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alyse lahue relationship

Dames was not the only coach who resorted to critiques of players' parental status: a player described Riley "berating [one player]" through an entire game and blaming the loss on her infant son." While Richie Burke was head coach of the Spirit, club management created an environment where players felt it was futile to raise concerns about Burke to anyone at the club. 3. These factors do not constitute a bright-line test; The annual anti-bullying training should provide examples and explain the meaning of bullying and emotional abuse as defined in the Anti-Harassment Policy. In essence, that's part of building trust, you have to create transparency. Regarding confidentiality, O'Connor stated repeatedly that confidentiality was at odds with the club's culture of trust" and "transparency," and that there was no need for confidentiality in reporting unless there were issues that were "illegal or immoral." The NWSL should store all certifications in a central location. The NWSL should consider engaging with the NWSLPA on the role and parameters of such a program to ensure that it is responsive to player needs and concerns and that it is developed and implemented in a player-centered way. 40, longest-tenured coach in the League. A few days after Farrelly's complaint to the NWSL, on May 3, 2021, an anonymous complainant emailed the NWSL Office and NWSL HR Office email accounts to report sexual harassment by Riley against Thorns players during Riley's time with the Thorns. to any third-party that denigrates, disparages, criticizes, Wilkinson informed the Joint Investigative Team that he did not recall staff raising concerns about misconduct by Riley. Create a Diversity Advisory Committee Dedicated to Implementing DEI Initiatives On one occasion, when she informed LaHue that other players had asked why LaHue was "so mean to her, LaHue responded, Tell them kids at the playground always pick on their crush." Players from marginalized backgrounds, or with the least job security, were often targets of misconduct.". One of the players perceived this as an attempt to convince them to go out drinking. In October 2022, the Joint Investigative Team received a report that then-Thorns Head Coach Rhian Wilkinson had disclosed to the Thorns's HR director potentially inappropriate interactions with a player with whom she had formed a friendship. 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." Riley was only one of several NWSL club personnel accused of misconduct in the 2020 and 2021 seasons. One veteran player, recounting her years of experience in the NWSL, explained, You didn't have HR in place or anyone running the show [at the NWSL] there was no structure in place, there was nothing that said what the line was or when lines were crossed, or if something happened, where you would go to report things." After participating in an initial interview with the Joint Investigative Team, LaHue, through her counsel, canceled another scheduled interview and declined the Joint Investigative Team's repeated requests to reschedule. The NWSL ran its standard background check, and its resulting report contained no significant adverse findings. The Joint Investigative Team also did not find any evidence that Levine provided information about Riley in response to the Courage's due diligence requests for information, or that she shared information about the 2015 investigation with the Courage. Instead, it should require clubs to notify and provide relevant factual information to the NWSL when a club terminates the employment of any staff member, regardless of job title, or takes other disciplinary action due to misconduct. Strengthen Anti-Harassment Policies .. 14 as leverage to manipulate players. One player recalled that at Dames's suggestion, she spent more time socializing with players identified as Dames's favorites. In certain instances, these coaches justified their behavior by relying on the rationale that the behavior was "cultural" or by doubling down on claims that their behavior was oriented around fitness. Simon recalled that during the camp, Holly did in fact try to get Simon to come to his hotel room, but she never did. Racing Louisville only provided more meaningful cooperation after the USSF Report criticized the club for its "limited" cooperation with U.S. Soccer's investigation. coach, and Alyse LaHue, the former general manager of Gotham F.C., each received two-year suspensions from the league. 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. And we have to do something about it." When Simon arrived at Holly's house, Pearce Rampone was not there. There needs to be a separation of power and more protection for players." Failures of the 2015 Thorns Investigation and Subsequent Communications She explained that her job responsibilities were limited to coaching the national team, and she did not have a role in oversight of NWSL coaches. The club did not take steps to determine if Riley's conduct extended beyond an isolated comment or to other players. 