"We saw an opportunity to invite players to the table and reconstruct the frameworks that underpin our league, all to support our vision to be the best league in the world," says NWSL Commissioner Jessica Berman. "We believe this incentive alignment will unlock incremental value for all."
The new deal makes several other changes that players have been advocating for. Going forward, a player cannot be traded or transferred without the player's consent—a major point of contention following the league's December 2023 expansion draft in which athletes like Cece Kizer were moved to new teams without their knowledge.
How much teams are permitted to spend collectively on their players' salaries, known as a salary cap, will also change under the new deal. The base salary cap for the NWSL will nearly double over the term of the agreement, from $3.3 million in 2025 to $5.1 million in 2030, and could increase further as the league grows.
The new contract's minimum salary increase is undoubtedly a welcome change for NWSL players, but still leaves many women making less than their counterparts in men's leagues. By comparison, in Major League Soccer (MLS), the salary minimum for reserve players is currently $71,401 and the minimum for senior players is $89.
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