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On one occasion, when she informed LaHue that other players had asked why LaHue was "so mean to her, LaHue responded, Tell them kids at the playground always pick on their crush." . Shim attached to this email her 2015 complaint. While he sometimes yelled at her during practice, she described the yelling as a one and done; others he [would] stick with for a whole practice. Another player who felt positively about Dames similarly said that Dames would "pick on" certain players, "constantly criticizing their on-field performance." Consider Establishing Guidelines Regarding Socializing Between Players and Individuals with Supervisory Authority I'm going to watch what you eat," and the other recalled For much of the League's history, clubs were free to waive non-guaranteed players, releasing them from their contracts with the club without compensation and leaving them open to being claimed by another club via an established process. Ratings: Fofana 8/10 as Chelsea pick up first league win in six, Ten Hag must learn from Mourinho to ensure Man United's Carabao Cup win is just the start, Raul and Valverde are keeping Madrid prodigy Alvaro's feet on the ground, Man United must make every penny count to beat FFP and continue recovery, LIVE Transfer Talk: Bayern still keen on Kane despite new Choupo-Moting contract. 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. 55, making a statement to the reporter. 1. WUSA enjoyed initial success, with all-star lineups, television exposure, and high attendance at games. U.S. Soccer, the League, and individual clubs were not clear on which entity held the ultimate responsibility for establishing and enforcing policies and practices relating to misconduct, or thoroughly investigating complaints and allegations of misconduct. While the conclusion stated that Dames (i) yelled excessively; (ii) targeted players; and (iii) behaved unpredictably, it mentioned none of the other concerns about Dames. Dames joined the Red Stars in 2011 as a volunteer coach, when the club was part of the semi-professional Women's Premier Soccer League ("WPSL). A player on another team remembered her coach saying to a teammate, in front of others, "I could take away your contract like that." 27, Lines discussed Riley with Wilkinson, the decision to hire Riley had already "effectively been made." The NWSL announced on October 3, 2021, that it had retained Covington to conduct an independent investigation into workplace misconduct within the League and to recommend reforms. One player who spoke up at the meeting and was subsequently traded shared that because she and other players spoke up, "[w]e all knew we were going to be traded." Until now, the only reported detail was that LaHue was the subject of a complaint filed under the league's anti-harassment policy. Incorporate Anti-Retaliation Training Into Other Mandatory Trainings Anti-retaliation training should define retaliation and emphasize that retaliation can take many forms-not just termination of employment or formal discipline. The reasons for Alyse LaHue's termination as NJ/NY Gotham FC general manager in July 2021 are also now clear following 1 years of silence from the club on the issue. "We've seen other teams continue to up their professional standards, and Sky Blue has to follow suit," LaHue said. II. In a Tweet late Friday afternoon, the National Women's Soccer League club announced that LaHue had, as of July 9 - a week ago today - was no longer employed by the team. For example, in one incident, Clarkson likened an injured player's stride to that of a "lame horse," and laughed when she jokingly responded, "So should I shoot myself?" Whether or not Whisler received a clear, formal report from U.S. Soccer about the findings of the investigation, he learned of concerns that players had raised about Dames by participating in the investigation. Clubs did not consistently prohibit player-staff relationships, which created confusion about whether such relationships were permissible. Players reported to the Joint Investigative Team multiple instances in which club staff, coaches, or club leadership retaliated against players for reporting misconduct or for participating in an investigation into misconduct. (2) 119, financial support for players pursuing coaching licenses, with the long-term goal of hiring a greater number of qualified former NWSL players as coaches. Based on the considerable efforts made to identify and collect all reasonably available sources of information, the Joint Investigative Team is confident in the soundness of its findings and the factual basis for the matters discussed in this Report. 59, said that the staff member allowed the player "to get things reimbursed that didn't qualify" for reimbursement. However, its high operating costs and failure to attract corporate sponsors soon began to cause financial strain. Players, fans, and the public reacted with outrage. On September 16, 2015, Shim reported Riley's conduct to the Thorns and to the NWSL. Despite these recurrent issues, Whisler told the investigator that he believed that Dames had improved in his demeanor, mindset, and patience during his years as head coach and that Dames would not "be hard on someone unless he [thought] they [had] it within them to rise up." In the early stages of the investigation, the Joint Investigative Team interviewed seven current and former players who described Clarkson as volatile, verbally abusive, and as not showing appropriate regard for players' wellbeing. One