Megan Rapinoe and her United States team-mates are "angry and exhausted" after a report detailed widespread misconduct in the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL).

Former US Deputy Attorney General Sally Yates released a report on Monday concluding abuse and sexual misconduct spanned multiple teams and coaches, while the NWSL and US Soccer failed to put in "basic measures" to safeguard players or "respond appropriately when confronted with player reports and evidence of abuse".

The report's findings have cast a dark shadow on women's football ahead of the United States' friendly with England at Wembley Stadium on Friday.

Rapinoe is grateful the United States' squad were able to support each other at a difficult time.

"I mean it's horrifying," Rapinoe told reporters at a pre-match press conference. "Obviously, I'm sure everybody read the report, and have read all the reporting that's been going on the last year. Even when you know it, it's just horrifying over and over to read.

"It's been difficult for the players, some of those players play in those clubs, have been coached by those coaches, and likely have been abused in one form or another.

"It could definitely be re-triggering or re-traumatising, just to have to deal with that on such an incredible occasion. To be here at Wembley, and be able to participate in this game that is so exciting, the juxtaposition is just kind of ridiculous.

"We're angry and exhausted, and together and unified. It's nice to be here together as a team, I feel like it's really powerful for us all to be together as a national team and be able to speak on behalf of all this. It has been very difficult, I can't even imagine for the players most affected.

"In a way, I mean it's really sad to say, but we're used to having to deal with one thing or another. It seems to bring us closer and definitely unify the team and it's just one of those intimate environments that we're in."

Since the findings were released, Portland Thorns owner Merritt Paulson and Chicago Red Stars owner Arnim Whisler, both of whom were cited in the report, have announced their intentions to step aside.

Rapinoe has little sympathy.

"I don't think Merritt Paulson is fit to be the owner in Portland. I don't think Arnim is fit to be the owner in Chicago," she said.

Rapinoe also demanded more action from football's governing bodies, including FIFA.

"Obviously, that's a monumental task and a lot of these federations that are funded really well only get together a couple of times a year. I know that can be difficult," she added.

"But from FIFA's standpoint, as the stewards of the game, they have a responsibility to do everything in their power to ensure that every player is in a safe environment."

Rapinoe also believes the NSWL and US Soccer must take responsibility.

"Those people are in positions that have responsibility, and they didn't fulfil those responsibilities and they didn't protect players at all," Rapinoe said.

"It's year after year after year, it’s impossible to overstate that every single year someone said something about multiple coaches in the league, about multiple different environments so if, year after year after year, you cannot perform your duties - I know I wouldn't be in my position if I couldn't perform my duties year after year."

United States captain Becky Sauerbrunn has declared the squad are "heartbroken and frustrated" after an independent enquiry found widespread misconduct in the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL).

Former US Deputy Attorney General Sally Yates released a report on Monday saying abuse and sexual misconduct spanned multiple teams and coaches, while the NWSL and US Soccer failed to put in "basic measures" to safeguard players or "respond appropriately when confronted with player reports and evidence of abuse".

The revelations have overshadowed the national side's preparations to face England at Wembley on Friday, with Sauerbrunn stating the squad have been left furious with the situation.

"The players are not doing well. We are horrified and heartbroken and frustrated and exhausted and really, really angry. We are angry that it took a third-party investigation," she said at a press conference on Tuesday.

Sauerbrunn also called for the removal of individuals from both organisations who failed to protect the players.

"I think for so long this has fallen on the players to demand change. That is because the people in authority and decision-making positions have repeatedly failed to protect us and they have failed to hold themselves and each other accountable," she added.

"Who are you actually protecting and what values are you upholding? You have failed in your stewardship.

"Every owner and executive and US Soccer official who has repeatedly failed the players and failed to protect the players who have hidden behind legalities and have not participated in these investigations should be gone."

OL Reign defender Alana Cook added that the situation has marred the upcoming clash against England, saying: "I think we have such a momentous occasion on Friday playing at a sold out Wembley Stadium.

"It's marred by this report, and it's marred by the atrocities that have been condoned and tolerated and allowed to go on."

Portland Thorns owner Merritt Paulson and Chicago Red Stars owner Arnim Whisler have already announced they will step aside from their stewardship of the clubs following the release of the report.

Both Paulson and Whisler were cited within the report, the former accused of enabling ex-Thorns boss Paul Riley, who has faced accusations of sexual coercion from former players, while the latter was deemed to have dismissed concerns over the abusive behaviour of former coach Rory Dames.

Portland Thorns owner Merritt Paulson and Chicago Red Stars owner Arnim Whisler will both step away from their clubs amid an ongoing investigation into sexual misconduct and abuse across the National Women's Soccer League.

U.S. Soccer announced the findings of an independent investigation earlier this week that found "systemic abuse and misconduct" within the women's professional game.

