NWSL Contracts: U18 Entry Mechanism

Any player 17 years old or younger can enter the NWSL via the U18 Entry Mechanism. The league maintains a non-public U18 Entry List. Each team is limited to four players between their U18 Entry List and Roster. Once a player turns 18, they no longer count towards that total of four. These spots are not tradeable and a player must be signed to a guaranteed contract within 30 days of being placed on the Entry List.

Fun rules:
U18 players can not be waived or traded until the player turns 18 (or with player and parent/guardian consent)
Contract length must run through the season in which the player turns 18
U18 Players are not eligible to be selected in the Expansion Process

YEAR
TEAM
POSITION
 
Player (3) Pos Team Signed With Age At Signing Start End Yrs Guaranteed Signed Date
Audrey McKeen F LOU 2026 2028 3 Jan 06, 2026
Meila Brewer M KC 16 2026 2028 3 Dec 22, 2025
Evan O'Steen GK SEA 17 2026 2026 1 Jan 16, 2026

Discovery

Prior to the creation of the U18 Entry Mechanism, there was no way for minors to join the NWSL. Olivia Moultrie paved the way for these young players by suing the NWSL on antitrust grounds and was able to enter the league via the discovery process. Shaw followed suit the following year, forcing the league to take a deeper look into their policies and application to players under the age of 18

Player (15) Pos Team Signed With Age At Signing Start End Yrs Guaranteed Signed Date
Olivia Moultrie M POR 15 2021 2023 3 Jun 30, 2021
Jaedyn Shaw F SD 17 2022 2023 2 Jul 18, 2022
Kelly McFarlane M HOU 20 2013 2013 1 -
Caity Heap M HOU 21 2016 2016 1 -
Domenica Hodak D WAS 21 2013 2013 1 -
Lauren Lazo D BOS 21 2015 2015 -
Meg Morris F NJ 21 2014 2014 1 -
Julia Roberts M WAS 21 2013 2013 1 -
Holly Hein D HOU 22 2014 2014 1 -
Taylor Lytle M NJ 23 2013 2013 4 -
Danielle Foxhoven F POR 23 2013 2013 -
Amanda Frisbie D BOS 24 2017 2017 1 -
Chelsea Stewart D WNY 24 2015 2015 1 -
Satara Murray D HOU 25 2019 2020 2 -
Libby Guess F BOS 40 2013 2013 1 Oct 10, 2025
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