101, When players reported concerns about Dames or resisted his social invitations, they experienced retaliation. With regards to Dames's treatment of players, one player recalled, "It wasn't like, 'Hey, bad pass.' During the meeting, Holly was reportedly fidgeting and "fumbling over his words." However, looking back, this player observed, "People realized, 'There are different ways to do this. At least one player and a volunteer at the club corroborated that Holly treated Simon harshly. Consider Engaging a Third Party to Provide Mental Health First-Aid Training for All NWSL and Club Staff and Players The close timing between the March Investigation and the proposed player transactions creates a reasonable inference that the decisions were motivated in part by retaliation. In addition to conducting minimal outreach to players, U.S. Soccer's investigator did not speak to staff members other than Dames, even when players' statements suggested that a particular staff member could shed light on relevant facts. Multiple players reported that there was an overlap between these players and those who had been vocal at the meeting. He stated that the non-disparagement clause was mutual, in that it required that the club not disparage Holly. Whether or not Whisler received a clear, formal report from U.S. Soccer about the findings of the investigation, he learned of concerns that players had raised about Dames by participating in the investigation. Among the anecdotes is one about a time in 2019 when Riley was a potential candidate to succeed Jill Ellis as U.S. womens national team manager. Levine, who was General Counsel of U.S. Soccer at the time, told the Joint Investigative Team that she recalled the comments about Lines were "very unfavorable." Players reported to the Joint Investigative Team multiple instances in which club staff, coaches, or club leadership retaliated against players for reporting misconduct or for participating in an investigation into misconduct. Coupled with the fact that Clarkson served as both head coach and general manager, this perceived close relationship led players to feel like they had no avenues to report their concerns and that no one was monitoring Clarkson's conduct to ensure that it was appropriate. Long pointed to the fact that "he wasn't winning" as the reason for the change in Williams's role. However, he could not recall any request by Holly or Holly's attorney that the provision bind the club. 114 On August 11, 2021, The Washington Post reported that Spirit Head Coach Richie Burke had verbally and emotionally abused players. Dames responded, [S]he was one of the 2 in consideration prior to any of this crap going on per our text last night. 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. A majority of interviewees believed that Clarkson's mood could be unpredictablethat he could be hot or cold, or they would not know what to expect in terms of his attitude on any given day. Shim described Riley as obsessed" with players' romantic and dating relationships. Gulati told the Joint Investigative Team that he surmised he had received legal advice that there was nothing that could formally be done to stop Riley from coaching elsewhere in the NWSL. 117, complete each mandatory training. 43, Players also told U.S. Soccer's investigator that Dames used his power as head coach to exercise control over them. Instead, it stated only that [e]mployees, without fear of retaliation, have the responsibility to bring any form of intimidation, threats, and sexual or other harassment to the attention of any member of management." One former player differentiated between raised voices in different locations: the player opined, "If you're working in an office cubicle, no one will scream at you for your terrible touch, but that might be needed on the field." These documents included organizational and policy documents related to the clubs, as well as documents related to specific reports of misconduct and subsequent investigations. 119, financial support for players pursuing coaching licenses, with the long-term goal of hiring a greater number of qualified former NWSL players as coaches. As one former player described, "It was almost like [the coach] was trying to break down [my teammate's] confidence so that she would not even be playing for the team. A Spirit player stated that rather than engaging in constructive criticism, Burke would "[go] at [her teammate] just to get her to cry." Players from marginalized backgrounds, or with the least job security, were often targets of misconduct. Clarkson asked a staff member to request security footage from the hotel, but the staff member was not able to obtain the footage. The player reported that she later told Clarkson she found the comment offensive, and he laughed again. 