NWSL Opening Day Rosters

Taylor VincentMarch 14, 2025

On Wednesday, NWSL clubs published their 22-26 player compliant start-of-season rosters. After a flurry of short-term signings, all 14 teams are at a correct roster size.

Composition varies from team to team except in the goalkeeper position where 12 of the 14 teams have the standard three signed. Across the rosters, the average number of active defenders and midfielders is a little over seven. For defenders Chicago is on the low side with five and Orlando and Washington top out at nine. Looking at midfielders, all teams are in the six to eight range with three clubs at 6, six clubs at 7, and five clubs at 8. Average number of forwards is close to 6.6, with a range from five (North Carolina) to nine (Chicago and Gotham). 

 

Looking at the current active rosters, not SEI’s or players signed and then loaned out…

Bay FC and North Carolina — both of whom made it to the 2024 Playoffs — had the smallest number of additions in the offseason with four. San Diego had the most new additions with 12. 

Injuries

Chicago defender Sam Staab, Gotham FC forward Midge Purce, Washington midfielder Croix Bethune, and Bay FC goalkeeper Melissa Lowder officially came off of their 2024 Season-Ending Injuries (SEIs) while Racing Louisville goalkeeper Olivia Sekany was added to the 2025 list. 

Chicago defender Natalia Kuikka, Washington’s Paige Metayer, and North Carolina’s Olivia Wingate and Dani Weatherholt were added to the D45 list ahead of the season opener. 

All-in-all, there are 29 players starting the 2025 season on either 2024 or 2025 SEI designations—comparatively, 2024 only had 19 2023/2024 SEI’s to start off the season. Four of the current players on SEI actually have had their designations since before the start of the 2024 season, and only five of the SEI designations are from 2025 (three alone coming from Portland).

All injuries/missed games for all NWSL teams will be tracked for the 2025 season and can be found here

nwsl opening day rosters

Tracking NFL Free Agency

Michael GinnittiMarch 10, 2025

Follow along with Spotrac's comprehensive coverage of all the trades, releases, signings, & more.

2025 Offseason Tracker
A summarized view of free agency, extensions, trades, etc...

Free Agent Tracker
Tracking all signings & available players throughout the offseason

Contract Extensions
Breakdown details for internal contract extensions this spring.

Trade Tracker
Full details regarding each trade

Transaction Wire 
The full list of transactions, including salary conversions, releases, & more

Team Salary Caps
An up-to-date look at salary cap allocations & estimated cap space


Follow along @spotrac on X, Threads, & BlueSky

Vilips Wins Puerto Rico Open, $720k

Scott AllenMarch 09, 2025

Karl Vilips wins Puerto Rico Open. Vilips earns $720k bringing his 2025 on-course earnings to $720k million and his career on-course earnings to $720k million. 

Puerto Rico Open Top 10 Payouts

pga karl vilips

Henley Wins Arnold Palmer Invitational, $4 million

Scott AllenMarch 09, 2025

Russell Henley wins Arnold Palmer Invitational. Henley earns $4 million million bringing his 2025 on-course earnings to $5.48 million and his career on-course earnings to $38.8 million. 

Arnold Palmer Invitational Top 10 Payouts

pga russell henley

Pre Agency NFL Notables

Michael GinnittiMarch 09, 2025

The calm before the NFL Free Agency storm came with plenty of fireworks:

Browns Extend DE Myles Garrett
A stunner in every regard, as the embattled star defender quickly changed his trade demand tune, agreeing to an historic 4 year, $160M contract extension with the Browns that includes $88.8M fully guaranteed at signing, $100M cash across the next 3 seasons, and a 4 year, $123M practical guarantee. It's the highest everything for a non-QB, putting pressure on Cleveland to quickly right this ship. Garrett also secured a full no trade clause with the new contract (just for fun?).

Chiefs Extend LB Nick Bolton
Kansas City locked in their 2021 2nd round pick to a reported 3 year, $45M extension that includes $30M guaranteed. It's a 2 year $30M deal for practical purposes based on cash flow details, locking in Nick Bolton through his age 27 season with the Chiefs. The $15M APY ranks 5th among inside linebackers, as does the $30M guarantee.

Vikings Retain RB Aaron Jones
Minnesota foreshadowed this move when they pushed back the void date on Aaron Jones' previous contract to Tuesday, signaling an expectation that the two sides would come to terms before the start of the league year. It's a 2 year, $20M contract for the 30-year-old, which includes a reported $13M guaranteed. The $10M APY ranks 5th among active RB deals, just behind Josh Jacobs' $12M in Green Bay.

Seahawks Extend DL Jarran Reed
The Seahawks have been subtracting for the better part of a week, but they agreed to terms on a 3 year, $25M extension with Jarran Reed today, keeping him under contract through 2027, and off the open market next week. The 32-year-old has spent 7 of his 9 NFL seasons in Seattle, and now appears poised to finish out his career there as well.

Cardinals Keep OLB Baron Browning
Arizona got on the board this early offseason, retaining OLB Baron Browning on a 2 year deal worth up to $19M ($15M base value). The 26-year-old was acquired from Denver at the deadline, and now locks in through 2026.

