When the Joint Investigative Team interviewed her, Wahlke denied making such a request. c)
The player felt that the owner was suggesting that she was selfish for even raising the point. At the conclusion of the March Investigation, the Pride's counsel substantiated that Cromwell engaged in favoritism, inappropriately communicated with and "verbally attack[ed]" players, made sexualized comments about players' appearances, disregarded the advice of the sports medicine staff, and discouraged players from utilizing reporting channels. Pauw's presence at the same apartment complex created anxiety among players. . The report, however, acknowledges that "a majority of players expressed the view that Clarkson's treatment of players did not rise to the level of abuse or misconduct. Each individual was invited to speak with the Joint Investigative Team. 91, The perceived absence of HR at the NWSL and its clubs meant that many players felt that they had no clear path to report misconduct they experienced. The NWSL announced that Cromwell's and Greene's employment contracts were terminated effective immediately and that they were ineligible for future employment in the NWSL unless approved by the Commissioner. Inattentiveness, neglect, and concealment allow misconduct to fester.. The NWSL should also encourage players to reach out to the NWSLPA for additional support and guidance in navigating reporting misconduct. A text message conversation between Whisler and Dames on June 13, 2018, indicates that Whisler informed Dames of the complaint shortly after speaking to Levine. In addition, the Joint Investigative Team contacted approximately 90 current and former club staff, including coaching staff, and invited them to speak with the Joint Investigative Team. She told investigators she recognized Riley "had been 'grooming' her for sexual abuse" after reading The Athletic's initial story on his abuse. Why not talk to me?"
Players were not in control of their own movement between teams. Golub told the Joint Investigative Team he did not recall speaking with Lines during that time regarding Riley. 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? When the League initiated an investigation into a complaint against Dames in 2018, Whisler spoke directly to Dames about the complainant and created the risk that Dames would retaliate against the player. The NWSL completed an independent investigation, and it announced that based on witness interviews and a review of video footage, no disciplinary action would be taken against the club. For instance, when the Flash were vetting Riley, Wilkinson told the Flash that Riley was a good coach if not for the reason he had been terminated. We have the benefit of what I hope is a cultural awakening around privilege and a cultural awakening around people trying to understand someone elses perspective, Berman said. As discussed above, the USSF Dames Investigation resulted in a draft" report. Coordinate with Clubs and U.S. Soccer to Improve and Centralize Hiring Practices
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." The announcement did not specify that the "cause" was sexual misconduct. Between 2019 and 2021, Holly engaged in repeated sexual misconduct and abuse targeting Erin Simon, including touching her genitals without her consent, touching her body on other occasions without her consent, forcing her to touch his genitals without her consent, sending her unsolicited pictures of his penis, and asking her to send him sexually suggestive pictures of herself. However, four of the nine players interviewed had raised concerns that Dames made inappropriate remarks about players' appearances, and two players provided specific examples of those comments.
LaHue first joined Gotham FC in 2018. Limitations and Challenges
Eventually, she reported the staff member to her coach because she felt that the staff member was "crossing the line and making [her] uncomfortable." On the other hand, some thought Clarkson handled the situation well and reported that he later expressed his support and apologized if he had appeared insensitive. face allegations of misconduct. Farrelly tried to pretend these sexual encounters never occurred, but Riley would try to talk about them with her. C.
They used derogatory and insulting language towards players, displayed insensitivity towards players' mental health, and engaged in retaliation against players who attempted to report or did report concerns. The new investigation alleged that LaHue had a romantic interest in an unnamed player, and published text messages between LaHue and that player. A player and a former Sky Blue staff member both said that the environment at Sky Blue unraveled" when the team learned that Holly was dating Pearce Rampone. Coaching often requires split-second decisions and interactions during practice and games, without the time for deliberation or consultation, for example with HR. Start your FREE, 7-day trial of The Equalizer Extra for industry-leading reporting and insight on the USWNT, NWSL and beyond. Instead, these conversations occurred on an ad hoc basis and were left to individual clubs. In addition to the USSF Dames Report's internal contradictions, the report summary inappropriately minimized the severity of players' concerns. Nearly every interviewee agreed that Clarkson was not adept at tailoring his coaching style to particular players' needs or reactions, and that he failed to recognize or appreciate when certain players did not respond well to his coaching style. 3. Another NWSL employee expressed concern that criminal background checks are insufficient: "None of the issues we had last year with our coaches would have been discovered unless a reputation check had been conducted before they were hired. The NWSL periodically distributed annual player surveys seeking feedback from players about a variety of topics. It explicitly requires club employees to elevate all reports of misconduct to the League and clearly states that the League will investigate such reports. It has been a tumultuous season in the NWSL on the player advocacy front. O'Connor met with the players, who shared concerns about how the staff was handling players' medical issues as well as concerns about Holly's treatment of players.
