NWSL agrees to settlement over past mistreatment of players

The National Women’s Soccer League has agreed to a $5 million settlement with three attorneys general over past mistreatment of its athletes, according to a joint announcement Wednesday.

The settlement closes investigations by New York, Illinois, and Washington, D.C., and comes after years of allegations by NWSL players of sexual misconduct and emotional abuse by coaches and officials dating back more than 10 years. Independent investigations and the attorneys general found the league failed to take reasonable measures to protect its players.

“For too long, the hardworking and talented women of the National Women’s Soccer League were forced to endure an unacceptable culture of abuse, harassment, and retaliation,” said New York Attorney General Letitia James in a statement posted by the NWSL Players Association. “This settlement sends a clear message that such misconduct will not be tolerated and ensures players receive the compensation and protections they deserve.”

As part of the settlement, the NWSL will create a $5 million fund for players who experienced the abuse to collect compensation. The settlement does not preclude individual players from pursuing private legal actions against the NWSL or its teams, according to a separate news release.

“We remain grateful to the many brave individuals who came forward to share their experiences, which has informed our approach to systemic reform,” NWSL Commissioner Jessica Berman said in a statement. “We will continue to do the work necessary to maintain the trust of our players and build an ecosystem where the best in the world want to come.”

In addition to the players fund, the league has implemented reforms across nearly every aspect of its business. Some of the safeguards include increased vetting of coaches, having a mental health professional on staff, and increasing training programs to prevent bullying and harassment.

The NWSL will be required to provide biannual reports to the attorneys general detailing any complaints that allege misconduct for the next three years. The attorneys general will also provide players with anonymous annual surveys regarding their coaches and team culture.

Failure by the league to comply with any terms of the agreement could mean an additional penalty of $2 million.

Berman took the helm in 2022 and has been on a mission to reform the league. Since she took over, the NWSL has helped to improve players’ contracts with the league’s first-ever collective bargaining agreement, which included advancements for compensation and working conditions.

She cleaned up the league’s personnel, issuing lifetime bans against four former coaches over their roles in the past misconduct. She’s also brought in new wealthy ownership groups and private equity committed to the welfare of players.

As a result, business has been booming. Denver was just awarded the league’s 16th franchise, selling at a record $110 million expansion fee.

Correction: This article has been updated to correct the day of the joint announcement to Wednesday.