Mallory Swanson signs highest paying contract in NWSL history

The GIST: Less than one year after a knee injury sidelined her for the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, Chicago Red Stars forward Mallory Swanson inked the largest and highest-paying contract in NWSL history yesterday, a $2M, five-year deal. Money talks.

The context: The NWSL landscape is evolving, and quickly. Following years of surging interest in the women’s game, the league secured the largest media rights deal in women’s sports in November. Since then, two players have signed record-breaking, multi-million dollar agreements: Houston Dash forward María Sánchez and Swanson.

• Furthermore, 2024 is an expansion season, one that, beginning March 16th, will see 14 (!!!) clubs competing under a $2.75M salary cap — a 40% increase from 2023. In response, NJ/NY Gotham FC got their superteam on, while the Dash and Red Stars (among others), are making major investments in individual stars.

Zooming out: Beyond the increased cash flow, what’s also helped make blockbuster signings like Swanson’s possible is the NWSL’s second-ever free agency period, authorizing eligible players to choose where they’ll play and put down roots.

• And with two months to go before free agency ends, veteran players, including Portland Thorns defenders Becky Sauerbrunn and Meghan Klingenberg, are still on the market. The fun has just begun.