Current:Home > InvestNWSL scraps draft in new CBA, a first in US but typical elsewhere in soccer -AssetFocus
NWSL scraps draft in new CBA, a first in US but typical elsewhere in soccer
View
Date:2025-04-20 22:35:41
The NWSL is scrapping its draft and moving to unrestricted free agency in its new collective bargaining agreement, a first for a major American professional sports league.
The move puts the NWSL in alignment with most other soccer leagues around the world and comes as the league faces increasing competition from England and Spain.
"This was the right time to align with global standards and achieve long term labor peace," NWSL commissioner Jessica Berman said in a statement. "This CBA gives us agency over our business and gives the players agency over their careers."
The current CBA, the first in league history, was not due to expire until after the 2026 season. The new agreement with the NWSL Players Association, announced Thursday morning, extends the current contract for four years, until 2030.
It includes a significant increase in the salary cap, from $3.3 million next season to at least $5.1 million in 2030, with additional increases expected as revenues from sponsors and broadcast deals rise. There is no cap on what a player can make, and the league-minimum salary will increase from $48,500 next year to $82,500 in 2030. All contracts will be guaranteed and players must approve of any trades, long a point of contention.
The bonus for Most Valuable Player will quadruple beginning in 2027, and most other end-of-season awards will double.
The NWSL and NWSLPA also agreed to increase the number of health professionals each club is required to have from six to 10. That includes team physicians, athletic trainers, physical therapist, licensed mental health provider and massage therapists. The CBA also calls for charter flights to be used on up to six legs during the season, as well as other scenarios to protect the health and safety of players.
Those two conditions could be factors as the NWSL competes with European clubs for players. Though European clubs can entice players with the chance to play in the Champions League and for some of the most storied names in the game, the NWSL can often offer better working conditions.
The Kansas City Current, for example, opened the first purpose-built stadium for a women’s team this season and also has its own practice facility. Expansion team Bay Area FC also has its own practice facility, and the Chicago Red Stars are looking for a site within the city limits where the team could both practice and play.
"The NWSL prioritized terms to ensure that the league can attract, develop and retain the most talented players in the world," Tatjana Haenni, the NWSL’s chief sporting director, said in a statement. "Soccer is a uniquely global game with roots in every country, and the new CBA allows us to offer the world’s most elite training and playing environment."
The USA TODAY app gets you to the heart of the news — fast.Download for award-winning coverage, crosswords, audio storytelling, the eNewspaper and more.
veryGood! (36922)
Related
- EU countries double down on a halt to Syrian asylum claims but will not yet send people back
- Dueling Harris and Trump rallies in the same Atlanta arena showcase America’s deep divides
- Debby downgraded to tropical storm after landfall along Florida coast: Live updates
- Off the Grid: Sally breaks down USA TODAY's daily crossword puzzle, Cat Righting Reflex
- Have Dry, Sensitive Skin? You Need To Add These Gentle Skincare Products to Your Routine
- Washington attorney general and sheriff who helped nab Green River Killer fight for governor’s seat
- Jimmer Fredette injury update: 3x3 star to miss 6 months after Olympic-ending injury
- This preschool in Alaska changed lives for parents and kids alike. Why did it have to close?
- Tree trimmer dead after getting caught in wood chipper at Florida town hall
- College football season outlooks for Top 25 teams in US LBM preseason coaches poll
Ranking
- New Zealand official reverses visa refusal for US conservative influencer Candace Owens
- Olympics pin featuring Snoop Dogg is a hot item in Paris
- Delaware authorities investigate the fatal shooting of a murder suspect by state troopers
- 2024 Olympics: Anthony Ammirati and Jules Bouyer React After Going Viral for NSFW Reasons
- California DMV apologizes for license plate that some say mocks Oct. 7 attack on Israel
- A rebuilt bronze Jackie Robinson statue will be unveiled 6 months after the original was stolen
- Simone Biles slips off the balance beam during event finals to miss the Olympic medal stand
- GOP leaders are calling for religion in public schools. It's not the first time.
Recommendation
Bill Belichick's salary at North Carolina: School releases football coach's contract details
Noah Lyles wins Olympic 100 by five-thousandths of a second, among closest finishes in Games history
Hurricane Debby to bring heavy rains and catastropic flooding to Florida, Georgia and S. Carolina
Election conspiracy theories related to the 2020 presidential race live on in Michigan’s GOP primary
South Korean president's party divided over defiant martial law speech
Veteran Hollywood film producer Daniel Selznick dies at 88
A rebuilt bronze Jackie Robinson statue will be unveiled 6 months after the original was stolen
Olympic triathlon mixed relay gets underway with swims in the Seine amid water quality concerns