The National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) and the NWSL Players Association have reached a groundbreaking agreement to eliminate the draft and grant free agency to all players, a move unprecedented in major professional U.S. sports. This new collective bargaining agreement, which extends until 2030, aims to give players more control over where they play, potentially attracting top talent from around the world. The agreement also includes a significant increase in minimum salary and salary cap over the next few years, with individual players having no limit on pay and teams being able to allocate salaries as they see fit. The agreement allows for the salary cap to increase in future seasons through a revenue-sharing model that could benefit players from additional sponsorship and media deals.
The NWSL has experienced significant growth in recent years, with increased attendance, viewership, and team valuations. Recent investments in teams, such as Disney CEO Bob Iger and journalist Willow Bay taking a stake in Angel City FC, have further boosted the league’s profile. Additionally, the NWSL signed a lucrative media deal worth $240 million over four years, indicating the growing popularity and profitability of women’s soccer.
The decision to renegotiate the CBA with the NWSL Players Association two years early was made to provide future investors and partners with more visibility into the league’s business model. The NWSL believes that this new phase of growth will unlock significant investment and resources, enabling the league to continue its upward trajectory in the world of women’s sports.
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