Athlete abuse inside the National Women’s Soccer League
The power imbalance between coach and athlete is so great in the National Women’s Soccer League (N.W.S.L.) that reports of rape and sexual assault are now publicly surfacing around the league.
A major reason for athlete abuse in the N.W.S.L has to do with player contracts. Once a player signs a contract, they are vulnerable to unethical coaches and staffers.
Players believe that if they complain about athlete abuse that they then will be blackballed or banned from playing in the United States’ highest soccer league for women. And because of the contract, playing in another country is not option. Players are held hostage to the contract until it expires and unethical predatory coaches know it.
The latest report by the N.W.S.L and its players’ union confirms the fear that players live with and the rampant athlete abuse.
The law firm of Saeed & Little has learned through more than a decade of working athlete abuse cases that predators often go after the weakest and target those who are having personal problems. The report echoed what attorney Jon Little suspected. According to the report, “Players from marginalized backgrounds, or with the least job security, were often targets of misconduct.”
This is the second investigative report into athlete abuse inside the N.W.S.L. The first report was compiled on behalf of the U.S. Soccer Federation and also detailed systemic sexual and psychological abuse.
Sadly, the reports outline an environment reminiscent of the environment that allowed Larry Nassar to abuse hundreds of female athletes.
If you are a former or current player and would like to confidentially discuss your options, please give attorney Jon Little a call.
Sources:
https://www.nytimes.com/2022/12/14/sports/soccer/nwsl-abuse-report.html
https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2022/12/14/us/nwsl-report-abuse.html
https://www.nytimes.com/2022/10/03/sports/soccer/us-soccer-abuse-nwsl.html
