Op-Ed: The Rampant Abuse in the NWSL Represent an Actual Threat to Women’s Sports

By: Zachary Draves

For some time now there has been an ever growing concern over the current status of women’s sports. Some claim that it is the presence of transgender women and girls that possess an “unfair” advantage that are taking away the accomplishments of cisgender women and girls. A “problem” that warrants numerous state laws to be passed. However, that couldn’t be further from the truth. The real threats to women’s sports are pay inequities, lack of media coverage, lack of resources, rolling back of reproductive rights, and as it turned out with the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL), unchecked physical, emotional, and sexual abuse.

Last week, an investigation facilitated by the US Soccer Federation and in conjunction with former US Deputy Attorney General, found widespread racist and sexist abuse on the part of numerous coaches towards players after conducting over 100 interviews with current and former NWSL and US Soccer players. In disturbing details, the report outlined that three NWSL coaches including former Chicago Red Stars coach Rory Dames, Racing Louisville coach Christy Holly, and former Portland Thorns coach Paul Riley engaged in repeated abusive actions and practices ranging from hurling racist and misogynist insults to pursuing inappropriate relationships with players to acts of sexual assault.

What makes matters worse is that these behaviors were known by the league but there was no response which to some can be staggering considering that this is a women’s professional sports league with purported progressive values on issues of race and gender.

After the report was released, those who were linked to these crimes have either been fired or stepped down from their positions. In response, the NWSL issued the following statement outlining that they were intending to clean house.

“We greatly appreciate our players, staff and stakeholders’ cooperation with both investigations, especially during the ongoing season. We recognize the anxiety and mental strain that these pending investigations have caused and the trauma that many – including players and staff – are having to relive. We continue to admire their courage in coming forward to share their stories and influence all the changes necessary to keep moving our league forward. Establishing trust and confidence between the League, its players, and other key stakeholders remains a central focus for the NWSL, and we know that we must learn from and take responsibility for the painful lessons of the past in order to move the League into a better future. The findings and recommendations from both reports will be critical to informing and implementing systemic reform and ensuring that the NWSL is a league where players are supported, on and off the pitch, with safe and professional environments to train and compete.

The NWSL/NWSLPA joint and independent investigation into misconduct against players in the league is ongoing. We have asked the Joint Investigative Team to consider the recommendations set forth in the Yates Report when making their recommendations to the NWSL. Moreover, we have asked the Joint Investigative Team to review – and investigate as necessary – the findings in the Yates Report when concluding their report.

The NWSL, alongside the NWSLPA, continue to encourage current and former players and staff with information relating to discrimination, harassment, abuse, retaliation or bullying towards players in the league, to contact NWSL_Investigation@cov.com, or to reach out to the NWSL or NWSLPA directly, or through any other club and league reporting channels.”

With the NWSL playoffs starting this Saturday, this report coming out is certainly damning and clearly demonstrates a lack of accountability and leadership. Yet another example of profit over principle in the world of sports. But if there is any silver lining that can come from this it is that it should be a stark reminder as to what actually constitutes a real direct threat to the dignity and safety of women in sports that needs to be rooted out and that is systemic injustice.

(Courtesy: Charles Fox/The Philadelphia Inquirer

In June, we celebrated the 50th anniversary of the passage of Title IX which opened many doors to opportunities for women and girls in sports. The tangible benefits are evident as we have seen an acceleration of participation among women and girls in sports. Athletes such as Billie Jean King, Lisa Leslie, Mia Hamm, Jackie Joyner Kersee, and Serena Williams to name a few have become household names. There are more women as coaches and other positions of power. But with tremendous progress comes tremendous backlash and the NWSL abuse scandal is a form of systemic backlash.

It clearly demonstrates the lack of appreciation and basic respect to women in sports who simply want to play the game they love. Against the backdrop of already in grained misogyny and sexism in the broader culture, the league completely failed and did so at a time when women’s rights are under direct assault from the Supreme Court of the United States to the streets of Tehran.

The bottom line is that the horrific acts of violence and harassment on the part of the NWSL should be called out by all who claim to champion women’s sports. Plus there needs to be an acknowledgment about the injustices that all women and girls in sports face and it bears repeating, it does not come from other women and girls. If one is a true fan of women’s sports then this is the time to step up.

Otherwise fifty years of progress is depressingly fleeting away.