These allegations were largely unsupported by specific examples and appear to either be the result of personal relationships that have soured and/or a reaction to Dames's undisputed favoritism of certain players." The history of women's professional soccer in the United States, and the looming possibility that the NWSL would fold as its predecessors had done, was never far from players' minds, in part because clubs explicitly relied on that history to stifle criticism. On October 6, 2021, NWSL teams returned to play for the first time since publication of the Athletic article. That January, the Courage made Riley their first head coach. Some players reported the interactions made them uncomfortable, but they felt like they had to tolerate the behavior because they were concerned they would face retaliation, including loss of playing time or being cut from their team, if they raised any concerns. Whether that is through shrewd maneuvering, or the luck of incompetence, is an open debate. COVINGTON The Joint Investigative Team is not aware of any action by U.S. Soccer, the NWSL, or the Red Stars to address the behavior described in the 2014 comments. Nevertheless, she decided to dress for the game because she did not think she would get any playing time. Levine said after the player survey comments were shared with the club, the club moved Lines to a front office role. Additionally, the investigation seemed focused on limiting the club's liability rather than c) Other Incidents of Retaliation According to Malik, then-U.S. Soccer Vice President (now-President) Cone contacted him to ask if he knew of any concerns with Riley during Riley's time at the Courage. On multiple occasions, misconduct directed at NWSL players was reported to U.S. Soccer but inadequately investigated or addressed. She said she decided to hold the report open while U.S. Soccer and the NWSL negotiated the relationship that U.S. Soccer would have with the League going forward. In this meeting, she recounted that Riley sent her text messages that made her uncomfortable and refused to trade her from the Courage despite her request for a trade. The NWSL and U.S. Soccer in multiple instances did not investigate or address comments from player surveys stating that club staff engaged in misconduct. . Players expressed concerns that Whisler was loyal to Dames and justified Dames's behavior even when players brought concerns directly to Whisler. In January 2020, Simon left West Ham and signed with the Dash. This trial and error process is what highlights need and in turn creates important policies and guidelines for stability in our infrastructure, Zerboni told Equalizer. The club announced that Holly was terminated "for cause," but the announcement did not specify that the "cause" was sexual misconduct. No information about the investigation or Riley's termination was made public until the release of the Athletic article on September 30, 2021. She was later named the team's interim general manager in April 2019 after former GM Tony Novo resigned. WUSA, the first women's professional soccer league in the United States, began play in April 2001. This training should encompass conduct and scenarios that players, staff, and volunteers at professional clubs could potentially encounter. The 2022 Collective Bargaining Agreement introduced free agency for a subset of players that meet certain service requirements. Despite the discussions between U.S. Soccer, the NWSL, and both the Thorns and Courage regarding Rileys unsuitability to coach the USWNT, no steps were taken to remove or prevent him from coaching NWSL players, the report alleges. Players credibly reported that Pauw criticized players for their appearance for example, saying that some players were "too big" while praising other players for losing weight, with no apparent correlation to performance or health. An additional reputational check-which would involve additional research into the candidate, including interviews with references and other contacts-is not required, but can be conducted at the club's election. Pulling off the feat of moving to Red Bull Arena has been a longtime goal for LaHue. The Joint Investigative Team received reports from players that reflected concerns that Houston Dash Head Coach James Clarkson was engaged in ongoing emotional misconduct and insensitivity. Where necessary to protect the integrity of the investigation, the Joint Investigative Team recommended temporary suspensions of certain individuals pending the conclusion of the Joint Investigative Team's review. 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. Players and club staff also reported that Dames exercised control over players' social lives. Another player described being yelled at by another coach to the point where the player could feel [the coach's] spit almost in [her] face. A player at another club described a coach getting "really close" to her face during a game and screaming and cursing-conduct she had observed the same coach repeat with another player. This is inconsistent with the final USSF Dames Report issued in September 2019, which stated that Dames was still "unpredictable," and that he was continuing to target specific players "for constant criticism" and yelling excessively. Whisler said that Wahlke called him for "just a couple minutes" when the investigation ended, and that on this call, he was not informed of the need for "dramatic remediation" and there was no suggestion that Dames "shouldn't be in the [NWSL]." The perception of closeness between Riley and the Thorns front office was not limited to players; former NWSL Commissioner Jeff Plush remarked in an email, after learning that Riley had been hired at the Flash in 2016, that his guess" was that Wilkinson "helped" Riley with the Flash. Two players, in separate interviews, described feeling like a tax write-off" to their clubs' owners. At the time of LaHues firing, limited information was provided to the public. . The NWSL did not distribute these player surveys consistently: player surveys were distributed yearly from 2013 to 2017, and again in 2020. The Joint Investigative Team was tasked with making recommendations regarding