NEW YORK (September 17, 2025) – The National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) today announced the launch of its first-ever Combines, created to showcase talent directly to NWSL clubs and further expand opportunities for players to reach the professional level. The Combines will take place over three days in December ahead of the start of the 2026 NWSL preseason.

The adult Combine (U18-23) will feature the nation’s top college-aged players, while the youth Combine (U13-17) will spotlight select rising talent in a high-impact, professional-level evaluation setting, giving both groups a unique platform to take the next step in their journey toward the NWSL.

“As the women’s soccer landscape continues to rapidly evolve, a Combine is a strategic platform that will allow us to support NWSL clubs in early talent evaluation and provide players with exposure to a professional environment,” said Director of Youth Development Karla Thompson. “This initiative is about widening the lens of who gets seen and ensuring that talent, wherever it resides, has a continued pathway to our league.”

In 2024, as part of its groundbreaking new Collective Bargaining Agreement with the NWSL Players Association, the NWSL became the first and only U.S. league to remove the draft and grant unrestricted free agency, aligning with global standards on player movement. Following this transformative shift, the adult and youth Combines will function as a showcase offering players meaningful exposure while equipping clubs with new opportunities to identify top talent.

The adult Combine will create a new on-ramp for aspiring professionals, including college graduates, outside of traditional academy systems and those whose careers may have taken non-linear paths, to demonstrate their readiness for the pro level. Programming will include performance testing, competitive matches and opportunities for direct interaction with NWSL clubs.

The youth Combine will serve as an intentional bridge in the league’s development ecosystem, connecting promising players with the next steps in their professional journey. Over the course of three days, participants will take part in training sessions, competitive match play and off-field educational programming designed to prepare them for the professional environment.

By uniting both initiatives under one platform, the NWSL aims to expand avenues for player discovery, elevate the scouting process and reinforce its long-term commitment to building a more accessible and innovative pathway to professional soccer.