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One player compiled other players' accounts of Benstiti's speech into a formal complaint, which reported that Benstiti said, "If I see you [eat] snacks, I will kill you; told players he would be monitoring their food and snacks; and "specifically brought up Lindsey Horan and said, 'I don't care, I will do the same thing and I don't care if it's in the paper."" The scope of fact-finding was limited, and during the interview of and subsequent communications with Shim, the investigator was focused on whether any unlawful harassment had occurred and whether Shim might have a legal claim against the Thorns. 8. Ahead of the first game of the trip, Clarkson questioned whether a player was hungover from an outing the previous night, despite his medical staff informing him that they thought she was experiencing altitude sickness (Mexico City is 7,300 feet above sea level). While player transactions and staff terminations are certainly not the only conduct that could be retaliatory-and many player transactions may be motivated by non-retaliatory and soccer-specific reasonstaking this step could alert the NWSL to any potentially retaliatory player transactions or staff terminations and allow the NWSL to investigate where needed. Since its inception, the NWSL and clubs have failed to provide clear guidance to players regarding what constitutes misconduct. Harrington also stated "with 100% certainty" that he never [did] and would never enter a player's room." Shim, feeling pressured and placed on the spot, kissed with I have no idea." Levine's email contained no context or explanation for why she was forwarding the report. She also said she was "petrified" that Wilkinson would trade her from the Thorns because Riley had portrayed himself and Wilkinson as good friends. Both players and staff on the Current described disproportionately angry responses by their former head coach, Huw Williams, to routine questions in the course of games or practices. This misconduct included sending the player inappropriate text messages that continued even after the player told LaHue to accept that they were working together and nothing more. The League office cooperated fully with this investigation, provided all necessary resources, and granted the Joint Investigative Team full autonomy to follow the facts and evidence wherever they led. 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." As one player observed, the practice of drinking together erased the sense of boundaries between "players, coaches, and general manager[s]." ..13 Her resignation followed screenshots posted on Twitter by Alex Morgan, a member of the USWNT and former Thorns player, which showed Baird had denied an April 2021 request from Sinead Farrelly to reopen the investigation into Riley. In late 2020, the NWSLPA began advocating for the League to adopt an antiharassment policy. While the NWSL has recently improved its hiring practices and background check processes, background and reputational checks should be enhanced, and the NWSL should establish formal procedures to facilitate information-sharing among clubs. In spring 2021, when Levine was the NWSL's general counsel, Shim and Farrelly resurfaced allegations against Riley. O'Connor reported that Holly could not explain when asked about sending inappropriate text messages to Simon. That initial policy was created with a primary focus of maintaining a safe environment, free of harassment. A third player recalled that during trips for away games, the team would "go to the bar together and Riley would "be there buying players . Players, fans, and the public expressed anger that the NWSL and its member clubs had failed to protect players while shielding perpetrators from public humiliation or the loss of job opportunities. Consistent with the 2022 Anti-Harassment Policy, the NWSL should require League and club staff to preserve documents relating to allegations and investigations of misconduct for at least seven years. For example, one former player explained, If I don't cover my man and they score, that might warrant screaming." I also pitch in with coverage of college basketball and the WNBA. At the same time, the Thorns claimed legal privilege over the very information that would be responsive to such inquiries, creating barriers for the NWSL and U.S. Soccer to disclose what the investigation revealed about Riley's misconduct. He also reportedly told a male player on an opposing Major League Soccer team that Hansen could lynch the player, supposedly in an effort to ask the player to play for Hansen's team. The NWSL Players Association ("NWSLPA") also demanded an independent investigation into abusive conduct. Christy Holly's Sexual Misconduct and Abuse However, that position is inconsistent with other evidence, including an email from counsel for the Thorns and Plush's own prior communications with Sky Blue. 48, lack of information sharing deterred players from speaking out and left players with the impression that Dames's conduct was appropriate. As with the first instance, the sex occurred after heavy drinking, with Riley paying for drinks and Farrelly feeling she had to appease Riley given his power in professional soccer and over her career. The report included: (i) descriptions of those interviewed; (ii) details about players' concerns, as well as Dames's and Whisler's responses to those concerns; (iii) a summary of the law firm's factual findings; and (iv) a conclusion. Beyond the Bottom Line is a podcast created by the Program on Entrepreneurship at the Yale School of Management, where we're educating founders for business and society. The annual training should be interactive, with