New York Attorney General Letitia James, along with Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul and Washington, D.C. Attorney General Brian Schwalb, has announced a significant settlement with the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) following allegations of harassment and sexual misconduct within the league. The investigation found systemic emotional abuse and sexual coercion among players.
The settlement mandates the NWSL to establish a $5 million fund to compensate affected players and implement reforms for player safety. The attorneys general will oversee these new protocols. "For too long, the hardworking and talented women of the National Women’s Soccer League were forced to endure an unacceptable culture of abuse," stated Attorney General James.
In 2021, reports surfaced from players detailing misconduct by coaches over a decade. Investigations by both the NWSL/NWSL Players’ Association and the United States Soccer Federation highlighted league-wide failures contributing to abuse without proper mechanisms for player protection. Following public complaints, five out of ten teams dismissed their coaches by season's end.
A joint investigation in 2022 revealed a pervasive culture of neglect within the NWSL. Coaches verbally abused players, coerced them into inappropriate relationships, and retaliated against those who resisted or spoke out. Some teams neglected background checks on coaches previously dismissed for misconduct.
One coach resigned after being found guilty of creating a fear-based environment with emotional abuse; another coach faced allegations of racism and religious discrimination but remained in his position for nearly three years due to inadequate investigations by the league.
The settlement also enforces policy changes such as rigorous vetting processes for staff, multiple reporting mechanisms for misconduct, prohibition of exclusive control over player housing or medical decisions by coaches, establishment of a league safety officer, employment of dedicated HR personnel per team, mandatory annual training on various issues including harassment and racism prevention, anonymous player surveys about team culture, unlimited counseling services for players' mental health needs, and biannual reporting to attorneys general on compliance.
Attorney General Schwalb emphasized that this outcome was achieved thanks to players who exposed systemic failures: “No dollar amount could ever fully address the damage that was inflicted." Attorney General Raoul commended these players' courage in coming forward despite potential risks: “Because they spoke up...they have brought about reform."
Meghann Burke from NWSLPA acknowledged how crucial this settlement is in establishing legal enforcement mechanisms: "Accountability is not a one-time event—it is an ongoing commitment." New York's handling involved Senior Counsel Sandra Pullman alongside Assistant Attorney General Zoe Ridolfi-Starr under Civil Rights Bureau oversight led by Meghan Faux with Jennifer Levy as First Deputy overseeing operations.