Holly stepped down as coach of Sky Blue during the 2017 season, and Simon was waived by Sky Blue in 2018. The conclusion of the report similarly minimized players' concerns in favor of Dames's and Whisler's self-serving explanations. Neither Temares nor Smoot recalled Novo telling them concerns about Holly's treatment of players, and they emphasized that they were not in player-facing roles. On June 28, 2021, a player reported Benstiti's comments to Predmore, who suspended Benstiti from interacting with players the next day. Following public reporting about Hansen's statements, the NWSL conducted an investigation and pushed Hansen to sell the club. Players also drew a connection between coaches who engaged in abusive behavior and coaches who, in the players' view, relished the feeling of having power over their players. Some players reported that Clarkson's unpredictable mood contributed to a culture of anxiety. Whisler has demonstrated a willingness to counsel Dames and shut down offensive conduct." Gulati further noted that it was his understanding that U.S. Soccer could not impose discipline on Dames, and that, in his view, U.S. Soccer had "no ability to discipline coaches as manager or as the governing body." Several players and staff described Clarkson's mood as unpredictable or hot or cold, leading players to feel like they were walking on eggshells around him or would not know what to expect in terms of his attitude on any given day. 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. Shim declined, stating she needed to take care of a sick teammate. The 29-player list Photo Copyright Chris Pedota for NewJersey.com, via Meg Linehan of The Athletic on Twitter, investigation commissioned by U.S. Soccer and led by Sally Yates, the former U.S. attorney general, put out a statement via Meg Linehan on Twitter stating, Yazmeen Ryan is at Gotham FC for the long haul, Why Naomi Girma could be the USWNTs most important player at the World Cup, Pride swap white shorts for black as global push continues for player welfare, Waived from Gotham FC, Kelly Ann Livingstone sees opportunity with Fortuna Hjrring, 2023 NWSL schedule released: Actually, theres a lot to like, Sinead Farrelly joins Gotham FC preseason roster as Non-Roster Invitee, Joint investigation finds widespread, ongoing misconduct in NWSL, calls for policy reforms, The definitive Christy Holly timeline in the NWSL and U.S. Soccer, USWNT wrestling with identity ahead of World Cup, USWNT 2, Brazil 1: On fullback positioning and the double-edge sword of transitions, Several players drop out of French national team ahead of the World Cup, Seriously, a fall-to-spring schedule for the NWSL? On another club, a staff member observed that when new players joined the team, the head coach would comment on their sexual orientation. Club statement. Gulati told the Joint Investigative Team that the Thorns said they would only share the 2015 investigative report with the NWSL and with U.S. Soccer's General Counsel, Levine. He also sent friendly emails to Lines, sometimes copying Riley or favorably discussing Riley; in one email, Paulson wrote to Lines, "Happy to see [the Flash] and Paul doing so well!!" A player on another team remembered her coach saying to a teammate, in front of others, "I could take away your contract like that." Some types of misconduct against players, including certain instances of sexual abuse and manipulation, have already been widely reported. Another player IV. Multiple players at the Pride experienced anxiety attacks due in part to a stressful working environment. f) Failure to Disseminate Findings The policy, however, then states that [i]f a dating, romantic, or sexual relationship between a player and a staff member or between staff members develops, it must be disclosed to Human Resources" to allow the club "to take steps to protect the interest of [the] organization and the parties involved, which seems to suggest exceptions may be made to the policy. However, interviewees reported that Clarkson on occasion failed to recognize or appreciate his effect on players. Moreover, NWSL staff reviewing player survey results-when they were reviewed-were not trained or provided any guidance on how to analyze player survey results for statements indicating misconduct and were not instructed to elevate any potential misconduct to NWSL HR or the NWSL General Counsel. Distribute Annual Player Surveys and Promptly Investigate Allegations of Misconduct Raised in Responses Benstiti did not respond to the Joint Investigative Team's request to speak with him. On another occasion, after the detention of WNBA player Brittney Griner and Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Clarkson approved conveying to a player's agent a contract offer from a Russian club, without acknowledging or showing sensitivity to the risks that would accompany playing in Russia. B. In order to ensure the integrity of