the League's processes for identifying and investigating complaints of misconduct and addressing violations of the League's anti-harassment and discrimination policies. When the club held a call with players and staff to share the results of the investigation, however, the message left players and staff with the incorrect understanding that none of the reports against Cromwell and Greene were substantiated, that no remedial actions were taken to address their behavior, and that the club was standing by the coaches. To that point, during this investigation, the Joint Investigative Team received reports of ongoing misconduct at more than half the League's clubs. Shim declined, stating she needed to take care of a sick teammate. The NWSL represents the third attempt to establish a women's professional soccer league in the United States. Riley also held club events for players at his Long Island home, where players reported that they drank with him during their stay. Horan also said "the French coach was very brutal with it." The NWSL's Founding, Initial Success, and Challenges From the early days of the League, they were told to be grateful, loyal, and acquiescent, even as they were not afforded the resources or respect due to professional athletes. This player who observed the incident from the bench said she discussed the incident with Clarkson and he agreed that he did not handle it correctly. Flynn, on the other hand, in written responses to questions posed by U.S. Soccer, stated that he never reviewed the Thorns's final investigative report and did not have a complete understanding of the findings of the investigation. Revise the Anti-Harassment Policy to Define Retaliation More Clearly They also feel the non-fraternization policy, first implemented in January 2018, must be more explicit, extend to staff beyond the head coach and "clarify that any sexual or romantic relationship between players and those in supervisory roles over players is strictly prohibited, even if the relationship is consensual. 37, harshly criticized Kurtz's weight. In September 2014, U.S. Soccer President Sunil Gulati was made aware of a complaint by Christen Press that Dames created a toxic environment at the Red Stars, but did not prompt U.S. Soccer to act in response to the complaint. 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." g) Some players said they thought the club should have been more direct with the players regarding the reason for Holly's termination, although two players stated they thought the club handled Holly's termination well and they believed the lack of information shared was to protect Simon's privacy. However, according to the report, three players had "provide[d] specific examples" of this behavior. The Joint Investigative Team found multiple instances of romantic relationships between players and staff members in violation of this policy. The League should encourage all players, including those who are not members of marginalized groups, to take an active role in identifying and calling out misconduct. 3. When the Thorns received Shim's complaint in 2015, the club conducted an investigation that was too narrowly scoped, that was not conducted in a trauma-informed manner, and that lacked follow-up on indicia of additional sexual misconduct towards Sinead Farrelly or on comments by Riley regarding players' sexual orientation. .82 There's no one. In response to the August 11, 2021 Washington Post article stating that Burke verbally and emotionally abused players, Levine told others at the NWSL that the League had not received any complaints about Burke, despite a In his interview with the Joint Investigative Team, Whisler said it was "clear that it was mutually beneficial," especially given that the Red Stars were "probably the poorest team in the League." Pauw's presence at the same apartment complex created anxiety among players. Wilkinson told the Joint Investigative Team he learned of at least one occasion in mid-2015 in which Riley had been drinking socially with players. Players from marginalized backgrounds, or with the least job security, were often targets of misconduct.". With inconsistent anti-harassment policies between the league and various clubs and a lack of uniform training on how to identify and respond to inappropriate conduct, players lacked a clear structure in how to report. The club encouraged Simon to consider Kurtz was not the only player to share her experiences with Courage management after the Athletic article was published. 1. In addition, the Joint Investigative Team reviewed materials from the short-lived NWSL investigation and spoke to individuals involved with that investigation. 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. D. Gorden said that she and her boyfriend were racially profiled, prompting a league investigation at the time. The fact that certain coaching behaviors may have been tolerated previously does not establish, or in itself suggest, that the behavior is, or was at that time, appropriate. He shared personal information with her, talking about his ex-wife, his relationship status, and his sex life, including describing his preferred sexual positions. Alex Morgan calls out former NWSL commissioner Lisa Baird for her failure to address allegations against Paul Riley in this bonus footage from E60: Truth Be Told, available now on ESPN+. U.S. Soccer's 2018 investigation into Dames's conduct surfaced several concerns about his interactions with players, but minimized the breadth and severity of these concerns and failed to protect players during the 16 months it took to complete the investigation. The Flash announced Riley as their head coach in February 2016. It further stated that the club's executive team and Holly each agreed not to make any written or verbal communication in any form . Shim recalled being uncomfortable" that someone she knew might see her being interviewed. 