Just days after announcing a historic new collective bargaining agreement that eliminated the draft and introduced free agency for all players, the NWSL Players Association unveiled a preliminary list of eligible free agents on Monday. The free agency window opens on Sept. 1 and the list includes 88 names.
It could expand pending mutual contract options between players and clubs. "The list of free agents revealed today celebrates the collective achievements of NWSL Players and the persistence of womxn across generations who fought for their freedoms," said NWSLPA Executive Director Meghann Burke. "Free agency is not a luxury.
It's a human right and the global standard." The list was announced on Monday for a significant reason. The NWSLPA launched the list in honor of Women's Equality Day in the United States, the day marks the ratification of the 19th Amendment which gave women the right to vote.
The players union will release the final list of eligible players on Sept. 1 when the free agency window opens. "On Women's Equality Day, we celebrate the pioneers who fought tirelessly to win the right to vote," said NWSLPA President Tori Huster.
"They laid the foundation for rights like free agency, which, similar to the right to vote, empowers Players with the freedom of choice." Nearly every club has players on the list and teams have until Aug. 30 to exercise options.
During that timeline, players may agree to terms with their current clubs instead of waiting till the end of th.