reporting channels, and to mitigate concerns regarding potential retaliation, the NWSL should require that separate individuals hold key leadership and management roles within clubs. The prospective owner shared that he had learned of a relationship between an owner and a player at one club, and a coach and a player at another club. She provided a written denial of what she suspected were the allegations against her, including a statement that she has never remarked on the appearance of a player or kept track of players' weight. Instead, the vetting of player-facing club employees including whether background checks were conducted and what those background checks included-was left entirely to the clubs' discretion. (The league has not always used that specific title. Following the 2015 Thorns Investigation, Farrelly saw one of her fears coming true; within less than a month after Paulson and Wilkinson received the report detailing Farrelly's account to the Thorns's investigator, Wilkinson informed Farrelly she was being traded. Such volatility was a common thread among many coaches in the League who engaged in other forms of emotional, verbal, or sexual misconduct. In his interview by the Joint Investigative Team, Clarkson acknowledged having this meeting with players, but reported that he did not single out or attack any players. She was mindful of his ability to control her playing time or trade her to another team, and she felt she owed him because he had worked to keep her in Portland. The Thorns's public announcement merely stated that Riley would not be retained as head coach for the 2016 season, without mentioning the investigation or termination, and without providing any reason for Riley not being retained. Player survey comments alleging that NWSL or club staff have engaged in misconduct should be assessed and, where appropriate, investigated. investigation. if you don't want it, get a regular job. In one case, a member of club leadership, while following up on younger players' complaints of staff mistreatment, was told by more seasoned players that the younger players were "entitled" and did not appreciate, for example, that the club provided them meals at the training facility. ), The actions of League and U.S. Soccer personnelfrom the Leagues founding, through its years under U.S. Soccer management, to the presentdemonstrate that misconduct does not announce itself, but requires proactive prevention and detection, the report says. Ms. LaHue immediately hired a top digital forensic company, which provided the JIT metadata and evidence of alterations in documents used against her., That relates to a line in the report which says 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.. Spirit players reported that Burke also used the full N-word in recounting past racism against a family member; asked players if he should sing the "Black version" or "white version" of "Happy Birthday"; and joked, to a player wearing a Black Lives Matter shirt and who had a black eye, that "black eyes matter." Guidelines may help When asked whether she could have compelled Chicago Red Stars owner Arnim Whisler to obey a League instruction not to speak with players in relation to an investigation, former U.S. Soccer and NWSL General Counsel Lisa Levine stated that the Executive Committee of the Board of Governors-of which Whisler was a member at the time-had shown that it was not inclined to act to discipline clubs. Holly also sent Simon videos of himself masturbating on Snapchat. Multiple players also said that Dames commented on players' attractiveness. Dames declined requests to be interviewed in this investigation. The Athletic recounted the experiences of two former players, Mana Shim and Sinead Farrelly, and reported that Riley sexually coerced players, provided alcohol to players and drank excessively with them, and made derogatory comments about players' weight and sexual orientation. Shim said that particularly after that night, she was scared and feared Riley could physically try to restrain her or try to have sex with her. the ghosts of their former Sky Blue FC selves and all the baggage that came with it, Yazmeen Ryan is at Gotham FC for the long haul, Why Naomi Girma could be the USWNTs most important player at the World Cup, Pride swap white shorts for black as global push continues for player welfare, Waived from Gotham FC, Kelly Ann Livingstone sees opportunity with Fortuna Hjrring, 2023 NWSL schedule released: Actually, theres a lot to like, Sinead Farrelly joins Gotham FC preseason roster as Non-Roster Invitee, Amy Rodriguez traded to North Carolina; Kansas City acquires Mace, Hamilton and Rowland, USWNT wrestling with identity ahead of World Cup, USWNT 2, Brazil 1: On fullback positioning and the double-edge sword of transitions, Several players drop out of French national team ahead of the World Cup, Seriously, a fall-to-spring schedule for the NWSL? 