HOUSTON (January 4, 2024) – The National Women’s Soccer League today announced revisions to the league’s competition guidelines slated to take effect for the 2024 season, including an increased salary cap, new transfer fee policy and other updates.
The league has instituted a $2,750,000 salary cap to be used against a 22-26 player roster for the 2024 campaign.
Starting this year, the league will begin phasing out Allocation Money. Teams will no longer be able to purchase Allocation Money and must spend or withdraw any outstanding monies that have been funded and rolled over from previous years by December 31, 2026.
In addition, the NWSL has established a net transfer fee threshold of $500,000, encompassing both intra-league trades and inter-league transfers, whereby fees paid for incoming players will be offset by the value of fees received for outgoing players. Net fees paid by a team in excess of $500,000 will incur a 25 percent charge towards that team’s salary cap.
Teams are no longer required to use Allocation Money to pay for transfer and trade fees.
The NWSL has implemented a Related Party Transaction policy establishing parameters for NWSL teams with investor(s) who maintain a majority stake in or position of influence with a non-NWSL team and seek to loan and transfer players between the two clubs.
Lastly, the NWSL has released a revised Under-18 Entry Mechanism that will now allow teams a maximum of four U18 players between its senior roster and Entry List.
The full 2024 competition guidelines will be shared at a later date.
The Houston Dash will begin the 2024 campaign later this month when players begin preseason training camp at Houston Sports Park. The Dash, alongside the rest of the NWSL, will open the 2024 regular season on March 16.
