The National Women’s Soccer League will begin its 2024 free agency period under its collective bargaining agreement with the NWSL Players Association at 12:01 a.m. on Friday, September 22, 2023. This allows pending free agents to begin negotiations for their 2024 Standard Player Agreements. Here’s what it means:
The National Women’s Soccer League began its 2024 free agency period under its collective bargaining agreement with the NWSL Players Association at 12:01 a.m. on Friday, September 22, 2023. This allowseligible free agents to begin negotiations for their 2024 Standard Player Agreements. Here’s what it means: Who is eligible? Eligible players for unrestricted free agency include all who have at least five years of service within the NWSL, and have contracts expiring in 2023. Eligible players for restricted free agency include all who have at least three years of service within the NWSL and have contracts expiring in 2023. Under the terms of the CBA, any club that currently holds the rights of a restricted free agent has a period of seven days to match an incoming offer from another club. If the current club declines to match, the player may sign with the new club under the terms of the offer. Seven players eligible for free agency maintain a mutual option with their current clubs for the 2024 season which must be exercised on or before November 20.
What are the key dates?
September 22, 2023 at 12:01 AM ET: free agency negotiations can begin. Players who will become eligible commencing in the next League Season (2024 free agents) may begin negotiating a new SPA (standard player agreement) after the Roster Freeze date of the prior year. November 20, 2023 at 12:01 AM ET: new contracts may be signed Players who are eligible to commence Free Agency in the next League Season (2024) may sign a new SPA with a new team for the 2024 season. Can anything happen before November 20? The League will permit Teams to re-sign their own Free Agents at any time. So what does this mean? At the opening of the Free Agency window, new and current teams may negotiate contract terms with the pending free agent. Team or player/player agent may solicit discussion. If player does not receive a new offer – the player remains free agent with rights unassigned in the NWSL. If a player agrees to terms with current team, player may sign a new contract at any time. If a player agrees to terms with a new team, player may not sign a new contract until November 20, 2023. What does this mean for the rest of the season? In all cases, player’s current team is responsible for SPA through the end of the calendar year. MORE ON NWSL FREE AGENCY: * NWSL Free Agency Hub