NWSL and players union settle grievance, opening HIP designation to all players
The NWSL has agreed to remove merit-based eligibility restrictions from its High Impact Player rule after the NWSL Players Association argued the criteria violated labor law. Under the original rule, introduced last year, clubs could pay designated players up to $1 million above the salary cap — but only if those players appeared on certain high-profile rankings lists. Roughly 100 players qualified under those conditions. The settlement, which resolves a union grievance, makes any player eligible for HIP designation starting next year, with the above-cap earnings potential tied to a percentage of the league's base salary cap, which currently stands at $3.5 million. In exchange, the league may impose a per-club limit on the number of HIP designations. The agreement also softens a Nike logo-coverage policy, introduces new performance bonus categories tied to appearances and minutes played, and requires the league to provide written justification to the union within 72 hours of vetoing any player contract.
evidence of the NWSLPA's strength and commitment to enforcing the terms of the Collective Bargaining Agreement.
Why it matters
For brands: Players with pre-existing footwear deals from non-Nike brands can now display those logos without facing fines, restoring some commercial flexibility.
For athletes: Any NWSL player can now potentially qualify for above-cap HIP compensation, and new bonus categories give players more tools to negotiate performance-based pay.
For collectives: The settlement's written-notice requirement for vetoed contracts gives unions more procedural leverage in future salary disputes.
Read the full story at Front Office Sports
Sources
- Front Office Sports · Eli Kronenberg: NWSL Drops ‘Rodman Rule’ Restrictions
- Yahoo Sports · Kari Anderson: NWSL removes criteria for 'Rodman Rule,' resolving players' association grievance