What The Heart Wants

Flipping The Script

Erica and Wendy were talking in the latter's office when Carm arrived, fuming a little bit.

Erica: Carm, what's gotten under your skin so early in the morning?

Carm: Yesterday's US/Korea match. I re-watched it before coming in and the same feelings I had the first time about the fans' display of hate boiled back up.

Wendy: I saw it as well. I can't believe people that Bill and I probably know very well could go out of their way to be so nasty to players that just a week ago they were cheering loudly for in Orlando.

Erica: Guess some people didn't like seeing the two Courage players "come out" in front of them.

Carm: Ashlyn was getting as much if not more of it, but that's because she's an easier target given her history.

Wendy: Wonder what Ali thought of both the display and her reaction.

Erica: I have to call her later today to firm up the scouting schedule for this weekend, so I'll ask then.

Wendy: As a club, we should make it clear that THAT kind of protest in the stands will not be tolerated. In fact, I propose we go completely the other way and use the fact that we represent "The City of Brotherly Love and Sisterly Affection" to be open and affirming of players and fans who are LGBT.

Carm: PR campaigns can only do so much to sway the public. Same with "Pride Nights" and other outreach efforts. What we would need is an actual couple on the roster that were very much out and not ashamed of it. Between the two of us and these four walls, that rules out bringing Ashlyn to Philly because Ali isn't interested in the attention. That's why they've been fighting for most of the past month and why she jumped at the opportunity to come here and be our captain.

Erica: What do you know about players in the league and their connectedness?

Carm: The three of us discussed taking Kristie Mewis with our third pick on the 3rd.

Erica: More like you and Ali decided and I was asked to rubber-stamp it. Go on.

Carm: She and Steph McCaffrey are out and have been for a while, but are currently on different teams. Kristie told Ali that she'd like to get back together with Steph if she were to be picked by us or Vancouver, and we should definitely take a number 9 with one of our expansion picks.

Erica: You've got us committed to taking Hoy with our fourth pick should she be there and the Legacy hasn't selected a Red Star. Getting Steph might be a little bit difficult.

Wendy: Then we deal for her. Them being front-and-center of our stance regarding love and acceptance would be a boon. They, together with Kristie's sister Sam, have their own side business called Sporting Chic and we could get some cross-promotion going between their company's brand and ours.

Carm: So you're game for that?

Erica: Wendy's the boss. You know Steph has a history of speaking out-of-turn, Example A being her comments about Jerry Sandusky and Penn State after the football scandal several years ago.

Wendy: I'll be sure to discuss that with her head-on should we bring her here. In fact, Carm, maybe you can try to break the ice with her on that issue.

Carm: I'm sure it won't hurt, and it won't be coming from the coach of the team she called out on that occasion.

Erica: What does the international market look like in terms of players you'd like to pick up?