What to know about the NWSL’s new collective bargaining agreement, running through 2030
The National Women’s Soccer League and NWSL Players Association announced an agreement on a new collective bargaining agreement (CBA) on Thursday morning. The agreement extends the CBA, which was set to expire in 2026, to 2030.
Several of the changes are favorable for the league’s players. The NWSL minimum salary will double by the end of the CBA. Player movement and autonomy over it will also change; the collegiate draft will be eliminated, all contracts will be guaranteed and player consent will be required on trades.
“Given our vision to be the best league in the world, we determined that this was the right time to align with global standards and achieve long-term labor peace,” NWSL commissioner Jessica Berman said in a news release. “This CBA gives us agency over our business and gives the players agency over their careers. Our new agreement revolutionizes the game, raises standards and innovates the business.
“On behalf of the Board of Governors, I want to thank our players and their representative leadership at the NWSLPA for working together to make this possible.”
One of the significant changes is bringing the standard NWSL player agreement in line with FIFA regulations for transfer players. Essentially, it secures guaranteed contracts, unrestricted free agency and eliminates mechanisms like the NWSL Draft, future expansion drafts and the NWSL “Discovery List.”
The addition of player consent in trades comes following several instances of players expressing shock and frustration after being moved in the offseason. One notable account was Cece Kizer, who took to Instagram after being traded from Kansas City to Houston. Then-general manager Camille Ashton insisted Kizer was informed of the trade, but, notably, there was no player-consent clause in effect at the time.
In addition to player-movement wins, the league minimum salary will significantly increase, rising to $82,500 in 2030. The current NWSL minimum salary is just $37,856.
The changes also eliminate a maximum salary so long as it is within the salary cap’s bounds. The NWSL release states the cap will rise to $5.1 million by 2030. The cap can grow further, and the NWSL can raise the salary cap further at its discretion.
Finally, the new CBA allows for six total legs of flights to be on charter travel in upcoming seasons, with additional charter flights required for other scenarios.
Compared to other sports leagues, the NWSL has restrictive charter-flight policies. The Kansas City Current received a fine for breaking those rules in 2023.
Among the other agreements are expansions to parental leave and mental health services and policies. The increase in end-of-season bonuses for awards will be doubled beginning in 2027, and the bonus for winning the NWSL MVP award will quadruple.
Daniel Sperry covers soccer for The Star. He can be reached at sperry.danielkc@gmail.com.