The National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) has agreed to a $5 million settlement to compensate players who experienced abuse. The league also committed to ongoing reforms following investigations into harassment and sexual misconduct that were launched by the attorneys general of New York, Illinois, and Washington D.C. These investigations followed public allegations made by players in 2021, revealing a long-standing culture of abuse within the league.
In 2022, the attorneys general began a joint investigation, which found that the NWSL had been “permeated by a culture of abuse.” The inquiry also exposed significant failures, such as teams not conducting proper background checks, allowing coaches previously fired for misconduct to be rehired by other teams.
New York Attorney General Letitia James addressed the settlement, stating, “Today is about righting these wrongs and protecting women in sports. It’s about ensuring that the players who suffered receive the compensation they are owed and that the league continues to make meaningful steps to prevent this from ever happening again.”
The fallout from the allegations led to significant changes in the league. Former NWSL Commissioner Lisa Baird resigned, and five of the league’s 10 teams dismissed their head coaches following player complaints in 2021.
NWSL Commissioner Jessica Berman expressed gratitude to those who came forward, saying, “We remain grateful to the many brave individuals who came forward to share their experiences, which has informed our approach to systemic reform. 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.”
As part of the settlement, the NWSL is required to create a $5 million fund to compensate affected players. The league will also continue implementing safety measures based on findings from the 2022 investigations.
D.C. Attorney General Brian Schwalb emphasized that, “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.”
The settlement also mandates continued reforms, including thorough vetting of coaches and training for players and staff to prevent sexual misconduct.
Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul highlighted the role of the players in driving these changes, stating, “Despite having the most to lose, these players came forward to expose abuse and a lack of accountability. Because they spoke up, they have brought about reform that will protect future players.”
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