NWSL drops controversial criteria around ‘Rodman Rule’ in settlement with NWSLPA
Summary
The National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) and its Players Association (NWSLPA) agreed to remove the strict rules around the High Impact Player (HIP) salary designation. This change allows teams to pay any star player above the salary cap without meeting specific criteria, starting in 2027.Key Facts
- The HIP rule was created to let teams spend $1 million over the salary cap to keep top players.
- Originally, players had to meet one of eight specific achievements or media rankings to qualify for HIP status.
- The NWSLPA argued that the criteria violated labor laws and their collective bargaining agreement.
- About 100 players qualified under the old rules, but notable stars like Sam Kerr were excluded.
- From January 1, 2027, teams can designate any player as HIP if their salary is at least 12% of the base salary cap.
- The league can still limit how many HIP players each club can have.
- The league and union also settled six other disputes, including issues with player contracts and uniform policies.
- The rule was nicknamed the “Rodman Rule” because it related to a contract battle with Washington Spirit player Trinity Rodman.
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