NWSL Eliminates College Draft, Pioneering Player-Driven Recruitment Model

The league's new collective bargaining agreement replaces the draft with free agency, granting players greater control over their careers.

The National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) has become the first major U.S. professional sports league to eliminate its college draft, effective for the 2025 season.
This change stems from a new Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) reached in August 2024, which will remain in effect until 2030.
Under the new system, college players graduating or foregoing NCAA eligibility can now negotiate directly with NWSL teams as free agents, giving them more agency in choosing their career paths.
Teams will need to enhance their scouting and recruitment processes to identify and attract top talent, leading to increased competition and potential investments in player development resources.
While the draft previously offered a celebratory moment for players, the new approach aligns the NWSL with international soccer leagues and allows for more flexibility and fairness in player-team negotiations.