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NWSL
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
| Player (21) | Pos | Team Signed With | Age At Signing | Start | End | Yrs Guaranteed | Signed Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Audrey McKeen | F |
 LOU |
2026 | 2028 | 3 | Jan 06, 2026 | |
| McKenna Whitham | F |
 GFC |
13 | 2025 | 2028 | 4 | Jul 26, 2024 |
| Melanie Barcenas | F |
 SD |
15 | 2023 | 2025 | 3 | Mar 21, 2023 |
| Alex Pfeiffer | F |
 KC |
15 | 2024 | 2026 | 3 | Oct 30, 2023 |
| Chloe Ricketts | M |
 WAS |
15 | 2023 | 2025 | 3 | Mar 03, 2023 |
| KK Ream | F |
 UTA |
15 | 2025 | 2027 | 3 | Dec 11, 2024 |
| Meila Brewer | M |
 KC |
16 | 2026 | 2028 | 3 | Dec 22, 2025 |
| Casey Phair | F |
 ACFC |
16 | 2024 | 2026 | 3 | Jan 18, 2024 |
| Kennedy Fuller | M |
ACFC |
16 | 2024 | 2026 | 3 | Mar 06, 2024 |
| Kimmi Ascanio | M |
SD |
16 | 2024 | 2026 | 3 | Mar 22, 2024 |
| Ainsley McCammon | M |
 SEA |
16 | 2024 | 2028 | 5 | Jul 19, 2024 |
| Evan O'Steen | GK |
 SEA |
17 | 2026 | 2026 | 1 | Jan 16, 2026 |
| Sydney Schmidt | F |
 NC |
17 | 2025 | 2027 | 3 | Oct 16, 2025 |
| Micayla Johnson | F |
 CHI |
17 | 2025 | 2027 | 3 | Jan 24, 2025 |
| Trinity Armstrong | D |
SD |
17 | 2025 | 2027 | 3 | Jan 16, 2025 |
| Katie Scott | D |
KC |
17 | 2025 | 2025 | 1 | Jan 08, 2025 |
| Jordyn Bugg | D |
SEA |
17 | 2024 | 2026 | 3 | Jul 19, 2024 |
| Emeri Adames | F |
SEA |
17 | 2024 | 2027 | 4 | Mar 13, 2024 |
| Claire Hutton | M |
KC |
17 | 2024 | 2026 | 3 | Dec 14, 2023 |
| Gisele Thompson | D |
ACFC |
17 | 2024 | 2025 | 2 | Nov 28, 2023 |
| Riley Jackson | M |
NC |
17 | 2023 | 2025 | 3 | Jul 28, 2023 |
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 |