Emily Madril has signed a contract with the NWSL, which allows her to retain her eligibility for the 2023 season, the league announced Wednesday. Madril’s contract runs through 2025.
The move comes after Madril, who starred at Florida State as a freshman in 2021, announced in early August that she would forgo the remainder of her NCAA eligibility.
The NWSL will distribute Madril’s rights via the upcoming 2023 draft. In the meantime, the league will loan the defender to Sweden’s BK Häcken FF through the end of the year, and then she will return for the 2023 season.
Per the NWSL’s draft eligibility requirements, a player must “not be under a current professional contract nor have previously signed a contract to play professionally.” The league signing and then loaning Madril allows her to maintain her eligibility.
“We are constantly evaluating our policies and procedures to ensure the NWSL is attracting and retaining the best players in the world,” NWSL chief operating officer Bill Ordower said in a statement. “Emily is a world-class player, and this move will allow her to continue training and competing at a high level this fall without forfeiting her eligibility for the 2023 season. We wish her luck overseas and look forward to her returning for the upcoming draft.”
Madril shared her decision to forgo her college eligibility in a Twitter post in which she opened up about her frustrations with the FSU administration and its failure to consider the players’ voices during the search for a new head soccer coach.
“We, as student athletes, have rights and would have had valuable voice in this matter, unwavering in our commitment to the long-term success of the program,” wrote Madril.
pic.twitter.com/1SRKirjnow— Emily Madril (@emilymadril) August 6, 2022
pic.twitter.com/1SRKirjnow
In April, Florida State announced Brian Pensky as the new head coach of the women’s soccer program. Pensky replaced Mark Krikorian, who abruptly resigned from the team after 17 years and three national championships.
In June, the NWSL’s Washington Spirit hired Krikorian as the club’s general manager.