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The National Womens Soccer League (NWSL) Players Association renegotiated their <\/span>collective bargaining agreement<\/span><\/a> (CBA) in the summer of 2024. The new CBA will last through December 2030 and has set a new standard across the league. Many of the changes made in the most recent CBA are a part of the NWSL\u2019s attempt to compete with other major American sports leagues and international womens soccer leagues.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n A <\/span>collective bargaining agreement<\/span><\/a> is a written contract between an employer and a union that represents its employees. The agreement typically outlines the terms of employment. For the NWSL, this means that their CBA defines the rules surrounding player contracts, number of games, expansion, salaries, free agency, team requirements, and more. All CBA\u2019s are negotiated between the league and the <\/span>NWSL Player\u2019s Association<\/span><\/a>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The Player\u2019s Association is a labor union that advocates for NWSL players. All players who have signed a standard player agreement automatically become members of the NWSL Player\u2019s Association. Aside from the players who make up the union, it is <\/span>led<\/span><\/a> by an executive committee of four players and two player representatives from each team.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The latest CBA has abolished all forms of NWSL drafts, which aligns with major soccer leagues around the world. This includes college, expansion, and supplemental drafts, but mainly affects the <\/span>new expansion teams<\/span><\/a> and players coming out of <\/span>college<\/span><\/a>. Instead of being drafted, young players can enter the NWSL by negotiating a contract and signing with any team. Expansion teams can also obtain young talent from college, existing players through free agency, and international players from overseas.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Prior to the current CBA, free agency was only available to a limited group of players, mostly veterans. NWSL players whose contracts have expired were only eligible for free agency if they played a <\/span>minimum number of \u201cservice years.\u201d Players who did not hit the minimum threshold were eligible for restricted free agency. Restricted free agents were able to negotiate with other teams, but their current team could retain the player by matching any other offers the player receives.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Now, all players whose contracts have expired are eligible for <\/span>free agency<\/span><\/a> and can sign with any team, regardless of their number of \u201cservice years.\u201d Teams also cannot trade players without their consent. These new rules give players more power and leverage, whereas teams and owners previously had absolute power.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n While the USWNT won an <\/span>equal pay settlement<\/span><\/a> in 2024, NWSL players are still fighting for higher pay, especially in relation to the amount of money teams and the league is making. The new CBA will increase the salary cap and minimum salary for players. Both amounts will gradually increase every year until the current CBA expires. <\/span>Award<\/span><\/a> bonuses have also taken a large jump, namely the MVP award bonus quadrupling from $5,000 to $20,000.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The new CBA also allows for a potential increase in cap space. The increase will start at $200,000 per year and be based on the previous year\u2019s media and sponsorship revenue. This revenue share is expected to go back to players and the league.<\/p>\n Featured image via Katelyn Mulcahy\/Getty Images<\/a>, NWSL Player\u2019s Association<\/a>, and NWSL<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n <\/div>\nWhat is a CBA, and how is it relevant to the NWSL?<\/b><\/h3>\n
All drafts are gone!<\/b><\/h3>\n
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Changes to free agency and trades<\/b><\/h3>\n
Players are getting paid\u2026more than before<\/b><\/h3>\n
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