Puget Sound

OL Reign’s Darian Jenkins and Taylor Smith are highly aware of anti-racism protests, but they’re also training for a tournament. Black NWSL players are tired, anxious, and still training amidst national turmoil - All For XI

Get to Know OL Reign Defender Adrienne Jordan — OL REIGN: WE ARE THE BOLD

Facility upgrades brought along by money from a Pearl Jam concert helped bring the NWSL’s OL Reign to Missoula. How Pearl Jam helped bring OL Reign to Missoula | 406mtsports.com

MLS / USL

The Crew has begun construction on a new training facility scheduled to open next summer at the same time as their new stadium, the team announced Monday. Crew announces it has broken ground on training facility | The Columbus Dispatch

Jeff Larentowicz discuss The Orlando Tournament, player health concerns, wage cuts, and the emotional toll of negotiating during a pandemic. Inside MLSPA’s negotiations with MLS on return to play - Dirty South Soccer

The league, clubs, and owners have all bought in to the new structure, and in-depth player discussions begin this week. CanPL’s proposed strategy for 2020 season moves forward after unanimous agreement following halt due to COVID-19 - Waking The Red

NWSL / women’s soccer

“I’m doing it for my community, I’m doing it for what I believe in.” When the NWSL returns, this Spirit rookie will be taking a knee - Power Plays

When the NWSL was plotting its course for a summertime tournament, it reached out to a select group: moms. NWSL consulted players with kids in developing tournament | AP

Brazil failed one of the greatest footballers ever. Marta never won a World Cup. Here’s what left her empty-handed. - SBNation.com

Japan, Colombia and a joint Australia/New Zealand bid remain in contention. Brazil withdraws bid to host 2023 Women’s World Cup – Equalizer Soccer

US soccer

SoccerWire analyst Charles Boehm provides readers with an inside look at how the U.S. Soccer Development Academy was ultimately shut down. Boehm: Inside the frantic final days of the Development Academy - SoccerWire

The goalkeeper will have a consultant role in the film. Amazon acquires rights to Tim Howard story - Burgundy Wave

U.S. Soccer will consider the possible repeal of its policy requiring national team players to stand for the national anthem, sources told ESPN. Sources: U.S. Soccer to consider repealing ban on players kneeling | ESPN

The ban was adopted in February 2017 by the board after Megan Rapinoe knelt during the playing of the anthem at a U.S. women’s team game in September of 2016. U.S. Soccer board members moving to end ban on players kneeling during national anthem

Emails obtained by BuzzFeed News show that in 2017, US Soccer suggested a player who violated the policy twice could be suspended for a year. The US Women’s National Team Wants US Soccer To Apologize For Anthem Policy

World soccer

Forget the exalted place of football in society, fear of losing lucrative television contracts is driving professional players back to work. Three reasons the football season is starting again: money, money, money - The Correspondent

Henry Mauriss, the CEO of Clear TV Media, is poised to make a formal offer if bid by Amanda Staveley-led consortium is blocked. Newcastle have American buyer as back-up if Saudi Arabia takeover collapses | The Telegraph

Sunderland is left on the outside looking in at the playoff. League One & League Two clubs vote to end seasons early - BBC Sport

Premier League fans can’t head out to stadiums to watch their teams play when the league picks up again on June 17th, but Sky Sports partnered with EA Sports’ FIFA division to try and simulate team-specific chants and noises. Sky is working with EA Sports to create crowd noises for Premier League games - The Verge

In a searing interview, the striker – a keen student of black American history – tells David Hytner about the sad, shocking normality of the tragic scenes in Minneapolis and his own experiences of living in a racist world. Watford’s Andre Gray: ‘It’s not just about George Floyd – we are still stereotyped and judged by police here’ | The Guardian

What’s on TV?

11:45 AM: Bayern München vs. Eintracht Frankfurt (DFB Pokal) — ESPN

11:45 AM: AaB vs. AGF (DBU Pokalen) — ESPN+