118, coaches and staff to better understand their interactions with players. A staff member "got really drunk" during this party and "made inappropriate passes at people." Kurtz continued to struggle with Riley as her coach, and described her experience of the 2019 season as "hellfire." NWSL Independence. Zerboni is hopeful for the building process currently underway within the league, and looks forward to seeing positive improvements implemented at the league and club levels.The recommendations set forth by the report were extensive, and can be found in the final pages of the report. Shim declined, stating she needed to take care of a sick teammate. In addition, romantic relationships between players and staff, even when consensual, blur the lines between appropriate and inappropriate behavior, increasing the risk of misconduct. The Joint Investigative Team asked Harrington for his cell phone records, with call and text details, for the month in question. Starr went to Simon's apartment that evening to let her know she had reported Holly's abuse but had not given Simon's name. On In crafting this policy, the NWSL should be mindful that non-disclosure and non-disparagement agreements have been used to restrict clubs from criticizing or sharing information about a departing staff member. The team tried to fit into a rented van to return to their hotel, and team members sat on each other's laps. Getting a massage." 4. When confronted by the team's captains about his response, Clarkson said that the players "should be scared.". Despite the discussions between U.S. Soccer, the NWSL, and both the Thorns and Courage regarding Riley's unsuitability to coach the USWNT, no steps were taken to remove or prevent him from coaching NWSL players. 42, Wahlke. A witness recalled that when introducing a staff member to the front office, a general manager announced that the staff member was "engaged to one of [the] players." Burke also discouraged player activism for racial equity. More than one individual used the phrase "Jekyll and Hyde" to describe Holly, who exhibited patterns of hot and cold behavior that caused anxiety and uncertainty for players. When one Spirit player tackled a teammate during practice, Burke went off out of nowhere," calling the player a "fucking asshole" and a cheat." The ability of individuals within the League to identify and report misconduct, and to receive sufficient responses to those reports, has also been hampered by a failure of stakeholders including U.S. Soccer, the League, and clubsto adequately share information. Club staff must be held to higher standards. The Joint Investigative Team spoke to other players on the Red Stars who reported similar concerns of retaliation. The Joint Investigative Team requested documents from every club through the appropriate club official or club counsel. Accounts differ about what happened next. Multiple players and club staff reported that in 2017, while Holly was head coach of Sky Blue, he began dating Pearce Rampone. One player described Holly screaming at a player during a game, only to bring her into a meeting after the game in which he cried and told her that she was his favorite player. In that interview, Farrelly did not discuss, and Garcia did not ask, about Riley's other misconduct towards her, which was not uncovered until later. However, interviewees reported that Clarkson on occasion failed to recognize or appreciate his effect on players. These vague public statements contributed to the failure to adequately share information between U.S. Soccer, the League, and clubs regarding coaches who committed misconduct. In addition to background checks, the NWSL should conduct reference checks for all prospective owners, coachesincluding volunteer coachesand club staff who may interact with players. One player described being screamed at by Burke during a game until she began hiding behind the other team because [she] was so scared of touching the ball." Cromwell said the team could "manage" one player, but the others "need to go." On July 8, 2021, the Club was advised that the investigation determined that Ms. LaHue violated the leagues policy on harassment, discrimination, and retaliation. 14 Players pinpointed instances in which it appeared that coaching staff were trying to humiliate and sabotage players, rather than help them improve. After significant effort and some inquiries, they ultimately identified Nancy Garcia (formerly Nancy Garcia Ford), the HR director for the Thorns and its affiliated men's team, the Portland Timbers. The NWSL's 2022 Anti-Harassment Policy contains this same language, and it further clarifies that the NWSL prohibits discriminatory and harassing conduct in any form, regardless of whether it rises to the level of a legal violation. In the fall of 2022, Kurtz decided to share Riley's misconduct with the Joint Investigative Team. The Joint Investigative Team also reached out to approximately 150 current and former players individually by email, telephone, and/or text and invited them to share their, experiences with the Joint Investigative Team. I also pitch in with coverage of college basketball and the WNBA. However, Novo told the Joint Investigative Team that the club was not seriously pursuing Riley at the time and that he does not recall hearing anything bad" about Riley. In multiple investigations by the NWSL, no written report, summary, or other record of findings was prepared, and findings were not broadly shared. Ms. LaHue was placed on unpaid administrative leave while the NWSLs third-party investigator reviewed the matter. During its investigation, the Joint Investigative Team identified discrepancies in versions of an email exchange involving LaHue that was part of the file from the 2021 League investigation. The new report expands on many of those topics, though only relating specifically to occurrences in the NWSL era. Examples of prohibited