Sports
Abuse in Women's Pro Soccer League Was Systemic, Report Says
Signage supporting NWSL players is seen during a game between the Los Angeles Galaxy and the Los Angeles FC in Carson, California.
Photographer: Katharine Lotze/Getty ImagesThis article is for subscribers only.
(AP) -- An independent investigation into the scandals that erupted in the National Women's Soccer League last season found emotional abuse and sexual misconduct were systemic in the sport, impacting multiple teams, coaches and players, according to a report released Monday.
“Abuse in the NWSL is rooted in a deeper culture in women’s soccer, beginning in youth leagues, that normalizes verbally abusive coaching and blurs boundaries between coaches and players,” former acting U.S. Attorney General Sally Q. Yates wrote in her report on the investigation.