Sallly Yates reveals the details of NWSL investigation.

The NWSL released the following statement in response to the report:

“First and foremost, the NWSL would like to thank Sally Yates and her team for their work in conducting this investigation. We commissioned this independent investigation with the goal of fully understanding the facts surrounding certain allegations that had been made, and we are grateful to Sally and her team for their thorough and professional approach."

“The NWSL takes any allegations of misconduct very seriously, and we are committed to creating and maintaining a safe, professional, and respectful environment for all NWSL players, employees, and fans. We believe that this report will help us achieve that goal, and we will be taking a number of steps in the coming days and weeks to ensure that the NWSL is a safe and supportive environment for everyone involved.”

Yates’ report included interviews with NWSL players, staff members, and other stakeholders, and reviewed “a significant number of documents.” Yates said her team did not find evidence “that NWSL knew about or condoned” the kind of misconduct alleged in media reports earlier this year, but she did find that the league “could have done more to create a culture in which players feel comfortable coming forward with concerns.”

Yates made a number of recommendations for the NWSL going forward, including:

• increasing transparency around the league’s player discipline process;

• improving communication between the NWSL and its players;

• ensuring that NWSL staff members are trained on how to handle misconduct allegations; and

• establishing an independent ombudsman who can serve as a “safe harbor” for NWSL employees, players, and fans to report concerns.

In her press conference, Yates said she was “heartened” by the NWSL’s response to her report and its commitment to taking action on her recommendations.

“I believe the NWSL is at a critical juncture,” Yates said. “It has an opportunity to show the world not only that women’s professional soccer can be successful in this country, but also that it can be a model for how professional sports leagues should operate. I am hopeful that the NWSL will seize this opportunity and emerge from this moment even stronger and more successful than before.”