The NWSL Players Association has taken action for Trinity Rodman, claiming the league broke rules regarding her contract.
The NWSL Players Association (NWSLPA) has filed a formal complaint with the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) on behalf of player Trinity Rodman. They say the league broke several rules in the current collective bargaining agreement when it rejected a proposed four-year contract between Rodman and the Washington Spirit. The contract was worth millions of euros.
The grievance explains that Rodman agreed to a deal that would pay her more in the last two years, 2028 and 2029. The NWSL's media rights deal ends in 2027, and new deals could bring in more money for the league. This would affect the salary cap, which limits how much the Spirit can pay Rodman.
The NWSLPA says the league's rejection of the contract is a serious violation of Rodman's rights as a free agent. NWSLPA executive director Meghann Burke said if the league can interfere with Rodman's contract, it could happen to any player. She believes the proposed contract follows the rules in the collective bargaining agreement and the league's own guidelines.
The grievance points to section 13.6 of the collective bargaining agreement, which covers free agency rights. It says a player's rights come before any conflicting league rules. Rodman signed a four-year contract worth about 1 million euros after her rookie season, which ended this year. Since then, she has become a key player for both the Spirit and the league.
A league spokesperson said their goal is to keep top players like Rodman in the NWSL. They mentioned that the collective bargaining agreement sets salary cap numbers for each team, but it is not clear how much the cap will be in 2028. Burke said there are ways for teams to manage player contracts and salary cap issues.
Burke stressed that fair contract talks are important. She warned that if the league can interfere with Rodman's contract, it could set a precedent for other players. The NWSLPA wants to make sure all players have equal opportunities and protections under the league's rules.
