Takeaways from the NWSL’s bold new CBA
The IX: Soccer Monday with Annie Peterson, Aug. 26, 2024
No more draft. No more trades without consent. No more restrictions on free agency. All contracts are guaranteed. Those are the biggest takeaways from the new collective bargaining agreement (CBA) between the NWSL and its players.
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Indeed, doing away with the draft is a bold move — but the CBA is more than the headlines. At a time when the NWSL is experiencing historic growth, the deal will help it attract and retain top talent.
From Liz Shuler, president of the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO):
“Our owners really want to manifest our vision to be the best league in the world, and we knew that we wanted to bring the players into the table and into the discussions about how we could make that a reality,” NWSL commissioner Jessica Berman said. “We sent them a formal letter to invite them to the bargaining table, and it was voluntary. We agreed, so as long as it made sense for both of us, we could do it early. And we did.”
The first CBA was ratified in 2022 and ran through 2026. Most of the new deal goes into effect immediately. The long-term stability of the contract can factor into future team valuations, a new media deal (the current one expires in 2026) and expansion bids.
Some of the other highlights: The players are about to get a sizable boost in income, that will grow throughout the length of the deal, which runs through 2030. The minimum salary will rise from $48,500 in 2025 to $82,500 in 2030, the last year of the new CBA. The current league minimum is about $38,000. Individual player contracts are not limited.
Nearly all end-of-season competition bonuses — such as those awarded for the NWSL Shield and Championship and the Golden Boot — will double beginning in 2027. The bonus for the NWSL’s Most Valuable Player award will quadruple.
The CBA includes a base salary cap, which rises from $3.3 million in 2025 to $5.1 million in 2030, and a supplement based on the prior year’s media and sponsorship revenue. The NWSLPA (players association) will have audit rights to ensure the revenue sharing provision.
“I think we’ll see a lot more sophistication when it comes to roster construction and player movement,” NWSLPA president Tori Huster said. “I think a top-earning player can choose to take a pay cut if they think they’ll win a championship there, or if they’ll be closer to home. A younger player may choose to go to a market where they can get ample playing time and truly develop. I think what’s different between now and before is that players are actually in the driver seat or decisions that affect their lives.”
Mental health services and mental health leave policies, already in place, will be broadened. The new deal also puts emphasis on workload management, setting minimum standards for charter flights, mandating a midseason break and ensuring an offseason of at least 28 days. Team medical and training staffs will also increase.
Utah midfielder Mikayla Cluff said: “The new CBA protects players. If players are happy and getting treated the way that they should be, it just raises the level of respect across the board. We’re true professionals and we’re now getting treated more like it.”
Said Angel City forward Messiah Bright: “I think it just gives an opportunity for players, not only myself but in this league, to just orchestrate their talents and be comfortable with showcasing who they are with also getting paid what they’re worth. I think it’s just a monumental step for this league and hopefully we help pave the way for other leagues. But I’m happy that we were able to start something big and can’t wait to see where it grows from here.”
Other women’s soccer news and highlights
Howard Megdal (our fearless leader) writes about the implications of the labor agreement for Forbes
Steph Yang takes a look at how the CBA came about for The Athletic
Jayda Evans spoke to Megan Rapinoe ahead of the jersey retirement ceremony
ESPN’s Ben Welch with a nice story on Christen Press’ journey back from injury
Sportico says Denver and Cincinnati are part of the expansion discussions
Jackie Guttierez looks at the challenges and the benefits of the Summer Cup for The Equalizer
Fistfight breaks out at a UMass-Rutgers match
Japan coach Futoshi Ikeda’s time as coach of Japan’s women has ended
The Athletic takes a deep dive into Canada’s drone scandal
Jonathan Tannenwald with a thoughtful story on how winning Olympic gold boosts player profiles
This was awesome:
Naomi Girma got her own bobblehead.
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Q+A with Naomi Girma
Here’s a bit of what Wave defender Naomi Girma said in a media session for the Wave when she got back last week. The session was her first day back at training, so she didn’t have too much to say about the start of the Landon Donovan era in San Diego. She was wearing her gold medal and unboxed her bobblehead during the session.
Question: Can you walk us through the experience of playing at the Olympics? Was it tiring?
Girma: I think I was just enjoying it all, soaking in every moment. I think when you’re in a tournament like that, you kind of just have to get the job done. You don’t really have a second to be like, I’m tired, or this is bothering me. You’re kind of like, play a game, rest, recover, get ready for the next one as soon as possible. I think everyone in the tournament had to put in such a big shift, so I’m just happy it ended in a gold medal for us.
Question: When you’re a team sport, you’re playing from the very beginning up of the Olympics until the very end. Did you get to enjoy your time in France at all?
Girma: I mean, [you] focus on the task the entire time. We started in the south of France. So we weren’t actually in Paris at the beginning for our group stage. But once we were in Paris, we went to the Olympic Village, we went to Nike House, we went and saw a lot of the main Olympic, I guess, things. And then we went to the closing ceremony too. I feel like we got a good balance of being in our own world and just focusing on ourselves and then also being a part of the full Olympic experience.
Question: The U.S. showed everyone that it’s not going anywhere on the world stage after a couple of disappointing national competitions. Do you talk about putting the U.S. back on the top?
Girma: I think going into any major tournament and representing the U.S., we always want to perform, we always want to do well. And I think that’s the expectation the world has on us, but also the expectation we have on ourselves. So going into this, it wasn’t any different. We knew we were kind of in a transition period. We have a new coach coming in. But I don’t think we ever doubted how good we could be as a group and how successful we could be as a team.
[Question about the accolades she earned in France]:
Girma: I think for me, it’s always just been focusing on the team and giving as much as I can to the group. And, I think when it ends in individual praise, it’s always great but, going into the tournament, the goal was always [the gold medal] and winning as a group and trying to do the best I could for the team.
Question: How do you take that energy and apply it to this season with the Wave? Different team, different circumstances, obviously.
Girma: Like you said, a different team, we’re now going into regular season, not a tournament. It’s very different. But, I think for me, whether I’m at club or with the national team, I’m always trying my best, giving my all to the group, trying to lead in any way I can. So, for me, when I’m back here, I think I have the same focus. I have that same drive to be successful.
Question: Your coach says you’re the best defender she’s ever seen. When you hear those words, what does that mean to you?
Girma: I think it feels a little surreal, but yeah — I’ll go to the same thing I said before: you always want to be your best. You always want to maximize your potential. But at the end of the day, you want to win. So, I think that was always the ultimate goal. And I think to have all these glowing praises always feels good. But having that without a win doesn’t mean the same thing.
Question: Can you talk about the CBA?
Girma: I’m really just proud to be a part of a league that believes that and proud to have a players association that’s been fighting for us this whole time. And, I think this doesn’t happen without so many past players speaking up and saying this is wrong or this needs to change and the players deserve this. As a player, it just makes me feel extremely proud to be a part of this league.
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