(Portland, OR) -- Timbers and Thorns owner Merritt Paulson apologized in an open letter Monday for the organization's decision to hide sexual harassment allegations against former Thorns coach Paul Riley. This comes after The Athletic reported last week that Riley sexually harassed Thorns players in 2014 and 2015. As a result of the allegations coming to light, Riley was fired as head coach of the North Carolina Courage and Lisa Baird resigned Friday as NWSL commissioner. Timbers fans had banners criticizing Paulson at their game on Sunday.