The free agency window for the National Women’s Soccer League is officially open. The signing period will be open for the eight teams of the league until January 31.
As originally reported, teams will be allowed to sign four free agents during the window. Today’s only twist is the announcement that the Western New York Flash will be allowed to sign a fifth player to compensate for their shorthanded U.S. allocation.
The clubs are able to sign both American players and internationals, though they will be limited to only two international players beyond their allocated players from Canada and Mexico.
At the close of the free agency signing period, the teams will then finish filling their roster of 20 players via a supplemental draft. Details are still forthcoming from the NWSL on that process, though the official press release suggests “several other mechanisms” for teams to acquire players.
The other mechanisms not listed in today’s press release could include “discovery players” – or those players who are not entered into the supplemental draft but still identified by teams. According to NWSL executive director Cheryl Bailey, there will be a maximum of four discovery players per team.
Some free agency signings have already been announced, including Leslie Osborne’s move to the Chicago Red Stars and Allie Long to Portland Thorns FC. There’s still an impressive list of free agents for teams to choose from before the January 31 deadline.