player reported that Riley, Wilkinson, and Thorns owner Merritt Paulson had a close relationship, leading to a perception that players could be traded for raising complaints against any one of the three. During this meeting, Simon emphasized that she wanted to remain confidential, because she felt scared and unsafe. Garcia was relatively inexperienced in conducting sensitive investigations. . Players and former assistant coaches said that Holly would "ream" out players, verbally attack[] them, and play mind games. Holly retaliated against players who resisted his unwanted advances or complained about his conduct. For instance, one player recalled Holly telling her in the weight room that he wanted to "grab her ass" when he saw her squat. Multiple players and staff shared that they have witnessed behavior from coaches that confirmed in their minds that coaches, staff, or club leadership would retaliate if they raised complaints. One player identified by Cromwell and Greene as having been involved in the March 2022 investigation was informed that the club was either waiving her or buying out her contract. soccer career. In certain instances, these coaches justified their behavior by relying on the rationale that the behavior was "cultural" or by doubling down on claims that their behavior was oriented around fitness. In addition, multiple players described a "be grateful" mentality permeating the League. The Committee could be comprised of League staff, club staff, club owners, and players. Establish Guidelines Addressing Appropriate Meeting Locations for Oneon-One Meetings Between Club Staff and Players To ensure DEI initiatives are prioritized and effective at creating a more inclusive environment for all players and staff, the NWSL should consider creating a Diversity Advisory Committee dedicated to making DEI improvements within the League. The Courage never received a copy of the report or learned the full findings, which also discussed Riley's other serious misconduct. 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. Dames declined requests to be interviewed in this investigation. Mishandling of Paul Riley's Misconduct by U.S. Soccer, the NWSL, and the Portland Thorns Alex Morgan shares her frustration at the NWSL's failure to support Meleana Shim after speaking out against Paul Riley in this behind-the-scenes clip from E60: Truth Be Told, available now on ESPN+. . Paulson acknowledged in the letter that the club had made an "opaque" public announcement regarding Riley's termination, and he outlined new and ongoing initiatives for improvement. Gulati recalled that he was aware in 2014 that Dames offered his resignation to Whisler because of the 2014 player survey responses, but Whisler did not accept. Formation and Mandate of the Joint Investigative Team Another player said the overall environment was "abusive." The Joint Investigative Team engaged with 15 current and former League staff to invite them to be interviewed by the Joint Investigative Team or to collect documents. Riley made shaming, non-performancerelated remarks about Kurtz's weight and appearance. After interviewing coaches, players, and club staff, the Joint Investigative Team concluded that Cromwell and Greene retaliated against players for participating in the March Investigation in violation of the 2022 Anti-Harassment Policy. The Report concludes with systemic recommendations for the NWSL and its member clubs. Though Levine cautioned Whisler against retaliation, Levine confirmed to Whisler the identity of the complaining player. Mental Health First Aid training tailored toward sport professionals could help players and staff develop the skills to recognize and respond to players navigating mental health challenges. Examples of prohibited verbal conduct include epithets; derogatory comments or slurs; negative stereotyping; and jokes, kidding, or teasing about another person's protected status. 118 The agreement prohibited the club from disclosing Holly's sexual misconduct, including to law enforcement, unless compelled by law. NWSL staff began reviewing and compiling the results of 2020 player surveys, but they did not complete a comprehensive review of the responses. As noted above, the Thorns asserted privilege over the report in responding to 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. Following this discussion, Kurtz recalled having a telephone call with Hammond to discuss her request. This was despite Shim and Farrelly both indicating in their 2021 communications that they were dissatisfied with the NWSL's response to the 2015 complaint and investigation, and Farrelly providing additional information regarding Riley that should have been of interest to the NWSL. Riley declined to respond to requests to participate in this investigation. During the 2017 season, Simon recalled players learning that Holly had been dating another player, Christie Pearce Rampone. Around the same time, on July 1, 2021, OL Reign decided to remove Benstiti from the club, and asked for his resignation that same day. 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. Paul Riley joined the NWSL in December 2013, when the Thorns hired him as head coach for the club's 2014 season. . During the sixth minute of each match, the teams stopped play and gathered in a circle at midfield in recognition of the six years it had taken for the reports against Riley to become public. 