NWSL clubs and youth players
22 September 2026
The NWSL has introduced a player development rule allowing clubs to register youth players as young as under-15, fund and oversee their development, and potentially receive salary-cap relief if those players later sign professional contracts in the league.
Teams must create individual development plans and provide qualifying oversight for at least two years. Players keep amateur and NCAA eligibility, while clubs can gain cap relief whether they sign the player themselves or another NWSL team eventually does.