Allocation money

Only in the case of a trade will the amount of allocation money involved be made public.

[8] The new system was notably similar to the general allocation money deployed by MLS.

[9] The NWSL sets a base limit of allocation money for teams each season.

[11] The league also grants teams that fail to qualify for the NWSL playoffs the option to purchase $100,000 in additional allocation money during the following calendar year.

[9] Washington Spirit forward Trinity Rodman signed the largest NWSL contract facilitated by allocation money in February 2022, for a four-year deal worth more than $1.1 million, at $281,000 base salary per season.

[14] In 2023, the league expanded the use of allocation money to reduce the salary cap burden of a player's total compensation, including bonuses, fees, and benefits.

[20] This preceded broader changes to league roster rules announced in August during the 2024 season as part of a renegotiated collective bargaining agreement, including the elimination of drafts and discovery systems for player entry and league expansion, increased minimum salaries, and the extension of free agency to all players.