NWSL increased its salary cap to $2.75 million in 2024 and is also working to phase out allocation money which means more real $$$ for players.
2750000/18 players = 153k per player if you break it out evenly
2750000/24 players = 115k per player if you break it out evenly
Obviously, nobody is splitting things out evenly which means the lower end of the team is likely making 65k, but the higher end is making 400k per year. If you add in endorsements, most clubs will provide players meal plans, all clothes and general day to day is covered, 65k is not bad. Even if you're making the minimum, it's enough to let players 100% focus on how they play on the field. Take advantage of the opportunity and if you're lucky there might be opportunities to earn more. It's not a bad life for a female under 24 years old and it has significant potential upside.
Problem is those are the years a young woman builds a career in something. Teachers can have summers off, loads of holidays, and a pension, make more money per year and not have to stress about play time and/or not making the team every year. They also leverage up in pay every year, so the longer they work, the more they get paid. To give up college for pros, could be extremely costly.
I'd prefer my daughter became a laywer, doctor, pharmaceutical sales, computer programmer, etc. for her sake. Selfishly, I would love to watch her play soccer wherever she goes, but I'm good at math and don't lie to my kids.
Making 400k per year for 6 years and giving up these important education years may not equal out in the end. I'd much rather her get a professional degree unless she just loved the sport. It would be up to her, but the bulk of NWSL Players make Starbuck Wages and they have to move and stress about staying at that level. That is chump change for the amount of stress and pressure they have. They have to love the sport and the competion and have a tremendous amount of luck to avoid injury as well.
