6. Kurtz added that after reading last year about Riley's past sexual misconduct, she realized that the coach was "grooming" her with similar patterns of behavior. The club also agreed to pay Dames through the end of the year.
The club ultimately elected to retain Riley as head coach, but this decision was similarly affected by the Thorns's, U.S. Soccer's, and the NWSL's lack of transparency about Riley's misconduct. Yates was commissioned by the U.S. Soccer Federation, which is the sport's governing body and was, for eight years between 2012 and 2020, the manager of the NWSL as part of an operational agreement. Another player recalled Holly unexpectedly screaming at a teammate that her poor performance during a practice drill would "prevent [her] from being on the national team, and later in the season asking her to do one-on-one film sessions with him, saying, "I can help you get onto the national team." In interviews with the Joint Investigative Team, both Levine and Duffy remembered that they paused the NWSL investigation at Wahlke's request. Players also told the Joint Investigative Team that Riley [made] a face when players lifted their shirts to wipe their faces, commented that players had refrigerator[s] on their ass[es]," and stated that a player was eating too many hamburgers." According to players, Riley made unrealistic and seemingly arbitrary demands for player weight loss. Burke used the N-word in recounting a story to a Black player, made jokes and racially insensitive remarks about Black Lives Matter, and used antisemitic language in comments to the team. As discussed above, this player was subsequently traded in circumstances suggesting that the trade was retaliatory. It would be good to know those things exist, to get access. 72, her a new one," about a player and within earshot of the player after she asked about practicing set pieces during training. The same player emphasized that "continuous commitment to anti-racism is important" and the burden should not be on Black players to educate others.
The subjective experience is important to consider when assessing whether conduct rises to the level of emotional misconduct. Co-Founder of Gonzo Soccer: Girls Soccer & Leadership Academy for under-served girls, a 501 (c)3 organization in the U.S., Mexico, and Colombia. B. Some players said that they only realized that they were in emotionally abusive or manipulative environments after the fact. 105, Soccer and the NWSL that the 2015 investigation did not reveal "unlawful harassment" but merely "poor judgment, and provided no explanation for this characterization, including how it squared with the contents of the report or the decision to fire Riley because his conduct violated multiple provisions of his employment agreement. Former U.S. Soccer President Sunil Gulati observed that it was a challenge every year to get the owners to come back for another year and lose money. However, witnesses provided conflicting accounts of U.S. Soccer's actual role in managing the League. C.
Club leaders should have a plan to model and implement their commitment to player well-being, and the NWSL should vigilantly guard against leadership behavior that may discourage reporting or suggest disregard for player safety. One player referred to Riley as verbally abusive. 4. In any case, Riley told them that if they kissed, the team would not have to run the "suicide mile, an intensive fitness drill, that week. These players explained that coaches would target players they perceived as overweight, even if their strength and fitness levels were on par with their teammates', and even if the coach lacked the expertise to make such judgments.
NWSL joint investigation reveals details on Alyse LaHue's departure Courage owner Steve Malik said when he learned of a complaint that Riley made inappropriate weightrelated comments, he did not follow up with the player; instead, he presumed the League would respond to [the] complaint" because he was told the complaint went to the League. Other players similarly reported that they feared retaliation from Burke, or otherwise held back from criticizing Burke, due to incidents in which Burke threatened to waive players who disagreed with him and due to the fact that he had unilateral control over player contracts. Several of these players described Clarkson as fair, but tough on players based on their soccer performance and potential. Whisler recalled that the club worked to get the severance agreement "done by midnight" on November 21, and he signed the agreement that night. Until now, the only reported detail was that LaHue was the subject of a complaint filed under the league's anti-harassment policy. 92, Players at the Thorns reported that they felt uncomfortable making complaints about Head Coach Paul Riley to Thorns President Gavin Wilkinson because the two were "buddybuddy." Furthermore, Thorns owner and then-CEO Merritt Paulson and then-Thorns General Manager Gavin Wilkinson were familiar with the 2015 allegations and findings against Riley, but they were not transparent with the Flash and the Courage when those clubs were vetting Riley.
At one point, she sought to bring in a team-building expert to improve locker room dynamics. 5. Shim attached to her email to Baird her September 16, 2015 email to the Thorns in which she made the complaint against Riley, along with responses to her complaint by Garcia and Plush.
