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‘It is a very draconian system’: The NWSL Players Association’s fight for its first CBA

(Daniel Bartel/ISI Photos/Getty Images)

The NWSL is in its ninth year and still operating without a collective bargaining agreement. The NWSL Players Association has been working to rectify that, searching for a solution with the league that both honors the sport’s past and presents a way forward.

In negotiating a historic first CBA, the PA is looking to secure advances like a raised minimum salary and a free agency that allows players to have more influence in their club options. The specifics of the negotiations remain behind closed doors by necessity, but the desire for clarity and equitable assurances remains obvious.

The NWSL is in the midst of a tumultuous season that has involved multiple firings and called player safety into question. The controversies have made the need for a CBA especially urgent. But as NWSLPA Executive Director Meghann Burke sees it, the basic issues at hand are not new. In fact, the foundation of these negotiations lies in the sport’s history, going all the way back to the Women’s United Soccer Association.

Before she practiced law, Burke played professionally in the WUSA. The league was already struggling during her rookie season, requiring swift action. As the 2003 preseason began, leaders from a number of teams arranged a conference call with every player in the league.

“Carla Overbeck, Mia Hamm, Julie Foudy, Joy Fawcett, Tiffeny Milbrett, Kristine Lilly, these giants who are my childhood heroes in the room are on the call,” Burke says. “And they say, ‘Look guys, everyone’s got to take a pay cut by 5 o’clock today or there’s no league tomorrow.’ And I feel like that was a moment for me to understand how fragile this was.”

The players did take a 25 percent pay cut before the 2003 WUSA season, but those league leaders made a promise to the young players that minimum salaries wouldn’t fall below a threshold of $25,000. Ultimately, the sacrifices from the players were not enough to save the league, which folded that same year.

Julianne Sitch, former Chicago Red Stars player and current assistant coach, doesn’t remember the player union specifically, but she does remember star players advocating for similar measures in the waning years of Women’s Professional Soccer, the league that directly predated the NWSL.

“It was just players trying to fight for us,” she says. “And it was the top-name players trying to fight for us.”

What WPS players wanted was more flexibility in their schedules to pick up side hustles that would supplement their incomes as they began to absorb pay cuts. What they got in return was an ultimatum: Accept what the league can provide, or there won’t be a league at all.

The players’ sacrifices weren’t enough to save WPS either, and the league folded in 2012. This left players like Sitch with little recourse other than to scramble to find opportunities overseas in order to keep playing at a professional level.

When the NWSL started in 2013, the message from owners and players was similar: In order for women’s professional soccer in America to thrive, the league had to learn from the failures of the ones before it. That philosophy has been an essential part of the NWSL’s steady growth and stability.

But once again, players have needed to make sacrifices in order to keep the enterprise afloat.

The NWSLPA was formed in 2017, the league’s fourth season, and formally recognized in 2018 as a bargaining representative for all players non-allocated by an international federation. In the years since then, the organization has developed its own resources, worked with sponsors to create advancement opportunities for players and, perhaps most significantly to date, negotiated a safe return to play for the 2020 Challenge Cup.

In 2021, the NWSLPA is still trying to claw its way back to the protected $25,000 threshold that WUSA players fought for in 2003. The current minimum NWSL salary is $22,000.

“By the time WPS had folded, when I came back into the NWSL was really when I needed to have multiple jobs,” Sitch says. “As a pro athlete, I’m supposed to be at my top form. However, I’m waking up to train clients at 6 a.m. And then being on my feet doing that, and then going to training, and then turning around and going and coaching, and being on my feet longer and coming home by 8 o’clock at night, resting, and trying to do that all over again five days a week — it took a toll on you.

“You want these athletes to be in their top form. However, I’m doing way more, and it was exhausting at times.”

Sitch retired from her playing career in 2015. The PA’s No More Side Hustles campaign, which launched this season, shows that not much has changed for players in the years since then.

According to the campaign’s website, roughly one third of all NWSLPA members make the league’s minimum salary and approximately 75 percent make $31,000 or less. Many current players have stories of coaching gigs, barista jobs or other means of extra income that allow them to live on an NWSL salary.