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. Multiple players voiced concerns to the Joint Investigative Team regarding vague public statements that obscured the reason for departures, mainly for coaches. [C]lub staff in positions of power made inappropriate sexual remarks to players, mocked players bodies, pressured players to lose unhealthy amounts of weight, crossed professional boundaries with players, and created volatile and manipulative working conditions, it says. She still is not making the kind of money she might command in the corporate world, but LaHue is fairly certain she is having more fun. In the absence of dedicated HR staff, some clubs told players that reports of misconduct could be made to club management or ownership. Over the course of this investigation, the Joint Investigative Team conducted approximately 100 interviews of current and former NWSL players, 6 interviews of current and former leadership of the NWSLPA and the USWNTPA, approximately 90 interviews of current and former club staff, 15 interviews of current and former League leadership and staff, and 8 interviews of current and former U.S. Soccer personnel. Borislow sued the WPS, entangling it in a costly legal battle Clarkson admitted speaking to players about drinking and professionalism, and although he understood that the players may have felt attacked, he denied "attacking" anyone. At one point during the 2017 season, players held a meeting with coaching staff to address their concerns that Holly was dating Pearce Rampone. NWSL In June 2018, shortly after hearing about one of the complaints about Dames to the NWSL, Whisler texted Dames that he stopped coaching young women after age 12 because "too many angry players can destroy." . - NWSL abuse allegations as they happened: Portland Thorns, Washington Spirit timelines, day by day. NWSL personnel informed the club's ownership about this feedback. "We've seen other teams continue to up their professional standards, and Sky Blue has to follow suit," LaHue said. Dames's conduct was also often personal. Both the Breakers and FC Kansas City folded in 2017. These measures may help increase diversity in the NWSL coaching ranks. It has been a tumultuous season in the NWSL on the player advocacy front. O'Connor reported that Holly could not explain when asked about sending inappropriate text messages to Simon. .8 2. Comments further stated that Dames made "sexist, racist, abusive, and other prejudicial remarks at players." Many players, team and league staff, and team owners were not given the completed report before it was made public. Portland Thorns Instead, it appears that, in the face of threatened litigation by Riley, and on the advice of counsel, the Thorns sought to limit their potential liability to their former coach. Some players expressed that they sometimes let these microaggressions go because they felt that speaking out about their experiences would make others uncomfortable or because they felt they would not be believed. In August 2019, a Thorns staff member emailed a draft public statement (which was never publicly released) to Paulson and Golub for review. . On Riley was only one of several NWSL club personnel accused of misconduct in the 2020 and 2021 seasons. The failure of clubs, at least in some instances, to submit coaches and staff for required vetting may reflect both confusion on the part of clubs as to which staff members require NWSL vetting, as well as a lack of controls over that process. One player explained that it took her several years to realize that Riley's treatment of players on the Courage was manipulative, and that other coaches don't treat people this way." Among the new revelations about specific individuals, those regarding Houston Dash head coach James Clarkson stand out. 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. 12 The Committee should engage regularly with the Board of Governors and the Commissioner regarding DEI efforts and should be sufficiently resourced to implement meaningful DEI initiatives. Sky Blue FC of the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) has named Alyse LaHue as General Manager. Simon felt pressure to do so but declined. 4. First, many players were hesitant to share information with the Joint Investigative Team. Simon then joined West Ham United in the English Women's Super League, a move she credited in large part to Holly's help and connections. 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.". 