The National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) and the NWSL Players Association have agreed terms on a new long-term collective bargaining agreement, confirmed to The Athletic by a source with knowledge of the negotiations who was not authorized to speak publicly on the deal.
Players plan to announce the new deal later this month.
The NWSLPA appeared to respond from an initial report from Sportico on Friday that a new CBA had been agreed, writing on X: “Any news concerning the Players’ lives will be shared directly by them, on their terms. Respect that. Stay tuned. In the meantime, we’re cheering for all our members playing in the gold medal match.”
The players and league had agreed to their first collective bargaining agreement in early 2022 (with most of the final discussions taking place in January, then the NWSL board of governors signing the new CBA at the start of February), taking the negotiations down to the wire ahead of preseason with players prepared to not report to their respective camps.
But even in the span of two years, the growth of the NWSL has changed drastically — and the league has prioritized attracting international talent following the 2023 World Cup. Both developments meant there was incentive for NWSL owners to come to the table early, and under the radar.
In 2023, the NWSL announced four-year media deals with ESPN, CBS Sports, Prime Video and Scripps Sports worth $60 million a year, a massive increase from their previous deal with CBS. And the story of 2024 so far has been the sales of controlling interests of multiple NWSL teams, first the San Diego Wave at a total valuation of $120 million, then Angel City at a total valuation of $250 million.
This summer, the NWSL sent over 50 players to the Olympics — representing nearly a quarter of every player at the Games.
To continue attracting and retaining international talent at this level means the league must offer roster and contract mechanisms more in line with the global standard, including even further expansion regarding player rights when it comes to free agency and trades.
The current CBA was due to expire at the end of the 2026 season, and included increases in minimum salaries, the introduction of free agency into the NWSL and other protections for player health and safety. The players association viewed that version of the CBA as a foundation from which to build.
“It’s also setting a standard, not just for us, but for the future of women’s soccer,” Simone Charley (now of the Orlando Pride) told The Athletic in 2022. “I think that was in the back of everyone’s mind. It’s not just about us and what we’re doing now. It’s about the next generation. That’s what brought everything into focus.”
(Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