These first-person accounts highlight the need for a fair CBA. To Burke, they also present an opportunity for fans to get to know players better.

“Putting aside the dollars and cents and the figures, what’s most compelling to me are these player stories, what their lived experiences are because everyone has a story to tell,” she says. “And to a person, these are compelling people with unique experiences and insights, and each of them understand. They have so much skin in the game, so much skin in the future of NWSL. They get it. They’re not asking for the moon.”

If No More Side Hustles highlights the need for higher wages so that players can focus on their craft, the collective bargaining agreement will give players more control over their own careers.

Chicago Red Stars midfielder Danielle Colaprico has played for one club during her six years in the league. She understands that trades are part of the game, but she’s also seen how they can strain players’ lives outside of soccer.

“As players, we understand that trades can happen whenever, and unfortunately for me, I feel like some of my closest friends have left the team, which is bad,” she says. “But I think at the same time for us as professionals and players, it’s important to take the emotion out of it and realize that the coach and the club are trying to make the best decisions for the club itself.”

This year, the collective decision-making of those in power has come into question, and the NWSL has come to a reckoning of sorts.

Clubs have flushed out a number of people in leadership positions who violated the league’s new anti-harassment policy. Gotham FC fired general manager Alyse Lahue on account of the policy. The Washington Spirit and Racing Louisville also dismissed their head coaches after reports surfaced detailing allegations of verbal abuse and toxic training environments.

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Players have accused former Spirit coach Richie Burke of verbal and emotional abuse. (Robin Alam/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

While every circumstance is different, Burke believes that a fair CBA can empower players to speak out when they are witnessing or experiencing an abuse of power — a right that players are not afforded under the league’s current contract structure.

“It is a very draconian system. It’s the most extreme form of league control that I have seen or that I’m aware of in professional sports,” Burke says.

“Right now, in the current system of rules, a player can be fired on 24 hours notice. Some significant percentage of players are on what’s called semi-guaranteed contracts, which means they can be fired, full stop. … A player, even after her contract has expired, still cannot go negotiate to find a better deal. So it shouldn’t be surprising to anyone then that when a player sees the powerbroker in that system, the coach, is abusing his authority, if you speak out, what do you think can happen to you? It’s not that hard to figure out, and so it deters players of conscience from speaking out.”

If there is a way forward in an abuse-free league, clubs have to create environments that empower players to speak up.

“When you look at the culture that’s been created in a number of teams, if we had one situation like this, I might say, ‘Yeah, that’s a one-off problem.’ If you’ve got two, you start to kind of wonder. When you’ve got three or more, I really wonder what systemically is going on there,” Burke says. “Having grown up in the game myself, I’ve played for verbally abusive coaches. I wonder to what extent we’ve been conditioned to think this is OK.”

Sitch sees the shift as generational, with today’s players understanding the history of sacrifices while also pushing the sport to improve.

“A lot of the players my age in that generation, we were so grateful to be playing that we almost kept our mouths shut a little bit,” she says. “And I think it’s starting to open up now where there’s a balance. We should be grateful we have a league. However, we do need to be better.”

One solution, Burke says, is to get more former players coaching in the NWSL. Sitch also thinks that improving the pipeline will not only lead to a more diverse and qualified candidate pool but also prepare more players for post-playing careers — especially when they haven’t been compensated enough to have saved very much money.

One other solution is even more fundamental to a CBA negotiation: wages. In her most recent address to the media, NWSL commissioner Lisa Baird said players average $52,502 a year in full compensation, including year-round housing and health insurance. The benefits have helped ease transitions and costs, but players can’t take those in-kind assets with them, and they can be revoked by teams at any time.

Burke believes that fundamental needs like pay raises and contract assurances can provide personal security for players, and everything else will follow.

“Maybe it’s a function of where we are right now, but our players largely want the same thing,” she says. “They want to see greater control over their lives and their careers.”

Like many other NWSL players, Colaprico has a side job coaching in the Chicago area and lives with teammates in club housing. But the value of stability is still somewhat intangible to the 28-year old.