10 In addition, players could report complaints to the NWSL HR Manager, the email address and phone number for which are published in the NWSL Anti-Harassment Policy, posted on the League website, and disseminated to clubs and players. At the start of 2022, with the termination of U.S. Soccer's allocation system, the NWSLPA expanded its representation to include USWNT players competing in the NWSL. The NWSL should contact an applicant's former employers and, where feasible, former colleagues. Another player said that "it was clear [Holly] was not in an emotional place" to coach in 2017. The 2021 Anti-Harassment Policy prohibited harassment, sexual harassment, sexual misconduct, bullying, hazing, and other forms of physical and emotional misconduct. First, the Joint Investigative Team found that the 2015 Thorns Investigation was inadequate in key ways. However, Dames privately complained to Whisler about the need to change his behavior. Investigative Methodology. Eight different ownership groups and 15 individuals -- including some from the NWSL and U.S. Soccer -- come under detailed scrutiny in the latest report. Levine told the HR employee not to worry about the email from Farrelly because a third party had already investigated the allegations and found no fault, and Riley had been hired by another club following the investigation. Arnim Whisler confirmed considering a similar plan for Dames at the Red Stars, even after Whisler learned that a majority of the players on the team believed Dames created an environment of fear and expressed concerns about retaliation. Malik said that after he spoke to Gulati, he then spoke to Paulson, who told Malik to ask the NWSL for a copy of the 2015 investigative report, rather than providing Malik with a copy of the report himself. Malik reported that he told Cone that there were no concerns with Riley on the Courage, but that Malik understood there had been issues involving Riley in the past, and he and Cone discussed Riley drinking alcohol with players in 2015. Now, league leadership must make meaningful changes: sources tell ESPN that the NWSL board received the report at the same time as it was released to the public, but in terms of timing, some of the report's recommendations could well be in place before the start of the 2023 season. Paulson said that Wahlke had spoken with Levine and that Wahlke had some knowledge about the 2015 complaint and findings, including that the investigation found no unlawful harassment. Limitations and Challenges This mandatory anti-harassment training should be interactive and provide opportunities for participants to ask questions. No further information was made public until October 2022. Hammond said that he received only one offer, a lastround pick, which he felt was not adequate compensation given the investment the Courage had made in Kurtz. However, according to the report, three players had "provide[d] specific examples" of this behavior. Even within the soccer world, the player explained, a tone appropriate for the field would not be appropriate in other settings, such as locker rooms, team dinners, or one-on-one meetings with players. Things actually can be spoken up about, be brought to light." They may need to navigate conversations about how players' fitness or injury recovery impact performance. Instead, according to the conclusion, Dames [had] made great strides in the last few years and improved tremendously as a coach," and "Whisler [had] taken demonstrable steps toward eliminating the stressors that may have contributed to Dames's bad behaviors." Players at the Dash told the Joint Investigative Team that they were unsure where to report misconduct by James Clarkson because they believed that he and club President John Walker were "best friends." Further, he told the investigator that Dames "ha[d] a hard side, that he had heard players describe Dames "as a bully," and that he had "no doubt" Dames would "ride a player during practice." Players at the Current said that the friendly relationship between Huw Williams and club owners Chris and Angie Long, dating back to Williams's management of the Longs's daughter's youth soccer club, affected players' ability to report misconduct. The player wondered, "How the hell am I going to lose 10 to 15 pounds without starving myself? The overlap of the two reports also proved problematic in some cases. Players also recalled that the club requested players keep what was discussed at the meeting confidential. Create a Diversity Advisory Committee Dedicated to Implementing DEI Initiatives On August 31, 2021, Racing Louisville announced that they had terminated Head Coach Christy Holly's contract for cause. The club provided no other explanation for Holly's abrupt departure in his first season as their head coach. Within one day of learning of the players complaint, the matter was escalated to the NWSL pursuant to league policy. It also provides new information around the suspensions and firings of several coaches and general managers and recommends how the league must change going forward. The League should be transparent with players about progress and should provide players with a formal platform where they can share ongoing concerns with management and the Board of Governors. The day before a game, Holly got into a fight with Pearce Rampone during training. A majority of the players who participated in the investigation raised the concern that "Dames would get close to players, learn personal information about them, and then use the information he gained . 