NWSL Introduces ‘High Impact Player’ Rule

The National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) has introduced a new rule called the “High Impact Player” Rule, effective immediately under the existing Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) with the NWSL Players Association.

This rule aims to give clubs more options to attract and keep high-quality players, highlighting the league’s expansion and its goal to compete for top global talent.

This announcement follows the NWSL Players Association’s rejection of an earlier proposal for the High Impact Player mechanism, expressing concerns about its rapid development and lack of clarity. They also suggested increasing the salary cap by $1 million in 2026.

Under the new rule, each club can exceed the league’s salary cap by up to $1,000,000 for high impact players. This amount will grow annually alongside the salary cap. Clubs can allocate this extra cap space to one player or spread it among several, giving them flexibility to attract and retain top talent while maintaining competitive balance. A minimum of 12% of the base salary cap must be charged for any contract that utilizes this rule.

There are specific criteria for identifying a “high impact player.” A player must meet at least one of the following criteria:

• Selected to the End of Year NWSL Best XI First Team in the past two seasons.
• Listed in SportsPro Media’s Top 150 Most Marketable Athletes in the year before the current season.
• Ranked in the Top 30 of Ballon d’Or voting in the two years prior.
• Ranked in the Top 40 of the Guardian’s Top 100 football players in the two years prior.
• Ranked in the Top 40 of ESPN FC’s Top 50 football players in the last two years.
• Played significant minutes for the USWNT in the last two years (for field players).
• Played at least one minute for the USWNT in the last two years (for goalkeepers).
• Selected as an NWSL MVP Finalist in the last two seasons.

NWSL Commissioner Jessica Berman stated, “Competing for the best players in the world is essential for our league’s growth. The High Impact Player Rule allows teams to make strategic investments in top talent, helps retain star players, and shows our dedication to building outstanding rosters for all.”

For the full news release on the High Impact Player Rule from the NWSL, please click here.