This week, over 228 days after the new CBA was announced, the document was released in its entirety. Totalling 118 pages, the CBA has a lot of details which build upon what was released by the league in the Competition Manual. Here’s what you can take away from the document:

Minimum Salary/Salary Cap Outlook

Section 8.1 – Minimum Salary: For a Player employed by the NWSL, the minimum annual base salary (excluding bonuses, other incentive compensation/benefits shall be as follows:

  • 2024: $37,856
  • 2025: $48,500
  • 2026: $50,500
  • 2027: $65,000 (auto stipend is eliminated & Locality COLA and Supplemental Stipend are implemented)
  • 2028: $67,600
  • 2029: $70,500
  • 2030: $82,500

Section 8.16 – Team Salary Cap: Nothing in this Section shall be construed to give NWSL the right to limit or reduce benefits in any other part of this Agreement or any SPA. For 2024, the Team Salary Cap shall be not less than $2,750,000. Commencing with the 2025 League Season, the Team Salary Cap shall be not less than the amounts set forth below. NWSL may in its discretion, after consultation with the NWSLPA, increase the Team Salary Cap in any year. NWSL may in its discretion, after consultation with the NWSLPA, reduce or eliminate the Salary Cap charge against the Team Salary Cap for certain roster classifications. 

  • 2025: $3,300,000 
  • 2026: $3,500,000 
  • 2027: $4,400,000 
  • 2028: $4,700,000 
  • 2029: $4,900,000 
  • 2030: $5,100,000 

The Team Salary Cap shall be increased by the Team Revenue Share from the prior League Season

Minimum spend. Beginning in 2025, teams must not spend less than (Minimum Salary above x number of players on the team) + Team Revenue Share. Any team who does not spend the Team Minimum Spend by the end of a league season will be required to distribute the difference in equal amounts to any player who was under contract for at least nine months of the league season. 

No Third-Party Influence or Ownership. The NWSL shall not enter into an SPA which enables a third party to influence the Player’s employment or receive compensation of any kind.

Other notes:  

NWSL is required to provide the NWSLPA with a team-by-team salary cap report on a monthly basis.

A SPA may not be made subject to a player being or becoming pregnant during its term, being on parental leave, or exercising rights related to the pregnancy or parental protections

Competition Bonuses

The NWSL shall provide the following minimum performance bonuses to each Player on the applicable Team, which may be funded in whole or in part by sponsors. 

In the event of format changes other than switching from a Spring to Fall to a Fall to Spring season format, NWSL and NWSLPA shall meet and confer concerning amendments to the above bonus schedule. 

In no event shall the total dollar amount of the bonus pools decrease as a result of format changes. 

If the NWSL or one of its Teams receives prize money from a Team’s performance in a Tournament (USSF, CONCACAF, FIFA), Players competing in that Tournament shall receive 50% of such prize money. 

Locality COLA (Cost of Living Adjustment)

Starting with the 2027 season, if the annual salaries have the following two conditions, then NWSL shall no longer provide Team-provided housing, the Locality COLA Stipend, or the Supplemental Stipend

  1. The Gross Income less market cost of all players is above the required minimum net value of compensation

  2. The salary of every NWSL Player is hgh enough that the cost of half of the annual rental of a two bedroom apartment in all NWSL Markets does not exceed 30% of their salary

The Locality COLA is effective beginning with the 2027 season.

Market Housing Cost - The cost of the annual average rental of a one-bedroom apartment together with the average cost of utilities.

Housing Security Threshold - The threshold at which a player is spending no more than 30% of their Gross Income on Market Housing Cost. 

Gross Income - Base salary plus guaranteed bonuses plus additional guaranteed compensation

Baseline Locality COLA - The difference between the Market Housing Cost in the Player’s market and the Market Housing Cost in the highest-cost housing market in which a player earning the minimum base salary would not be spending more than 30% gross income on housing. 

Stabilitizing Locality COLA - The difference between 85% of a player’s gross income and housing security threshold. 

Locality COLA - The lesser of the Baseline Locality COLA and the Stabilizing Locality COLA. 

For example, consider a Player on Team G with a Gross Income of $90,000 in 2027 (same as example above).
Baseline Locality COLA = $7,514
Stabilizing Locality COLA = $10,021
Locality COLA = $7,514

Starting in the 2027 League Season, if a Team has Market Housing Costs such that a Player earning the Minimum Base Salary is not spending more than thirty percent (30%) of their Base Salary on Market Housing Costs, that Team shall no longer be required to pay Players a Locality COLA during the remainder of the Term of the Agreement, even if that Team’s Market Housing Costs change.

Players who select Team-provided housing will not be eligible to receive the Locality COLA Stipend. 

Supplemental Stipend

Beginning in 2027, Players may be eligible for a supplemental stipend based on their Net Value of Compensation (NVC).

NVC is defined as Base Salary + Locality COLA Stipend – Market Housing Cost

Players making the Minimum Salary. The required Minimum NVC by year which includes a 4% increase YoY:

  • 2027: $55,640
  • 2028: $57,866  
  • 2029: $60,180  
  • 2030: $62,587 

Players making above Minimum Salary w/ multi-year contract prior to January 1, 2027. Beginning in 2027, Players will be eligible for Supplemental Stipends in each year so that the NVC increases by no less than 4% each year. 

Players making above the Minimum Salary who sign a new SPA beginning January 1, 2027 who are not “cost burdened”.: Beginning in 2027, Players will be eligible for Supplemental Stipends equal to the difference between the NVC of Minimum Salaried Players (on the same team) who do not choose (or do not have the option of choosing) Team Provided Housing and the Player’s NVC as determined by the terms of their contract

Roster Size 

Each league season, the roster compliance date will not be before or earlier than March 1 or two weeks following the start of preseason. A team shall have a minimum roster size of 22 players and a maximum roster size of 26 players. 

