Growing Diversity In MLS

Major League Soccer's diversity grades for the past year improved in an annual American diversity study that was released on Wednesday. The report, put together by the University of Central Florida's Institute for Diversity and Ethics in Sport, points to the league's increase of international players on the field and more women in its corporate offices as reasons why MLS improved in the study over the last 12 months.

The league received a C+ in the study for gender hiring practices., up from last year's D+ score. Overall, MLS earned a B+, which study author and institute director Richard Lapchick credited to initiatives to improve diversity and high numbers of racial minorities in executive positions.

The percentage of international players jumped 10 points from 2006 to 2007, from 21% to 31% of all MLS players. There were 201 white players in 2007, one more than the previous year, but the number of black players increased from 57 to 74.

The league also increased its percentage of minorities in the league office from 31% to 43%, and 42% of its employees were women - 16-point increase from the last report.