By Frank Pingue
(Reuters) – The NWSL has agreed to create a $5 million fund to compensate players who experienced abuse and continue implementing reforms to resolve investigations launched by attorneys general for New York, Illinois and Washington D.C. after players came forward with allegations of harassment and sexual misconduct.
Players from across the U.S. top-flight National Women’s Soccer League went public in 2021 with allegations of misconduct by coaches and officials dating back over 10 years.
The attorneys general launched a joint investigation into the allegations in 2022, which they said revealed the NWSL was “permeated by a culture of abuse.”
It also showed some teams did not conduct background checks, which allowed coaches previously terminated for misconduct to be rehired by other teams.
“Today is about righting these wrongs and protecting women in sports,” New York Attorney General Letitia James told a press conference on Wednesday.
“It is about insuring that the players who suffered receive the compensation that they are owed, and that the league continues to make meaningful steps to prevent this from ever happening again.”
The fallout from the allegations engulfed the NWSL, prompting the departure of former Commissioner Lisa Baird and demands for reform, while five of the league’s 10 teams parted ways with their head coaches over player complaints before the end of the 2021 season.
“We remain grateful to the many brave individuals who came forward to share their experiences, which has informed our approach to systemic reform,” NWSL Commissioner Jessica Berman said in a news release.
“The NWSL is proud of the work we have done, in partnership with the NWSL Players Association, to set the standard for professional sports leagues.”
‘PROTECT FUTURE PLAYERS’
The settlement requires the NWSL to create a $5 million fund to compensate players and continue implementation of safeguards put in place after the findings from two investigations were released in 2022.
“No dollar amount could ever fully address the damage that was inflicted, but now my office, together with New York and Illinois, will have oversight authority to ensure that the league’s new safety policies are implemented and that current and future players are protected,” D.C. Attorney General Brian Schwalb said in a statement.
The NWSL must continue to comply with extensive changes to its protocols, including rigorous vetting of prospective coaches and training for players and staff on how to prevent sexual misconduct.
“Despite having the most to lose, these players came forward to expose abuse and a lack of accountability by those at the top of the league,” Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul said.
“Because they spoke up for themselves and their teammates, they have brought about reform that will protect future players.”
(Reporting by Frank Pingue in Toronto; Additional reporting by Nate Raymond in Boston, editing by Ed Osmond)
