NWSL Players Association Challenges League’s New Salary Rule

The National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) Players Association issued a statement to ESPN on Tuesday, indicating its intention to take action to uphold the rights of the players it represents.

The union explicitly opposed the league’s decision to proceed with the High Impact Player Rule without prior negotiation, stating, “Under federal labor law, changes to compensation under the salary cap are a mandatory subject of bargaining—not a matter of unilateral discretion.”

They further asserted, “Fair pay is realized through fair, collectively bargained compensation systems, not arbitrary classifications. A league that truly believes in the value of its players would not shy away from negotiating this matter.”

Additionally, the union proposed an increase in the team salary cap to enhance competitiveness in a global labor market and called for collective bargaining on future revenue-sharing projections. This would enable teams and players to negotiate multi-year contracts with greater assurance.

Starting in 2026, the new rule permits each club to exceed the established salary cap by up to $1 million. The league clarified that this additional allowance will increase annually in line with the salary cap and can be allocated to a single player or distributed among multiple players.

To qualify for this designation, players must meet at least one of several benchmarks set by the league. These include a top-30 finish in Ballon d’Or voting in the past two years, ranking among the top 40 players in global rankings from reputable sources like The Guardian and ESPN FC, being among the top 11 U.S. Women’s National Team field players in minutes played over the last two years, or achieving NWSL MVP finalist or Best XI First Team honors in either of the previous two seasons.

For contracts utilizing this provision, the cap charge for a High Impact Player must represent at least 12 percent of the base salary cap. The league estimates that this rule could potentially raise player spending by up to $16 million annually, translating to an overall investment of up to $115 million over the lifespan of the current collective bargaining agreement.

In its announcement, the NWSL stated that the decision was made in accordance with the existing collective bargaining agreement and followed discussions with the NWSLPA, labelling it a “historic increase in league investment.”

Commissioner Jessica Berman emphasized the importance of this measure, stating, “Ensuring our teams can compete for the best players in the world is critical to the continued growth of our league.”

This announcement comes amid heightened scrutiny of the league’s salary structure, particularly in light of ongoing grievances, including one involving Washington Spirit forward Trinity Rodman. Her contract situation has brought to light concerns regarding compensation rules and roster flexibility.

The timing is crucial as the NWSL grapples with increasing competition from European leagues, especially England’s Women’s Super League, which has no salary cap. Several U.S. internationals, such as Naomi Girma and Alyssa Thompson, have recently transitioned to the WSL in reported seven-figure transfers.

Rodman’s current contract is set to expire at the end of December, allowing her to sign with another club without the Spirit receiving a transfer fee.