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As a result, players felt they could not "risk going for dinner." The club then released a statement that did not disclose the reason for Benstiti's departure. Levine told the Joint Investigative Team that she did not second guess this determination or come to her own conclusion on this issue based on her review of the facts laid out in the final report. For instance, former Red Stars player Nikki Stanton recalled that she felt "worthless" during her time on the Red Stars, but she prided herself on being a good teammate and maintaining a positive attitude. In 2020 and 2021, the League saw a series of high-profile departures following reports of interpersonal misconduct. When they arrived at the hotel, where the team was staying on the same floor, she and Riley walked back together. 10. Individuals at the Courage learned of a prior investigation into Riley while at the Thorns and attempted to learn more, but neither the Thorns nor the NWSL provided them with the 2015 investigative report, and the Courage were given sparse and incomplete descriptions of Shim's allegations and the investigative findings against Riley. She was hired that May as vice president. Reis was placed on unpaid administrative leave and is required to participate in mandatory training regarding retaliation, discrimination, harassment and bullying, and must participate in mandatory executive coaching. Many players across the NWSL said they did not know how to elevate concerns about club staff, including coaches, within their clubs or to the NWSL. When interviewed by the Joint Investigative Team, Whisler acknowledged that he received the survey comments in 2014, but said that these comments reflected only the USWNT players' views on Dames and he was aware that at least one USWNT Red Stars player-Christen Press-did not want to be on the team. Harrington said the coaches realized once they were inside that it was not a "regular bar. In 2014, while U.S. Soccer was managing the NWSL, then-NWSL Executive Director Cheryl Bailey sent USWNT player survey results to Red Stars owner Arnim Whisler. Players and club staff also described observing or learning of derogatory comments, negative stereotyping, and jokes about race and ethnicity by several other club coaches and leaders. An initial complaint against Clarkson was filed in December 2021, and the joint investigators leading Wednesday's report spoke with seven current and former players who described the coach as "volatile, verbally abusive, and not showing appropriate regard for players' wellbeing." The head coach notified club management and spoke with the assistant coach, reporting to club management that the conversation "didn't go well." The NWSL should require clubs to provide separate housing accommodations to establish clearer boundaries between players and club staff. The injured player recalled that Clarkson angrily asked her, How the fuck are you so unprofessional?" Players told the investigator that Dames (i) yelled excessively; (ii) singled certain players out for constant criticism; (iii) behaved unpredictably; (iv) failed to maintain professional boundaries; and (v) used personal information against players. The Joint Investigative Team collected documents and other materials from a variety of sources, including the NWSL, its member clubs, the NWSLPA, U.S. Soccer, and various individuals. I didn't accept it." Players pinpointed instances in which it appeared that coaching staff were trying to humiliate and sabotage players, rather than help them improve. A lack of clarity in the roles played by the NWSL and clubs in receiving and responding to complaints of misconduct has contributed to confusion about reporting channels. to any third-party that denigrates, disparages, criticizes, Multiple players told the Joint Investigative Team that they felt disconnected from the NWSL or did not know who at the NWSL to contact if they experienced misconduct. 3. Using language drafted in part by Levine, Baird exchanged a few emails with Shim, and during one such exchange, Shim emphasized that given the League's inaction" in response to her 2015 complaint, she was concerned for current players; she requested confirmation that "these issues will be investigated and that appropriate corrective action will be taken to ensure that abusers are not permitted to coach in the NWSL." Christy Holly engaged in sexual misconduct and made inappropriate sexual comments to players. One player recalled that Holly "suddenly exploded" during the meeting. A. 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. We discussed them at length in his interview." "An independent review of practices and policies at the league and club levels-including workplace policies for each club in the league, league-mandated anti-discrimination and anti-harassment policy, and processes for identifying, investigating, and enforcing Although Racing Louisville spoke to both Temares and Smoot about Holly, both Temares and Smoot only recalled discussing that Holly's departure related to his alleged relationship with Pearce Rampone. Press's complaint was not the first time she had raised concerns about Dames's treatment of players to U.S. Soccer leadership and staff. 