NWSL reaches settlement in abuse case, will establish $5 million fund for affected players

The NWSL has created a $5 million fund as part of a landmark suit resulting from a series of sexual and emotional misconduct allegations in 2021, the league and a series of attorneys general announced Wednesday.

The fund is specifically allocated towards players who experienced abuse, and requires that the league uphold safeguards and safety measures introduced after the league found widespread misconduct in 2022.

Attorneys general from Washington, D.C., New York and Illinois will also have the power to assist upholding of the laws, and fine the league if it doesn't follow rules.

The fund serves as the conclusion of a long-standing suit between the players and league. Allegations were first brought to light on a league-wide scale in 2021, forcing five head coaches and the league comissioner to hand in their resignation. The NWSL and U.S. soccer launched an investigation, and found conclusive evidence of systemic abuse and misconduct.

In response, the NWSLPA insisted that safeguards against such misconduct be introduced into the league's Collective Bargaining Agreement, something the two sides agreed upon.

Tori Huster, former Washington Spirit midfielder and current NWSLPA Deputy Executive Director, released a statement on behalf of the players: "This $5 million restitution fund is not a gift. Nor is it justice. This fund exists because players refuse to be silenced. And we found the courage to stand together as a collective. This fund is an acknowledgment of unique failures and the harm suffered by players. It's a testament to the players' courage and a necessary step toward accountability. If the NWSL is safer today, it is because players fought to make it that way."

League commissioner Jessica Berman also issued a statement: "We have worked collaboratively with the NWSLPA and the attorneys general to add greater strength to the programmatic changes we adopted in 2023 in light of the joint investigative reports, and we look forward to supporting the administrator in distributing the Players' Restitution Fund. We will continue to do the work necessary to maintain the trust of our players and build an ecosystem where the best in the world want to come."

Barbara S. Jones, an independent retired judge who was part of the investigation, has 45 days to develop a plan for distribution of the settlement. Players past and present are considered eligible.