Players from the team met with club owners Angie and Chris Long, and other club staff, to raise these concerns. In December 2021, the Joint Investigative Team received a complaint about Clarkson and began an investigation. Multiple current and former players from the Kansas City Current raised concerns that Head Coach Huw Williams retaliated against players for participating in an August 2021 meeting with other club leaders, including club owners Chris and Angie Long. A member of
Shim emailed a complaint, with a narrative describing Riley's inappropriate conduct, to Garcia, Riley, Wilkinson, and Thorns owner Merritt Paulson. Additionally, Wahlke told the Joint Investigative Team that around this time, she learned from Becca Roux, Executive Director of the USWNTPA, that the USWNTPA would not support Riley's candidacy for this position. For example, in one incident, Clarkson likened an injured player's stride to that of a "lame horse," and laughed when she jokingly responded, "So should I shoot myself?" The email included, without any explanation, a conclusion that the investigation did not reveal any "unlawful harassment." The conclusion of the report similarly minimized players' concerns in favor of Dames's and Whisler's self-serving explanations. Baird, again using language drafted by Levine, responded that the initial complaint in 2015 had been investigated to conclusion." According to the USSF Dames Report, Dames told a player that when her son got
The statement also claimed that investigators provided Ms. LaHue a few documents that contained alterations. In addition, while Cromwell and Greene denied knowing who made complaints about them during the March Investigation, the evidence suggests that they formed a belief as to which players made complaints or spoke negatively about them in connection with the March Investigation. The reasons for Alyse LaHue's termination as NJ/NY Gotham FC general manager in July 2021 are also now clear following 1 years of silence from the club on the issue. In the fall of 2022, Kurtz decided to share Riley's misconduct with the Joint Investigative Team. . The NWSL should consider adopting Mental Health First Aid training. Simon felt scared and physically intimidated. A. On July 2, 2021, OL Reign announced, Farid Benstiti has resigned his position as head coach of the club with immediate effect. One player told the Joint Investigative Team that they felt Benstiti should have been fired and there should have been a private apology from the club to the players and a commitment to do right by the players. beers, shots, whatever. This same player said that Riley would be at the bar "from the time" the players arrived until after players left. ." When asked why she did not inquire further in response to Shim's and Farrelly's 2021 complaints, she responded by focusing on language from Shim's and Farrelly's 2021 complaints in which they asked how the NWSL would respond to Shim's initial or underlying 2015 complaint, which Levine said had already been investigated by outside lawyers and which she did not believe there was a basis for re-opening. Shim described Riley as obsessed" with players' romantic and dating relationships. Gulati told the Joint Investigative Team that he surmised that he had been given legal advice not to disclose information regarding the allegations and investigation, but could not recall any specifics about that advice.
In June 2018, Levine met with Arnim Whisler and informed him that a player had raised a complaint against Dames. On an away trip to another state, she asked Dames for permission to visit her parents, who lived in the state. She was hired that May as vice president. Misconduct against players has occurred at the vast majority of NWSL clubs at various times from the earliest years of the League to the present.". The NWSL should engage with players and staff of color and LGBTQIA+ players and staff to understand and develop channels for reporting misconduct that are safe and comfortable for individuals in these groups to use.
Having opportunities to hang with others or time for self-care is important to maintain a healthy relationship. 120
In general, players felt that the line between tough coaching and emotional misconduct is crossed when it becomes an attack, versus a criticism." Nonetheless, substantial work remains to be done to ensure the safety of players in the NWSL, and effective change will need to last beyond one commissioner.
NWSL Roundup: Alyse LaHue named Sky Blue GM; Dorian forces change Under the leadership of Commissioner Jessica Berman, the NWSL released an updated Anti-Harassment Policy, increased dedicated resources for receiving and handling reports of misconduct, and acted on the findings of the Joint Investigative Team by removing individuals who engaged in misconduct from their roles at clubs. Another player recalled either O'Connor or Estes stating that what Holly did was disgusting" and "unacceptable," and that the club would ensure this never happens again." In some cases, even where clubs did have HR personnel, the clubs did not adequately inform players about the reporting channels available to them, leaving players under the impression that there were no HR personnel to whom they could report issues at the club. Other players also pointed to the developments of the past two years, and in particular, the implementation of the NWSL AntiHarassment Policy, as positive signs of a cultural change.
During this meeting with Novo, players shared that Holly had screamed at and verbally abused players. The report states that vague public statements contributed to the failure to adequately share information. The majority of NWSL coaches have been men. A third player reported that Pauw's presence limited players' training routines, and that she could not use the apartment complex's weight room because Pauw prohibited players from lifting weights on the belief that it would make them "bulky.
Chicago Red Stars
When the investigation concluded, Levine received and reviewed a copy of the 2015 investigative report and supporting documents, along with the Thorns's counsel's determination that the 2015 investigation revealed no unlawful harassment." One player referred to the environment as dehumanizing and dangerous.
