Alex Morgan Photo by Jane Gershovich/ISI Photos/Getty Images

USWNT's Alex Morgan: Sexual harassment an NWSL-wide problem

United States Women's National Team and Orlando Pride forward Alex Morgan called for the National Women's Soccer League to end the systemic failure that led to a decade of alleged sexual harassment of players by league coaches. 

Last week, the North Carolina Courage fired coach Paul Riley following allegations of sexual harassment spanning over a decade. The announcement came after The Athletic published an investigation in which it spoke with more than 12 players from every team Riley has coached since 2010.

Two players, Mana Shim and Sinead Farrelly, went on the record with allegations against Riley. Morgan joined Shim and Farrelly during a Tuesday morning appearance on the NBC's "TODAY" to discuss the situation.

"I'm here to support Mana and Sinead and to continue to amplify their voices, and just show the systemic failure from the league and how wrong they did in handling Mana's case and complaint and investigation and where they failed Mana and Sinead, and probably many other women," Morgan said, according to ESPN. "When I look back, I tried to be as good a friend and teammate as possible to Mana in helping her file a complaint, when at the time there was no anti-harassment policy in place, there was no league HR, there was no anonymous hotline, there was no way to report.

"We've now started to put these things in place, by demand of players, not by the league being proactive. Something we ask is for the league to start being proactive, not reactive. We're asking for transparency."

Last week, Morgan tweeted screenshots of emails that showed former NWSL commissioner Lisa Baird, who recently resigned, had ignored a request from a player to reopen an investigation into Riley. 

U.S. Soccer and FIFA have since opened investigations into the allegations. 

More must-reads:

TODAY'S BEST
Nuggets melt down under Timberwolves' pressure to go down 0-2
Watch: Knicks' Donte DiVincenzo makes, absorbs big shot to win Game 1
Bruins take series opener over Panthers in 5-1 rout
Spurs' Victor Wembanyama unanimously wins NBA Rookie of the Year award
Phillies remain MLB's hottest team with dominant Zack Wheeler performance
Heat president Pat Riley calls out Jimmy Butler twice following playoff exit
Brooks Koepka sets up epic clash with Scottie Scheffler at PGA Championship
How Tom Brady's investment in English soccer team cratered
Week 12 NASCAR power rankings: Kyle Larson distances himself with historic win
Ex-GM confident 49ers can avoid breaking the bank on Brock Purdy extension
Five most surprising breakout players in this MLB season
The most exciting offseason addition for every NFL team
Bengals exec declines Patriots interview for de facto GM job
Snoop Dogg to be title sponsor of college football bowl game
A's place struggling starter on injured list
Longtime Saints OL, three-time Pro Bowler agrees to deal with AFC West team
Report: 10-time All-Star 'wants to re-sign' with Clippers
Kendrick Perkins 'wishes' LeBron James would make drastic career decision
Snoop Dogg makes big college football announcement
Pat Riley calls out Jimmy Butler over recent comments

Want more sports news?

Join the hundreds of thousands of fans who start their day with Yardbarker's Morning Bark, the best newsletter in sports.