NWSLPA shares details on historic labor wins from new NWSL CBA deal

The GIST: We finally have the deets on the NWSL’s new collective bargaining agreement (CBA) signed on August 9th, and they’re even better than expected. The league has granted unprecedented player autonomy through several concessions, including the elimination of its draft. Here’s more on how the NWSL just became arguably the most player-forward league in sports.

The details: The new agreement creates a free agency without restrictions, guarantees all contracts, and forbids trades without player consent. Players also won improved workload management and revenue sharing for the first time, as well as expanded maternity and childcare benefits.

• The CBA eliminated the league’s draft after players described it as an “antiquated model that treats people as property to be bought and sold.” However, this has already raised questions about how the NWSL can maintain parity and prevent talent from accumulating on superteams. Watch this space.

The context: The NWSL first reached out to the NWSLPA last September, two years ahead of the previous deal’s expiration date. While ensuring labor peace is a plus, the league was strongly motivated by two factors: Inking a CBA before negotiating its next media rights deal (which is expected to be even bigger than its current one) and being able to attract global superstars.

• The USWNT advertises NWSL talent, so when the team lost early in the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, it lit a fire under the NWSL to become the world’s preeminent women’s soccer league. As the UK revamps its top women’s soccer flights and Canada preps for its new pro league, the NWSL wins out with the best player benefits in the game so far.

The landscape: Such a pro-labor CBA agreed to ahead of schedule is unheard of. Typically, it’s a contentious give and take between athletes and owners. The NHL and MLB have even faced lockouts, and despite the leverage of a labor strike, sports owners tend to win CBA battles, not players.

• With the NWSL’s increased resources and desire to share them with athletes in good faith, it creates a positive work environment that ensures smooth sailing through the next media rights negotiation period. Score.