"The rule goes into effect on 1 July 2026. Ensuring our teams can compete for the best players in the world is critical to the continued growth of our league, NWSL commissioner Jessica Berman said. The High Impact Player Rule allows teams to invest strategically in top talent, strengthens our ability to retain star players, and demonstrates our commitment to building world-class rosters for fans across the league."
"In a statement, the union said: Under federal labor law, changes to compensation under the salary cap are a mandatory subject of bargaining not a matter of unilateral discretion. 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 be afraid to bargain over it."
The NWSL implemented a High Impact Player Rule permitting teams to exceed the salary cap by up to $1 million beginning 1 July 2026 to attract and retain top talent. The rule could benefit players like Trinity Rodman and raises league-wide spending by up to $16 million in 2026 and up to $115 million over the current collective bargaining agreement. The league frames the measure as a strategic investment to remain competitive in the global market and to build stronger rosters. The NWSL Players Association opposes unilateral changes, arguing compensation under the salary cap is a mandatory bargaining subject and proposing alternatives including raising the Team Salary Cap and negotiating revenue-sharing projection systems.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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