This year NWSL Free Agency is coming quicker than ever and is only 103 days away (as of March 20th). Teams have until June 30th to exercise player options, and must have their decision lists to the league by 12pm EST. July 1st the free agency window opens up and players can sign with new teams for 2026 as soon as they want. 

Last year’s free agency was pulled in from where it was at the end of season in 2023, but no players signed with new teams until their 2024 seasons had concluded. With the free agency window pulling in even further this year, it will be interesting to see who (if anyone) signs with a new team mid-season. 

Not including the players currently on short-term contracts or players with 2026 options, there are 125 free agents slated for the July free agency period. Here are ten players to watch for potential extensions (alphabetically):

Ary Borges (Racing Louisville, Midfielder)

Current Contract: Signed a three-year contract with Racing in December 2022

Borges played in 14 matches for Racing in 2024, with one goal and two assists. She missed 11 matches in the front half of the season dealing with a knee injury. She averaged over 80% passing accuracy in her initial two seasons in Louisville. 

Sam Coffey (Portland Thorns, Midfielder)

Current Contract: Signed a three-year extension with Portland in November 2022

With the retirement of Christine Sinclair and Becky Sauerbrunn, Coffey has stepped up in 2025 and is wearing the Captain’s armband for Thorns. In 2024, she played in 25 matches for the Thorns with over 2000 minutes on the pitch as the pivotal six connecting Portland’s backline and attack — in the process scoring two goals, and earning three assists. 

Michelle Cooper (Kansas City Current, Forward)

Current Contract: Signed a three-year contract in February 2023 following being drafted No. 2 overall in the 2023 NWSL Collegiate Draft

In 2024, Cooper played in 23 matches for the Current, scoring three goals, creating 25 chances, and earning three assists. She started the 2025 campaign off with a bang, scoring what ended up being the game winning goal for KC in the season opener against Portland. 

Taylor Flint (Racing Louisville, Midfielder)

Current Contract: In January 2024 restructured terms in a two-year deal with Racing following her trade from San Diego

Played in all but two regular season matches for Racing in 2024, earned an 80% aerial duel success, had 64 clearances, 74 interceptions, in addition to three goals and one assist. In the season opener last Saturday, Flint won 11 of 12 aerial duels (91.7%) — the most aerial duels contested in a match with a 90%-plus success rate since Opta began detailed data collection of the NWSL in 2016.

Kaleigh Kurtz (North Carolina Courage, Defender)

Current Contract: Signed a three-year extension with the Courage in November 2022. 

In 2024 Kurtz completed her third consecutive Ironwoman season (played every minute of every match). She was fifth in the league in clearances with 124 and had 23 interceptions, 117 possessions won, and an 86% passing accuracy. Kurtz even had the game winning goal against Utah. Additionally, Kurtz has been on a Best XI team in 2022 (2nd team), 2023 (2nd team), and 2024 (1st team), as well as being a finalist for Defender of the Year two years running. 

Diana Ordonez (Houston Dash, Forward)

Current Contract: Signed a new three-year deal with the Houston Dash in February 2023 following her trade from North Carolina. 

Ordonez was the main goalscorer for the struggling Houston Dash in 2024, leading the team with five goals, and also had 12 chances created. She suffered a shoulder injury late in the season which caused her to miss the final two matches of the regular season following a successful surgery in late October — she also started the 2024 regular season still on the season ending injury. 

Trinity Rodman (Washington Spirit, Forward)

Current Contract: Signed a four-year extension with the Spirit in February 2022.

Rodman’s five goals, two assists, and 20 chances created for the Spirit in 2024 were enough to put her on the Best XI team for the second year in a row (and third time overall). Just as impressive as her attacking prowess on the wing is her 35 interceptions and 146 possessions won on the defensive side. Her phenomenal 2024 as a whole made her one of the five finalists for the NWSL Most Valuable Player award.

Rafaelle Souza (Orlando Pride, Defender)

Current Contract: Signed a two-and-a-half year contract with the Orlando Pride in July 2023. 

Rafaelle’s 2024 was likely not what was planned as the centerback only played in nine matches and missed 22 matches battling a number of leg injuries (foot, thigh, quad). During those nine matches, she had an 89% passing accuracy, 27 clearances, and 38 possessions won. She started Orlando’s regular season opener where they held the Chicago Stars scoreless and had an impressive 91% passing accuracy. 

Mina Tanaka (Utah Royals)

Previous Contract: Signed a year-and-a-half long contract with the Utah Royals in July 2024. 

After joining the Royals in the Secondary Window, Tanaka played in seven matches, scoring 1 goal, and creating 10 chances. Tanaka had an impressive 89% tackle success, 21 possessions won, and an 81% passing accuracy. She played a pivotal role in the Royals dramatic change between the front and back half of their inaugural season. 

Kennedy Wesley (San Diego Wave, Defender)

Previous Contract: Signed a two-year contract in February 2024 following being drafted in the first round by San Diego in the 2024 NWSL Collegiate Draft. 

