Nonetheless, the Joint Investigative Team faced a number of limitations throughout the investigation. . This information suggested that Riley might pose a danger to players, but the Courage did not take adequate steps to learn the findings of the investigation, reflecting a lack of appreciation for the power dynamics between players and coaches, and the Courage employed Riley despite knowing of this allegation. Where players' clubs shared ownership or management with men's teams, players reported that their owners prioritized the men's teams, even in cases where the women's teams were more successful. Against this backdrop, some players reported misconduct anonymously through player surveys conducted by the NWSL. Burke generally denied being verbally abusive, but acknowledged repeated examples of using demeaning and belittling language. The next day, on June 13, 2018, Levine informed Whisler that a player had raised a complaint. You moron.' At the time, the NWSL was addressing a number of other issues with Sky Blue, unrelated to misconduct against players, and Duffy recalled "being confused" about how to handle Holly's relationship with Pearce Rampone and how Holly's departure fit into other concerns with the club. A player recalled this same coach making comments about what players "had on their plates" and "food-shaming" players.
A majority of players expressed the view that Clarkson's treatment of players did not rise to the level of abuse or misconduct, though some of them took issue with some of Clarkson's conduct or aspects of his coaching style. We interview the founders, investors, technologists, and early stage employees who are part of today's entrepreneurial ecosystem. Many of the coaches and individuals who engaged in misconduct and who are discussed in this Report were not appropriately vetted by their clubs. Some players and club staff explained that the apology was requested because players had violated COVID-19 protocols in the stands. When the player was emotional after the game, Burke reportedly continued to yell at her and called her "selfish."
Ex-Canada assistant to coach NWSL Thorns, succeeding fellow Canadian One player reported that Riley ripped" a player for being too fat during a halftime speech. Multiple players reported that there was an overlap between these players and those who had been vocal at the meeting. These behaviors undisputedly occurred and are still occurring." 52, Simon recalled that Holly once brought her into a suite in the Racing Louisville stadium for a film session, even though she had tried to hold it in a public place. The report states, Multiple individuals emphasized the critical insight that can be gained by speaking with persons knowledgeable about the candidate..
The club encouraged Simon to consider
The Joint Investigative Team contacted and attempted to interview every individual who was the subject of a report of misconduct and whom the Joint Investigative Team considered naming in this Report. Having opportunities to hang with others or time for self-care is important to maintain a healthy relationship. 94, wrote that the staff were "not good" and generally stated there was "sexism and manipulation," and that "the combination of poor coaching and a destructive leader summ[ed] up [their] season."
Player survey comments alleging that NWSL or club staff have engaged in misconduct should be assessed and, where appropriate, investigated. In fact, an attorney from the law firm retained by the Thorns informed Levine that there were suggestions in [Shims] interview [with Garcia] that Paul Riley's relationship [with Farrelly] was more extensive than [Shim's]/Riley's." One of the players recalled that Benstiti said, I don't care if you go to the newspapers no more fast food. One player recalled that she and her teammates were told by their club, "People would die to be in [your] shoes," and that if the players had issues with the club or the League, they don't have a problem waiving you." Another staff member at the same club was retained as a consultant after complaints that he made inappropriate comments and singled out players. b) Staff Living in Player Apartment Complexes
In September 2021, this requirement was updated to include assistant coaches and other club staff who would regularly interact with players. Additionally, U.S. Soccer, the League, and its member clubs often failed to investigate, conducted an inadequate investigation, or otherwise failed to address misconduct reported to them. Representatives appointed by each of the 12 NWSL club owners comprise the League's Board of Governors, which acts on behalf of the League. The Joint Investigative Team also found numerous deficiencies in the 2015 Thorns Investigation and subsequent communications by the Thorns, the NWSL, and U.S. Soccer about Riley's misconduct. In the letter, players demanded that the NWSL adopt policies to protect players, including by requiring clear reporting channels for complaints as well as procedures for thorough and impartial investigations. The policy prohibits harassing conduct, regardless of whether it rises to the level of a legal violation. The NWSL should consider engaging with the Black Women's Player Collective and players from other historically marginalized groups to understand how microaggressions or racist, antisemitic, homophobic, and other derogatory language may manifest in the NWSL environment and how the policy may be updated to address such issues. In some of these texts, Riley had noted that his messages to Shim "get a bit riskee [sic]," and he complained that he never saw Shim alone, telling her, "[Y]ou avoid me like the plaque [sic]." This confusion extended to the question of whether U.S. Soccer, the League, or clubs were expected-or even permitted-to develop HR functions and address misconduct. The Oversight Committee pledged to ensure that the investigation was independent, thorough, and objective. According to the USSF Dames Report, one player said that Dames "was constantly putting her down, diminishing her self-worth, and making it clear he had the power and control and she did not." Despite receiving updates on the investigation, U.S. Soccer failed to follow up on evidence that suggested Riley may have had a more extensive relationship with Farrelly. Even retired players expressed fears that former coaches could affect their careers. We must make the necessary changes based on the unprofessionalism and carelessness in the past in order to pave [the way for] a more mature and harmless future.. In January 2018, Dames informed Whisler that he could lower the pay for two staff members because those staff members would earn additional income working for Eclipse. For instance, Garcia was told of Riley's close relationship with Farrelly and his negative, potentially homophobic commentary about Farrelly's relationship with another player on the team. 105 108
Also during that time, in connection with Riley's hiring by the Flash, Plush, Gulati, Flynn, and Levine corresponded by email indicating some or all of them had discussed the need for [an NWSL] policy and training." The only thing I can say for sure is that the issue stems from a complaint filed with the league under its anti-harassment policy. One player recalled that Holly "suddenly exploded" during the meeting. Holly grabbed Simon's wrist and forced her to touch his penis.