The day after the player spoke to the NWSL about her complaint, Dames texted Whisler that he was planning on waiving her.
These biases are central to any evaluation of misconduct in the League.. Players reported that they felt confused by the information shared with them and did not understand exactly why Holly had been fired. Multiple current and former players shared their belief that clubs' vetting practices have been insufficient. LaHue was appointed as general manager of NJ/NY Gotham FC (formerly Sky Blue FC) in September 2019, and has been credited with playing a major role in turning the club around, both on and off the . 2. Shim declined politely so as not to upset Riley, stating she had to prepare for a game the following day, and she walked out the door despite his attempts to persuade her to stay. Formation and Mandate of the Joint Investigative Team
For example, players on multiple teams recalled either being chased down to be yelled at or watching their coach physically follow their teammates to berate them in a way that bystanders recognized as unacceptable. 68, Coaches can also engage in verbal misconduct when they target players for personal attributes or immutable characteristics, such as their appearance, parental status, medical condition, or socioeconomic and educational background.
After the incident at the stadium, Simon avoided Holly for a few weeks, but he eventually pulled her into the same suite in the stadium where the previous incident occurred and confronted her. A second player credibly reported that Riley made comments regarding that player's weight and required her to report her weight to him daily. Levine explained to the Joint Investigative Team that she made the report "the day [she] learned of [the] sexual relationship between [Riley] and a player," referring to Farrelly. Long did not indicate that she was concerned about potential retaliation against the players who spoke up at the meeting. Clarkson denied making this comment, but witnesses corroborated that Clarkson was visibly upset and frustrated at the player, and that the player was upset. The article further reported that in 2021, Shim and Farrelly asked the NWSL to reopen the investigation into Riley, but that then-Commissioner Lisa Baird declined to investigate further. Simon said she was "terrified" to go to Holly's apartment alone, so she often came up with excuses not to go, or she would bring Hendrix with her. Observations and Findings
Multiple witnesses reported romantic relationships between players and staff members, which disrupted team environments, blurred professional boundaries, and in some cases, contributed to the mistreatment of players. Players
62, "massive" suite in his hotel room. He noted, for instance, that if Chicago Red Stars owner Arnim Whisler quit the League, the League would fail. Another member of the team said that LaHue paid special attention to this player and described instances in which she believed LaHue provided preferential treatment or sought to be close to the player. Two players expressed the concern that speaking out about issues of race could jeopardize a player's
Photo courtesy of Gotham FC. Dames responded, [S]he was one of the 2 in consideration prior to any of this crap going on per our text last night. This report, along with text message and email exhibits, was shared with individuals at U.S. Soccer and the NWSL. Another player told Courage leadership that Riley had been verbally abusive and created a culture of fear" in which players could not express opinions, and that other coaches had allowed Riley to engage in this behavior. While the NWSL did not specify the reason for the fines, multiple reports indicated that they were the result of Red Stars co-owner Sarah Spain and then-Gotham FC general manager Alyse LaHue expressing their support for Gorden publicly on Twitter after the league had asked team staff members to refrain commenting on the incident. One former player differentiated between raised voices in different locations: the player opined, "If you're working in an office cubicle, no one will scream at you for your terrible touch, but that might be needed on the field."
Lisa Levine (U.S. Soccer, General Counsel, 2009-2017; NWSL, General Counsel, 2017-2021)
The severance agreement provided that "Dames and the [Red Stars] may in the future enter into a new independent contracting relationship and wish to make clear their ability to do so upon a mutual agreement." The League office cooperated fully with this investigation, provided all necessary resources, and granted the Joint Investigative Team full autonomy to follow the facts and evidence wherever they led. Burke also reportedly described one player as a "moron" in front of others on the team. From simultaneous kickoffs to end the regular season, to relegating the Challenge Cup to On Monday, NJ/NY Gotham FC released their highly anticipated preseason roster. 100
While many clubs properly submitted candidates for the required vetting once these processes were in place, on at least two occasions, clubs hired player-facing staff and allowed them to begin working before they were cleared by the NWSL. Shim recalled being uncomfortable" that someone she knew might see her being interviewed. [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.
