The National Women’s Soccer League has reached a $5 million settlement with three attorneys general in New York, Illinois, and Washington, D.C. over past mistreatment of its athletes. The settlement follows years of allegations by NWSL players of misconduct and abuse, including sexual misconduct and emotional abuse by coaches and officials. The league was found to have failed in protecting its players. As part of the settlement, a $5 million fund will be created for players who experienced abuse to collect compensation. The settlement does not prevent individual players from pursuing private legal actions. The league has implemented reforms, including increased vetting of coaches, mental health support, and training programs to prevent bullying and harassment.
NWSL Commissioner Jessica Berman, who took over in 2022, has been working to reform the league. She has improved players’ contracts through the first-ever collective bargaining agreement, issued lifetime bans against four former coaches involved in misconduct, and brought in new ownership groups committed to player welfare. The league has seen growth as a result, with the recent awarding of the 16th franchise in Denver for a record $110 million expansion fee. The league will be required to provide biannual reports to the attorneys general detailing any complaints of misconduct for the next three years, and failure to comply could result in a $2 million penalty.
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