On the evening of June 14, 2018, two days after the NWSL received the complaint about Dames, Levine and Duffy paused their investigation at Wahlke's request and informed the players they had contacted that they were "handing the matter off to an independent third party." The NWSL represents the third attempt to establish a women's professional soccer league in the United States. 4. Dames would "hang out with some players more often than others," and a player remembered hearing that some players felt Dames "always want[ed] to hang out," in a way that made them uncomfortable. Because the Joint Investigative Team was not tasked with imposing discipline on individuals accused of misconduct, it expresses no opinion on whether it would be appropriate to impose discipline for conduct that would have violated a policy that did not exist when that conduct occurred. The cover email was not marked as privileged, or confidential, or as subject to any legal protection. that he had created a "sexualized team environment" at a Chicago youth club that "crossed the line to sexual relationships in multiple cases, though those relationships may . However, it is far from the only misconduct experienced by players. Another Racing Louisville staff member did not recall any conversations at the club about reporting Holly to SafeSport. 11, In 2018, the League voluntarily recognized the NWSLPA as the exclusive bargaining representative for all players who signed a standard player agreementin other words, all players except players allocated to the League by the USWNT. Shim believed Riley would try to pressure her to have sex with him during the trip, so she made sure she was never alone with him. Wahlke also showed USWNT General Manager Kate Markgraf-who was involved in hiring the USWNT coach and who told the Joint Investigative Team that Riley was never seriously considered-a document containing some of the allegations that had been made against Riley in 2015. In addition to conducting minimal outreach to players, U.S. Soccer's investigator did not speak to staff members other than Dames, even when players' statements suggested that a particular staff member could shed light on relevant facts. It further stated that the club's executive team and Holly each agreed not to make any written or verbal communication in any form . Starr recalled that a couple of weeks later, she met with Simon again, and Simon informed her that the abuse had been "going on for a while." . At an end-of-season meeting in 2019, she asked Riley for a trade. Estes was involved in negotiating the severance agreement and explained that the club pursued the agreement after Simon expressed concern for her safety and confidentiality. Hammond told the Joint Investigative Team that he remembered a call with Kurtz about her interest in a trade after the 2019 season, when Kurtz was in the process of negotiating a new contract. Pauw appeared to want to control and micromanage players' diets and exercise regimens even when her weight loss
Here are the larger questions and contents of the report. According to that document, Wilkinson told Lines and then-Flash President Alex Sahlen-who is also the daughter of former Flash owner Joe Sahlen and the wife of Lines-that an investigation into Riley had occurred based on "only one incident with a disgruntled player," but that no wrongdoing was found. Rory Dames engaged in both verbal and emotional abuse and made racially insensitive and sexist comments to players. Historically, there was no established process for sharing information about misconduct complaints or investigation findings among U.S. Soccer, the League, and clubs. Dames yelled at players, targeted certain players for harsh treatment, made personal insults, and blurred personal and professional boundaries with players. However, she noted that she had asked a female staff member for help, and that when this staff member came over to help, Harrington "was also there." Between 2019 and 2021, Holly engaged in repeated sexual misconduct and abuse targeting Erin Simon, including touching her genitals without her consent, touching her body on other occasions without her consent, forcing her to touch his genitals without her consent, sending her unsolicited pictures of his penis, and asking her to send him sexually suggestive pictures of herself. Texts between the player and Burke indicate Burke spoke to her supportively at one point in or around June 2020 about her
As applied to the Red Stars, the non-disparagement clause restricted not only Whisler but also "[all] owners, executive and senior management and front office staff" from making any negative, critical, or disparaging statements about Dames. The NWSL should require clubs to provide separate housing accommodations to establish clearer boundaries between players and club staff. The training for players should address appropriate communication between coaches and players, including soccer-specific constructive criticism, and should provide examples of conduct or scenarios that professional players could potentially encounter. While some clubs have provided anti-harassment training to staff and players, the NWSL should develop and implement mandatory, uniform NWSL-wide trainings that address topics related to the Anti-Harassment Policy and that provide concrete examples of appropriate and inappropriate conduct. For example, in 2021 following an NWSL game in Houston, Sarah Gorden, a Black player, posted on social media that her boyfriend, who went to see her in the stands after the game, was followed by stadium security and was told he would be arrested if he came close. But public reporting around misconduct against NWSL players has increased in recent years. Wilkinson informed the Joint Investigative Team that he did not recall staff raising concerns about misconduct by Riley. 