Before last year's season, Julia Roddar left Gothenburg for games in Washington Spirit.

The first year in NWSL was turbulent and in the autumn the league was shaken by several cases of sexual, emotional and verbal abuse.

Among other things, coach Paul Riley was fired by North Carolina when he is said to have committed sexual harassment.

Later in the autumn, Roddar's then coach Richard Burke was also fired.

Players, including Kif Örebro player Jenna Hellstrom, testified about abuse.

- It was incredibly tough during the autumn when it flared up very much.

It is not known which players have been affected, but it feels like we have been behind them all.

We are happy that it has come up and that you dare to talk about it.

It is good that those who are in the wrong places disappear.

We get the help we need from psychologists and other things, says Julia Roddar to SVT Sport.

"Could have happened earlier"

Landslagsbacken also says that there has been talk of reports that should have been made a few years ago.

- It feels so boring.

Not putting your foot down even then feels very tragic.

It is good that something is happening now and that people dare to talk and that it disappears, but it could have happened earlier.

"Will have a leadership role"

Rowing otherwise had a good end to last year and calls itself the NWSL champion after the final win against Chicago.

A welcome title after a shaky time.

Now she is looking forward to a new season in a league that she thinks suits her very well.

- It is physical and I think I have developed here.

The speed of the game and the evenness of the matches is what the league is based on.

Every year, there are some players who have changed teams as well.

I like that.

- I have been central in some matches, but lately more as a fullback, which I enjoy more.

For the coming season, I think I will get a leadership role when I get a year in my legs.

CLIP: After the accusations - the league manager resigns (2 Oct 2021):

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Lisa Baird.

Photo: TT