# NWSL removes High Impact Player eligibility criteria after union settlement

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/nwsl-drops-controversial-criteria-around-rodman-rule-in-settlement-with-nwslpa/
- Published: 2026-10-23T19:25:20+00:00
- Updated: 2026-10-23T19:47:18+00:00
- Original publisher: The Guardian (publisher lean: Left)
- Original article: https://www.theguardian.com/football/2026/oct/23/nwsl-rodman-rule-hip-rule-changes
- Topics: Americas, Sport, World

## Key points

- Any NWSL player can qualify for High Impact status from 2027.
- The salary must reach at least 12% of the base cap.
- The settlement resolves six union grievances, including one involving Rodman.

## Summary

The NWSL and its players’ union have agreed to remove the eligibility criteria for the league’s High Impact Player rule, allowing clubs to designate any player for its highest salaries. The change settles a dispute over criteria the union argued breached labour protections and the collective bargaining agreement.

From 1 January 2027, a club can designate a player as high impact if her salary is at least 12% of the base salary cap; the league may limit how many each club can name. The rule allows $1m in spending above the cap, which is $3.7m for 2026. The settlement resolves six grievances, including one over the Washington Spirit’s earlier contract offer to Trinity Rodman, who later re-signed for more than $2m a year.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.