National Women’s Soccer League Players Association and Willig, Williams & Davidson Secure Free Agency Rights for Veteran Players

Nearly two dozen professional women soccer players will, for the first time, be able to negotiate as free agents, thanks to a recent decision by a neutral arbitrator resolving a dispute over free agency eligibility between the National Women’s Soccer League and the National Women’s Soccer League Players Association (“NWSLPA”).

Willig, Williams & Davidson represents the NWSLPA and, in February 2022, helped the players secure their first-ever collective bargaining agreement with the League. Part of those negotiations included securing free agency rights in the upcoming 2023 season for approximately 45 of the League’s veteran players. The League disputed the eligibility of approximately 22 of the 45 players and the NWSLPA grieved the League’s denying these players the right to begin negotiating as free agents for the 2023 season beginning on August 26, 2022.

A neutral arbitrator recently issued a decision sustaining the NWSLPA’s grievance and found that the 22 players at issue were eligible to begin negotiation for free agency for the following season, retroactive to August 26, 2022. These veteran players have never before, in the history of professional women’s soccer in the United States, had the freedom and market advantages that come with free agency. Securing that right had been a top priority for the NWSLPA in its negotiations over its collective bargaining agreement.

“These veteran players took back their power when they negotiated for free agency in their first-ever collective bargaining agreement,” said firm managing partner Deborah R. Willig. “Without this win, the pool of players eligible for free agency would have been roughly half of what it is now. This win reinforces the rights and conditions of employment secured in the Players Association’s collective bargaining agreement and sends a message that the players’ talents and contributions are valued.”

Firm Partners Larry Goodman, Jessica Caggiano, and Willig handled the arbitration.

People