One player recalled that six players spoke during the meeting; only one returned for the next season. She said that Dames knew of her plans, and when he saw her leave the hotel to visit her boyfriend, he texted her to schedule a meeting for 15 minutes later. Another NWSL employee expressed concern that criminal background checks are insufficient: "None of the issues we had last year with our coaches would have been discovered unless a reputation check had been conducted before they were hired. Another player recalled this teammate remarking that she would not be surprised if she was traded after the meeting. A second investigation into systemic abuse in the National Women's Soccer League was released Wednesday, providing further details of how the league, its clubs and the U.S. Soccer Federation failed to protect players and allowed misconduct to run rampant throughout the 10-year-old league. A player from another club recalled players feeling like they would not be protected if they spoke up about a coach's misconduct, and the player also expressed fear that she would be traded or cut if she raised concerns about her coach. Player Reports of Misconduct During the USSF Dames Investigation Players also reported a pervasive fear of retaliation should they raise concerns about Burke. soccer career. On One club staff member stated that Dames would give the team three days off, but would not inform them until the day before, leaving the team "stuck [and] not able to get out of Illinois. The staff member said, I don't know if that's him being controlling, but also noted that it felt like Dames didn't like people leaving market." In addition, players could report complaints to the NWSL HR Manager, the email address and phone number for which are published in the NWSL Anti-Harassment Policy, posted on the League website, and disseminated to clubs and players. D. In addition, the Joint Investigative Team coordinated with the USSF Investigation team where appropriate for certain interviews or other fact gathering. While a short briefing of the investigation's findings was provided to the club, the Joint Investigative Team understands that U.S. Soccer did not share the nature of the complaints or conclusions of the investigation, including whether the reports against Dames were corroborated. The statement that no unlawful harassment" had occurred proved significant going forward, as it was repeated a number of times in the following years as a summary of the investigation's conclusions. Moreover, Riley continued his sexual and non-sexual misconduct towards players while coaching for the Courage, at least some of which was known to the club. Sometime after that incident, Shim asked Riley to maintain a strictly professional relationship with her. The club put out a statement via Twitter stating that LaHue had been let go following an investigation by the league. At some point that night, only Riley, Shim, Farrelly, and Thorns Assistant Coach William "Skip" Thorp remained in the bar, and the four left together when the bar closed. Days later, the assistant coaches told her that they had never complained about her attitude. Paulson said that Wahlke had spoken with Levine and that Wahlke had some knowledge about the 2015 complaint and findings, including that the investigation found no unlawful harassment. The phrase 'using personal information against you' appears to be a catch-all phrase used by players to capture conduct by Dames that was perceived as being mean toward players on a personal level." IV. Malik later called her back and stated there had apparently been an incident involving two players kissing in front of Riley. Based on the considerable efforts made to identify and collect all reasonably available sources of information, the Joint Investigative Team is confident in the soundness of its findings and the factual basis for the matters discussed in this Report. Players told the Joint Investigative Team that the assistant coach was away from the team for a few days, before returning without any warning to them. When Starr asked Simon how Holly had touched her inappropriately, Starr recalled Simon stating that Holly had "put his hands down her pants" while watching film at the stadium, and that if she "messed up," Holly would "hold it against her." One player recalled that Riley held film sessions in a I don't want her anywhere around the team." For instance, former Red Stars player Nikki Stanton recalled that she felt "worthless" during her time on the Red Stars, but she prided herself on being a good teammate and maintaining a positive attitude. Harrington responded that he reviewed his phone records, but he could not verify how the player contacted him. During the lengthy investigation, players were given insufficient opportunity to speak to the investigator, and the investigator did not speak to any club staff members other than Dames. The future of sports sponsorship? Women's sports - Sid Lee If it's big enough to take it to the League . Riley declined to respond to requests to participate in this investigation. The league and the union issued a lengthy statement with the reports release, including a list of concrete steps that either have been taken or will be taken before the 2023 season starts. Further, U.S. Soccer paused its investigation for one month from March to April 2019 while SafeSport exercised jurisdiction over a complaint about Dames marrying one of his former youth players. Can the USWNT's World Cup title push the NWSL to a long-awaited At first, she thought the offers were "nice" because she did not "know what the boundaries [were]." However, interviewees reported that Clarkson on occasion failed to recognize or appreciate his effect on players. Multiple witnesses reported that Riley criticized Sinead Farrelly's romantic relationships, stated that Farrelly was "too hot to be a lesbian," and said that Farrelly's then-partner was a "predator." Players reported that Holly also regularly made overtly sexual remarks toward players, both at Sky Blue and Racing Louisville, separate from the misconduct directed toward Simon. NWSL, NWSLPA joint investigation finds 'widespread misconduct' Nor do I have any independent recollection of who, if anyone, at the USSF reviewed these surveys, if the USSF had any policy or practice regarding who must review them, what follow-up actions should be taken in response to the surveys, and/or what information was shared with the NWSL teams." E. Standards for Assessing Reports of Misconduct Novo responded, "My answer is that Christy [Holly] has a very good and fair relationship with our players . The NWSL celebrated its tenth anniversary in 2022. The NWSL should ensure that this antiharassment training is mandatory for all club staff and players and required annually. Individual bias can contribute to discrete acts of misconduct. In spring 2021, when Levine was the NWSL's general counsel, Shim and Farrelly resurfaced allegations against Riley. However, that position is inconsistent with other evidence, including an email from counsel for the Thorns and Plush's own prior communications with Sky Blue. At the conclusion of the March Investigation, the Pride's counsel substantiated that Cromwell engaged in favoritism, inappropriately communicated with and "verbally attack[ed]" players, made sexualized comments about players' appearances, disregarded the advice of the sports medicine staff, and discouraged players from utilizing reporting channels. Adding to this controversy, in July 2011, the WPS players' union filed a grievance that accused Borislow of bullying and threatening players, and creating a "hostile, oppressive and intimidating work environment." Hendrix said she believed that Holly may have retaliated by taking her off the starting roster. Towards the end of the interview, she told Garcia that she was afraid of what Riley could do to her career, noting Riley "ha[d] contacts, help[ed] players play overseas, [and had] big ties." Hammond told the Joint Investigative Team that he assured Kurtz that she was not chubby and told her that "sometimes, coaches choose their words poorly." Gulati said that he generally tells people who are considering hiring candidates to call former employers, but in this case, he was also specifically hoping that Malik would contact the Thorns. That same day, NWSL General Counsel Lisa Levine also resigned. The training for coaches and other club staff should encourage athlete-centered coaching (focusing on the holistic development of players), effective partnerships between coaches and players, and soccer-specific constructive criticism. The statement called on the NWSL to (i) open an independent investigation into the issues described by The Athletic; (ii) suspend any staff accused of violating the anti-harassment policy; and (iii) disclose how Riley was hired within the NWSL after leaving another club following an investigation into his misconduct. This information sharing between the staff member and the player led other players to express concerns to team management that the staff member was sharing players' private medical information with the player they were dating. Consultants who spoke with players at one club observed after their conversation that they had concerns about the club environment which were "exacerbated by the recent suicides of former soccer players, observed stigma around mental health and seeking help, and seemingly limited suicide prevention practices." Dames remained head coach for nine full seasons in the NWSL, and when he resigned in November 2021, he was the For much of the League's existence, there was confusion between U.S. Soccer, the League, and its clubs regarding their respective roles in responding to reports of misconduct against players. The cover email was not marked as privileged, or confidential, or as subject to any legal protection. During the USSF Dames Investigation, players reported multiple instances of Dames using racist language, including calling a Black player a thug and describing her as "acting like a gang member." Yet, because of the deficiencies of the investigation and the systemic failures of U.S. Soccer, the NWSL, and the Red Stars, Dames's behavior went unaddressed during his nine seasons as head coach. The NWSL should consider avenues to create a formal partnership with the Black Women's Player Collective to hear and address the Collective's concerns and improve the NWSL experience for Black players. Provide Mandatory Anti-Racism and Unconscious Bias Training Because background checks were not required for player-facing staff until late 2021, several of the coaches, staff, and other individuals discussed in this Report were not subject to those checks. While the report summary downplayed players' concerns in spite of the evidence, it credited Dames's and Whisler's explanations of events without further scrutiny. The staff member stated that Clarkson believed that the player was 100%" fit to play because she had dressed for the game, although the player reported that Clarkson was aware she had been dealing with the injury. The report did not make any recommendations, noting instead that recommended