The first collective agreement in the history of the only women’s soccer professional league in the United States brings a whole range of improvements to the players: hefty salary increases, free housing, pensions and life insurance and benefits in the event of illness or injury. This also includes paid time off in the event of high psychological stress and eight weeks of maternity leave and parental leave for pregnant players.
There are also more material benefits, the minimum salary increases to $35,000. To date, around a third of professional female players have earned just $22,000 a year. Those who are made redundant will receive severance pay, and the club will have to cover the cost of accommodation and medical insurance for 30 days. After an abuse scandal last year, minimum standards for the medical care of the players now apply. Teams also no longer have to play on a field that is unsuitable for football – this has happened in the past.
New contractual freedom for the players
At least as important are the new rules on freedom of contract, which the negotiators pushed through in 40 days of negotiations. From 2023 onwards, after at least six years in the NWSL, players will be able to seek offers from other teams or sign there, after three years in a team players will be able to change to a limited extent in the future. The collective agreement runs until 2026.
With the training camps on Tuesday, the US women’s soccer league starts its tenth season, which officially starts on March 19 with the Challenge Cup. The Angel City teams from Los Angeles and the San Diego Wave are newcomers.