The NSWL Board of Governors is in “advanced discussions” on a proposal that would allow higher salaries for star players, ESPN reported.

Team owners and league commissioner Jessica Berman are deciding whether to install a new roster mechanism that would allow teams to pay their best players amounts beyond the current salary cap, per Wednesday’s report.

The face of this potential change is Washington Spirit forward Trinity Rodman. Per multiple reports last week, Berman recently vetoed Washington’s multi-million dollar offer that would have been competitive with the numbers European teams can put on the table.

According to the ESPN report, the new framework being debated would give each team a set amount of money beyond the salary cap to spend on an elite player or players who meet specific criteria.

“Trinity is sort of the impetus for this, but this isn’t just about one player,” Spirit president of soccer operations Haley Carter told reporters on Tuesday. “We’ve already lost multiple players this year in two transfer windows overseas for massive transfer fees. So, it’s really about retaining those athletes, building a roster that can compete sustainably, keeping our best players, attracting even more elite talent, and also creating an environment where world-class athletes want to be.”

The proposal is currently out for a vote with the board members and could be passed before a planned board meeting next week.

The NWSL salary cap in 2025 was $3.5 million following adjustments for revenue sharing.

–Field Level Media