actions for the Thorns to take would be determined by Paulson and Wilkinson. There may be limited circumstances in which it is appropriate for a coach to discuss a player's weight with her as it pertains to that player's fitness goals, but those discussions generally should occur privately, without other players present. The sale was finalized in March 2022. Around the same time, on July 1, 2021, OL Reign decided to remove Benstiti from the club, and asked for his resignation that same day. These players' clear descriptions of particular experiences with Dames call into question the report's conclusion that players "struggled to articulate what they meant." Hendrix also said that Holly both texted Simon and told her in person that she had too many clothes on and he could not see her nipples. One member of the NWSL community criticized the SafeSport trainings as not being interactive and consisting of lectures and short quizzes that participants are not required to pass before proceeding with the training. When Racing Louisville learned of Holly's sexual misconduct toward Erin Simon, the club acted quickly, firing him within hours of speaking to Simon, and in spite of a request from the NWSL that they pause to let the League investigate. Shim told the Joint Investigative Team she cried when Riley joined the Flash; she said she never wanted to see Riley again, and she was concerned for other players. A player on another team recalled that when her team was divided into groups, an assistant coach commented that one of the groups of players was the prettiest and most attractive group. According to the course description, this course trains medical staff on how to "[r]ecognize types and signs of abuse and misconduct, [c]reate safer, abusepreventative spaces and policies for training and treatment, [r]espond to abuse and disclosures and recognize barriers to reporting, [i]ncorporate a trauma-informed approach into [their] practice," "[s]afely reintegrate athletes who have been harmed back into sport," and "[c]reate and promote a culture that prioritizes athlete safety." Require Coaches to Adhere to Club Medical Staff's Decisions Regarding Player Health and Ability to Train and Play For example, multiple players on the Red Stars reported that players were concerned that the club would fold if it received negative press. Develop and Enforce Guidelines Addressing Appropriate Interactions Between Club Staff and Players The investigators said they conducted more than 200 interviews and reviewed some 200,000 documents. As a result, when Racing Louisville hired Holly in 2020, individuals they spoke with at Sky Blue and the NWSL lacked the information necessary to provide a complete answer about Holly's departure from Sky Blue. In this video I discussing the details surrounding why former head coach and manager, Alyse LaHue, was fired from Gotham FC.SourceNWSL/NWSLPA Joint Investiga. The League added seven expansion teams, and four teams were rebranded or relocated. The NWSL should develop and implement an annual anti-racism and unconscious bias training that, among other things, is designed to prevent the use of racially insensitive or antisemitic language and provides tools for how to recognize and intervene against microaggressions. This league, eventually named the National Women's Soccer League, began play in April 2013. 4. Malik published an open letter on October 6, 2021, stating that when the Courage bought the Flash, the Courage was made aware of a 2015 investigation into Riley but was "subsequently assured he was in good standing. Paulson also published an open letter on October 4, 2021, stating that once the Thorns received Shim's 2015 complaint, the club placed Riley on immediate suspension, conducted an investigation that led to Riley's termination, and shared investigative findings with the NWSL. Several players noted that Burke's conduct was very open, including in front of team staff and management, and that numerous players were uncomfortable with his conduct. This is too much. The League should require that any non-disclosure or non-disparagement provisions allow the League and clubs to share information consistent with disclosure requirements set forth in the AntiHarassment Policy and any other requirements that may be implemented to promote transparency and player safety. She remembered that Holly "verbally attacked players, and his behavior was "just different" than it had been in 2016. Duffy was also aware there was an ongoing investigation at the Red Stars, but the Joint Investigative Team found no evidence the NWSL requested updates regarding the investigation or requested the final investigative report, and Levine acknowledged that she interpreted the lack of update from Wahlke as a lack of material negative findings concerning Dames. Another player noted the need for diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) training, and specifically, anti-Black racism" training. Tammy Murphy, Alyse LaHue Share What Success Looks Like For - Forbes Burke called players insulting names, like moron, fucking asshole," and "cheat," and explicitly threatened to waive players who challenged his conduct or otherwise disagreed with him. In the report's summary, which preceded the conclusion, the investigator flagged as problematic three additional issues beyond Dames's three undisputed behaviors." In May 2018, U.S. Soccer's investigator spoke to Press regarding her complaint that Dames "verbally and emotionally abuse[d] . The report also details Clarkson's handling of an incident in Houston back in April 2021, when stadium