The agreement mandates that:
- Coaches will no longer control player trades, housing, medical decisions, or other personal aspects of a player’s life.
- Mandatory training will be implemented for all players and staff, covering bullying, harassment, sexual misconduct, racism, and retaliation.
Investigations led by King & Spalding, including a report by former Deputy U.S. Attorney General Sally Yates, uncovered a disturbing pattern of coaches sexually assaulting players, coercing them into relationships, and crossing professional boundaries.
As a result, four former coaches were permanently banned from the league:
- Paul Riley (Portland Thorns)
- Rory Dames (Chicago Red Stars)
- Christy Holly (Racing Louisville)
- Richie Burke (Washington Spirit)
Additionally, Chicago Red Stars were fined $1.5 million, while the Portland Thorns faced a $1 million penalty. Both franchises were also ordered to be sold.
NWSL Commissioner Pledges Continued Accountability
With the NWSL $5M settlement, the league takes a significant step toward acknowledging past failures, compensating victims, and enacting long-term structural reforms to prevent future abuse.
