The Republic of Ireland's San Diego-born striker Kyra Carusa has said she's "optimistic" that revelations of abuse and misconduct within the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) can lead to swift, positive change.
An independent investigation showed abuse and misconduct "had become systemic" in the league and the governing body US Soccer said it would move immediately to implement reforms.
US Soccer brought in Sally Q Yates and King & Spalding LLP to conduct the independent inquiry and released the full findings.
"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," the Yates' report said.
Carusa began her career playing college soccer in the States before moving to Europe. She currently plies her trade in Denmark with HB Koge. When asked about the Yates report, she said: "Personally, having teammates and friends, and knowing quite a few people who play in the league and who have played on these teams and under these programmes, I think the biggest thing is that programmes need to hear what women have to say and take those allegations seriously.
"I think the report shows that there were a lot of mishaps and missteps. Of course we are human and those things can happen, but for it to be over 170 pages worth of mishaps and missteps is quite concerning.
"To know that my friends were a part of those teams or were involved in those programmes that were directly affected by that, or indirectly on teams that don’t even get affected by that, I think for me reading it over, I would hope that this, in a perfect world, doesn’t ever happen again.
"But the biggest thing is that these programmes can control what they control, and when these allegations or discussions come to their desks that they are met with as much seriousness as any other allegation, regardless of it coming from a player or an administrative staff. It’s important to believe that and to move forward in a professional manner and actually investigate.
"I would say I am optimistic [that things can change for the better], absolutely. And I am optimistic on a world stage as well, that this is not just something that can happen in the US.
"The seriousness of which these to be taken in a professional manner. I am optimistic. It is a lot but it is a step in the right direction."
Carusa has just seven Ireland caps under belt but injuries could open the door for her to play a part in Tuesday's World Cup play-off.
Heather Payne is a nailed-on starter up top, however the absence of Leanne Kiernan and Ellen Molloy - who both came off the bench in the win against Slovakia last time out - has weakened Vera Pauw's attacking options.
Carusa has had to overcome a bad injury herself in recent times. A stress fracture in her femur bone resulted in a three-month lay-off. Now she's back, playing in the Champions League with HB Koge and knocking on the door for involvement in arguably the Ireland women's team's most important ever game.
"The biggest thing for us is at any point in time in this campaign, this group of people has always been different," Carusa added.
"There are, of course, consistencies, but overall to get to where we are right now the girls that were in each camp have always been such different faces and different talents and different personalities.
"Regardless of who we have here now, I think it shows the depth of this team and the mentality this team has that you step into this culture and you immediately become a part of this resilient mentality.
"It presents massive opportunities for people to step up and I think that has shown in the past and will continue in this camp as well."
Additional reporting: Reuters
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