opportunities for participants to ask questions and receive feedback. He remained with the Flash until the club was sold in 2017. Wahlke told the Joint Investigative Team that she did not recall reviewing the 2015 Thorns report in detail, but she recalled reviewing the email from the Thorns's counsel that concluded Riley had not engaged in unlawful harassment. She also feared Holly would ruin her career. Players reported the coaching staff physically turned their backs on the player while she was experiencing a panic attack and did not follow up with this player afterward to ask how she was doing. Indeed, the report notes at the outset: "Misconduct in the League is not wholly independent from abuse that begins in youth soccer, where many coaches' and players' formative experiences shaped the way they engaged in, or reacted to, misconduct and abuse in the NWSL. The League should require that any non-disclosure or non-disparagement provisions allow the League and clubs to share information consistent with disclosure requirements set forth in the AntiHarassment Policy and any other requirements that may be implemented to promote transparency and player safety. According to Malik, then-U.S. Soccer Vice President (now-President) Cone contacted him to ask if he knew of any concerns with Riley during Riley's time at the Courage. 1. However, player confidentiality and safety were not the motivating factors in the Thorns's decision to withhold information about Riley's misconduct from the Flash and the Courage. 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. Whisler informed Dames that waiving the player "the day after she raised an issue (if it was her)" would increase the risk of a claim of retaliation, and Dames responded, "Of course it was her . Other players reported instances of Dames texting players late at night, commenting on players' appearances, and "routinely" taking "some of his favorites out to dinner." During his interview with the Joint Investigative Team, Harrington described the incident differently: Harrington said he was at the hotel when one of the players either messaged or called him to ask for help taking an intoxicated player to her hotel room, which he claimed he did. F. When interviewed by the Joint Investigative Team, Burke admitted making these comments but did not acknowledge their offensiveness. Whisler was confronted with players' concerns repeatedly beginning in at least 2014, in the form of player survey feedback, direct conversations with players, and Whisler's own participation in the USSF Dames Investigation. Craig Harrington: The former Utah Royals coach is reported to have. Interviews with club and League personnel suggested a lack of information sharing both within Sky Blue and with the League. Following Clarkson's suspension, the Joint Investigative Team interviewed 19 additional current and former Dash players and staff, including Clarkson. On July 16, 2021, Gotham announced that General Manager Alyse LaHue was terminated following an investigation into a complaint that she had violated NWSL policy. They also feel the non-fraternization policy, first implemented in January 2018, must be more explicit, extend to staff beyond the head coach and "clarify that any sexual or romantic relationship between players and those in supervisory roles over players is strictly prohibited, even if the relationship is consensual. A former OL Reign staff member who worked closely with Predmore was adamant that Benstiti had not yet been hired when Predmore was made aware of the issue. Alyse LaHue (Sky Blue and Gotham, Vice President, 20182019, General Manager, 2019-2021) NEWARK, NJ - After years of bad press, Phil Murphy's Sky Blue soccer team was. Markgraf also told the Joint Investigative Team that a player subsequently warned Markgraf not to hire Riley and left Markgraf with the impression that Riley was a "bad guy. The club had asked the NWSL to run a standard background check on this potential hire but did not request a reputational check. An investigation commissioned by the National Women's Soccer League and its players union found "widespread misconduct" directed at players dating back to the beginnings nearly a decade ago of the At a team meeting the next day, players observed that Clarkson was visibly angry as he reprimanded the team at length, calling them selfish, disrespectful, and unprofessional by going out drinking prior to a game. However, four of the nine players interviewed had raised concerns that Dames made inappropriate remarks about players' appearances, and two players provided specific examples of those comments. Additionally, the club put out a statement via Twitter addressing the report as a whole. 114 The investigation was conducted in a trauma-informed, survivor-centered manner, respecting the empowerment, autonomy, and physical and mental wellbeing of any individual impacted by inappropriate conduct. Through her attorney, to The Athletics Meg Linehan, LaHue denied the allegations that got her terminated. Nor do I have any independent recollection of who, if anyone, at the USSF reviewed these surveys, if the USSF had any policy or practice regarding who must review them, what follow-up actions should be taken in response to the surveys, and/or what information was shared with the NWSL teams." If the NWSL receives a complaint or report of alleged misconduct regarding club staff, it should consider requiring that club to report any planned player transactions or staff terminations to the NWSL for the remainder of the current season and the following off-season. Evaluation of "[c]omprehensive policies and procedures created for the league and all member clubs to ensure moving forward