83, required NWSL vetting, and this person raised concerns that clubs may not have been submitting all hires for screening. 49, that he did not have "near enough support" to keep him at the club and they would "need to find the right wording." The new report expands on many of those topics, though only relating specifically to occurrences in the NWSL era. After re-signing her in 2021, the club issued a public apology "to all those we have hurt, especially those within the LGBTQIA+ community, but stood by its decision, keeping Daniels on the team for the remainder of the season. When an assistant coach attempted to give the player the requested advice, Williams told the assistant coach, "Shut the fuck up and go sit down." The NWSL should advise clubs and coaches that if a coach has legitimate health or fitness concerns about a player's weight, that coach should speak privately with the club medical staff so that the medical staff can address the concern privately with the player. A player also recounted hearing that around this time, Wilkinson asked Shim's agent at the time to meet in Portland. Novo explained that before this happened, players approached him and requested a meeting to share concerns about Holly. A volunteer who interacted with players at Racing Louisville, when asked whether she considered reporting Christy Holly's misconduct to SafeSport, said, No, and that's a great point. Ms. At first he told her he admired her fitness and her "soccer body," but then shifted to making other comments about her body, including calling her "sexy." Despite the discussions between U.S. Soccer, the NWSL, and both the Thorns and Courage regarding Riley's unsuitability to coach the USWNT, no steps were taken to remove or prevent him from coaching NWSL players. In interviews with the Joint Investigative Team, both Levine and Duffy remembered that they paused the NWSL investigation at Wahlke's request. One of the players perceived this as an attempt to convince them to go out drinking. For example, individuals affiliated with U.S. Soccer denied that U.S. Soccer operated in a managerial role, despite the terms of the Management Agreement. The only thing I can say for sure is that the issue stems from a complaint filed with the league under its anti-harassment policy. This league, eventually named the National Women's Soccer League, began play in April 2013. The same is true of the Red Stars's hiring of Rory Dames as their head coach. The training for coaches and other club staff should encourage athlete-centered coaching (focusing on the holistic development of players), effective partnerships between coaches and players, and soccer-specific constructive criticism. In the report's summary, which preceded the conclusion, the investigator flagged as problematic three additional issues beyond Dames's three undisputed behaviors." 56, conduct, LaHue persisted. Nonetheless, the Joint Investigative Team faced a number of limitations throughout the investigation. Richie Burke (Washington Spirit, Head Coach, 2019-2021) Gotham FC cooperated in all respects with the NWSL investigation. But the story had been percolating since June 28, when I reported via Twitter that Alyse LaHue was away from the team. Consider Developing a Plan to Conduct Exit Interviews of Departing Players A player recalled this same coach making comments about what players "had on their plates" and "food-shaming" players. The Courage also received some assurance about Riley from other club leaders and from the NWSL, including the fact that Riley had been hired by the Flash after departing the Thorns. (Racial microaggressions are intentional or unintentional verbal or behavioral actions, often brief and commonplace, that insult or discredit people of color). 64, beliefs and goals as a player. As Press told The Washington Post, this O'Connor defended the club's approach, saying he told the players that everyone would get together to discuss their concerns. Trainings should include how to conduct an effective, traumainformed interview of an individual making a complaint, how to support that individual and not make comments that deter further reporting, how to document that interview, and how to elevate the issue to the NWSL. 62, "massive" suite in his hotel room. For example, the NWSL engaged a third-party investigator specializing in workplace investigations to conduct investigations into former Royals owner Dell Loy Hansen in 2020, Dash stadium security in 2021, and LaHue in 2021. One player compiled other players' accounts of Benstiti's speech into a formal complaint, which reported that Benstiti said, "If I see you [eat] snacks, I will kill you; told players he would be monitoring their food and snacks; and "specifically brought up Lindsey