Portland Thorns FC forward Sophia Smith (9) plays during an NWSL soccer match against the Orlando Pride, March 26, 2023, in Portland, Ore. The Thorns drafted Smith with the first overall pick in 2020. The NWSL and NWSLPA in a new collective bargaining agreement decided to eliminate the draft.
Amanda Loman / AP
Last month, the National Women’s Soccer League announced it’s getting rid of the draft. This winter, promising college players will instead choose among their favorite teams and negotiate a contract. The NWSL will still have roster limits and a salary cap, but under its new collective bargaining agreement, no player may be traded without her consent. The league is the first in the U.S. to grant unrestricted free agency to all players. Rachel Bachman, reporter for the Wall Street Journal, tells us how this change will impact the players, the league and possibly other sports.
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