NWSL Reaches $5M Settlement Over Systemic Player Abuse

The league agrees to restitution and sweeping reforms following investigations into widespread misconduct and rights violations.

The National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) will pay $5 million in restitution to players impacted by abuse as part of a historic settlement announced by attorneys general from New York, Illinois, and Washington, D.C.
Investigations revealed systemic failures, including unchecked misconduct, sexual harassment, racial discrimination, and a toxic culture across multiple teams and leadership levels.
The settlement mandates the creation of a restitution fund, biannual progress reports, anonymous player surveys, and stricter vetting and oversight of coaches and staff.
Additional reforms include mandatory mental health professionals for all teams, enhanced reporting mechanisms, and annual training on harassment, discrimination, and misconduct prevention.
Four coaches received lifetime bans, and multiple team executives and staff were dismissed or resigned in the wake of the 2021 revelations that catalyzed these changes.