The Players Association of the NWSL, the women’s soccer tournament in the United States, rejected a proposal by the league to create a special salary category for some of the tournament’s most prominent players, who would not count entirely against the teams’ salary cap.
The league’s decision came in the midst of negotiations to retain Trinity Rodman, one of its key players, whose contract with the Washington Spirit ended last November at the conclusion of last season.
Wage cap sparks NWSL conflict
The capital team cannot match the offers its player has received from England because it would breach the salary cap.
And the NWSL had announced that it would fight to retain it.
The new mechanism proposed by the NWSL would allow teams to pay some stars above the salary cap.
However, the union lamented that this new rule has been created too quickly and in an opaque manner.
And that the criteria for being considered a ‘High Impact Player’ (HIP) depend on external metrics:
As ranking in the Ballon d’Or or minutes played with the national team.
More than 400 players questioned by the Association felt the move would not benefit the NWSL, according to The Athletic.
Instead, they proposed a $1 million increase in the salary cap, which currently stands at $3.3 million for the entire roster, and let the teams decide how to invest that money.
With information from EFE
How Trinity Rodman came to the league
Trinity Rodman entered the NWSL in 2021 as the second overall selection in the Draft, chosen by the Washington Spirit.
At just 18 years old, the forward – daughter of former NBA player Dennis Rodman – made the leap to the pros after a brief college stint at Stanford.
His impact was immediate: goals, assists and an uncommon maturity for his age.
That same year she was named NWSL Rookie of the Year, quickly establishing herself as one of the most important young figures in women’s soccer in the United States.
For more information, visit QuéOnnda.com.
