The National Women’s Soccer League has reached a $5 million settlement with three attorneys general following allegations of mistreatment of its athletes by coaches and officials dating back over a decade. The investigations by New York, Illinois, and Washington, D.C. found the league failed to protect its players from sexual misconduct and emotional abuse. As part of the settlement, a $5 million fund will be created for players who experienced abuse to receive compensation, and the league has implemented reforms to prevent future incidents. The NWSL will also provide biannual reports on complaints of misconduct and conduct annual surveys with players to monitor team culture. Failure to comply with the agreement could result in a $2 million penalty. NWSL Commissioner Jessica Berman, who took over in 2022, has been focused on reforming the league and has implemented changes such as improving players’ contracts with the league’s first-ever collective bargaining agreement and issuing lifetime bans against coaches involved in misconduct. The league’s growth has been evident with the recent addition of a 16th franchise in Denver, which sold at a record $110 million expansion fee.
Note: The image is for illustrative purposes only and is not the original image associated with the presented article. Due to copyright reasons, we are unable to use the original images. However, you can still enjoy the accurate and up-to-date content and information provided.
