NWSL and Players' Union Settle Dispute Over the Rodman Rule
The NWSL and its players' union have settled their dispute over the High Impact Player rule. From next season, every player in the league will qualify for it.
The rule, also called the "Rodman Rule," lets clubs pay certain players more than the salary cap, the league's limit on total team pay. Under the original version, a player had to meet one of eight league-set criteria. These included a place on SportsPro Media's list of the 150 most marketable athletes, a spot in ESPN's top 50, and a ranking in the Guardian's top 100. Other routes were the most minutes for the US national team, a place on the 30-player shortlist for the Ballon d'Or, football's individual award, and the NWSL's MVP or Best XI awards.
The NWSL Players Association had challenged the rule. In January, it filed a grievance calling for the rule to be revoked. The union argued that the original criteria broke federal labor law. A grievance is a formal complaint raised against a league or employer.
The two sides announced their settlement on October 23, 2026. The deal resolved five other grievances as well, and it was described by the NWSL as comprehensive. The NWSL's announcement says High Impact Players will carry a minimum charge of 12% against the salary cap. It also sets a maximum amount clubs can spend above the cap under the rule.
The restrictions on who can qualify come off on January 1, 2027. That date is when the change starts to affect clubs' signings and contracts. For clubs, the 12% charge is now the fixed cost of using the rule, and for players, the old list of criteria no longer decides who gets in.
