NWSL to Introduce ‘High Impact Player Rule’ to Attract and Retain Stars
new rule will allow clubs to exceed salary cap by up to US$1m for players who meet commercial or sporting criteria
Initiative to be rolled out from july 2026 but faces opposition from league’s players union
Move comes amid competition from Europe for stars like Trinity Rodman
SportsPro’s 50 Most Marketable Athletes ranking will be among the criteria used by the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) to determine ‘High Impact Players’ as part of a new rule the competition hopes will help its teams attract and retain the sport’s biggest stars.
Coming into effect from July 2026, the ‘High Impact Player Rule’ will allow each NWSL club to exceed the US women’s soccer league’s salary cap by up to US$1 million for players who meet one of the following commercial or sporting criteria:
* Player is on SportsPro’s top 150 Most Marketable Athletes within the one year prior to the current league season
* Player is selected in the top 30 in Ballon d’Or voting in the two years prior to the current league season
* Player is selected in the top 40 of the Guardian top 100 players in the world in the two years prior
* Player is selected in the top 40 of ESPN FC top 50 football players in the world in the two years prior
* Top 11 minutes played for the US women’s national team (USWNT) in the prior two calendar years for field players for all competition types
* Top one minutes played for USWNT in the prior two calendar years for goalkeepers for all competition types
* Player selected as NWSL MVP finalist within previous the two league seasons
* Player selected to the end of year NWSL best XI first team within the previous two league seasons
Washington Spirit’s Trinity Rodman (120) and Portland Thorns forward Sophia Wilson (138) were the only NWSL players to feature in the top 150 of this year’s 50MM ranking which was produced in partnership wiht NorthStar Solutions Group.
The introduction of the rule comes at a time when the NWSL is facing growing competition for its star players, including Rodman, who is considered one of the most exciting youngsters in the game and has reportedly received lucrative offers from Europe ahead of her contract with the Spirit expiring at the end of this month.
Other high-profile moves in recent years have seen Alyssa Thompson swap Angel City for Women’s Super league (WSL) champions Chelsea and Crystal Dunn switch from Gotham FC to French side Paris Saint-Germain.
The NWSL will thus be hoping that the High Impact Player Rule will enable it to keep players who contribute to the marketability and commercial value of the competition.
“Ensuring our teams can compete for the best players in the world is critical to the continued growth of our league,” said NWSL commissioner Jessica Berman. “The High Impact Player Rule allows teams to invest strategically in top talent, strengthens our ability to retain star players, and demonstrates our commitment to building a world-class league.”
NWSL Introduces “High Impact Player” Rule, Increasing Salary Flexibility and League Spending
The National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) has announced a new “High Impact Player” rule, allowing teams to sign one player whose salary exceeds the league’s existing salary cap. This move, agreed upon with the NWSL Players Association (NWSLPA), is designed to attract top talent and further elevate the league’s competitive level.
Under the new rule, teams can allocate an additional US$1 million towards a single player, or distribute the funds among multiple athletes. The salary cap currently stands at US$3.5 million for 2025 and the threshold for the High impact Player rule will increase annually at the same rate as the cap.
The NWSL projects this rule will increase league-wide spending on player salaries by US$16 million in 2026, and a total of up to US$115 million over the duration of the current collective bargaining agreement (CBA), which extends through 2030.
The introduction of the High Impact Player rule mirrors a similar initiative in Major League Soccer (MLS), known as the Designated Player rule. Introduced in 2007 to facilitate the signing of players like David Beckham, the MLS rule allows clubs to sign up to three players whose salaries are not subject to the league’s salary cap.
The NWSLPA expressed its satisfaction with the agreement, stating, “the players are pleased to have reached an agreement with the league on the High Impact Player rule. The union remains ready and willing to engage in good-faith bargaining.”
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