I've been following the flow of news on the women's side. In case you've missed it, here are a few of the headlines:
Pay boosts with free housing:
The NWSL's maximum salary next season will be $50,000, up 8.2%
Clubs will each get an extra $300,000 in allocation money next season to pay top players more than the maximum permitted salary if they meet certain criteria. Housing would be provided for all players while under contract.
New teams with deep pocket owners / Adding up to five new teams:
"The goal is to get to a 14-team league and have every team in that league be pretty stable.."
Six-time European Champions, Olympique Lyonnais, has announced plans to purchase a franchise in the North American National Women's Soccer League.
New sponsors
ESPN
Multi-year sponsorship deal with Budweiser
Entire new league to compete against NWSL?
The United Soccer League is reportedly planning to establish a division one women’s professional soccer league in the United States as early as 2021, which would directly rival the established National Women’s Soccer League.
This could potentially add another 6-10 teams, needing up to 22 players each. Not sure where all these players will come from.
USL To Launch Complementary Women's Pathway Through USL Academy
I wouldn't believe this if it didn't come from the horses mouth. Knowing how the Reign DA struggled to gain traction, I don't know how this is going to go over. However if big money comes along with new academies, they can afford to subsidize and offer it at a lower cost than ECNL.
Also wondering how written in stone the no HS play rule is. Seems to me if they get rid of that, they may be able to attract quite the following.
https://theathletic.com/1110002/2019...n-2020-season/
https://www.uslsoccer.com/news_article/show/1063200
https://www.sportbusiness.com/news/u...eague-to-nwsl/
https://www.si.com/soccer/2019/10/24...ings-us-soccer
https://www.givemesport.com/1513410-...-into-the-nwsl
Pay boosts with free housing:
The NWSL's maximum salary next season will be $50,000, up 8.2%
Clubs will each get an extra $300,000 in allocation money next season to pay top players more than the maximum permitted salary if they meet certain criteria. Housing would be provided for all players while under contract.
New teams with deep pocket owners / Adding up to five new teams:
"The goal is to get to a 14-team league and have every team in that league be pretty stable.."
Six-time European Champions, Olympique Lyonnais, has announced plans to purchase a franchise in the North American National Women's Soccer League.
New sponsors
ESPN
Multi-year sponsorship deal with Budweiser
Entire new league to compete against NWSL?
The United Soccer League is reportedly planning to establish a division one women’s professional soccer league in the United States as early as 2021, which would directly rival the established National Women’s Soccer League.
This could potentially add another 6-10 teams, needing up to 22 players each. Not sure where all these players will come from.
USL To Launch Complementary Women's Pathway Through USL Academy
I wouldn't believe this if it didn't come from the horses mouth. Knowing how the Reign DA struggled to gain traction, I don't know how this is going to go over. However if big money comes along with new academies, they can afford to subsidize and offer it at a lower cost than ECNL.
Also wondering how written in stone the no HS play rule is. Seems to me if they get rid of that, they may be able to attract quite the following.
https://theathletic.com/1110002/2019...n-2020-season/
https://www.uslsoccer.com/news_article/show/1063200
https://www.sportbusiness.com/news/u...eague-to-nwsl/
https://www.si.com/soccer/2019/10/24...ings-us-soccer
https://www.givemesport.com/1513410-...-into-the-nwsl