NWSL Settles Grievance And Changes The Rodman Rule

Trinity Rodman inspired a special NWSL rule to keep American stars from jumping to Europe. The league created extra funds beyond the salary cap for globally recognized players. But the Players Association argued those strict criteria violated federal labor law. The NWSL settled that grievance on Friday and dropped the eight-category list. Starting next season, every player on every team can qualify for that extra money. Teams can now spend an additional one million two hundred fifty-seven thousand dollars on any player they choose. The change helps elite athletes who missed the old global marketing cut or dealt with injuries. Yet the league still faces immense pressure from high-spending European super-teams. The salary cap for twenty twenty-seven sits at four point four million dollars. Individual teams now hold the autonomy to decide which players deserve the extra cash.