The National Women’s Soccer League is making significant changes to its salary cap structure and compensation guidelines ahead of the 2020 season.

Here is a look at the key changes:

2020 Salary Cap

The NWSL has increased its salary cap to $650,000, up from $421,500 in 2019. The minimum player salary will rise to $20,000, up from $16,538 in 2019. The maximum salary will rise to $50,000, up from $46,200 in 2019.

Allocation Money

The league will introduce allocation money into its salary cap structure for the first time in 2020. Teams may purchase up to $300,000 in allocation money that can be used to acquire players whose salaries are in excess of the league maximum salary or invest in current or future players in excess of the current salary cap.

Allocation money can be used on players that meet the following criteria, as outlined by the league:

NWSL Best XI or Second XI for either of the two most recent seasons (2019, 2018)

International players who have more than three caps for their national team in the prior 24 months

NWSL MVP, Golden Boot, Rookie of the Year or Defender of the Year winner for one of the two most recent seasons (2019, 2018)

Domestic players who have completed at least five seasons in the NWSL

Players who were formerly designated as allocated players by the U.S. or Canada (unless if the player refused the option to be allocated)

Players previously on a contract that included allocation money

Player Contracts

The NWSL is making significant changes to how player contracts are structured. There will no longer be a limit on the number of guaranteed contracts permitted and all contracts for international players and contracts that include allocation money must be guaranteed. Players can be signed to up to three years or three years with one option year.

Permitted Team Assistance

There will no longer be a cap for assisting players in housing and auto expenses. Housing must now be provided for all players on a team’s senior and supplemental rosters. If teams provide players with cars, the car must be available to the player for the entire season.

Transfer Fees

Teams may now pay transfer fees to acquire players outside the NWSL. Transfer fees are paid using allocation money and do not count against a team’s salary cap. Teams can also sell the rights to players to teams outside the NWSL.

Discovery List

Teams may have up to three players on their discovery lists during the season and up to seven players on their discovery lists in the offseason.

-- Jamie Goldberg | jgoldberg@oregonian.com

503-853-3761 | @jamiebgoldberg

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