In some ways, this NWSL offseason is playing out as usual. Player movement remains the main focus of the winter months, new signings fitting into puzzles that were months in the making for general managers, revealing the plans each team has for themselves in the coming year.
The needs change from year to year, but the routines do not. Coaching and technical staff still watch hours of film of potential recruits, send scouts on trips and find out whatever they can about those players before finalizing a deal. The league is in uncharted territory of its own design this winter – collegiate athletes will join the league as free agents rather than through a draft.
The NWSL ratified a new collective bargaining agreement in August that eliminated all drafts immediately, becoming the first professional league to remove a staple of American sports since the NFL introduced it in 1936. This change is altering player and club dynamics, with some shifts being more predictable than others.
“It’s the same amount of work. It’s the same work,” says Haley Carter, VP of Soccer Operations and Sporting Director for Orlando Pride. “The main difference is not around scouting; it is around recruiting and selling your clubs.”
New Roster-Building Quirks
While the overall workload doesn’t seem to change for scouting incoming collegiate players, the approach requires some adjustments. Sourcing talent requires a broader perspective since collegiate players are now categorized differently without a draft.
“Not having a college draft is great for the top 10 or 15 athletes, but for others, it might prove more difficult,” explains Caitlin Carducci, GM of Kansas City Current.
Gotham leads the way with four collegiate signings this offseason, aiming for a cohesive blend of young talent and seasoned players. Teams are also expanding their networks to scout talents globally, propelled by an influx of investments and policy changes making it simpler to sign international players.
New Player Development Landscape
The NWSL roster building process is starting to closely resemble the model in Europe, where players are not beholden to drafts or trades. This transformation is no surprise given the NWSL and MLS’s unique positions within soccer’s global framework. Increasing rights for players after previous scandals have set a progressive pace for player empowerment in the league.
NWSL’s new era sans draft signals potential shifts in player recruitment across women’s soccer in the U.S. With escalating investments, the league finds itself exploring pathways once considered unfeasible, indicating a truly transformative journey ahead.
