Independent Arbitrator Issues Ruling on NWSL Free Agency
October 17, 2022 – National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) News Release
NEW YORK – The National Women’s Soccer League’s first-ever free agency period under its Collective Bargaining Agreement with the NWSL Players Association began at 12:01 a.m. on Friday, August 26, 2022, allowing pending free agents to begin negotiations for their 2023 Standard Player Agreements.
Eligible players included anyone who has at least six years of service within the NWSL and has an expiring contract in 2022.
The NWSL and the NWSLPA disagreed about the interpretation of the CBA with respect to whether a player is eligible for free agency who has a pending option year on their contract held by their respective club. The parties recently participated in an arbitration process pursuant to the CBA between the NWSL and the NWSLPA.
The impartial arbitrator has ruled in favor of the NWSLPA and any player with six years of service and an expiring SPA is currently eligible.
“I am proud of the manner in which the parties used the arbitration procedure,” said NWSL Commissioner Jessica Berman. “This was an honest and respectful disagreement, and we utilized the dispute resolution mechanism in our collective bargaining agreement which is fair and impartial. Thanks to our labor agreement all parties can make their case to an independent and neutral third-party and respect the decision.”
Beginning in August 2023, the number of players eligible for free agency will increase significantly, with unrestricted free agency available to all players with at least five years of service in the league, and restricted free agency available to those players with at least three years of service.
• Discuss this story on the National Women’s Soccer League message board…
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