Both Paulson and Whisler were cited within the report, led by former deputy attorney general Sally Q. Yates.

The former has been accused of enabling ex-Thorns boss Paul Riley, who has faced accusations of sexual coercion from former players, while the latter was deemed to have dismissed concerns over the abusive behaviour of former coach Rory Dames.

Now, the pair say they will withdraw from their clubs until a concurrent investigation by the league and players' union has been completed, in light of the findings.

"Yesterday's Yates report unveiling was the darkest day I have experienced, and I know the same is true for everyone else who loves our team and our league," Paulson said in a statement

"I know it was even harder and darker for those whose stories were shared publicly. I cannot apologise enough for our role in a gross systemic failure to protect player safety and the missteps we made in 2015."

Whisler followed suit, adding he would also step away from the NWSL board of governors, stating: "Our organisation is committed to rebuilding trust and respect among players and staff towards our league and club.

"I recognise that my current presence is a distraction. I do not want to take any of the attention away from the players' incredible and well-earned playoff run.

"So in the interest of the club and the players, and fans we serve, effective immediately, I will remove myself from my governance role within the NWSL board of governors and will hand over operational control of the club to our executive team in Chicago."

Alex Morgan has slammed the National Women's Soccer League for its handling of sexual harassment allegations which have rocked the league.

An independent investigation into the scandal found sexual misconduct was systematic across the league, according to a report released on Monday.

Morgan, a former team-mate of Mana Shim, one of the whistleblowers at the heart of the scandal, has criticised the NWSL and believes the league "failed" Shim, who lodged her complaints against former Portland Thorns coach Paul Riley.

The 198-cap United States star helped to encourage Shim to come forward with her allegations, but the league's lack of effective protocols left her frustrated.

"She went through all the right steps, and she was failed. She was failed by the system," Morgan told ESPN's E:60.

"I had helped Mana do the right thing, which was reporting Paul to the league and hoping that they would take action and hold him accountable. 

"I never had a team-mate experience that and confide in me the way that she did.

"I couldn't find a HR contact; I couldn't find an anonymous hotline; I couldn't even find an anti-harassment policy that might lay out what he was doing that was reportable."

Morgan has also revealed she played an instrumental role in lobbying against Riley becoming the national team's head coach, adding: "I did my part in stopping him from becoming head coach.

"And that was sharing as much information as I could with the people who were in charge of selecting the next head coach.

"The response by U.S. Soccer was no, they had never heard of this misconduct or harassment. Not the report that Mana submitted, not the investigation, and that this was a surprise to them."

Five of the league's coaches were either fired or stepped down amid widespread misconduct allegations last season.

An independent investigation has found "systemic abuse and misconduct" within women's professional soccer in the United States.

U.S. Soccer on Monday released the findings of the year-long investigation, led by former Deputy Attorney General Sally Q. Yates, after over 200 interviews had taken place.

The report stated that over the nearly 10-year history of the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL), "numerous coaches have verbally or emotionally abused players".

It also found that "several are alleged to have committed serious sexual misconduct during and/or before their time in the League".

The report stated: "Our investigation has revealed a league in which abuse and misconduct – verbal and emotional abuse and sexual misconduct – had become systemic, spanning multiple teams, coaches, and victims.

"Abuse in the NWSL is rooted in a deeper culture in women's soccer, beginning in youth leagues, that normalises verbally abusive coaching and blurs boundaries between coaches and players."

It also concluded: "Teams, the League, and the [U.S. Soccer] Federation not only repeatedly failed to respond appropriately when confronted with player reports and evidence of abuse, they also failed to institute basic measures to prevent and address it, even as some leaders privately acknowledged the need for workplace protections."

U.S. Soccer has vowed to "act to thoroughly address the report's recommendations".

Among the action the governing body will take in response to the report is to launch a new player-driven participant safety taskforce, which will convene leaders at all levels of the sport to "ensure a safe and respectful playing environment for all athletes".

U.S. Soccer president Cindy Parlow Cone said: "As a former player, as a coach, as the president of soccer's national governing body, I am heartbroken by the contents of the report, which make clear that systemic changes are needed at every level of our game.

"The abuse described in the report is entirely inexcusable and has no place in soccer, on or off the field. Along with everyone at U.S. Soccer, I am squarely focused on the changes we will make to address the report’s findings and make soccer safer for everyone. It will take all of U.S. Soccer's membership working together to create the kind of change needed to ensure our athletes are safe.

"The gravity of these issues requires us to not simply 'turn the page'. We can and must use this moment as a forcing function for forward progress. Since I became president of U.S. Soccer in 2020, my priority above all else has been to ensure that athletes across the country have a safe and respectful place to play, work, learn, grow and compete."