National Women's Soccer League faces lawsuit as former employee alleges sexual assault

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Five former employees of the pro women's soccer team San Diego Wave have filed a lawsuit in San Diego Superior Court against the team and the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) as a whole. 

One of the five plaintiffs said in court documents that she was sexually assaulted by a co-worker but did not report the allegation to the club or police at the time.

The other plaintiffs accuse the women’s soccer club of discrimination, harassment and wrongful termination, among other allegations. The suit claims both the team and the league failed to act on complaints about a toxic workplace culture. The lawsuit also claimed the NWSL investigated complaints against the Wave twice but ultimately nothing was done.

The woman who alleged sexual assault, identified in the lawsuit under the false name Jane Doe, said she did not report the allegations out of fear of retaliation and the potential loss of her job. She claims she told her manager that another employee was traumatizing her and expressed concerns about the work environment at the club, as well as knowledge of an investigation.

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NWSL Commissioner Lisa Baird during a game between Portland Thorns FC and North Carolina Courage at Zions Bank Stadium on July 17, 2020 in Herriman, Utah. (Photo by Bryan Byerly/ISI Photos/Getty Images)

"Horrifyingly, defendant NWSL told plaintiff Doe during the investigative read out that defendant Wave had not been on notice of her sexual assault because she used the word 'assault' instead of the phrase 'sexual assault' when reporting the incidents. Defendant NWSL's own policy does not use the term 'assault.'