“It is hard on the players when someone has to uproot their lives and go to another team the next day, and they don’t even get a say of if they want to go or not,” Colaprico says. “And it’s sad, because I feel like sometimes you see people retire because of that. I feel like there have been several players in our league that have just stopped playing because they’re like, ‘Well, I don’t want to go play for that club, and that’s so far away from home, and I have a life here.’ And I feel like it’s most important for me as a person to be in a place that feels like home.”

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Danny Colaprico has played for the Chicago Red Stars her whole career. (Bryan Byerly/ISI Photos/Getty Images)

With a personal investment in seeing the league succeed, the Players Association is motivated to stay positive, but negotiations haven’t moved as quickly as Burke hoped (“I would have liked to see more progress up to this point,” she said in August). All involved are motivated by the belief that greater stability in the workforce will lead to a better product and happier fans.

“I really think this can be the place where the world’s best players want to play, and the world that soccer fans want to watch,” Burke says. “And I really truly believe that in my heart, or I wouldn’t be sitting in this role, pushing the league as hard as I am to change the paradigm that we’re operating in.”

Sitch also believes that the league office can help explain decisions that seem to overlook player concerns by being more transparent. Most recently, players took to social media to criticize the logistics of the NWSL championship game, which the NWSL scheduled to be played in Portland at 9 a.m. local time in an agreement with television partner CBS.

“I think when we can actually understand why the decision is being made, it’s easier for players to be like, ‘All right, cool … now we just have to do what we have to do and we’ll roll with it,’” Sitch says.

Colaprico hopes teams can also fill in the gaps in player welfare, such as promoting mental health services for players.

“I feel like a lot of players struggle with that because, as an athlete, you think you’re fine. You want to push through everything because you don’t want to be classified as weak,” she says. “But at the same time, mental health is huge. And it’s something to be on top of because it can get you in the worst way and you may not even realize what it’s doing to you.”

For both Sitch and Burke, what the negotiations come down to is players feeling valued and secure. Because when that happens, everybody wins.

“If I feel valued in my work and I feel like I’m taken care of and I feel like I’m invested in, nine times out of ten you’re going to put a lot more into that program or that company,” Sitch says. “And in return you are both benefiting each other and helping move forward.”

“There’s intrinsic motivation and loyalty,” Burke concurs. “What we’re seeking in our CBA is longevity of a career and stability. That doesn’t imply that you’re going to go play for six teams in one season or in six years — in fact, quite the opposite. It implies that players want to make a commitment to their club. That means something. That’s a two-way street.”

Gotham FC Signs Record-Breaking Sponsorship Deal with Dove

Emily Sonnett shows off the new Dove sponsorship above her last name on her Gotham jersey.
Dove's partnership with Gotham is the brand's first major investment in a women's sports team. (Gotham FC)

Gotham and Dove are teaming up, with the 2023 NWSL champs signing a record-setting multi-year kit partnership with the beauty brand on Thursday.

As Dove's first major investment in a women's sports team, the move also ranks as the highest-ever back-of-jersey sponsorship deal in NWSL history.

While Gotham did not provide specific numbers, the contract surpasses Bay FC's then-record $500,000 deal with private equity giant Sixth Street.

Dove joins Gotham in fight to keep girls in sports

The partnership is a part of Gotham's "Keep Her in the Game" initiative, a community effort launched last August to help adolescent girls stay in sports. Dove will serve as the program's presenting sponsor.

"Dove is the ultimate leader in female strength and empowerment, and we could not be prouder to partner with the brand in a number of impactful ways," Gotham FC chief business officer Ryan Dillon said in the team's release. "We are excited to team up with Dove to create key pathways for young female athletes to stay in sports, develop confidence, and become strong future leaders."

"The partnership is taking effect at a crucial time when supporting girls in sports has never been more important."

With girls twice as likely as boys to abandon sports by age 14, "Keep Her in the Game" aims to bolster young athletes' resilience and amplify the joy and connection that happens on and off the playing field.

After impacting 30 local New Jersey and New York youth clubs and more than 500 players in 2024, the initiative is aiming to double its reach in 2025. It will also pass the proverbial mic to the young athletes themselves by creating a Youth Leadership Council.