verbal conduct include epithets; derogatory comments or slurs; negative stereotyping; and jokes, kidding, or teasing about another person's protected status. Predmore responded that the club's "primary objective was "to remove [Benstiti] from the role as quickly as possible" and the question of resignation or termination was an important, but secondary concern." Additionally, U.S. Soccer, the League, and its member clubs often failed to investigate, conducted an inadequate investigation, or otherwise failed to address misconduct reported to them. In one instance, the report dismissed concerns about Dames's racist comments as "not supported by recent examples," finding that "the three examples of alleged inappropriate remarks, if they were made, were insensitive and perhaps thoughtless, but not made with any apparent intent." The Joint Investigative Team considered whether the conduct at issue violated the 2022 Anti-Harassment Policy, regardless of when the conduct occurred. By January 2012, WPS suspended operations and announced it would be folding permanently in May 2012. The 2022 Anti-Harassment Policy clarifies that it applies to all "NWSL Personnel," which includes "certain individuals and entities not employed by NWSL," including team owners, team personnel, and team medical staff. One NWSLPA member expressed the need for training on the Anti-Harassment Policy. When the Courage employed Riley as their head coach in 2017 in connection with their purchase of the Flash, they received insufficient information about the extent of Riley's misconduct while at the Thorns. The previous investigation into misconduct allegations was conducted by outside counsel for the Pride in March 2022 (the March Investigation). These partnerships should provide regular formal opportunities to explore concerns and receive feedback from members of these groups. In spite of this, there is no evidence that Levine provided the Flash with additional details about Riley's past conduct. The failure of clubs, at least in some instances, to submit coaches and staff for required vetting may reflect both confusion on the part of clubs as to which staff members require NWSL vetting, as well as a lack of controls over that process. 46, of Dames's issues with the player's boyfriend. 74, At the time of Benstiti's hiring, Bill Predmore was the club's majority owner and CEO, and he conducted the head coach search process. Two players said they sought therapy. On a third team, a player described her coach threatening players with waiver after the coach heard that those players had questioned decisions he made during training. In 2019, several media outlets, including Yahoo! Multiple players, in public statements or in interviews with the Joint Investigative Team, reported that they experienced retaliation for reporting concerns about Dames. Misconduct on any level cannot be tolerated, and clear reporting lines along with proper vetting must be enshrined in NWSL policies. Williams acknowledged that club leaders also identified to him specific players who organized the meeting, although he did not know all the players who participated. He told the player that the club had provided Benstiti the opportunity to resign as "the most immediate and least risky path" to removing him from the club. The Joint Investigative Team encouraged players and other witnesses to share their experiences in the manner they found most comfortable. Players credibly reported that Pauw criticized players for their appearance for example, saying that some players were "too big" while praising other players for losing weight, with no apparent correlation to performance or health. The Flash were not fully informed of the allegations or investigative findings against Riley, and they received a favorable assessment of Riley from Wilkinson. For example, a member of club management reported that when Sky Blue hired Christy Holly as their head coach in August 2020, he was not subject to a criminal background check. E. Reports of Misconduct in 2020 and 2021 During her tenure as NWSL president, Amanda Duffy was made aware of, but failed to act on, Shim's 2015 complaint against Riley and the subsequent investigation conducted by the Thorns. Trainings should also explain that even if there are other reasons for taking an adverse action against a player or staff member, if retaliation is a motivating factor for taking an adverse action, the adverse action is retaliatory and a violation of the Anti-Harassment Policy. 5. Oversight Committee Composition and Operation He went on to describe players as "desperate to get starts" and said he knew that the team would become fragile "if th[e] poison continue[d]." 97, In an email exchange in July 2017, Sky Blue owner Steven Temares asked Novo whether "Christy has a relationship that takes advantage of any player or makes his independence as a coach questionable among the players." 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. According to Wilkinson, he told Lines that U.S. Soccer had the investigative report regarding Riley. Indeed, after Riley was fired on September 30, 2021, Kurtz disclosed additional misconduct by Riley, and another player told the club that Riley had been verbally abusive and created a "culture of fear" in which players could not express opinions, and that other coaches had allowed Riley to engage in this behavior. The NWSL periodically distributed annual player surveys seeking feedback from players about a variety of topics. 