San Diego Signs New CBA Player
Trinity Byars is the first active NCAA athlete to sign with an NWSL team following the league’s elimination of the draft process.
Byars, a forward from the University of Texas, signed a contract with the San Diego Wave through the 2026 season, with a mutual option for 2027.
This agreement, which was announced on August 22nd, but took effect at the end of July, marks a significant shift in the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) by eliminating the college draft system. paving the way for future players under this new system.
Significant Changes in NWSL
Women’s soccer in the USA has seen significant changes at both the league and national levels. The latest development in the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) is the removal of the college draft. This change makes the NWSL the first professional sports league in America to replace the draft with a Collective Bargaining Agreement.
What New CBA Means for Players
The implementation of the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) is a significant win for the NWSL, aligning it with other competitive leagues and nations. This change presents an opportunity for the league to enhance its talent recruitment and overall competitiveness. Under the new CBA, athletes are guaranteed contracts, unlike previous seasons where contracts were not guaranteed and could be terminated with little notice.
Players now have unrestricted free agency once the season ends. Trinity Byars, who signed with the San Diego Wave for the 2025 season through 2026, with an option for the 2027 season, can transfer to another team at her discretion. This gives players more power in decision-making regarding te
am selection. Additionally, the new CBA grants more charter flights to teams, compared to previous seasons where charter flights were only used for midweek games.
Furthermore, the minimum wage for players in the league is set to increase annually over the next six years, starting at $48,500 in 2025. This is a significant leap from the minimum wage of $20,000 in 2020.
Future Signings
With the league now operating in a free open market, we can expect to see more signings. College and youth club players are free to sign directly with NWSL teams. However, this does not mean that team contacts with players have been eliminated. Instead, teams will reach out to players they are interested in signing, and the players can then choose the team that suits them best.
As the NCAA college soccer season wraps up in November, many athletes will be looking to sign their first professional contract. The Women’s College Cup, taking place from December 6th to 9th, marks the final college soccer event of the year. This period, or early January, is typically when many players make the transition to professional soccer.
