The US National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) has announced it has agreed its first-ever collective bargaining agreement with its players' association (NWSLPA).
The deal, which “signals the collective commitment of owners and players to work in partnership”, covers the next five seasons until 2026.
While the two entities have finalized negotiations, the agreement is still subject to the approval of the NWSL board of governors.
The terms of the deal include an increase in salaries to a minimum of $35,000 (a rise of almost 60%), life and health insurance, eight weeks of paternal leave, six months in paid mental health leave, and free agency starting from 2023 for players with a minimum of six years service.
Marla Messing, interim chief executive at the NWSL, said: “Our owners are committed to providing the significant and unprecedented investment required to build and sustain a professional women’s soccer league that properly supports our players, both as professional soccer players and as individuals.”
Tory Huster, president at the NWSLPA, added: “With the amount of care and attention that we have given this process since fall 2020, we are proud that players can confidently enter the 10th season in the NWSL in a better position than ever before.”