100 The USSF Dames Investigation surfaced several concerns about Dames, but those concerns were not appropriately investigated or addressed. While the emails between Whisler, Bailey, Flynn, and Gulati obtained by the Joint Investigative Team do not reflect this, Whisler said that he attempted, but was unable, to get more information from U.S. Soccer on the comments regarding Dames or direction on how to address them. During the lengthy investigation, players were given insufficient opportunity to speak to the investigator, and the investigator did not speak to any club staff members other than Dames. Levine did not report Riley to SafeSport between its creation in 2017 and the publication of the Athletic article. Similarly, the League had no process for clubs to speak to former owners, general managers, staff, or players when hiring a new coach. Witnesses also reported that the coach attempted to get another player to dance with him and told her he did not care about her sexuality. Whether the conduct was severe or repetitive and whether it was intentional are factors that may influence this analysis. Provide Mandatory Annual Anti-Harassment Training This prevented the Joint Investigative Team from timely gathering documents and information relevant to the investigation, and substantially delayed important parts of this investigation. 114, staff and players to identify conditions and circumstances for socializing that prioritize player safety and respect for boundaries. Paulson also told the Joint Investigative Team that Riley and Lines had a long-standing relationship," and at the time The same day, The Athletic reported that the investigation was related to a violation of the NWSL's anti-harassment policy. 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. Players at the Dash reported that they had heard that the club had hired an HR representative in 2021, but that players did not have much contact with her. The documents should be kept confidential and shared only with individuals who need them to investigate and make determinations regarding investigation outcomes and discipline. Shim, Farrelly, and other players speaking out about their experiencesthis time publicly-led directly to Riley's firing. For instance, two players told the investigator they had left the Red Stars in part because of Dames's abuse. The NWSL should provide clear guidance to players, club staff, and League staff addressing how to use the program and clear examples of disputes that are appropriate for the program. that he had created a "sexualized team environment" at a Chicago youth club that "crossed the line to sexual relationships in multiple cases, though those relationships may . In addition, the Joint Investigative Team coordinated with the USSF Investigation team where appropriate for certain interviews or other fact gathering. Multiple players at the Pride experienced anxiety attacks due in part to a stressful working environment. The NWSL should consider preparing an annual report regarding the operation of the Anti-Harassment Policy, including aggregated data regarding reports to the League of potential violations of the Anti-Harassment Policy, and the outcomes and resolutions of those reports. In February 2016, Plush expressed concern in internal emails about the fact that the Flash were planning to hire Riley. The Joint Investigative Team also collected and reviewed relevant emails, texts, and WhatsApp messages from interviewees and the club. alyse lahue relationship. The player wondered, "Are you going to get a jokey type of day, or is he going to make your life hell that day?" So did the message of an adult brand backing a sport that has long marketed first to kids and families. It acknowledged that the League had a "need to know," and that an "allegation that a head coach has acted inappropriately toward a player is obviously of concern to the League." In response to her request, Courage Assistant General Manager Bobby Hammond conveyed to Kurtz or her agent that the club was unable to find a trade for her, but that it could increase her salary by a "few thousand dollars." Multiple players told the Joint Investigative Team that they felt disconnected from the NWSL or did not know who at the NWSL to contact if they experienced misconduct. A different player explained that "a lot of coaches . On September 30, 2021, The Athletic reported that Courage Head Coach Paul Riley had sexually coerced players and made derogatory comments about players' weight and sexual orientation prior to and during his tenure as head coach of the Thorns. At the start of the 2022 season, the NWSL consisted of 12 teams: Angel City FC, the Red Stars, the Dash, Kansas City Current, Gotham, the Courage, OL Reign, the Pride, the Thorns, Racing Louisville, San Diego Wave FC, and the Spirit. Former NWSL commissioner Jeff Plush responded to the joint investigators after refusing to speak with Yates & Co., though the report indicates that Plush only provided written responses.

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