OL Reign’s Words Fall Short of Their Actions: New Lawsuit Alleges

When OL Reign and Sky Blue FC players took a knee before kick off of the 2020 Challenge Cup, it was seen as an incredibly strong moment of player unity. A much needed step in player driven social justice, and a pivotal moment in American history as the first sports league to sustainably resume play post nationwide shut down.

However, time and time again — the picture is not nearly as clear when you peak behind the curtain. In fact, a former Reign youth player is ripping apart the curtain in a new lawsuit which alleges that OL Reign Academy officials actively inhibited the development of players by not responding to complaints of a hostile training environment.

August Hunter, a former youth player who identifies as a Black Asian American, alleged that her time in the Reign academy was met with blatant racism by both players and parents. Jayda Evans’ excellent reporting brings forth some choice quotes including a story where August Hunter was told,“take off your weave hoe and go eat a bowl of rice”.