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Multiple current and former players from the Kansas City Current raised concerns that Head Coach Huw Williams retaliated against players for participating in an August 2021 meeting with other club leaders, including club owners Chris and Angie Long. C.
The Red Stars's, the Dash's, and the Current's handbooks stated generally that employees were required to comply with all NWSL rules and/or policies, but other handbooks did not reference compliance with any NWSL policies. The Joint Investigative Team recommends that the NWSL adopt additional measures to facilitate a safer, more inclusive, and more respectful workplace for players. For example, the report summary stated, "The players broadly described how Dames did not maintain professional boundaries, was too close to certain players, and tried to gather information to get close to others. One of the players perceived this as an attempt to convince them to go out drinking.
The preceding sections of this Report summarized, thematically, the Joint Investigative Team's factual findings. For example, in 2021 following an NWSL game in Houston, Sarah Gorden, a Black player, posted on social media that her boyfriend, who went to see her in the stands after the game, was followed by stadium security and was told he would be arrested if he came close. Flynn did not specifically recall providing the details noted by Johnson; rather, he only recalled telling Johnson to speak to individuals at the Thorns and to other club owners prior to making a decision regarding Riley because others might know the results of the 2015 Thorns Investigation. Additionally, despite the adverse findings, the Thorns asserted in an email to the NWSL that the 2015 Thorns Investigation revealed no "unlawful harassment," a conclusion that was not included in the 2015 investigative report itself and that was not further explained. The USSF Dames Report noted that Dames denied knowing the impact of his demands, but the report did not find his denial to be credible. Some players said they thought the club should have been more direct with the players regarding the reason for Holly's termination, although two players stated they thought the club handled Holly's termination well and they believed the lack of information shared was to protect Simon's privacy. As The Philadelphia Inquirer reported, the statement from LaHues lawyer claimed that investigators provided Ms. LaHue a few documents that contained alterations. According to Novo, after his conversation with ownership, he met with Holly and told him it was "time to move on." Where necessary to gather additional facts, the NWSLPA further followed up with some players directly, requesting they share their experiences with the Joint Investigative Team. The League added seven expansion teams, and four teams were rebranded or relocated. . The NWSL should communicate available reporting channels regularly to all players, staff, and volunteers who interact with players. Gulati responded that Dorrance "should reach out to previous owners as well" as part of "due diligence" about Riley.
Second, the investigation found that players and club staff did not trust reporting processes or the league at large, so much so that it affected participation even in this investigation, which had the oversight of the players' union, the NWSLPA. Kurtz recalled speaking to Riley in late 2020 to again tell him she wanted to leave the club. Three players said that they heard Dames make racist remarks, including referring to black players as 'thugs and telling one Black player that she was acting like a gang member after a game in which [she] played aggressively." Levine claimed that Farrelly "withheld her experiences with Riley in 2015, and she asserted through her counsel that Farrelly and Shim consciously did not explain Farrelly's alleged sexual history" with Riley when they emailed the NWSL in 2021 as part of an effort to "gain leverage over the League." F.
During the interview, Farrelly described the night that she and Shim had kissed in Riley's apartment, and she said she had seen some of Riley's inappropriate text messages to Shim. She specifically recalled having meetings in hotel rooms alone with two coaches and stressed that from her perspective, it is never appropriate for a male coach to meet with a player in his hotel room with the door closed.
This Report notes where certain individuals agreed to be interviewed, provided a written response, declined the Joint Investigative Team's invitation, or did not respond. that he had created a "sexualized team environment" at a Chicago youth club that "crossed the line to sexual relationships in multiple cases, though those relationships may . Riley declined to respond to requests to participate in this investigation. The player had reported to one member of the coaching staff, but not to Clarkson, that she was feeling ankle discomfort before a game.
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. 13, In November 2021, The Washington Post published an article reporting that Rory Dames, head coach of the Red Stars and the longest-tenured coach in the League, had been verbally and emotionally abusive towards players, and that U.S. Soccer had failed to adequately investigate and respond to reports of his misconduct.