The San Diego Wave announced Monday that it had parted ways with Casey Stoney, the only coach the team has ever known.
Assistant coach Paul Buckle will serve as the interim coach as organization searches for a permanent replacement.
The news comes amid a seven-game winless streak that has plagued the team since early May.
“We are immensely grateful to Casey for her commitment to our club and the positive impact she has had both on and off the pitch.” Wave F.C. President Jill Ellis said Monday in a statement. “Over the past seasons, Casey has guided us to significant milestones, and her contributions have been instrumental in laying a strong foundation on which to build.
"The decision to part ways was very hard and not made in haste, but given the ambition of this club, and where we are in our season, we felt a change was necessary at this time.”
Stoney joined the Wave in 2021 as coach for the then-12th newest NWSL club. She previously served as a manager of Manchester United's women's team since 2018.
She lead the Wave to two trophies: the 2023 NWSL Shield and the 2024 Challenge Cup. The 2012 London Olympian won the NWSL Coach of the Year award in 2022; the same year she guided the Wave to the playoffs during their inaugural season.
The Wave and Stoney agreed to a contract extension in January. The extension would have seen her coach through the 2027 season, with a mutual option to extend to 2028.
Assistant coach Paul Buckle will serve as an interim head coach according to President Ellis. Stoney went 24-16-28 during the regular season as the club's head coach. Ellis and recently appointed sporting director and general manager Cami Ashton will begin an immediate global search for a permanent head coach.
Stoney expressed her gratitude to the Wave's supporters group, the San Diego Sirens.
Thank you Sirens!! You are incredible and I loved your support for the team from day one! Today I’m broken but in time I will be proud of what we all achieved together! Cheer that’s players loud on Friday because that’s what they deserve
— Casey Stoney MBE 💙 (@CaseyStoney) June 24, 2024
Last year, the Wave won the NWSL Shield with the best regular-season record in the league, something they haven't lived up to as of late. This year's team is 3-5-6 with 15 points and finished a three-game road trip two draws and a loss.
Though the team has made strides in the last few matches, they are averaging less than a goal and ninth on the league table.
The recent match at the Houston Dash on Saturday exposed the strengths and flaws of the current team. In a post-match conference, Stoney criticized the NWSL schedule, which saw them play three away matches in seven days.
“No other team has had this," she said I think it’s extremely unfair on the players.
"I think for player welfare to ask us to go to Washington away, New York away, and then come to Houston in June two days after we’ve played the previous game is unacceptable. Scheduling-wise it shouldn’t have happened."
San Diego will take on the Chicago Red Stars (5-2-6, 17 points) at home in Snapdragon Stadium on Friday.