7. The power of players' voices to call attention to and combat misconduct is evident; the steps the League has taken, including commissioning this joint investigation with the NWSLPA, have already had a meaningful impact. In the 2020 survey, a player for the Spirit wrote that Burke was "unprofessional in his communication with certain players, that he play[ed] major psychological games with certain players, and that he used demeaning language." One player described this as a particular challenge with former Dash Head Coach Vera Pauw, who lived in player housing. An initial complaint against Clarkson was filed in December 2021, and the joint investigators leading Wednesday's report spoke with seven current and former players who described the coach as "volatile, verbally abusive, and not showing appropriate regard for players' wellbeing." 124
The Thorns's counsel's unexplained conclusion was consistent with what was communicated to Shim and Riley. Previously, Alyse spend five years as the GM of the Chicago Red Stars. 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. In 2020 and 2021, James Clarkson emailed club staff, including the club president, in an effort to develop a mental health program to support players. 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. One player recalled that Holly knew "every time [she] had people at [her] apartment, and a second player noted that Holly heard if players were playing loud music or things like that." In late June 2015, Riley encouraged players to attend a Women's World Cup match in Vancouver. In August 2020, Holly was named head coach of Racing Louisville, and in November 2020, Holly selected Simon in the expansion draft. 116
One staff member said that everything Holly did "in film, in training, in games, in formations, in tactics centered around protecting" Pearce Rampone. Cromwell and Greene also expressed a desire to remove these players from the team. Some players and staff (other than Cromwell and Greene) were left with the incorrect understanding that none of the allegations had been substantiated, that no remedial actions were taken to address Cromwell's and Greene's behavior, and that the club was standing by the coaches. These considerations included the coaches' sudden fixation on and urgency in removing these players, the labeling of these players by Cromwell and Greene as "negative and not "bought-in," the decision to avoid interactions with these players and plan to exclude them from certain team activities following the March Investigation, and Cromwell's and Greene's shifting justifications for the intended transactions. Coaches and Club Staff
When Shim arrived, Riley opened the hotel door so that he was behind it, requiring Shim to step all the way inside. 7. Investigators determined that LaHue's interactions with the player constituted misconduct.
Sky Blue FC, soccer club owned by Gov. Murphy, unveils new name, logo - nj Levine had previously instructed the HR employee to monitor the email account and to elevate any complaints so that Levine could then determine next steps and manage any subsequent investigations. Many players reported that they feared instability both in terms of their own careers and the viability of the League, that they were advised to feel grateful to have the chance to play the game at all, and that they felt a personal responsibility to sustain the existence of the NWSL by keeping their heads down and their complaints unvoiced. She further explained that national team players had a direct line" to Gulati, and he was the person who was in charge of the national team in terms of direct contact with players." Players also expressed concerns about the financial viability of their individual clubs. The Management Agreement explained that U.S. Soccer would "provide NWSL with all management, governance, operational, administrative, and advisory services. U.S. Soccer remained the manager of the NWSL until December 31, 2020. There needs to be a separation of power and more protection for players." NEWARK, NJ - After years of bad press, Phil Murphy's Sky Blue soccer team was. In deciding whom to name, the Joint Investigative Team considered both the need for public accountability as well as the potential impact on player confidentiality. Players raised multiple concerns about him to club management. Club Statement on NWSL/NWSLPA Report pic.twitter.com/ATZPBk1pxc, The Philadelphia Inquirer published a statement they received from LaHues lawyer, Kelly Hoffman following the release of the Joint Investigative Report on Wednesday. Publicly, however, the club merely announced that it would not retain Riley for a third season, and then-Thorns General Manager and President of Soccer Gavin Wilkinson said, on behalf of the club, "I would like to thank Paul for his services to the club these past two seasons." It did not contain a carve-out that would allow the club to voluntarily disclose Holly's misconduct to law enforcement. While the report singles out individuals and clubs for alleged misconduct or mishandling of situations, investigators chose to make recommendations that are "forward-looking, systemic in nature; rather than recommending discipline as to specific individuals or entities." Clarkson then demanded hotel security footage (which investigators said he did not get) and reprimanded the team for drinking before a game, although player maintain they did not. To the extent that Racing Louisville has asserted that the severance agreement was intended to address Simon's confidentiality concerns, the non-disparagement provision was far more limiting on the club than what was necessary to protect her confidentiality. One player noted, It was really pushed into our brains, 'don't say anything.""