Weil, Table of Contents
In a publicly reported incident, the Orlando Pride supporters group displayed a banner during a game in protest of the Florida "Don't Say Gay" bill, and the club had the banner removed. 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. ..13
Multiple players recognized the frequency of these invitations and communications as "not normal and "inappropriate." #11, hear from Alyse LaHue, the General Manager of NJ/NY Gotham FC of the NWSL. 5. Remind Players, Staff, and Volunteers of Reporting Channels Available to Report Misconduct
The History and Culture of the League and its Member Clubs Discouraged Reporting of Potential Misconduct..
Examples of prohibited verbal conduct include epithets; derogatory comments or slurs; negative stereotyping; and jokes, kidding, or teasing about another person's protected status. 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. While Simon's parents gave Pearce Rampone a tour of the home, Holly grabbed Simon's buttocks and felt her over her leggings. Players described numerous instances of club leaders engaging in sexual misconduct, including making unwanted sexual advances toward players and making inappropriate sexual remarks to players. U.S. Soccer's investigator also did not look into players' concerns that Whisler was not receptive to their complaints and that he had a financial incentive to protect Dames. Club HR staff also were not adequately trained or provided guidance on how to respond to allegations of misconduct or how to conduct sensitive investigations in a trauma-informed manner. Reis acknowledged encouraging players to speak with investigators, but she denied telling them what to say. The Courage never received a copy of the report or learned the full findings, which also discussed Riley's other serious misconduct. Where players' clubs shared ownership or management with men's teams, players reported that their owners prioritized the men's teams, even in cases where the women's teams were more successful. Also that same day, Levine reported Riley to the U.S. Center for SafeSport (an organization that investigates reports of abuse and misconduct in athletics) based on information that was then publicly available. The first HR employee hired by the NWSL recalled that, prior to her hiring in 2019, U.S. Soccer had been managing all of the League's HR operations.
Clubs Moved Coaches Accused of Misconduct to Other Roles
professionalism.
Behavior
The team, including the head coach, later engaged in conversations regarding creating a safe workplace for players.
She said he told her, "Let's meet and talk," and, "If you're up really late, you can come talk to me." Any individual who receives a report of potential misconduct must immediately submit the report to the NWSL HR Office.
Players also reported concerns with how clubs responded to incidents involving reported discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, and which gave them the impression that sexual orientation discrimination was not important. Clarkson and Cromwell would be allowed to return to the league upon completing anti-harassment training and demonstrating a commitment to change. One player told Predmore that they believed it to be "so important" that the club's communications state that Farid ha[d] been terminated.
36, findings about Riley's inappropriate behavior beyond that night. Provide Mandatory Annual Anti-Harassment Training
In March 2021, days after Baird received a letter from 240 NWSL players urging the NWSL to adopt an anti-harassment policy, Shim emailed Baird indicating that she believed the League had failed to take any action to protect players in response" to her 2015 complaint about Riley. In February 2016, after learning that the Flash were set to announce Riley's hire as head coach, Plush wrote in an email to Gulati, Flynn, and Levine, that he guess[ed] Wilkinson may have "helped [Riley] with [Lines]," and that he had given Golub's phone number to the Flash's then-general manager. The NWSL's Non-Fraternization Policy, adopted in 2018, states: "No person in management or a supervisory position with a Team or the League shall have a romantic or dating relationship with a League or team employee whom he or she directly supervises or whose terms or conditions of employment he or she may influence." While Dames yelled at players on the field, off the field, he developed close relationships that blurred personal and professional boundaries. Hendrix also recalled that Holly sent Simon a picture of his penis. Provide Leadership Training to Coaches
After speaking with Levine, the HR employee-understanding Levine and Baird would conduct a follow-up investigation in light of language in Farrelly's email indicating she was raising new allegations-responded to Farrelly, thanking her for reporting and stating, "We take these claims very seriously and do not tolerate any form of harassment within our League. However, interviewees reported that Clarkson on occasion failed to recognize or appreciate his effect on players. The Joint Investigative Team also reached out to approximately 150 current and former players individually by email, telephone, and/or text and invited them to share their, experiences with the Joint Investigative Team. One player recalled that Riley hosted a similar trip for Flash players at his Long Island property when he later coached that club. The League did not have standing meetings with the NWSLPA, and communications remained informal and irregular. On October 11, 2022, Paulson further stated that he was removing himself as CEO of the Thorns and the Portland Timbers, and was announcing a search for a permanent CEO. However, the extent to which clubs actually spoke to former owners, general managers, staff, or players who had worked with a coach varied drastically. North Carolina Courage
