The National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) has agreed to a $5 million settlement following investigations by the attorneys general of New York, Illinois, and Washington, D.C., into widespread allegations of abuse, harassment, and discrimination within the league. The settlement establishes a Players’ Restitution Fund to compensate current and former players who suffered from serious misconduct involving player safety. reuters.com
The investigations revealed a pervasive culture of inappropriate and abusive behavior, including sexual harassment and discrimination based on gender, race, and sexual orientation. The settlement also mandates significant reforms to enhance player safety, such as prohibiting coaches from controlling player trades, housing, and medical decisions, and requiring mandatory training on topics like bullying, harassment, and retaliation. apnews.com
This settlement follows earlier reports, including the Yates Report, which documented systemic abuse and misconduct within the NWSL, leading to the dismissal and banning of several coaches and substantial fines for implicated teams.
Sauder Schelkopf: Advocating for Athletes in Abuse Cases
Sauder Schelkopf is a nationally recognized law firm dedicated to representing athletes who have suffered from abuse, harassment, and misconduct. Our firm is committed to holding organizations accountable and securing justice for those affected.
Our Commitment to Athlete Advocacy
Compassionate Representation: We prioritize our clients’ well-being, offering confidential consultations and unwavering support throughout the legal process.
Fighting for Justice: We represent athletes who have experienced sexual abuse, harassment, discrimination, and retaliation in professional, collegiate, and youth sports.
Proven Track Record: Our attorneys have successfully litigated high-profile abuse cases, achieving meaningful settlements and policy reforms.
- Ohio State University (OSU) Litigation: Representing former students and athletes, Sauder Schelkopf is involved in litigation concerning sexual misconduct by Dr. Richard Strauss, a former OSU doctor. As of January 2025, OSU has paid approximately $40.9 million to settle lawsuits from 162 men who alleged sexual abuse by Dr. Strauss. In June 2023, the U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear OSU’s appeal, allowing the remaining cases to proceed to trial.
- University of Michigan Settlement: The firm achieved a class action settlement against the University of Michigan, resulting in landmark institutional reforms addressing on-campus sexual misconduct following widespread abuse allegations by a former team doctor.
Note: The attorneys at Sauder Schelkopf were not involved in this state attorney general action
Experience Matters
Sauder Schelkopf has a nationally recognized litigation practice. The firm currently serves as court-appointed lead counsel in courts across the country. The attorneys at Sauder Schelkopf have recovered over $1 billion on behalf of their clients and class members. Our firm was recognized by the Legal Intelligencer’s 2022 Professional Excellence Awards. The Legal Intelligencer’s Professional Excellence Awards honor Pennsylvania law firms and attorneys who have made a significant, positive impact on the legal profession. Our firm was named in the Litigation Departments of the Year (Specialty Area category; runner-up), an award that honors the best litigation practice in a small or mid-sized firm in Pennsylvania. This recognition was based on the firm’s 2021 litigation work and its important ongoing cases. LawDragon has recognized our attorneys in its list of the “500 Leading Plaintiff Consumer Lawyers” for 2022. This list notes: “From the opioid epidemic to toxic substances and defective products, truck accidents to wildfires and sexual abuse, these are the lawyers who stand on the front line in individual lawsuits and class actions seeking justice.” Mr. Schelkopf was named to Pennsylvania’s Best Lawyers® 2022 for Class Actions/Mass Tort Litigation. The American Lawyer named Mr. Sauder to its 2021 Northeast Trailblazers. The honor recognizes 60 lawyers who are “truly agents of change.” It “recognizes professionals in the Northeast who have moved the needle in the legal industry.” The Legal Intelligencer named Mr. Sauder and Mr. Schelkopf in its 2020 Pennsylvania Trailblazers list recognizing 31 lawyers who “have taken extra measures to contribute to positive outcomes . . . and who are truly agents of change.” The Legal highlighted the firm’s innovative work on advocacy as class counsel in large institutional sex abuse cover-ups, women’s, and children’s rights. Our attorneys have also consistently been recognized by their peers being named to Pennsylvania SuperLawyer, a distinction held by the top 5% of attorneys in Pennsylvania. The National Trial Lawyers Association has also selected our attorneys as the Top 100 Trial Lawyers in Pennsylvania.
We Want to Hear from You
If you or someone you know has experienced abuse as part of a sports organization, you can contact the attorneys at Sauder Schelkopf by filling out the form on this page.