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NWSL Under-18 Entry Mechanism

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The Under-18 Entry Mechanism sets the rules for how soccer players below the age of 18 may sign professional contracts in the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL), the top division of women's soccer in the United States.

Background

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The NWSL had a minimum age requirement of 18 until 2021, when 15-year-old Olivia Moultrie filed an antitrust lawsuit against the league. She reached a settlement that allowed her to sign with Portland Thorns FC after going through a league discovery process that involved her rights being acquired by OL Reign and traded to the Thorns.[1][2] The following year, the NWSL allowed 17-year-old Jaedyn Shaw to sign with San Diego Wave FC through discovery, with five other teams submitting bids for her rights including the Washington Spirit which she had trained with for months.[2][3] Other sports leagues in the United States continue to have minimum requirements, such as 18 in the National Hockey League and Major League Baseball. Major League Soccer allows younger players to sign contracts which occurs mostly for development purposes.[1]

The NWSL introduced the Under-18 Entry Mechanism on November 14, 2022, establishing a formal process for signing players under the age of 18.[2][4] As of 2024, the NWSL allows teams to have up to four under-18 players between their private entry list and roster. Players must be signed within a month of being named to the entry list, and their contracts must last through the season in which they turn 18. Until coming of age, under-18 players may not be cut from their team's roster nor traded (unless the player and her parent or guardian consents) nor selected in an expansion draft.[5] In addition to contractual protections, under-18 players are required to live with a parent or guardian and use separate showers and locker rooms.[1]

Chloe Ricketts was the first player to sign through the Under-18 Entry Mechanism, joining the Washington Spirit on March 3, 2023, at the age of 15.[6]

List of signings

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  Current youngest signing (⁂)
  Former youngest signing (*)
Under-18 signings in the NWSL (2023–present)[5]
Player Pos. Team Date of birth Age at signing Start End Years Date of signing
Chloe Ricketts* MF Washington Spirit May 23, 2007 15 years, 284 days 2023 2025 3 March 3, 2023
Melanie Barcenas* FW San Diego Wave FC October 30, 2007 15 years, 142 days 2023 2025 3 March 21, 2023
Riley Jackson MF North Carolina Courage December 2, 2005 17 years, 238 days 2023 2025 3 July 28, 2023
Alex Pfeiffer FW Kansas City Current November 26, 2007 15 years, 338 days 2024 2026 3 October 30, 2023
Gisele Thompson DF Angel City FC December 2, 2005 17 years, 361 days 2024 2025 2 November 28, 2023
Claire Hutton MF Kansas City Current January 11, 2006 17 years, 337 days 2024 2026 3 December 14, 2023
Casey Phair FW Angel City FC June 29, 2007 16 years, 203 days 2024 2026 3 January 18, 2024
Kennedy Fuller MF Angel City FC March 9, 2007 16 years, 363 days 2024 2026 3 March 6, 2024
Emeri Adames FW Seattle Reign FC April 3, 2006 17 years, 345 days 2024 2027 4 March 13, 2024
Kimmi Ascanio MF San Diego Wave FC January 21, 2008 16 years, 61 days 2024 2028 5 March 22, 2024
Jordyn Bugg DF Seattle Reign FC August 11, 2006 17 years, 343 days 2024 2026 3 July 19, 2024
Ainsley McCammon MF Seattle Reign FC August 16, 2007 16 years, 338 days 2024 2028 5 July 19, 2024
Mckenna Whitham⁂ FW NJ/NY Gotham FC July 27, 2010 13 years, 365 days 2025 2028 4 July 26, 2024

References

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  1. ^ a b c Maese, Rick; Brockway, Ella (June 7, 2024). "As teens swarm women's soccer, 'we have to be really careful'". The Washington Post. Retrieved July 31, 2024.
  2. ^ a b c "NWSL can finally give its top youngsters the support to shine". Pro Soccer Wire. USA Today. March 31, 2023. Retrieved July 31, 2024.
  3. ^ Anderson, Jason (June 30, 2022). "USYNT star Jaedyn Shaw's path to NWSL to go through the league's discovery process". Pro Soccer Wire. USA Today. Retrieved July 31, 2024.
  4. ^ Arvind, Om (June 2, 2023). "Teenagers are suddenly some of the NWSL's top stars. How and why was the league forced to change?". ESPN. Retrieved July 31, 2024.
  5. ^ a b "NWSL Contracts: U18 Entry Mechanism". Spotrac. USA Today. Retrieved July 31, 2024.
  6. ^ Anderson, Jason. "Chloe Ricketts signs with Washington Spirit, becomes youngest-ever NWSL player". Pro Soccer Wire. USA Today. Retrieved July 31, 2024.
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