Free Republic

Ashlyn Harris helped the USWNT defend its World Cup title. When it came to defending the character of her and her teammates, she was also up to task. When an interview with former U.S. teammate Jaelene Hinkle resurfaced on Twitter where she claimed the team “wasn’t a welcoming place for Christians,” Harris didn’t hold back. “Hinkle, our team is about inclusion. Your religion was never the problem. The problem is your intolerance and you are homophobic,” Harris, who is engaged to fellow USA World Cup champion Ali Krieger, tweeted. “You don’t belong in a sport that aims to unite and...

The absence of one of the best women’s soccer players in the nation from the national squad that just won the World Cup has prompted questions as to whether she didn’t make the team because of her openly professed Christian faith. Jaelene Hinkle, 26, “has been called the top left defender in the U.S. game,” according to The Washington Times. Fox News noted Hinkle “helped her team win the NWSL championship and previously helped it win a title in 2016 when it was known as the Western New York Flash.” But none of that apparently mattered to the women’s team....

It’s the kind of headline that can lead to more ugliness than understanding. “Women’s Soccer Star Turns Down USWNT Invite Over Pride Month Jersey.” The decision by Jaelene Hinkle last year didn’t come with an explanation at the time. The 25-year-old defender for the North Carolina Courage told Christian talk show The 700 Club this week that she turned down a 2017 call-up to the U.S. national team because of the jersey the team wore for two friendlies to honor the LGBTQ community. Hinkle said she “felt so convicted in my spirit that it wasn’t my job to wear this...