Horan and said, 'I don't care, I will do the same thing and I don't care if it's in the paper."" Players were aware not only of the NWSL's uncertain future, but also of the precariousness of their own individual futures within the NWSL. The Joint Investigative Team recommended temporary suspensions only where it had a factual basis to believe that interim action was warranted to protect players from imminent harm, prevent retaliation, or prevent interference with the investigation. When interviewed by the Joint Investigative Team, Burke admitted making these comments but did not acknowledge their offensiveness. These behaviors undisputedly occurred and are still occurring." Two players, in separate interviews, described feeling like a tax write-off" to their clubs' owners. In response to player requests for the improvement of conditions and resources at clubs, players were often reminded that they ought to be grateful, even when players sought benefits or allowances included in their contracts. On an away trip to Portland following the 2019 World Cup, Kurtz received a text message from Riley with a picture of a bar he was at, commenting that Kurtz would like the bar and that he wished she were there. Other players reported instances of Dames texting players late at night, commenting on players' appearances, and "routinely" taking "some of his favorites out to dinner." Zerboni is hopeful for the building process currently underway within the league, and looks forward to seeing positive improvements implemented at the league and club levels.The recommendations set forth by the report were extensive, and can be found in the final pages of the report. The NWSLPA was initially conceived as a means to improve communication between the players and the League and to facilitate reporting and addressing of concerns about the player experience. Dames responded, [S]he was one of the 2 in consideration prior to any of this crap going on per our text last night. 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. In written responses to the Joint Investigative Team, Plush stated that he told then-Sky Blue President and General Manager Tony Novo there were allegations of inappropriate conduct against Riley, encouraged Novo to reach out to the Thorns, and discouraged him from hiring Riley. The Joint Investigative Team made substantial efforts to contact individuals who might have information relevant to past and present misconduct in the NWSL, and did not refuse any witness's request to speak with the Joint Investigative Team during this investigation. Clarkson asked a staff member to request security footage from the hotel, but the staff member was not able to obtain the footage. The club did not take steps to determine if Riley's conduct extended beyond an isolated comment or to other players. Craig Harrington, the former Utah Royals F.C. 123, F. When reflecting on his jokes related to Jewish people, Burke said that he did not know there had been Jewish people on the team. The evidence suggests he also discussed with Levine and with U.S. Soccer's outside counsel that Levine should give Sky Blue certain information about the allegations of sexual harassment against Riley, the circumstances of Riley's termination from the Thorns, and conclusions from the 2015 investigation. Formation and Mandate of the Joint Investigative Team .. The joint investigation details how LaHue sent inappropriate messages to a player, including some about the player being in her dreams, despite the player's request for those to stop and asking of LaHue to "accept that we are working together and nothing more." The Courage learned nothing of the allegation that Riley had said players could avoid the suicide mile by kissing, or of the other clearly established For a number of players and fans, the spark behind this new era is interim general manager Alyse LaHue, whose can-do, laser-focused attitude towards implementing positive changes has led to Sky Blue setting and reaching new goals. In particular, the NWSL's "temporary protocols do not require the use of a reputational check. Train NWSL and Club Staff in Complaint Handling and TraumaInformed Investigation Best Practices A player for the Courage said Riley "would ask [her] to dinner in a "very casual way." (iii) disruption of the team environment. 8. Accordingly, she cooperated in the first, second, and third investigations into alleged conduct from April 2020 reported in June 2021. And Levine, in spite of having been kept apprised of the Thorns's investigation in 2015 and having read the investigative report, did not take Shim's and Farrelly's 2021 complaints to the NWSL regarding Riley seriously; in fact, Levine drafted responses on which Baird-who had no prior familiarity with the 2015 investigation-relied to respond to Shim and Farrelly and essentially decline to inquire into Riley further.
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