The National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) has established a $5 million fund aimed at providing support for players as part of a settlement linked to serious allegations of emotional and sexual misconduct that emerged in 2021.
This agreement was announced by the attorneys general from Washington, D.C., Illinois, and New York on Wednesday.
The allocated funds will be directed toward players who have suffered abuse. Additionally, the settlement mandates the league to uphold the protective measures that were introduced following two investigations released in late 2022, which uncovered a pervasive culture of misconduct involving various teams, coaches, and athletes.
The attorneys general—Brian L. Schwalb from Washington, D.C., Letitia James from New York, and Kwame Raoul from Illinois—will now oversee the changes made by the NWSL in response to the scandal, granting them authority to impose fines on the league if it fails to adhere to these changes.
“Today’s settlement is only possible because of the players who courageously stepped forward to tell their stories and expose the league’s systemic failures. While NWSL has made critical improvements, the victims never received any compensation for the sexual and emotional abuse they endured on the league’s watch,” Schwalb expressed in a statement. “No dollar amount could ever fully address the damage; however, my office, in collaboration with New York and Illinois, will have oversight to ensure the league’s new safety policies are enacted, protecting current and future players.”
The situation came to light when former players Sinead Farrelly and Mana Shim bravely reported incidents of sexual harassment and coercion attributed to longtime NWSL coach Paul Riley in 2021.
Although Riley denied the allegations, he was terminated by the North Carolina Courage as the scandal unfolded. In 2021, he became one of five head coaches within the league who were either dismissed or chose to resign due to similar misconduct accusations. The NWSL’s previous commissioner also stepped down during this turbulent period.
In the wake of the allegations, both the NWSL and U.S. Soccer initiated investigations. A report conducted by former acting U.S. Attorney General Sally Q. Yates concluded that emotional abuse and sexual misconduct were deeply ingrained within the sport.
As a result of the investigations, the NWSL took steps to enhance player protections, while the NWSL Players Association negotiated further safeguards within the league’s collective bargaining agreement.
“This investigation was initiated by the NWSLPA because players refused to remain silent amid systemic abuse. The human and civil rights violations experienced by these athletes were perpetuated by a system that failed in its most fundamental responsibility: to protect its players,” stated Meghann Burke, executive director of the NWSLPA. “This settlement not only recognizes those failures but also establishes, for the first time, legal enforcement mechanisms to hold the NWSL accountable and prevent future harm.”
Among the mandated protections that will continue are thorough vetting processes for certain team staff, systems for players to report instances of abuse, access to free and unlimited counseling, a dedicated league safety officer, and policies that prohibit teams from conducting self-investigations.
“We have collaborated closely with the NWSLPA and the attorneys general to strengthen the programmatic changes we adopted in 2023 following the joint investigative reports, and we look forward to assisting the administrator in allocating the Players’ Restitution Fund,” said current NWSL Commissioner Jessica Berman in her statement. “We are committed to maintaining the trust of our players through necessary ongoing work.”
Since its inaugural season in 2013, the NWSL has grown to encompass 14 teams, with two additional teams set to join in 2026.
James added, “This settlement sends a clear message that such misconduct will not be accepted and ensures that players will receive the compensation and protections they rightfully deserve. Every athlete should have the opportunity to compete in a secure and supportive environment, and I commend the courageous individuals who shared their experiences.”
