A professional women’s soccer player called Jaelene Daniels refused to wear a Pride jersey for Friday night’s game as the North Carolina Courage played host to the Washington Spirit.
Daniels is described as a devout Christian and chose not wear the jersey. The team spokesperson said:
“Jaelene will not be rostered tonight as she has made the decision to not wear our Pride jersey. While we’re disappointed with her choice, we respect her right to make that decision for herself.”
This comes five years after Daniels refused a call-up for the United States in a game where rainbow colors would have been featured on the shirt.
According to reports, there was controversy when the Courage resigned Daniels. The club put out a statement, saying it acknowledged the “impact” of the announcement on its “community.”
“We’ve spent the past few days reading your messages and reflecting on our actions. We are very sorry to all those we have hurt, especially those within the LGBTQIA+ community. The decision to resign Jaelene was not made lightly and included significant conversations between organization leadership and Jaelene. The priority expressed in those conversations is the safety of our players and maintaining an inclusive, respectful space for the entire team.”
May God open doors for this young woman. Following God’s Word is ALWAYS a step up. God is faithful. What the world balks at, God applauds and rewards.