She pushed his hands away, crossed her legs, and turned away from him, but Holly told her to lighten up" and have fun. Hendrix said Simon told her about this incident right after it happened, and she recalled Simon crying. According to multiple players and club staff, Riley repeatedly made negative comments about the relationship to other players on the team, including remarks that Farrelly was not truly a lesbian and that Farrelly's then-partner was a "predator." Ultimately, WPS terminated magicJack's franchise rights in October 2011. Racing Louisville did not appropriately respond to players' reports about Holly's conduct as the club's head coach.
For example, he would ask Shim to come to his apartment to review game film, and on two occasions, she went. The 2020 survey also asked several questions about NWSL tournaments and schedules. There is no evidence that the NWSL or U.S. Soccer provided the Flash with the report, and the Joint Investigative Team did not uncover evidence indicating that the Flash attempted to obtain a report or other written documentation of an investigation. Some players recalled the head coach telling the team that they would not go to the Challenge Cup without the assistant coach. The announcement finally came on July 16, about a termination that happened on July 9. The Joint Investigative Team found multiple instances of romantic relationships between players and staff members in violation of this policy. 27, Lines discussed Riley with Wilkinson, the decision to hire Riley had already "effectively been made." 10
Throughout its 125 pages, the joint investigation repeatedly details how U.S. Soccer, the NWSL and specific clubs passed on responsibility for problems of the past to each other, with parties either claiming ignorance to specific information or stating that another party was responsible for reporting something. The League should consider requiring that clubs certify that they have revised their anti-harassment policies to meet the baseline requirements of the League's Anti-Harassment Policy and that they have disseminated their policies and the League's policy to all staff and players. Discussing the National Women's Soccer League and all things women's soccer in the US The NWSL should ensure that this antiharassment training is mandatory for all club staff and players and required annually. In addition, the policy sets forth a general process for conducting investigations into potential violations and reporting the findings of such investigations. The conclusion mentioned none of these concerns. OL Reign's July 2021 announcement that former OL Reign Head Coach Farid Benstiti had resigned from the club made no mention of his disparaging comments. Players may also report concerns via the NWSLPA hotline, the details for which are set forth in the policy, or to any team HR department, general manager, or administrator. All NWSL staff, players, and club staff, including coaching staff, are required to take a 90-minute SafeSport Trained Core Course, which includes training on sexual misconduct awareness and education, mandatory reporting, and physical and emotional misconduct. Many of the club anti-harassment policies provided to the Joint Investigative Team were inconsistent with the NWSL's Anti-Harassment Policy, including by prohibiting a narrower scope of conduct. Farrelly sat on Riley's lap, though she felt strange doing so, and she described that Riley grabbed her hips. Holly then declined to speak to the Joint Investigative Team. When reflecting on his jokes related to Jewish people, Burke said that he did not know there had been Jewish people on the team. Riley engaged in additional misconduct while at the Courage. The Joint Investigative Team also committed, with the authorization of the NWSL and the NWSLPA, to protect the confidentiality of players who reported inappropriate conduct they experienced or witnessed to the extent permitted by law. E. Standards for Assessing Reports of Misconduct..
Levine claimed that their failure to do so "contributed to [Riley's] remaining in the League until Farrelly and Shim went public in September 2021. Getting a massage." USWNT and Portland Thorns' Becky Sauerbrunn speaks out after findings of systemic abuse across women's soccer in the Yates report. None of the individuals interviewed by the Joint Investigative Team who had contemporaneous knowledge of Riley's misconduct, and who were in positions to take action at the Thorns, U.S. Soccer, or the NWSL, appeared to appreciate the seriousness of the misconduct, or viewed Riley as a danger to players, until Shim and Farrelly went public in 2021. Shim declined politely so as not to upset Riley, stating she had to prepare for a game the following day, and she walked out the door despite his attempts to persuade her to stay. Consistent with the CBA, the NWSL should require coaches to adhere to medical staff's decisions for a player to train, play, or return to play. Markgraf also told the Joint Investigative Team that a player subsequently warned Markgraf not to hire Riley and left Markgraf with the impression that Riley was a "bad guy.
When Farid Benstiti was hired by OL Reign, he was explicitly instructed not to discuss weight or nutrition with players. The staff member also said they brought up Horan's negative experience with Benstiti to Predmore in late December 2019 or early January 2020. Simon told Starr that Holly would do "inappropriate things to her, even when Pearce Rampone was present but unaware. Former Sky Blue player Nikki Stanton said that Holly frequently told her in training sessions, If you want to be the best" in the League at your position and make the national team, "you need me." In addition, multiple players described a "be grateful" mentality permeating the League. Misconduct against players has occurred at the vast majority of NWSL clubs at various times, from the earliest years of the League to the present.