TE Ertz Returns to Washington
The Commanders kept Zach Ertz off the board this weekend, locking in the 34-year-old TE to a 1 year, $6.25M contract that can max out at $9M with incentives. With Deebo Samuel soon to be in the fold, and an extension for Terry McLaurin almost certain to follow, Washington is prepping their offense for Year 2 of the Jayden Daniels experiment.

Lions Plan to Release Za'Darius Smith
Acquired at the trade deadline for a 5th & 6th round draft pick, Za'Darius Smith finished 2024 with 9 sacks. Detroit frees up over $5.7M of cap per the move, as the deal carried no dead cap when it was acquired via trade. The 32-year-old was set to garner a $6.9M option bonus next week, but instead will hit the open market for the 3rd time in 3 years. He's expected to draw significant interest from (other) contenders.

Bills Release OLB Von Miller
While the two sides discussed options to remain together in 2025 (and still might again down the line), Buffalo parted ways with Von Miller this weekend, a move that frees up just under $8.4M of cap space for a Bills' team still in the red financially. Miller was set to enter Year 4 of a 6 year, $120M contract, but now heads back to the open market after having earned $47.3M from the deal. The nearly 36-year-old is expected to seek a contract for 2025.

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Saints Convert Carr's Salary

Michael GinnittiMarch 09, 2025

The New Orleans Saints further cemented their QB1 for the upcoming season, processing what is expected to be a full, simple salary conversion on Derek Carr's 2025 compensation.

Carr carried a $30M base salary plus a $10M roster bonus for the upcoming season. The conversion turns $28.745M of that salary, plus the roster bonus into a signing bonus that prorates over the next 5 seasons for cap purposes. The move frees up $30.9M of cap space for the upcoming season, bringing the Saints closer to cap compliancy for 2025.

Updated Cap Hits (dead cap)
2025: $20.462M
2026: $69.207M ($59.67M)
2027: Void ($40.463M)

Assuming the two sides part ways next offseason, the Saints will look to designate Carr a Post 6/1 release before the 5th league day of 2026 (when a $10M bonus is due). New Orleans will take on $19.2M of dead cap in 2026, and another $40.4M in 2027. 

nfl new orleans saints derek carr

Bills Extend DE Rousseau

Michael GinnittiMarch 08, 2025

The Buffalo Bills continued their busy winter, extending DE Greg Rousseau to a 4 year, $80 million contract through the 2029 season. The deal comes with a reported $54M guaranteed, an additional $40M over the $13.3M option salary he was set to earn in 2025.

The new contract makes Rousseau the 8th highest average paid DE in football, while the $54M guaranteed currently ranks 6th. Strong numbers for a player that has been a bit inconsistent through 4 years since been selected #30 overall back in 2021.

Rousseau carried a 4 year, $99M valuation in our system, but has been the case for most contending teams, Buffalo locks in a key player at fair value. The deal will almost certainly lower his current $13.3M cap figure for 2025. It's the third notable extension for the Bills this month:

WR Khalil Shakir: 4 years, $53M ($20M guaranteed)
LB Terrel Bernard: 4 years, $50M ($25M guaranteed)

Buffalo may also be in talks with CB Christian Benford (1 year, $3.2M remaining), RB James Cook (1 year, $5.3M remaining), and QB Josh Allen ($14.5M cash in 2025).

nfl buffalo bills greg rousseau

Washington Spirit win the 2025 NWSL Challenge Cup

Taylor VincentMarch 08, 2025

The exciting rematch of the 2024 NWSL Championship ended regulation tied 1-1 after a 41st minute goal by Orlando's Rafaelle and a 72nd minute equalizer by Washington's Leicy Santos. In penalty kicks the Spirit were able to come away with the win and the first trophy of the 2025 season. As the winners, each of the Spirit players took home $3,500, while the Pride's consolation prize was $2,200 per player. 

Spirit goalkeeper Aubrey Kingsbury came up clutch throughout the night and during penalty kicks leading her to being named MVP for the match, which netted her an additional $2,000 for her performance. 

nwsl washington spirit orlando pride aubrey kingsbury

Raiders to Acquire QB Geno Smith

Michael GinnittiMarch 07, 2025

The Las Vegas Raiders made the latest trade splash, agreeing to acquire QB Geno Smith from the Seattle Seahawks in exchange for a 2025 3rd Round pick (#92 overall). Smith brings with him a $31M salary for the upcoming season, $16M of which is set to vest on March 16th. However, it is largely expected that an extension will be processed soon after the league year begins next Wednesday. The 34-year-old projects toward a 2 year, $87M extension in our system, after reeling in $50M in Seattle over the past two seasons.

Seattle on the other hand frees up another $31M of cap space with this move, now sitting with $62M of Top 51 room (7th most in the NFL). Their plans at the QB position are now TBD, though a free agent pitch for Sam Darnold may be in the cards. Sam Howell (1 year, $1.1M), Jaren Hall (1 year, $1.03M), & John Rhys Plumlee (1 year, $840k) are rostered Seahawks quarterbacks currently.

nfl seattle seahawks las vegas raiders geno smith

Cadillac to join Formula 1 in 2026; 11th Team on Grid

Scott AllenMarch 07, 2025

Cadillac has received their final approval to join Formula 1 in 2026. They will be the 11th team on the grid.

Drivers are to-be-determined at this point.

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