The NWSL announced the High-Impact Player rule on Tuesday, a policy update allowing teams to invest an additional $1 million on select players to enhance competitive salaries within women’s soccer.
Beginning in 2026, NWSL teams can exceed the salary cap by this amount, which can be used for individual player salaries or shared amongst several players. The cap will set at $3.5 million in 2026, increasing to $5.1 million by 2030.
The rule becomes effective on July 1, but teams may immediately engage players under this scheme, given that contracts align with new guidelines.
Criteria for selecting High-Impact Players:
- Players ranked in the SportsPro Media Top 150 Most Marketable Athletes in the year preceding the current season.
- Players included in the Top 30 of the Ballon d’Or voting in the last two years.
- Players in the Top 40 of the Guardian’s Top 100 Football Players or ESPN FC’s Top 50 Football Players rankings over the past two years.
- Players contributing significant minutes (top 11 for field players, top 1 for goalkeepers) in the USWNT over the last two years.
- Players recognized as finalists for the NWSL MVP in the last two seasons.
- Players named to the NWSL Best XI First Team previously.
The NWSL is modifying its rules amidst discussions about the salary cap impact on talent retention, highlighted by Trinity Rodman’s ongoing contract situation with the Washington Spirit. As leading players face lucrative offers from European clubs, the NWSL is keen to maintain its competitive viability against growing financial investments in women’s soccer.
NWSL Players Association termed the new salary cap alterations a violation of federal labor laws and called for collective bargaining rather than unilateral decision-making. Meghann Burke, the union’s executive director, asserts the necessity of raising the overall salary cap over creating ad-hoc exceptions to ensure the league can remain competitive. Efforts continue to solidify player rights amidst this transitional phase.
