Progress made with players’ demands following allegations

National Women’s Soccer League’s interim CEO Marla Messing said the league has agreed in principle to meet the eight demands set forth by the NWSL Players Association.

In the wake of reports detailing instances of verbal abuse and sexual coercion by NWSL coaches, the NWSLPA issued a list of eight demands on Oct. 6. Among them were that league personnel voluntarily take part in the union’s investigation of sexual misconduct, and that there be total transparency by the league in terms of other ongoing investigations. The NWSLPA also demanded that it be included in the process for selecting the next commissioner.

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Speaking to reporters on a Zoom call just two days after taking on the interim CEO role, Messing indicated that in addition to finding agreement on the eight demands, the league and union will collaborate on a single investigation instead of two separate inquiries. Messing added that the investigation could take as long as nine months to be completed.

“I couldn’t be more pleased about this news as it allows us collectively to move forward with the investigation in a collaborative manner,” Messing said about the agreement. “I want to reiterate that the league has retained [law firm] Covington & Burling to conduct a thorough independent investigation and make recommendations and reforms based on its findings. Covington has been given full access and autonomy to follow the facts, where they may lead. The goal of the NWSL is to be the best women’s soccer league in the world; we must root out these issues, and this behavior in order for us to be in a position to achieve this goal.”

Messing has a long history of involvement in women’s soccer, having served as president and chief executive officer of the 1999 Women’s World Cup. Messing added that she took on the NWSL role at the urging of U.S. Soccer Federation president Cindy Parlow Cone. She said she will act much like a commissioner would,…