Investigation Finds Misconduct Persists in Majority of NWSL Teams

Sexual misconduct and harassment remain widespread in the National Women’s Soccer League, according to a report released Wednesday after a joint investigation by the NWSL and its players association.

The 125-page report summarized misconduct complaints within eight franchises in the 12-team league, as well as numerous coaches and administrators.

“There is substantial work to be done,” according to the report. “During this investigation, the Joint Investigative Team received reports of ongoing misconduct at more than half the League’s clubs.”

The report concluded, among other issues, that “the history and culture of the league and its member clubs discouraged reporting of potential misconduct” and “the league and clubs failed to take adequate steps to protect players in hiring and filling positions.”

Clubs against which complaints have been made included the Chicago Red Stars, the Kansas City Current, the Portland Thorns, the North Carolina Courage, NJ/NY Gotham FC, OL Reign, Racing Louisville and the Washington Spirit.

Head coaches named in the report included former Courage coach Paul Riley, former Red Stars coach Rory Dames, former Racing Louisville coach Christy Holly, former Houston Dash head coach Vera Pauw, former Utah Royals head coach Craig Harrington, former Spirit head coach Richie Burke, former OL Reign head coach Farid Benstiti, Dash head coach James Clarkson, and former Orlando Pride head coach Amanda Cromwell.

After outlining repeated misconduct and mishandling of misconduct by coaches and administrators within the league and U.S. Soccer, investigators submitted six recommendations to improve the league’s culture going forward. The recommendations include enacting strengthened anti-harassment policies and stricter guidelines outlining appropriate conduct between coaches and players, as well as the prioritization of diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives.

The joint report comes two months after the release of the Yates Report, a 173-page report commissioned by U.S. Soccer that similarly documented widespread abuse and misconduct in women’s professional soccer. That investigation was led by Sally Yates, a former acting U.S. attorney general.

The NWSL’s reckoning with abuse began in the summer of 2021 and escalated with the Sept. 30, 2021, publication of an article by The Athletic that detailed a pattern of sexual coercion and verbal abuse by then Courage coach Paul Riley. Riley’s firing and additional firings and resignations throughout the league followed, including the resignation of then-commissioner Lisa Baird.

In a Wednesday afternoon statement, the NWSLPA called the report “a tough but necessary read.”

“The work will never end,” the statement said. “But we hope that our collective healing can begin.”