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. Sunil Gulati (U.S. Soccer, President, 2006-2018) and Dan Flynn (U.S. Soccer, CEO and Secretary General, 2000-2019) The NWSL should ensure as part of its vetting process that prospective owners entering the NWSL express their personal commitment to protecting player safety, to combatting misconduct in all its forms, and to facilitating appropriate reporting of concerns. They stated that they had difficulty convincing the Board of Governors to act. During its investigation, the Joint Investigative Team identified discrepancies in versions of an email exchange involving LaHue that was part of the file from the 2021 League investigation. When Holly was let go-not for his mistreatment of players but for a reported relationship with a player-Sky Blue publicly framed Holly's departure as a mutual agreement, did not acknowledge Holly's misconduct, and expressed gratitude towards him. Holly lived in the same apartment complex with players at Racing Louisville, and he tried to get Simon to go to his apartment many times, but she refused. Moreover, individual acts of misconduct in the League cannot be addressed without considering the failures in institutional structures, policies, and proceduresat U.S. Soccer, the League, and individual clubs-that have allowed misconduct to persist. Another player recalled other players informing her this coach was telling people that she needed to lose weight, but he never discussed it with her directly. That same day, NWSL General Counsel Lisa Levine also resigned. Former NWSL Commissioner Lisa Baird stated that U.S. Soccer had "widespread approvals over everything in the League and that representatives from U.S. Soccer were "participants in every board meeting." Players recalled coaches monitoring the snacks and meals that players ate, forbidding players from eating things like fruit, peanut butter pretzels, and baked chips, and hiding food from players to prevent them from eating, even when the food was provided by the team. When the investigation concluded in September 2019, Wahlke failed to share relevant information about the investigative findings with the NWSL or the Red Stars, citing U.S. Soccer's privilege as the rationale for not sharing this information. The player called this behavior an example of how Holly was manipulative. 1. 3 A third player felt that Whisler knew "Dames [had] a 'dark side," but that Whisler "believe[d] 'that's what [made] him a great coach."" The trainings should remind supervisors of their obligations under the AntiHarassment Policy to report alleged misconduct to the NWSL HR Office or the NWSL General Counsel. In a second case, a club hired a technical staff member who participated in training sessions before his required vetting was complete. The announcement did not specify that the cause was sexual misconduct. The NWSL should not rely on clubs to voluntarily share this information with other clubs. Among the new revelations about specific individuals, those regarding Houston Dash head coach James Clarkson stand out. 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. Former Utah Royals head coach Craig Harrington and former Gotham GM Alyse LaHue drew two-year bans, with further conditions on subsequent NWSL employment. 10. She recalled that her interview for the role was conducted at U.S. Soccer, by U.S. Soccer employees. In December 2021, the Joint Investigative Team received a complaint about Clarkson and began an investigation. Players, including Kaiya McCullough, recounted in that article that Burke berated, screamed at, and targeted players, and that he had used racially insensitive language. As discussed in more detail below, Pauw also strictly controlled players' eating and workout habits. Cromwell and Greene also expressed a desire to remove these players from the team. C. D. On October 14, 2021, the club announced that Baldwin, along with owner Bill Lynch, would sell their shares in the club to Kang. So did the message of an adult brand backing a sport that has long marketed first to kids and families. 30, requests from the Joint Investigative Team, making it likely that Paulson understood that there would be limitations on the NWSL's ability to share it. In the 2022 Anti-Harassment Policy, the NWSL made several efforts to increase the number of reporting channels across all clubs: First, the 2022 Anti-Harassment Policy lists several channels that facilitate the reporting of misconduct directly to the NWSL, including contacting the NWSL HR Office and texting or calling an anonymous RealResponse hotline. WPS faced many challenges, including poor attendance, low television ratings, and declining revenue. Racing Louisville only provided more meaningful cooperation after the USSF Report criticized the club for its "limited" cooperation with U.S. Soccer's investigation. Reis was placed on unpaid administrative leave and is required to participate in mandatory training regarding retaliation, discrimination, harassment and bullying, and must participate in mandatory executive coaching. Historically, there was no established process for sharing information about misconduct complaints or investigation findings among U.S. Soccer, the League, and clubs. On September 16, 2015, Shim reported Riley's conduct to the Thorns and to the NWSL. A player described Riley saying to players, "You fucking idiot," and "You have no idea what you're doing, why the fuck are you on the field, and another recalled Riley telling a player, "You're the clumsiest fucking player I've ever coached." Maintaining a competitive women's professional league in the United States has long been viewed as critical to the long-term success of the USWNT. She also reported that she had not at the time personally dealt with her experiences with Riley, and she was afraid of jeopardizing her position on the Thorns, which she felt was the best team to play for in the NWSL. Lisa Baird did not investigate the 2021 complaints against Riley, which contained information that should have led Baird to inquire further. The new report expands on many of those topics, though only relating specifically to occurrences in the NWSL era. The NWSL should provide clear guidance to players, club staff, and League staff addressing how to use the program and clear examples of disputes that are appropriate for the program. Expectations of Gratitude and Acquiescence

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