The National Women’s Soccer League entered its third season of free agency this winter, now under the auspices of a new CBA that puts large amounts of control in the hands of players. Teams have the largest salary cap ceiling of all time, players receive fully guaranteed contracts, there are universal no-trade clauses, and universal free agency (not to mention the lack of a maximum salary restriction).
This year’s crop of free agents is large, but not necessarily stocked with topline talent. Last season, we saw players like Mallory Swanson, Savannah McCaskill, Crystal Dunn, Tierna Davidson, Rose Lavelle, Emily Sonnett, Casey Krueger, Sarah Gorden, and Caprice Dydasco all sign large deals. Only two of that group stayed with the team for whom they played in 2023. It was a feast of an offseason, not to mention the blockbuster trades and international transfers that kept fans riveted for three straight months.
The pool heading this offseason is a decidedly thinner one, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t good players to be had. Sam Hiatt, Delanie Sheehan and Madison Curry are already off the board, but the following 10 players are all still available and could contribute to a team’s success in the short term. The possession value metrics of Net g+ from American Soccer Analysis provide a reference point for these players’ recent levels of production.
