NWSL at a crossroads: How Trinity Rodman's next contract could usher in a new era

The NWSL is at a crossroads. As the league and the Washington Spirit hash out the ways to keep Trinity Rodman, a new era of superstar spending, salary cap rules and competition with the global market could be on the horizon.

On this edition of Full Time, host Meg Linehan is joined by The Athletic's senior writers Paul Tenorio and John Hollinger to reflect on how other U.S. sports leagues have handled rethinking their rules in order to keep superstars and what the NWSL needs to learn from those examples.

Is an MLS-style designated player rule something to be embraced or avoided? Why does the NWSL need to think differently about its global market when compared to the NBA? Why could Rodman's next contract similarly change everything like Olivia Moultrie's case against the league did in 2021?

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HOST: Meg Linehan

GUESTS: Paul Tenorio, John Hollinger

PRODUCER: Theo Lloyd-Hughes

VIDEO PRODUCER: Lia Griffin

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER: Emily Olsen

Tobin Heath clip credit: 'A Touch More Live presented by Delta, Google Pixel, and Volkswagen (Vox Media)'

Link to that show is here

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Referenced on the show:

NWSL said it would fight for Trinity Rodman. It’s only fighting with itself

NWSL can’t keep Trinity Rodman and its current salary cap. It’s up to the league to choose

Trinity Rodman receives contract from Super League team larger than NWSL can match: Sources

Trinity Rodman negotiations explained: Why did NWSL reject the Spirit’s offer and what’s next?

Teen soccer phenom Olivia Moultrie sues NWSL for right to play in league

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Get in touch: ⁠⁠fulltime@theathletic.com⁠⁠

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