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The NWSL and the players' association said on
Wednesday they had begun formal negotiations for their first
ever collective bargaining agreement (CBA) after record-breaking
viewership for last year's single-site, inaugural Challenge Cup
tournament.
"The collaboration between the league, our clubs and the NWSL
players has been absolutely critical to our collective success
this past year," Commissioner Lisa Baird said in a statement.
"We're all eager to better define the relationship between the
league and the extraordinary women that take the pitch each
week."
At stake in the negotiations are player salary and benefits, as
well as travel conditions and safety issues.
The announcement comes after a months-long celebrity buying
blitz with tennis player Naomi Osaka of Japan picking up a stake
in the North Carolina Courage, while expansion franchise Angel
City FC added tennis great Billie Jean King and Olympic ski
champion Lindsey Vonn to its investor group.
The Challenge Cup, which was played last year in front of empty
stands in a 'bubble' setting, will see the Chicago Red Stars out
for revenge after the underdog Dash produced an upset 2-0 win in
the final.
"(Chicago Coach Rory Dames) has been able to keep a core group
here and it has created a culture that is so highly competitive
and so hard to play against," Red Stars forward Kealia Watt told
NWSL Live.
"It's not fun to play the Red Stars because it's just a
hardworking, blue collar but also very technical team."
A key part of that roster - including World Cup-winning
midfielder Julie Ertz and keeper Alyssa Naeher - will be absent
from the start of the competition as members of the U.S. women's
team travel for a pair of friendlies in Europe this month.
National team players can expect added scrutiny on their return,
with U.S. coach Vlatko Andonovski saying last month he will keep
a close eye on NWSL performances as he finalises his 18-player
roster for the Tokyo Olympics which start in July.
The Dash and Red Stars kick off the NWSL's Challenge Cup at 8:30
p.m. ET on Friday.
(Reporting by Amy Tennery; Editing by Ken Ferris)
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