This past September, United States Women’s National Team’s (USWNT) 21-year-old star Alyssa Thompson signed a contract to transfer from the National Women’s Soccer League’s (NWSL) Angel City FC to Chelsea FC in England’s Women’s Super League (WSL).
Thompson’s move comes amid a growing wave of USWNT players heading overseas. In recent years, starting center back Naomi Girma and defender Emily Fox have also made the jump to European clubs.
So what is driving this trend?
One major factor is money. The NWSL operates under a $3.5 million team salary cap, while the WSL does not currently enforce such a cap. When Girma transferred to Chelsea, she became the most expensive women’s soccer player in history, with the club paying $1.1 million to acquire her from the NWSL’s San Diego Wave. Previously, when soccer icons Megan Rapinoe and Alex Morgan played for Lyon in 2013 and 2017, respectively, they reportedly earned more in a single month than many NWSL players made in an entire season.
European leagues also offer prestige and increased competitive opportunities. The WSL provides multiple high-profile competitions including the Football Association Challenge Cup, the League Cup and the UEFA Women’s Champions League. For many American players, the Champions League remains the most coveted club trophy in the world. By comparison, the NWSL has only recently introduced additional competitions—and those tournaments have yet to gain widespread traction.
International experience is another draw. The NWSL is largely composed of American players whereas European leagues feature rosters filled with international talent. Competing with and against players from different countries can help athletes develop their game and better prepare for major international tournaments such as the FIFA Women’s World Cup and the Olympics.
Why now?
While American players moving abroad is not new, the pace of these transfers has accelerated in recent years largely due to changes in the U.S. Soccer Federation’s relationship with the NWSL.
Before 2022, many USWNT players were signed as “federation players” under U.S. Soccer contracts, making them the highest-paid athletes in the league. This system encouraged national team players to remain in the NWSL, as all USWNT players during the 2015 and 2019 World Cup cycles were based domestically. In effect, playing in the NWSL was closely tied to national team opportunities.
Now, players are free to sign wherever they choose. Five starters from the most recent Olympic roster are currently playing abroad. USWNT head coach and former Chelsea Women’s head coach Emma Hayes has even faced criticism for the growing migration of players to Europe—though she has emphasized that the decisions ultimately rest with the athletes.
What does this mean for the NWSL?
The NWSL is still widely considered the top professional women’s league in the world, and viewership and popularity have continued to rise over the past year. However, the departure of elite players like Girma and Thompson raises concerns about whether the league’s overall quality and star power could decline over time.
There is a harsh reality to acknowledge: Women’s soccer is still not among the most widely followed sports in the United States. If you ask a random person to name a women’s soccer player, they will likely mention household names like Alex Morgan or Hope Solo who are now retired or no longer active at the top professional level. Among current players, the most recognizable names tend to come from recent U.S. national team and Olympic rosters such as Mallory Swanson, Trinity Rodman and Sophia Wilson. While all three currently play in the NWSL, they have also attracted strong interest from top European clubs, reflecting the growing global demand for elite American talent.
In response, the NWSL has begun taking steps to retain top talent after European clubs pursued Rodman. To keep Rodman in the NWSL, the league introduced the High Impact Player Rule (HIP), now commonly referred to as the “Rodman Rule.” This policy allows teams to spend an additional $1 million beyond the salary cap to sign or retain elite players who meet specific criteria, such as national team minutes or high rankings on year-end lists like ESPN’s Top 50.
However, the NWSL Players Association has already challenged the rule, arguing that it violates the league’s collective bargaining agreement and federal labor law. The union has instead advocated for raising the overall salary cap.
What’s the bottom line?
The bottom line is that many of these top-performing athletes are not paid at a level that reflects their talent, workload or impact. Outside of a small group of high-profile stars, many NWSL players earn salaries that are barely a livable wage. To put the gap into perspective, the minimum salary for an NFL rookie is approximately $840,000, while Rodman earns roughly $275,000 annually from her NWSL contract. Even Morgan, widely considered one of the most recognizable women’s soccer players in the world, earned around $250,000 per year in league salary at her peak. For many of these top athletes, a significant portion of their income comes from off-field endorsement deals—an opportunity that is far less accessible for lesser-known players, further widening the financial gap within the sport.
Despite these challenges, the NWSL continues to look ahead. The league plans to expand by three teams by 2028, signaling confidence in long-term growth. With the rising popularity of women’s sports, the league may continue to thrive, but the loss of star players could have a greater impact than many expect.