Beginning in 2027, the minimum roster size is moving from 22 players up to 23 players. 

In the event the NWSL implements a Home Grown Player rule during the term of this Agreement, NWSL will be permitted to roster Home Grown Players in excess of the maximum Roster Size

Scheduling

Schedule release. The NWSL shall release the final draft of the regular season game schedule to the NWSLPA at the same time it is released to the Teams, which shall be no later than 14 days prior to the start of the opening game. 

Number of Games. Teams may play no more than the following number of NWSL games in a single league season, unless otherwise approved by the NWSLPA:

  • Number of games that constitute a home and away League Season
  • Up to 7 post-season games
  • One league Season kick-off game (“Community Shield”)
  • Up to five Exhibition Games (which may include Tournament games)
  • Up to two NWSL created or supported Tournaments (e.g. NWSL/Liga MX Summer Cup)

Game Frequency. The NWSL will not schedule a Team for more than two NWSL Games in any seven day period, unless the NWSL Games are at least 48 hours apart. The NWSL shall not initially schedule a team to play mid-week regular season games in consecutive weeks. In preparing the schedule, the NWSL will use reasonable efforts to ensure balance and consistency in terms of the number of NWSL Games scheduled for each team on a week-to-week and month-to-month basis. 

Professional Development and Education

Tuition benefits. By Aug 1, 2022, the NWSL shall establish an educational partnership with 1+ post-secondary institutions to provide players with access to subsidized online or in-person education benefits. 

Coaching Licensure Pathway. NWSL will provide up to $25,000 at the beginning of each calendar year to subsidize enrollment costs for current players who participate in U.S. Soccer’s Coaching License Pathway. If the allocated amount is not used in a given calendar year, the remaining amount will be carried over to the subsequent year.

Random Tidbits

If you really want more details, some random tidbits:

What is/isn’t included in the Salary Cap.

Limited Reopener Trigger. If during this CBA, the structure of the relationship between the League and Teams changes from a single entity structure OR if shareable revenues exceed $300 million in 2028 or 2029, then NWSL may reopen this agreement with respect to the revenue sharing portions. 

Charter flights. Beginning in the 2025 season, teams may book charter flights for up to three roundtrips or six legs within a league season. The league can approve additional charter flights. Charter flights are required for most midweek games. The NWSL and NWSLPA can meet to discuss changes, but the NWSL cannot implement changes that are more restrictive than what is already established. 

Expansion Teams. The Expansion Draft is abolished (was announced in the initial announcement), the NWSL retains the discretion to establish new rules for expansion teams to build rosters. 

Sub-loans Prohibited. NWSL shall ensure that the terms of any such loan agreement with a non-NWSL club prohibits sub-loaning of the Player to a third club. 

Dual Representation. In 2025 any player-agent who represents players and the NWSL, a Team, or a staff member needs written consent of all applicable parties. Beginning in 2026 there can’t be dual representation arrangements in the same transaction. 

Severance Pay for Semi-Guaranteed SPA. A player whose semi-guaranteed SPA is terminated prior to the term for reasons other than misconduct and is not picked up by the waiver wire will receive severance pay equal to four weeks of their base salary and can elect to continue to reside in any provided team housing for up to 30 days. 

Per diem. Players per diem while on a Road Trip will follow the guidelines set below, for any day in which the player is fully or partially traveling, and a meal is not provided. For all road trips, the total trip per diem shall be paid in a lump sum no later than the beginning of travel. 

  • 2024: $91 ($22 for breakfast; $29 for lunch; $40 for dinner) 
  • 2025: $94 ($23 for breakfast; $30 for lunch; $41 for dinner) 
  • 2026: $96 ($24 for breakfast; $31 for lunch; $42 for dinner) 
  • 2027: $100 ($25 for breakfast; $32 for lunch; $43 for dinner) 
  • 2028: $100 ($25 for breakfast; $32 for lunch; $43 for dinner) 
  • 2029: $100 ($25 for breakfast; $32 for lunch; $43 for dinner) 
  • 2030: $105 ($26 for breakfast; $34 for lunch; $45 for dinner) 

Relocation. Newly-Signed, Traded, and other Relocating Players shall be entitled to:

  • 2024: Reimbursement up to $2,500 or stipend of $2,000
  • 2025-27: Reimbursement up to $7,500 or stipend of $5,000
  • 2028-30: Reimbursement up to $10,000 or stipend of $7,500

Drug/Alcohol Policy/Requirement of covid-19 vaccination. Before deciding to implement a new drug and alcohol policy, the NWSL shall notify the NWSLPA. If the NWSLPA demands bargaining over such a policy, the parties shall negotiate in good faith but implementation shall not be delayed beyond 60 days. Should the NWSL deem it appropriate, the NWSL shall have the right to implement a mandatory COVID-19 vaccination policy. The two parties will negotiate in good faith over the effects but the implementation shall not be delayed beyond 30 days. 

Anti-Collusion Policy. Prior to the start of the 2026 league season, the NWSL will develop an anti-collusion policy designed to ensure the integrity of the free agency market. 

Media Appearances. A Player shall be available for and participate in appearances and/or interviews for television, film, audio/radio, newspaper, digital media, magazine, and other media representatives at the request of the NWSL and/or the Player’s Team. Players shall not unreasonably refuse to participate in Media Appearances. The NWSL and/or the Team shall use best efforts to use the entire roster of Players throughout the course of the League Year to meet the demand for appearances/interviews, taking into consideration the requests of the media

Salary Transparency. This was confirmed by an NWSLPA rep previously, but Player’s salaries will not be disclosed to third parties by the NWSL or its Teams without the prior, written consent of the NWSLPA.