that there is a systematic, transparent, and effective execution of any harassment or workplace conduct issues." f) Failure to Disseminate Findings The Joint Investigative Team requested an interview with Holly, and he initially agreed to be interviewed. It begins with an overview of the investigation's scope and process, and a summary of the history and founding of the NWSL, including its establishment and management by U.S. Soccer. The NWSLPA also announced that it would conduct its own independent investigation into workplace misconduct within the League. Systemic bias disempowers women, people of color, and other historically marginalized groups. Whisler shared his perspective with the Joint Investigative Team that "if you're a coach and you know a player doesn't want to be in your environment, has other players upset because she turned something in to the League there's a chemistry issue that I think has to be thought through from a team health perspective." Wilkinson told the Joint Investigative Team he learned of at least one occasion in mid-2015 in which Riley had been drinking socially with players. Rather, according to the report, he indicated that he "was unaware of any retaliation." In the investigation commissioned by U.S. Soccer and led by Sally Yates, the former U.S. attorney general, one small reference was made regarding LaHue, which read as follows: Our investigation also uncovered examples of inappropriate conduct by club personnel. She said that when clubs receive a player complaint, they must ask the League what to do [and] where to tell them to go," and added that it was "really unclear what do you do locally versus what goes straight to the League. The HR director at one club explained that she had to reach out to the League for guidance on HR matters because none was provided, and she often assumed that the League, not the club, would handle potential misconduct reported by players. In a follow-up interview, the lawyer said the alterations were not made by Ms. LaHue, and did not provide any further details. She pushed his hands away, crossed her legs, and turned away from him, but Holly told her to lighten up" and have fun. Hendrix said Simon told her about this incident right after it happened, and she recalled Simon crying. Some players also reported that the SafeSport trainings are not applicable to professional women's soccer and are geared toward youth sports, with the trainings including examples of misconduct involving children. In 2019, when Riley was under consideration for the USWNT head coach position, Wahlke received a copy of the Thorns's 2015 investigative report regarding Riley, and she participated in discussions regarding his suitability for the position. 3. 6. Things actually can be spoken up about, be brought to light." The NWSL should continue to update and revise the Anti-Harassment Policy to strengthen its protections against misconduct and retaliation toward NWSL players and club staff. When the investigation concluded, Levine received and reviewed a copy of the 2015 investigative report and supporting documents, along with the Thorns's counsel's determination that the 2015 investigation revealed no unlawful harassment." 4. Kurtz said she cried on the phone, telling Hammond that her request was not about playing time-she said she did not feel comfortable being around Riley and told Hammond that Riley had called her chubby." The NWSLPA did not pursue collective bargaining at that time, and instead continued to focus on improving communication and addressing player concerns with the League. A player expressed a similar concern, saying that she felt Holly made "decisions that weren't in the best interest of the team" because of his relationship. One player recalled that O'Connor informed players that Holly had been terminated due to an inappropriate relationship" with a player. We felt like charity," one player explained. For example, Burke told the team they were having a Holocaust" when performing poorly; put a surgical mask-used to protect against COVID-19-on his head to simulate a yarmulke and sang a Jewish song" (which Burke told the Joint Investigative Team was Adam Sandler's "The Chanukah Song"); and called a passing drill the "Jew star." 6. Instead, these conversations occurred on an ad hoc basis and were left to individual clubs. The responsible drinking policy should also state that the NWSL expects all NWSL staff, club staff, and players to exercise good judgment and professionalism when drinking alcohol with colleagues outside of official NWSL or club events, and that alcohol will never be accepted as an excuse for engaging in misconduct toward staff or players. It then describes the Joint Investigative Team's observations and findings based on specific incidents and evidence obtained during the investigation, and summarizes findings of misconduct relating to key individuals and entities. They were also informed that players had come to Riley's apartment after drinking at a nearby bar and that an allegation was made that Riley had suggested two players kiss. Shim recalled feeling uncomfortable because she felt that Riley was treating the evening like a date. . "I think historically, some leagues have focused too much on the children factor of our games," LaHue said. 51, with an erection. In addition, she agreed that Dames's conduct would violate the SafeSport Code of Conduct, if it had applied. 31, [U.S. Soccer] are aware of the issues because they were raised when he was at the Thorns." LaHue is supportive of the ongoing reforms that are taking place in the NWSL. Players reported that club staff living with players allowed the staff to exercise control over players' personal lives.