Trinity Rodman has a contract offer from DC Power of the Gainbridge Super League that is significantly larger than what the Spirit or NWSL is able to counter under the current salary cap limitations, according to sources who have been briefed on negotiations.<\/p>\n
A spokesperson for DC Power declined to comment Thursday.<\/p>\n
Commissioner Jessica Berman, speaking at the NWSL Championship media day, responded to a question about competition from within the United States, stressing again that they are working to retain Rodman within the league.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs it relates to Trinity and candidly, any other top player in the world, we want those top players here in the NWSL,\u201d she said, \u201cand particularly we want Trinity in the NWSL, and we will fight for her.\u201d<\/p>\n
Rodman credits the NWSL for creating an \u201camazing soccer player,\u201d referencing herself. She said Berman\u2019s desire to keep her is an honor.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis league has grown a lot, so obviously I\u2019m honored to have her say that. Obviously, just really happy about that. But at the same time, I don\u2019t want to put that pressure on myself \u2014 because she said that, now I\u2019m like \u2018Oh shoot, I\u2019m trapped,’\u201d she said. \u201cAgain, I\u2019m focused on this weekend, and that\u2019s really all I can focus on. Then, moving forward, that\u2019s when I really have those conversations and tough calls that I need to have.\u201d<\/p>\n
Our market has more interest in female athletes than any other league in the world.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is in commissioner Jessica Berman\u2019s hands now to decide what to do with the cap space,\u201d Rodman\u2019s agent Mike Senkowski told\u00a0The Athletic. \u201cSoccer is a global game; it\u2019s nice to have global options.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Super League, formed by the USL and also sanctioned as a Division I league, was built without a salary cap or a player draft to allow clubs independence during the roster-building process; all players are also free agents at the conclusion of their individual contracts. The league currently operates without a collective bargaining agreement in place between the league and its players.<\/p>\n
This provides a direct contrast against the NWSL, which operates with a hard salary cap \u2014 currently set at $3.3 million per team for the 2026 season. Based on the current NWSL CBA, that number will finally surpass the $5 million mark by the 2030 season. The NWSL has the power, based on that agreement with the NWSL Players\u2019 Association, to adjust the salary cap as it deems fit after consulting with the PA.<\/p>\n
Neither league has a maximum salary for any single player.<\/p>\n
Berman also said Thursday the cap has been raised \u201ctremendously\u201d since her arrival as commissioner, and that it is tied directly to the business of the league itself.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs the business grows, we will analyze that each and every season,\u201d Berman said. She added that players consider other factors beyond salaries when deciding to play for an NWSL team, including training environments and the level of competition across the league. The Spirit and DC Power share some of the same facilities owned by MLS\u2019 D.C. United, which also shares ownership with the Power.<\/p>\n
\u201cI go and sit with the players on every single team in the NWSL every season, and they tell me, yes, compensation matters. But they are also thinking about compensation, not just from the perspective of what their club is paying them, but also from the league\u2019s perspective,\u201d Berman said. She cited competition, the club and coaching as the three other primary components for attracting and retaining players in the NWSL.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe believe on a holistic basis, if you\u2019re a player who wants to be performing at your best and wants to be valued and supported and feel like you have the opportunity to train in a best-in-class environment within a best-in-class league, that the NWSL is the place for you.\u201d<\/p>\n
The NWSL is about to wrap up its 13th season with attendance nearing 2 million for the 2025 season, and having experienced growth once again when it comes to expansion (a $165 million fee for team No. 17 in Atlanta, announced earlier this month) and team valuations (Angel City FC leads the league at $280 million). The Gainbridge Super League was established in 2021, with the inaugural season taking place across 2024 and 2025.<\/p>\n
Now in its second season, the Super League has nine teams with three set to start play in 2027, compared to the NWSL\u2019s 14 for the 2025 season, with two more starting in 2026. Average attendance across the Super League has yet to crack 3,000 attendees per team; most teams play in smaller stadiums compared to NWSL clubs.<\/p>\n