NWSL Players Association ratifies transformative first-ever CBA, will run through 2026

Hours before the NWSL preseason was due to get underway and players were expected to report to clubs and training camps, the NWSL Players Association (NWSLPA) announced that they had ratified the league’s first-ever collective bargaining agreement. The agreement of the first-ever NWSL CBA will last through the 2026 season.

On Monday night, the NWSL and the NWSLPA additionally confirmed that the CBA is still subject to approval by the NWSL Board of Governors. 

After over a year of grueling negotiations between the league and NWSLPA, the news of the CBA is a combination of relief and pride for many players who endured a lengthy fight for the new and improved terms. 

"From our inception, the Players Association has put players first. Our mission in the historic CBA was to put this same philosophy at the center of the NWSL's future. With the amount of the care and attention that we have given the process since Fall 2020, we are proud that players can confidently enter the tenth season of the NWSL in a better position than ever before," said NWSLPA President Tori Huster via Monday's statement. 

Although the NWSL PA was only formed in 2017, the union acknowledged that the journey to the first-ever CBA and improved terms goes beyond the current crop of players. "To the Players who came before us: We stand on your shoulders. We hope we made you proud," said the NWSL PA via a statement. 

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Former NWSL player and PA Executive Director Meghann Burke also shared a statement. She emphasized the work of the players past to enforce historic change. 

"The strength, resilience, and solidarity of this extraordinary group of players and people is what secured this landmark agreement," said Burke. "Players drove every decision in the process. Over more than 40 bargaining sessions, these players stood strong and stood together, right up to the moment of ratification. This is a historic moment not only for our league, but for all working people who stand up and stand together."

The NWSL announced that the terms of the new CBA will require the owners to collectively invest $100 million incrementally over the course of the deal. "The deal signals the collective commitment of owners and players to work in partnership as the NWSL continues its rapid growth," read a statement from the NWSL. 

On behalf of the league owners, Kansas City Current co-owner Angie Long and NJ/NY Gotham FC Vice-Chair Ed Nalbandian shared public statements via the NWSL on Monday night.

"We purchased our team a year ago and have committed to delivering for our players, club, and city,” said Long. “This CBA represents a league-wide partnership between owners and players to deliver on our shared mission of building the greatest league in the world."

“This historic agreement formalizes a partnership between owners, front offices and players that is absolutely critical for our league’s long-term growth and success,” said Nalbandian. “I want to thank the players and NWSLPA Executive Director Meghann Burke for the partnership they’ve exhibited in negotiating an agreement that prioritizes player safety, club accountability, and the financial well-being of our players and league."

Since October 2021, the NWSL has been navigating the CBA negotiations without an acting commissioner. Interim CEO Marla Messing has been tasked with guiding the league through this groundbreaking time. "This is a historic moment for women’s soccer in the United States," said Messing on Monday night. 

"This transformative agreement represents deserved advancements for our players, including significantly stronger compensation packages and benefits, enhanced training and playing environments, and a long-term commitment to continually improve the standards we all regard as essential to securing our position as the best women’s soccer league in the world.

"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. We thank the NWSLPA leadership and the players for their thoughtful approach on the CBA and look forward to continuing to collaborate with them to create the best environment for our players to succeed.”

For all 12 clubs, the NWSL Preseason will now officially begin on Tuesday, February 1. Competitive matches are set to kick off with the Challenge Cup on March 19, with the regular season getting underway on May 7. The NWSL Championship is scheduled for the final weekend of October 2022.