16, the League come with the mentality of doing you a favor." Dames told the investigator this was not retaliatory, though Dames said he understood why the player felt retaliated against. This may require removing some questions that were included in prior player surveys that could be used to identify responding players, including questions about previous teams, pay, and nationality. The Joint Investigative Team also collected and reviewed relevant emails, texts, and WhatsApp messages from interviewees and the club. Coaches also should not be in a direct supervisory position over club medical staff and should not be in a position to unilaterally terminate or otherwise impose disciplinary action on medical staff without consulting with the managers of the club. Farrelly told the Joint Investigative Team that the announcement "solidified" her decision not to tell her own story, noting the hiring was "extra validation that Shim's allegations did not seem to matter. Maintaining a competitive women's professional league in the United States has long been viewed as critical to the long-term success of the USWNT. Many players reported that they feared instability both in terms of their own careers and the viability of the League, that they were advised to feel grateful to have the chance to play the game at all, and that they felt a personal responsibility to sustain the existence of the NWSL by keeping their heads down and their complaints unvoiced. She specifically denied receiving any complaints from Press regarding Dames. Riley encouraged her to order a drink, eventually ordering a bottle of wine and food for both of them. 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. Levine told the Joint Investigative Team that from what she could recall, Lines was removed "directly in response" to the survey results. After Riley joined the Thorns in 2014, he brought on assistant coaches who had worked for him in the past and who, according to multiple accounts, appeared loyal to Riley. 6. Observations and Findings 6. Players from other clubs shared similar sentiments: for example, players from one club said they feared a coach would retaliate if they reported concerns about him because they had seen him lash out" at players during meetings and because he had once removed a player from the roster after an on-field disagreement. "I think historically, some leagues have focused too much on the children factor of our games," LaHue said. Overall, the downplaying of Riley's misconduct by key individuals with first-hand knowledge evinced that the Thorns, the NWSL, and U.S. Soccer did 18.2k members in the NWSL community. A player recalled this same coach making comments about what players "had on their plates" and "food-shaming" players. Recommendations they were always going to take [Wilkinson's] recommendation over mine." During Holly's tenure as head coach, players reported to Sky Blue management that Holly was verbally abusive, but the club took no action in response to those reports and ultimately failed to share accurate information about Holly's conduct both with the League and other clubs. According to Markgraf, Wahlke said that the Thorns had investigated the matter, and Markgraf understood from the conversation that Riley had been cleared and that his departure from the club was not related to the 2015 investigation. 65, Some witnesses also expressed concern that the experiences of players of color were discounted or not taken seriously. 112 50, The Joint Investigative Team encountered significant delays in its attempts to collect relevant documents from the Red Stars. The statement also claimed that investigators provided Ms. LaHue a few documents that contained alterations. This Report, prepared by Covington in collaboration with Weil, summarizes that joint investigation and offers recommendations for systemic reform. 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. None of the individuals interviewed by the Joint Investigative Team who had contemporaneous knowledge of Riley's misconduct, and who were in positions to take action at the Thorns, U.S. Soccer, or the NWSL, appeared to appreciate the seriousness of the misconduct, or viewed Riley as a danger to players, until Shim and Farrelly went public in 2021. One player also observed that her club was silent on issues of racism by not recognizing Juneteenth or doing work to support the Black community, which she said was in contrast to her former club where there were frequent discussions regarding anti-racism and her coach thought "about the broader world and how that could affect your performance." Shim described Riley as obsessed" with players' romantic and dating relationships. 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. Burke told the Joint Investigative Team that he was a demanding" coach and acknowledged that he could be "profane" at times, but he adamantly denied that his behavior was abusive toward players. In response, the owner pointed out that the player was one of the highest-paid players in the League and discussed how club expenses came out of his own pocket. Flaws in Clubs' Other Reporting Channels The report, however, did not conclude that Dames's conduct "amounted to verbal and emotional abuse" or that his behavior would constitute a violation of the SafeSport Code of Conduct, if the Code applied. In fact, concerns about Dames's behavior were well known by that point. One player reported that Dames extended frequent social invitations, inviting players to get lunch or ice cream with him. Players recalled coaches monitoring the snacks and meals that players ate, forbidding players from eating things like fruit, peanut butter pretzels, and baked chips, and hiding food from players to prevent them from eating, even when the food was provided by the team. By the end of the 2021 season, multiple players who had participated in the meeting were traded, waived, or not re-signed.
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