National Women’s Soccer League commissioner Jessica Berman reportedly threatened to fine the Kansas City Current over disagreement about extreme heat procedures that delayed Saturday’s game against the Orlando Pride by roughly three and a half hours. While both teams were concerned about the heat well before kickoff, the league wanted to proceed so the game could be televised. The National Weather Service issued an extreme heat warning for the area in the days leading up to the match. The situation highlights issues of player and fan safety, as at least 16 people required medical attention for heat-related ailments and were treated at the stadium, and one fan was taken by ambulance to a nearby hospital to be treated for heat-related illness. Teams and the NWSL Players Association expressed their disappointment in how the delay unfolded.