Where necessary to gather additional facts, the NWSLPA further followed up with some players directly, requesting they share their experiences with the Joint Investigative Team. Club and U.S. Soccer personnel repeated the Thorns's characterization of Riley's conduct as poor judgment for years. Wilkinson also said he told Lines that Riley was a good coach if not for the reason he had been fired. Misconduct in the League is not wholly independent from abuse that begins in youth soccer, where many coaches and players formative experiences shaped the way they engaged in, or reacted to, misconduct and abuse in the NWSL.. 61, Another player recalled that Harrington went to a strip club with players after a seasonending loss when he was an assistant coach with the Red Stars. Even if it were appropriate to only assess Riley's conduct under the legal standard for sexual harassment, no standard was set forth in the report and no explanation was given for the assertion that Riley's conduct was not "unlawful harassment." Investigative Process
Former U.S. Soccer CEO Dan Flynn stated, in a written statement, [T]he USSF's role as manager' (a misnomer to be sure) of the NWSL was really quite limited. On the international stage, the United States has been a powerhouse of women's soccer. Wilkinson said that he informed Riley this could not occur again, and he separately told Thorns staff members that they could not go out drinking with players. The revised policy should state that waiving players, trading players, or buying out players' contracts could be retaliatory and a violation of the policy if a motivating factor for the player transaction is the player's engagement in a Protected Activity. The NWSL began its own investigation into the player's complaint, but stopped after two days at the direction of U.S. Soccer. 124
. Paulson also told the Joint Investigative Team that Riley and Lines had a long-standing relationship," and at the time
alyse lahue relationship. The NWSL should establish and enforce a policy that provides clear guidance to clubs on their use of non-disclosure and non-disparagement agreements in circumstances involving alleged or substantiated misconduct under the Anti-Harassment Policy. The complainant stated that Riley made comments about a relationship between two other teammates, stating that one of the players was "not in fact gay," and that the other was a "predator."
Players also described how Riley hosted a multi-day social retreat at his house on Long Island, during which players stayed together in barracks-style quarters-on numerous twin beds-in Riley's attic. During this conversation, he asked Holly, "How would you like to handle that?" Sports article mentioned Benstiti by name, stating that the club's technical staff, led by Benstiti, didn't care about communicating fitness goals respectfully." 25, advice of legal counsel. She said that when clubs receive a player complaint, they must ask the League what to do [and] where to tell them to go," and added that it was "really unclear what do you do locally versus what goes straight to the League. The HR director at one club explained that she had to reach out to the League for guidance on HR matters because none was provided, and she often assumed that the League, not the club, would handle potential misconduct reported by players. 1. Amidst this confusion, no entity embraced this responsibility.
Furthermore, comments made by individuals at the Thorns were favorable to Riley and had the effect of indicating to the Courage and the Flash that Riley had not engaged in misconduct while at the Thorns. However, looking back, this player observed, "People realized, 'There are different ways to do this. He frequently texted Shim, even though she did not always reply, sometimes asking her to come to his apartment or turning the conversation to her sexual orientation. The report included: (i) descriptions of those interviewed; (ii) details about players' concerns, as well as Dames's and Whisler's responses to those concerns; (iii) a summary of the law firm's factual findings; and (iv) a conclusion.
Simon recalled being scared and noted that Holly lived in her apartment building, so she wanted to know how the club could keep her safe and make sure Holly did not come to her apartment after he was fired. Despite having knowledge of Holly's relationship with Pearce Rampone, and of its negative impact on players at Sky Blue, no one at the club spoke to former Sky Blue players to ask for their perspective on Holly. 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. Many of the coaches and individuals who engaged in misconduct and who are discussed in this Report were not appropriately vetted by their clubs., Nor are the leagues current protocols sufficient, the report says: Significant gaps exist in the NWSLs revised background check requirements., READ MORE: Joanna Lohman was fooled by Paul Riley in Philadelphia, where he allegedly coerced her teammates.