June 9 – Starting in the 2026 National Women’s Soccer League season, clubs will gain access to ‘intraleague loans’ while expansion teams Boston and Denver will receive significantly more funding to build competitive rosters.
All clubs can access up to $1.065 million in allocation money beginning July 1, with the league automatically funding half that amount. Teams must cover the remaining portion out of their own budgets at their discretion.
The new intraleague loan system will allow all 16 clubs to loan players to competitors – a notable shift in how NWSL players can move between teams. Currently, NWSL players can be traded between clubs, but under the league’s collective bargaining agreement, players must consent to all trades. The loan system maintains this player-friendly approach, requiring consent for any temporary moves.
The NWSL operates with a salary cap system where player compensation varies dramatically. The league minimum salary is $35,000, while the maximum is $230,000. Most players earn between $35,000-$75,000 annually, though designated players and national team stars can earn significantly more through allocation money that doesn’t count against the cap.
Unlike major men’s leagues where clubs pay transfer fees to acquire players from other teams, NWSL operates more like other American sports leagues with trades, drafts, and now loans. Players are typically acquired through the annual college draft, trades (with player consent), free agency, or international signings.
Under the loan structure, a player’s annual salary remains unchanged, but clubs will negotiate how much of those wages the acquiring team covers. Teams bringing in loaned players must meet the league’s minimum salary threshold on a prorated basis.
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