NWSL Under-18 Entry Mechanism

The Under-18 Entry Mechanism sets the rules for how soccer players below the age of 18 may sign professional contracts in the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL), the top division of women's soccer in the United States.

Background

The NWSL had a minimum age requirement of 18 until 2021, when 15-year-old Olivia Moultrie filed an antitrust lawsuit against the league. She reached a settlement that allowed her to sign with Portland Thorns FC after going through a league discovery process that involved her rights being acquired by OL Reign and traded to the Thorns.[1][2] The following year, the NWSL allowed 17-year-old Jaedyn Shaw to sign with San Diego Wave FC through discovery, with five other teams submitting bids for her rights including the Washington Spirit which she had trained with for months.[2][3] Other sports leagues in the United States continue to have minimum requirements, such as 18 in the National Hockey League and Major League Baseball. Major League Soccer allows younger players to sign contracts which occurs mostly for development purposes.[1]

The NWSL introduced the Under-18 Entry Mechanism on November 14, 2022, establishing a formal process for signing players under the age of 18.[2][4] As of 2024, the NWSL allows teams to have up to four under-18 players between their private entry list and roster. Players must be signed within a month of being named to the entry list, and their contracts must last through the season in which they turn 18. Until coming of age, under-18 players may not be cut from their team's roster nor traded (unless the player and her parent or guardian consents) nor selected in an expansion draft.[5] In addition to contractual protections, under-18 players are required to live with a parent or guardian and use separate showers and locker rooms.[1]

Chloe Ricketts was the first player to sign through the Under-18 Entry Mechanism, joining the Washington Spirit on March 3, 2023, at the age of 15.[6]

List of signings

As of January 24, 2025
  Current youngest signing (⁂)
  Former youngest signing (*)
Under-18 signings in the NWSL (2023–present)[5]
Date of signingPlayerPos.TeamDate of birthAge at signing
March 3, 2023Chloe Ricketts * MFWashington SpiritMay 23, 200715 years, 284 days
March 21, 2023Melanie Barcenas * FWSan Diego Wave FCOctober 30, 200715 years, 142 days
July 28, 2023Riley JacksonMFNorth Carolina CourageDecember 2, 200517 years, 238 days
October 30, 2023Alex PfeifferFWKansas City CurrentNovember 26, 200715 years, 338 days
November 28, 2023Gisele ThompsonDFAngel City FCDecember 2, 200517 years, 361 days
December 14, 2023Claire HuttonMFKansas City CurrentJanuary 11, 200617 years, 337 days
January 18, 2024Casey PhairFWAngel City FCJune 29, 200716 years, 203 days
March 6, 2024Kennedy FullerMFAngel City FCMarch 9, 200716 years, 363 days
March 13, 2024Emeri AdamesFWSeattle Reign FCApril 3, 200617 years, 345 days
March 22, 2024Kimmi AscanioMFSan Diego Wave FCJanuary 21, 200816 years, 61 days
July 19, 2024Jordyn BuggDFSeattle Reign FCAugust 11, 200617 years, 343 days
July 19, 2024Ainsley McCammonMFSeattle Reign FCAugust 16, 200716 years, 338 days
July 26, 2024Mak Whitham ⁂ FWNJ/NY Gotham FCJuly 27, 201013 years, 365 days
October 11, 2024Zoe MatthewsMFHouston DashMay 25, 200717 years, 139 days
December 11, 2024KK ReamFWUtah RoyalsJuly 8, 200915 years, 156 days
January 8, 2025Katie ScottDFKansas City CurrentJune 20, 200717 years, 174 days
January 16, 2025Trinity ArmstrongDFSan Diego Wave FCJuly 25, 200717 years, 175 days
January 24, 2025Micayla JohnsonFWChicago Stars FCJanuary 18, 200817 years, 6 days
October 16, 2025Sydney SchmidtDFNorth Carolina CourageJanuary 25, 200817 years, 264 days
December 22, 2025Meila BrewerDFKansas City CurrentMarch 24, 200916 years, 273 days
January 6, 2026Audrey McKeenFWRacing Louisville FCNovember 26, 200817 years, 41 days

References

  1. ^ abcMaese, Rick; Brockway, Ella (June 7, 2024). "As teens swarm women's soccer, 'we have to be really careful'". The Washington Post. Retrieved July 31, 2024.
  2. ^ abc"NWSL can finally give its top youngsters the support to shine". Pro Soccer Wire. USA Today. March 31, 2023. Retrieved July 31, 2024.
  3. ^Anderson, Jason (June 30, 2022). "USYNT star Jaedyn Shaw's path to NWSL to go through the league's discovery process". Pro Soccer Wire. USA Today. Retrieved July 31, 2024.
  4. ^Arvind, Om (June 2, 2023). "Teenagers are suddenly some of the NWSL's top stars. How and why was the league forced to change?". ESPN. Retrieved July 31, 2024.
  5. ^ ab"NWSL Contracts: U18 Entry Mechanism". Spotrac. USA Today. Retrieved July 31, 2024.
  6. ^Anderson, Jason. "Chloe Ricketts signs with Washington Spirit, becomes youngest-ever NWSL player". Pro Soccer Wire. USA Today. Retrieved July 31, 2024.
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