Houston Dash trio set to become free agents — what next?

Oct 17, 2022 • 10:14 pm

There is a major shift in the fabric of the NWSL on the horizon. This offseason will see the first-ever free-agency window in the history of the league.

The change comes off the back of the historic first-ever collective bargaining agreement between the NWSL and its players' association (PA). In 2023, players with six or more years of NWSL service will qualify for free-agency.

The window to sign the first class of free-agents — whose contracts are set to expire on December 31, 2022 — technically started on Aug. 26. But there has been an ongoing dispute between the league and the PA over whether or not players with club options would qualify to become free agents.

The league, and its owners, argued that clubs needed to make a decision to either take up or decline the option before the players could hit the free-agency market. The deadline for players to decide on contract options for the 2023 season is Nov. 15.

On Monday, that dispute was settled in favor of the NWSLPA allowing an additional 22 players, who had club options for one-year extensions, to join the first class of free agents. The independent arbitrator of the dispute ruled that NWSL clubs needed to have exercised the options on players prior to the Aug. 26 deadline if they didn't want those players to become free agents.

An update from the NWSLPA on arbitration to enforce Free Agency rights: pic.twitter.com/Uh6Et2fYwB
— NWSLPA (@nwsl_players) October 17, 2022

How does this affect the Dash?

Monday's ruling means that Houston Dash midfielder Sophie Schmidt has now been added to the free-agents list, despite the club previously holding a club option for a one-year extension. She joins defenders Allysha Chapman and Elizabeth Eddy, who were both out of contract at the end of the season, on the NWSL's first-ever free-agency list.

All three players can begin negotiating with other clubs around the league and testing the market as they look for a new contract. At this time, it is unclear if the Dash has already offered any of these players extensions. The terms of Schmidt's previous option to extend no longer apply.

Considering that Houston's season came to a sudden and untimely dramatic close this past Sunday, there's a good chance these conversations only start to occur this week.

The early signs would hint that Schmidt isn't going anywhere. Speaking after Houston's 2-1 playoff defeat to the Kansas City Current, the Canadian international spoke about her excitement for next season and belief in the Dash project as a whole.

"We can only go up from here and for the future of the club, Houston Dash is very exciting and I think that any player would be very excited to be a part of it," said Schmidt on Sunday. "I feel like I'm playing my best soccer at this moment. I feel alive on the field. I want to help my teammates, I want to help the club achieve new heights."

Coming off the best NWSL season of her career, Schmidt is a contender for 2022 Dash player of the year. The holding midfielder made 19 appearances, scored four goals, and notched one assist. She also led the Dash in tackles, interceptions, and ball recoveries.

Sophie Schmidt buries it and we’re all level at PNC! 🟠#DashOn | #NWSL pic.twitter.com/ghkdLmSj8S
— The Striker (@TheStrikerNews) October 16, 2022

Chapman is one of the longest-serving Dash players on the roster, having first played for Houston in 2015. In 2016, she transferred to the Boston Breakers, then briefly played for the North Carolina Courage, before then returning to Houston in 2018. The Canadian international made 15 appearances this season, featuring predominantly at left back.

Eddy only recently arrived in Houston after being traded to the team from NJ/NY Gotham before the start of the regular season. A Swiss-army-knife of a player, she was deployed on both wings, as a fullback and a wingback, as well as sometimes offering an option in the midfield. Eddy made 14 appearances, seven starts, and scored two goals.

In August, the Dash hired Alex Singer as its first-ever general manager. She will be the key figure on the other side of the negotiating table in Southeast Texas. This offseason, she will be tasked with setting the tone for what NWSL free agency looks like both for the players and the clubs. We're in uncharted territory.