of Portland Thorns supporters.

“Fascism, racism, homophobia, transphobia- we are against these. We don’t support anyone who represents/espouses these views, full stop,” the group tweeted after the draft.

One of Nasello’s posts that resurfaced around the College Draft was a retweet of a message advocating for trans exclusion in sports.

First-year Thorns head coach Rhian Wilkinson said after the draft that the Thorns had not done the “work needed on the social media side” regarding Nasello’s signing. “I think it’s important that I state that this is an inclusive, open club that values its fans and knows what we stand for,” Wilkinson said.

Nasello apologized to Thorns fans after her selection but quickly protected her tweets, allowing only approved followers to view her account.

Linehan reports that Portland’s decision to part ways with Nasello was made shortly after the draft, and the team is working to find other playing options for the forward.

Sydny Nasello and the Portland Thorns addressed the No. 13 overall draft pick’s social media activity on Saturday after fans raised concerns about past controversial tweets.

Fans, including the Rose City Riveters, called out Nasello during Saturday’s NWSL Draft for a series of tweets posted to her account, with the Thorns supporters group writing, “Fascism, racism, homophobia, transphobia- we are against these.”

A post by Nasello’s account began making the rounds following her draft selection, with the University of South Florida junior retweeting a message that advocated for the exclusion of trans athletes from sports.

Head coach Rhian Wilkinson addressed the mounting concerns regarding Nasello’s views espoused on Twitter, telling reporters that the club did its “due diligence” but that they didn’t do the “work needed on the social media side.”

“I think it’s important that I state that this is an inclusive, open club that values its fans and knows what we stand for,” added Wilkinson.

Nasello issued an apology to Thorns fans on Saturday, but her tweets are now protected, allowing only approved followers to view her account.

The Nasello controversy comes after a tumultuous year for Portland, with the club still reeling from a report in The Athletic in which former players accused ex-coach Paul Riley of sexual coercion and emotional abuse. What the front office knew and when has been the subject of scrutiny, leaving many fans calling for a total overhaul of the team’s leadership.

The Thorns hired Karina LeBlanc as general manager in November, moving on from former GM Gavin Wilkinson and ushering in a new era of transparency. Nasello’s signing, to many fans, is in direct contradiction to the “purpose-driven” ethos LeBlanc said she intended to foster in Portland.