security questioned the boyfriend of then Chicago Red Stars defender Sarah Gorden. A consultant who assessed Riley's email account as part of the 2015 Thorns Investigation concluded that Riley had deleted the message from his inbox, and then further selected it for permanent deletion from the deleted items folder, which he had In mid-August 2021, Starr told the NWSL volunteer chaplain coordinator that a player shared that Holly had touched her inappropriately, though Starr did not share Simon's name. B. Racing Louisville entered into a severance agreement with Holly upon his departure, which provided for a severance payment to Holly of $14,000. After WPS collapsed in 2012, U.S. Soccer, the official governing body of soccer in the United States, convened representatives from various semi-professional leagues to discuss the future of women's professional soccer in the United States. Although this investigation gathered substantial evidence, the Joint Investigative Team also encountered challenges. The draft statement explained that the club conducted an investigation into Riley, determined that bad judgement [sic]" was involved, and "chose not to renew his contract." Holly also verbally abused players and retaliated against those who raised complaints about him. When asked about this conversation, Whisler acknowledged that it was a clear attempt at retaliation," and said that he told Dames that was not an appropriate reason for the trade. He asked her what she was eating, told her she looked chubby, and told her she would need to lose 14 pounds before the game to keep her starting role, telling her, "I hope you know I'm doing this because I love you." This is especially important in situations where club staff with control over player transactions (coaches, general managers, etc.) . In another incident, players reported that Clarkson criticized an injured player. Players also reported club staff inappropriately making comments about players' appearance and personal lives. Until now, the only reported detail was that LaHue was the subject of a complaint filed under the league's anti-harassment policy. Courage leadership was made aware of Riley's conduct toward Kurtz, who also reported her experiences directly to then-NWSL commissioner Lisa Baird in a group meeting last year. Multiple players and one staff member described a particular incident in which Holly's romantic relationship appeared to impact his decision-making. Horan also said "the French coach was very brutal with it." When LaHue was named GM in April, her first big goal was to re-establish a relationship with the fanbase, which had been very vocal about ousting former Sky Blue president and GM, Tony Novo. Conduct Reference Checks for All Prospective Owners, Coaches, and other Club Staff Who May Interact With Players Levine learned in February 2016 that the Flash would announce their hiring of Riley, and she learned information from Plush to suggest that the Thorns had perhaps not been candid with the Flash regarding the 2015 allegations or findings against Riley. The training should advise that the NWSL does not tolerate inappropriate jokes that are sexist, racist, antisemitic, homophobic, bigoted, or that target any protected characteristic. In the USSF Dames Report, Whisler explained Dames's behavior towards players as "a stress moment," and argued that Dames's yelling was "not derisive or demeaning, it's frustration." While the club discussed with Simon the possibility of a severance agreement, there is no evidence that the club sought Simon's input on these terms. - NWSL investigation finds 'ongoing misconduct,' details culture of abuse. Kurtz continued to struggle with Riley as her coach, and described her experience of the 2019 season as "hellfire." For example, players reported that Dames would make comments about players' personal appearances. Former NY/NJ Gotham FC general manager Alyse. Interview with Alyse LaHue, General Manager at NJ/NY Gotham FC Whereas Yates' report focused on three major storylines and perpetrators, the NWSL/NWSLPA joint investigation looked further, scrutinizing each of the 12 current NWSL teams, as well as historic complaints in the league. The NWSL began the roll-out of training by the U.S. Center for SafeSport in January 2021. Following these reports and upon learning that Clarkson had been made aware that he was under investigation, the Joint Investigative Team recommended in April 2022 that Clarkson be placed on temporary suspension pending investigation. Despite having this information, Duffy did not express any concerns about Riley to the Courage, Riley's employer at the time. Levine remembered that Holly left Sky Blue because of his relationship with Pearce Rampone and that the relationship created "issues with team chemistry but could not recall any complaints or concerns with respect to Holly's treatment of players. One player recalled a specific comment Dames made about "her attractiveness." In other instances, players were told they could raise concerns to club management or ownership but feared doing so due to close relationships between coaching staff and club management, or because their coach also served as general manager. The day after the player spoke to the NWSL about her complaint, Dames texted Whisler that he was planning on waiving her. I'm going to watch what you eat," and the other recalled Levine explained to the Joint Investigative Team that she made the report "the day [she] learned of [the] sexual relationship between [Riley] and a player," referring to Farrelly. Numerous players reported that they experienced mental health challenges due to toxic and abusive working environments created by coaches' behavior and treatment of players. When Stanton started "bawling [her] eyes out," Dames told her, "Your response is making me feel better about the accusation." When Riley was head coach of the Thorns, after a night out drinking alcohol with Thorns players, Riley brought Shim and Farrelly to his apartment, made additional alcohol available, tried to grind" against Shim, and told Farrelly and Shim that if they kissed each other, the team would not have to run an intensive fitness drill that week. Players reported the club did not take sufficient action to address players' concerns after the meeting. 