"The data is clear: Sports build confidence, leadership skills and resilience in young women, benefiting them for years to come," stated Laura DiMiceli, the head of personal care sports marketing for Dove's parent company, Unilever North America. "Dove is committed to supporting 'Keep Her in the Game' as part of our overall mission to help young girls pursue sports and keep playing the games they love."

Unrivaled to Crown First-Ever 1v1 Tournament Champion

Lunar Owls forward Napheesa Collier dribbles the ball during an Unrivaled game.
Napheesa Collier is one of four Unrivaled players competing for the 1v1 tournament's $200,000 prize. (Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)

Unrivaled 3×3 Basketball will crown its first-ever 1v1 tournament champion on Friday night, when all four semifinalists take the court with a $200,000 grand prize on the line.

Vinyl guard Arike Ogunbowale will kick off the semis against Mist forward Aaliyah Edwards, before Unrivaled co-founder and Lunar Owls forward Napheesa Collier faces Rose forward Azurá Stevens. The victors will immediately advance to the night's best-of-three final series.

Notably, Friday's set puts alma mater pride on center court. A trio of UConn alums in Collier, Stevens, and Edwards will all clock in, while Ogunbowale reps Notre Dame — one of just three teams to beat the Huskies this NCAA season.

Along with those priceless bragging rights, the semifinalists are battling for a six-figure payday, though none will leave empty-handed. Each are guaranteed at least $25,000, with $50,000 on deck for the tournament's runner-up.

The players' Unrivaled teammates will also be watching with interest, as the winner's entire 3×3 team will snag $10,000 each.

Though 1v1 can feel like a schoolyard version of basketball, with this much money involved, expect the competition to rise miles above playground tussles.

Rose BC's Angel Reese defends Mist forward Aaliyah Edwards during an Unrivaled game.
Aaliyah Edwards is one of three UConn alums in the Unrivaled 1v1 semifinals. (Rich Storry/Getty Images)

Endurance could decide Unrivaled 1v1 tournament champion

Friday's format is in part a test of stamina, as players stare down a grueling schedule where the eventual winner must play either three or four 1v1 games in a single night.

To that end, Collier's elite conditioning could make her the favorite, if she can outlast Stevens in the pair's semifinal.

"Her motor is unmatched," Stevens said of Collier's endurance, a key factor in her success so far. "I try to conserve some energy in between possessions, especially when the games get really tiring."

Motors aside, Friday's title will boil down to fundamentals — and which athlete best leverages their personal skillset.

"I have to use my size and stick to my strengths," said Edwards. "It’s about imposing my will and getting the job done."

How to watch the Unrivaled 1v1 tournament finals

The inaugural Unrivaled 1v1 tournament concludes on Friday. Live coverage begins at 7:30 PM ET on TNT.

USC Beats UCLA as JuJu Watkins Ends Bruins’ Undefeated NCAA Season

USC's JuJu Watkins drives to the basket between UCLA's Janiah Barker and Elina Aarnisalo.
Watkins scored 38 points to hand UCLA their first loss of the season. (Robert Hanashiro/Imagn Images)

The last perfect DI basketball season has officially fallen, as USC phenom JuJu Watkins put up a historic performance to lead the No. 6 Trojans to a 71-60 win over then-undefeated No. 1 UCLA on Thursday.

Watkins finished the night with 38 points, 11 rebounds, five assists, and eight blocks, becoming the first DI player to register an overall stat-line so robust in 20 years.

"It took everything. It's been a rough couple weeks for me," Watkins said after the game, referencing uncharacteristic performances leading up to Thursday's rivalry matchup. "To be able to kind of snap back into it and get into my rhythm here at Galen versus UCLA, it's really all I could ask for."

"I'm really just like a kid out there and living out my dream."

Throughout the back-and-forth battle, Watkins's consistency made all the difference. She scored every one of USC's 14 second-quarter points, and helped lead a monster fourth quarter in which the Trojans slammed the door by outscoring the Bruins 24-8.

