NWSL Implements “High Impact Player” Rule, Igniting Union Opposition

Background

The National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) has introduced a new rule, dubbed the “High Impact Player” (HIP) rule, allowing teams to spend up to $1 million outside of the salary cap on star players. This move comes as the NWSL Players Association (NWSLPA) has voiced its opposition, citing concerns over fair pay and collective bargaining.

Details

The HIP rule, set to take effect in 2026, enables teams to exceed the league’s established salary cap by up to $1 million for high-impact players. This additional allotment may be applied to a single player or distributed among multiple players, providing clubs with flexibility to recruit and retain top talent.
The NWSLPA has proposed an alternative solution, suggesting a $1 million increase in the team salary cap to compete in the global labor market. The union has also proposed a system for projecting revenue sharing numbers in future years, allowing teams and players to negotiate multi-year deals with certainty.

NWSLPA Response

The NWSLPA has expressed its opposition to the HIP rule, stating that it exceeds the league’s authority and violates federal labor law. The union argues that changes to compensation under the salary cap are a mandatory subject of bargaining, not a matter of unilateral discretion.
NWSLPA executive director Meghann Burke emphasized that the creation of any such rule requires collective bargaining, and the union opposed the HIP rule. Burke stated that the league is trying to control and interfere by dictating which players get paid what with this pot of funds.

League’s Response

The NWSL has defended its decision, stating that the HIP rule is a “historic increase in league investment” that will increase league-wide player spending by up to $16 million and a total potential investment of up to $115 million over the term of the current collective bargaining agreement.
NWSL commissioner Jessica Berman said that ensuring teams can compete for the best players in the world is critical to the continued growth of the league. The HIP rule, she added, allows teams to invest strategically in top talent, strengthens their ability to retain star players, and demonstrates their commitment to building world-class rosters.

Context

The HIP rule was implemented in the wake of the contract impasse involving Trinity Rodman, as well as the departures of United States women’s national team stars Alyssa Thompson and Naomi Girma earlier this year. Both Thompson and Girma left for transfers of over $1 million to join English side Chelsea.

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