6. However, there is substantial work to be done. Why not talk to me?" Holly stepped down as coach of Sky Blue during the 2017 season, and Simon was waived by Sky Blue in 2018. If a player shares information about misconduct in an exit interview, the club staff conducting the exit interview should alert the NWSL HR Office or the NWSL General Counsel so that interim protective measures can be taken as needed and the NWSL can investigate the allegation promptly and thoroughly. The Courage never received a copy of the report or learned the full findings, which also discussed Riley's other serious misconduct. She added that it was possible her performance had in fact decreased because she was not comfortable with the situation. NWSL joint investigation reveals details on Alyse LaHue's departure Racing Louisville did not appropriately respond to players' reports about Holly's conduct as the club's head coach. Given their public roles in U.S. Soccer, League, and club management, this Report also uses the names of individuals in the following roles: (i) club owners involved in day-to-day club management; (ii) club leadership and management, including presidents, general managers, and other equivalent positions; (iii) the U.S. Soccer Board of Directors and senior members of U.S. Soccer management; (iv) members of League management; and (v) where necessary, outside counsel and consultants. To address these concerns, the League has recently taken steps to create more effective reporting channels, including by setting up an anonymous hotline and listing reporting channels in the 2022 Anti-Harassment Policy. One player on the bench reported that she did not recall those specific words, but recalled Clarkson reacting with "disgust on his face" while the injured player "was visibly crying and upset." One player, describing Riley's fixation with players' weight, stated that he was "100% the most controlling person I've ever met. Another player recalled that he deployed a strategy of "breaking down [a player's] confidence, saying she doesn't look fit," and then when he needed her, "building her confidence back up and controlling her in that way." Misconduct within the NWSL-and a failure to adequately investigate allegations of misconduct and take measures to prevent further misconduct-has contributed to players' lack of trust and confidence in U.S. Soccer, the NWSL, and its member clubs. Observations and Findings Development of an Anti-Harassment Policy c) Failure to Protect Players For much of the League's history, clubs were free to waive non-guaranteed players, releasing them from their contracts with the club without compensation and leaving them open to being claimed by another club via an established process. There is no evidence that any additional investigative steps were taken between September 2019 and Wahlke's departure from U.S. Soccer the following year. With regards to the League's legal and HR functions, from 2012-2017, then-U.S. Soccer General Counsel Levine handled the NWSL's legal and HR responsibilities in the absence of an NWSL general counsel. Many players, team and league staff, and team owners were not given the completed report before it was made public. C. Farrelly said she felt coerced by Riley into having sexual intercourse on several occasions thereafter. Sunil Gulati (U.S. Soccer, President, 2006-2018) and Dan Flynn (U.S. Soccer, CEO and Secretary General, 2000-2019) On December 1, 2022, Paulson announced the decision to sell the Thorns. In crafting this policy, the NWSL should be mindful that non-disclosure and non-disparagement agreements have been used to restrict clubs from criticizing or sharing information about a departing staff member. Moreover, NWSL staff reviewing player survey results-when they were reviewed-were not trained or provided any guidance on how to analyze player survey results for statements indicating misconduct and were not instructed to elevate any potential misconduct to NWSL HR or the NWSL General Counsel. Kansas City Current In January 2018, Dames informed Whisler that he could lower the pay for two staff members because those staff members would earn additional income working for Eclipse. Wilkinson and Paulson told the Joint Investigative Team that they were not aware of Shim's 2021 email to Baird. According to Whisler's email, after seeing the comments, Dames "offered his resignation because of the embarrassment he thought it caused the organization," but Whisler didn't accept." Players reported that Holly's relationship with Pearce Rampone led to a dysfunctional team environment, made players question Holly's decisionmaking, and exacerbated Holly's mistreatment of players. In many instances, in the absence of League requirements for coach vetting, the NWSL and its clubs failed to sufficiently vet coaches before hiring them.
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