Overview
- Teams may exceed the salary cap by up to $1 million for qualifying players starting July 1, 2026, with the allowance growing at the same rate as the cap and usable on one or multiple players.
- Clubs can sign eligible players immediately so long as contracts defer use of the new allotment until the effective date.
- Eligibility requires meeting at least one sporting or commercial benchmark, including recent Ballon d’Or or major global top‑player lists, USWNT minutes thresholds, or NWSL MVP finalist/Best XI honors.
- For any contract using the rule, the player’s cap charge must be at least 12% of the base cap, and the league projects up to $16 million more in player spending in 2026 and as much as $115 million over the current CBA.
- The NWSLPA opposes the unilateral move as a mandatory bargaining issue, has proposed a $1 million cap increase instead, and continues a grievance over the league’s rejection of Trinity Rodman’s Spirit deal with timelines extended by agreement.