February 6 – Following a year-long investigation into player abuse, the National Women’s Super League (NWSL) must pay $5 million to victims in a historic settlement.
During the 2021 NWSL season, extensive allegations of abuse, sexual coercion, racism, harassment and other forms of misconduct shocked the league and clubs, sparking two investigations and in-game protests from players league-wide.
On Wednesday, prosecutors announced a settlement with the league to establish a victims’ fund and implement other reforms.
The criminal inquiry was led by the District of Columbia Attorney General Brian Schwalb and joined by prosecutors from New York and Illinois.
“Two separate investigations confirmed what the players had been experiencing and reporting for years. Systemic leaguewide failures that permitted a culture of inappropriate and abusive behaviour, including verbal abuse, sexual assault, harassment, coercion, retaliation and discrimination with no clear mechanisms in place for player safety,” said Schwalb.
“Following the 2022 report, the league has made critical improvements, largely due to the players’ fierce advocacy. But importantly, the victims have never been compensated for the abuse they endured on the league’s watch until today.”
The dam broke in 2021 when players Sinead Farrelly and Mana Shim went public with accounts of sexual misconduct by Paul Riley while he was their head coach. Other NWSL managers were accused of emotional abuse, including monitoring players’ weight and verbal attacks on players.
“For too long, the hardworking and talented women of the National Women’s Soccer League were forced to endure an unacceptable culture of abuse, harassment, and retaliation,” said New York Attorney General Letitia James.
“This settlement sends a clear message that such misconduct will not be tolerated and ensures players receive the compensation and protections they deserve. Every athlete should be able to compete in a safe, supportive environment, and I thank the brave individuals who came forward to share their experiences.”
The league has agreed to create platforms for players to report abuse on a confidential basis, including a regular anonymous survey that will be shared with prosecutors’ offices.
Background checks will be applied for high-stakes hires, including head coaches and athletic trainers. Teams will also have to employ mental health coaches.
NWSL leadership will be required to provide the attorneys general who led the investigation with updates on implementing all aspects of the settlement.
“We remain grateful to the many brave individuals who came forward to share their experiences, which has informed our approach to systemic reform,” said NWSL commissioner Jessica Berman. We will continue to do the work necessary to maintain the trust of our players and build an ecosystem where the best in the world want to come.”
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