The outcome of grit always tastes sweet. Such is the feeling for Megan Rapinoe on the new CBA of NWSL, although she hung her boots last year. NWSL agreed to a new Collective Bargaining Agreement with its Players Association and Rapinoe is one who has always stood up for player welfare and the new player-friendly CBA means the world to her. Besides, she is also glad that the NWSL got rid of its previous draconian trade policies which were detrimental to attracting overseas talent. 

During their free-wheeling conversation, Megan Rapinoe and her fiance Sue Bird spoke at length about the NWSL’s new CBA on a recent A Touch More podcast episode. “I love the idea of the player movement and the free agency and the autonomy over where you live, how you set your life up, a life up, what team you wanna play for,” said Rapinoe. Then, she detailed how the NWSL’s former trade policy kept it from becoming a promised land for international soccer superstars.

“I think also in attracting international talent, I think international players are like. ‘What do you mean I can be traded? This is insane. I signed in, you know, wherever Seattle, and now I’m going somewhere.’ It’s just insane to them. And I think it does really turn them off a lot. Like at any time you could just move and change. So I love that for international talent,” Rapinoe added.

Meanwhile, Rapinoe also detailed how the NWSL could be a haven for young talent. She’s also super-excited for the league’s stellar growth in the next 10 years.

Megan Rapinoe calls youngsters’ attention to the NWSL, while she bets on the league for the next decade

By shaking hands with its Players Association for the new CBA, the NWSL became the first major American league to get rid of drafts. This means a talented high school athlete can be recruited by the NWSL clubs. Hot-shot high school players could also approach clubs, showing their interest in signing. This no-draft policy combined with the no-trade and free agency agendas of the NWSL, according to Megan Rapinoe would make the USA, the promised land of women’s club football.

“Just look at the next 10 years in the NWSL and think ‘wow how incredible that’s going to be,’” the two-time World Cup winner said in a previous ESPN podcast appearance. However, the Seattle Reign legend is also concerned as to how the historic new CBA will pan out in reality in the NWSL. She urged the NWSL front office to live up to the document upon implementation. Besides, the new CBA, while prioritizing player welfare should also ultimately help the league grow to new levels as well.