NWSL settlement opens High Impact Player status to all players from 2027

The NWSL and its players association have agreed to remove the eligibility restrictions attached to the league's High Impact Player rule, opening the designation to any player from January 1, 2027. The Guardian reported that the settlement was announced Friday, with ESPN first reporting the agreement. Clubs will still have to meet a salary threshold when using the mechanism.

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Under the revised arrangement, a designated player's salary must be at least 12% of the base salary cap. The league will also retain the ability to limit how many High Impact Players each club can have. The change removes eight qualifying criteria that had relied on achievements and recognition including international playing time, Ballon d'Or consideration, NWSL Best XI selections and appearances on media rankings.

The original rule allowed clubs to spend an additional $1 million above the cap to sign leading players. Introduced last December and implemented on July 1, it applied during a season with a $3.7 million base cap. Roughly 100 players met its eligibility tests when it was introduced, according to The Guardian. The union challenged the classification system, arguing that it conflicted with federal labor law and the collective bargaining agreement.

Friday's agreement resolved six grievances, including a dispute over the league's rejection of a proposed contract between Trinity Rodman and the Washington Spirit. The mechanism became informally known as the Rodman Rule because it emerged during her contract negotiations. Before its introduction, commissioner Jessica Berman rejected a proposed Spirit deal because of its backloaded structure. Rodman subsequently re-signed in January, but the union's grievance over the earlier rejection remained unresolved until this settlement.

The league can continue rejecting contracts it determines circumvent the salary cap. It must, however, inform the players association and explain its decision within 72 hours. The settlement also requires the NWSL to give clubs updates on salary-cap matters and revenue during the year, adding reporting obligations alongside the changes to player eligibility.

A separate part of the agreement addresses footwear restrictions. Some players had received warnings and fines this season for wearing boots made by brands that were not official league sponsors. The NWSL will now recognize existing endorsement agreements for most players and withdraw earlier fines, The Guardian reported. Those provisions were included in the broader resolution of disputes between the league and its union.