"I didn't teach JuJu any of that," commented USC head coach Lindsay Gottlieb after the game. "[I] just try to put her in situations to be her best self, and she does most of that work. What I was so impressed with tonight, obviously, was just the mentality she came out with."

With the marquee win, USC now sits firmly atop the Big Ten. That said, UCLA will have a chance to avenge the loss in the pair's March 1st rematch, when that final regular-season game could decide the conference title.

Until then, the Trojans will be riding high on their Thursday night dominance.

"We'll never forget this night," Gottlieb said. "It's as good as anything I've ever seen."

UConn star Paige Bueckers dribbles the ball during a game.
UConn takes on South Carolina on Sunday. (Johnnie Izquierdo/Getty Images)

How to watch Top 10 NCAA basketball this weekend

With no undefeated teams left in DI basketball, Watkins's performance has put the field on notice to not make any assumptions about who might end up on top.

While Sunday will see USC roll against unranked Washington and UCLA try to bounce back against No. 22 Michigan State, the NCAA slate will also serve up two huge Top 10 matchups.

First, No. 7 UConn will take their final major regular-season test when they visit No. 4 South Carolina at 1 PM ET, when Paige Bueckers and the Huskies will aim to pull off a similarly impressive USC-inspired upset.

Then at 3 PM ET, No. 5 LSU heads to No. 3 Texas, where the Tigers will hunt their first win over the Longhorns in more than 22 years.

Both elite meetings are set to air live on ABC.

Pro Women’s Lacrosse League Debuts at WLL Championship Series

A promotional graphic for the WLL Championship Series.
The WLL played its first-ever pro games at this week's Lexus Championship Series. (ESPN)

The brand-new professional Women's Lacrosse League (WLL) made its official debut this week just outside of Washington, DC, where its first-ever game saw the New York Charging take down the Maryland Charm 14-13 in the WLL Championship Series.

After the inaugural Tuesday result, the action continued on Wednesday, when the California Palms opened their WLL account by getting the better of the Boston Guard in a tight 16-15 matchup.

Founded and run by the Premier Lacrosse League, the WLL fosters top-level competition as the sport gears up for its 2028 Olympic return.

The four-team WLL Championship Series follows an Olympic-style "sixes" format. Unlike traditional lacrosse, which uses a larger pitch and 10 athletes per team, sixes employs a condensed field with six players per side.

In the Championship Series, teams are first competing in three round-robin games to determine semifinal seedings. The tournament will culminate with the knockout semifinal and final rounds on Sunday and Monday, respectively.

Team USA lacrosse star Charlotte North gestures during a 2022 World Championship game.
Team USA star Charlotte North competes for the WLL's Boston Guard. (Ryan Hunt/Getty Images)

WLL looks to level up lacrosse ahead of 2028 Olympics

Despite the competition's quick turnaround, the WLL represents a growing professionalization movement in women's lacrosse — with all involved betting big on the sport's Olympic success in LA.

When lacrosse steps back onto the Olympic stage in 2028, it will have been 80 years since its last 1948 outing — and even then, it was merely a demonstration event. The last time the sport earned medals was in 1908.

Furthermore, the sport's entire Olympic history rests in the men's game — 2028 will see women take the Olympic lacrosse pitch for the first time ever.

"We are honored to be a part of the WLL, and we couldn't be more excited to bring this game to the fans in new ways than ever before," said Boston Guard star Charlotte North in a league statement.

"We firmly believe that this is the beginning of what will be a monumental movement in the game of professional women's lacrosse, and for female athletes around the globe.... It's our time."

Former Northwestern lacrosse star Izzy Scane shoots the ball during an NCAA game.
Izzy Scane, the NCAA DI lacrosse career scoring leader, plays for the New York Charging. (Greg Fiume/NCAA Photos via Getty Images)

How to watch the WLL Championship Series

The tournament's round-robin play continues with the Maryland Charm facing off against the Boston guard at 9 PM ET on Thursday, before the California Palms contend with the New York Charging at 6 PM ET on Friday.

All WLL Championship Series games will stream live on ESPN+, with Sunday's and Monday's knockout rounds airing live on ESPN2.

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