Global Sports Initiative Statement: The Sally Q. Yates Report on Allegations of Abusive Behavior and Sexual Misconduct in Women’s Professional Soccer

October 25, 2022

The release of Sally Yates’s report following an independent investigation into the systemic abuse throughout the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) is shocking. The report details the horrific treatment of soccer players and the troubling lack of accountability for known abusers within the league.

 

We first and foremost want to applaud the players who came forward and spoke up about the abuse they endured—oftentimes fearing for their jobs and livelihoods but ultimately working to protect their fellow players and hold their abusers accountable. We also commend those journalists who listened to players long before the Yates investigation. They gave the players a platform to have their voices heard and built a foundation to begin the long-fought process to bring such issues to light.

 

We at the Global Sports Initiative are committed to being a part of the path forward; to pursuing research that addresses difficult issues like those raised in the Yates report and the upcoming NWSL Players Association study; and to guaranteeing that athletes and former athletes are involved in the decision making and administration of sports. To achieve these goals, our current fellows’ work focuses on gender equity, antiracism, transparency, and player welfare. Safety, equity, and belonging are core values that everyone deserves. We encourage the global sports community to ensure that meaningful and lasting change is achievable.