As a rookie, the centerback played in 13 matches, tallying up 1000 minutes and had 46 clearances, 47 possessions won, an 85% passing accuracy, and even scored the lone goal in Alex Morgan’s farewell match. With the departure of Naomi Girma she now the starting centerback and played a solid 90 against Angel City in last weekend’s opener. 

Bill Chishom, managing partner of Symphony Technology Group, has agreed to purchase the Boston Celtics at a $6.1 billion valuation. This is the richest purchase price for a North American sports team.

Chisholm grew up on the North Shore of Massachusetts and is a lifelong Celtics fan. Forbes estimated Chisholm to have a net worth of $7.5 billion.

The Grousbeck family, led by Wyc Grousbeck, purchased the Celtics for $360 million in 2002. They put the team up for sale this summer, shortly after the Celtics captured their record 18th NBA title.

The Celtics face questions for their new ownership group in the coming years. Boston is set to have the largest payroll, plus tax bill, in the NBA next season. The Celtics are looking at coming at over $500 million for salaries plus tax penalties. There are also questions about the team's arena situation, as the Celtics currently share TD Garden with the Boston Bruins.

The $6.1 billion valuation is also important for the NBA as a whole. Adam Silver has said that the league is looking at expansion, but the NBA was slow-playing that process. Part of the reason for that was assumed to be hoping the Celtics sale would set a benchmark for expansion teams. Now, the NBA can condifently expect to receive large bids when they do open formally open the expansion process.

Rory McIlroy wins THE PLAYERS Championship. McIlroy earns $4.5 million million bringing his 2025 on-course earnings to $8.7 million and his career earnings to $181.2 million. 

THE PLAYERS Championship Top 10 Payouts

Joaquin Niemann wins the fourth LIV Golf event of 2024 at Singapore and earns $4 million. 

Singapore Top 10

The Minnesota Vikings kept their foot on the gas pedal this week, agreeing to acquire RB Jordan Mason from the San Francisco 49ers. Minnesota will send back a 5th Round pick (#160) in the upcoming draft, and a 6th Round pick in 2026, while the Vikings will bring back pick #187 (a 6th-Rounder) as well.

Mason was scheduled to earn a $5.346M 2nd-Round restricted free agent tender in 2025, but the Vikings have announced a 2 year, $12M contract extension for the 25-year-old that includes $7M fully guaranteed. He joins veteran Aaron Jones (who signed a 2 year, $20M extension of his own) as a strong 1-2 punch in Minnesota going forward.

San Francisco on the other hand continues their mini-purge this offseason, freeing up all $5.3M of Mason's salary in the move. The Niners are still in good hands at the running back position of course, as Christian McCaffrey is signed through the 2027 season (mostly guaranteed through 2025).

Jordan Mason's contract extension checks in at 2 years, $10.5M and includes $7.23M fully guaranteed. He'll earn $5.5M in 2025 (just north of his previous tender), and can add $1.5M to the deal based on rushing yards.

The 93rd minute substitution for Mak Whitman in Gotham's season opener Saturday night in Seattle made her the youngest ever player to debut in the NWSL at 14 years, 8 months old. The title was previously held by San Diego's Melanie Barcenas.

Whitman signed her contract with Gotham for the 2025+ season in July 2024 when she was still technically 13. She played with Gotham as a national team replacement player during the NWSL x Liga MX Femenil Summer Cup which was held overlapping with the 2024 Paris Olympics, at which point she was 14 years, 1 day old. 

The 2024 NWSL Midfielder of the Year and 2024 NWSL Rookie of the Year Croix Bethune returned to the active roster today ahead of the Washington Spirit's season opener against the Houston Dash tonight 192 days after joining the 2024 Season-Ending Injury list with a torn meniscus. 

Bethune was selected third overall in the 2024 Collegiate Draft by the Washington Spirit, and her impact on the pitch for the Spirit was felt immediately. She earned three straight Rookie of the Month awards for her performances on the pitch, which included assisting three goals in the May matchup against Chicago and then later in the month breaking the rookie assist record. After coming back from the Olympic break (with a Gold Medal), Bethune earned her tenth assist, tying the league record for assists in a season set by Tobin Heath back in 2016—she also had scored five goals for the Spirit by this point. In an unfortunate turn, just a few days later she tore her meniscus and joined the league’s Season Ending Injury list. 

The details of Josh Allen’s 6 year, $330M renegotiated contract with the Buffalo Bills have been revealed and, as expected, they’re relatively massive.

The Overall Structure

Allen secures a $56.745M signing bonus (9th highest all-time), plus 3 consecutive option bonuses. This structure is utilized to keep cap figures lower early on in the contract - though as we’ll detail soon, not as low as they could have been in this particular case.

There are large March roster bonuses built into the final two years of the season, a good indicator that the player/agent will look to extend out of this contract again prior to the 2030 season (or pressure on the Bills to get out of the deal early if things are going in that direction).

The deal includes VERY aggressive cash flow, and a bit more room to maneuver than the majority of blockbuster deals we’ve seen in the past.

The Cash Flow

Historic. Allen secured $220M over the next 4 seasons, $1M more than Dak Prescott locked down with Dallas last summer, and $90M more than Allen was previously scheduled to earn on his prior contract.

He’ll see $58M in 2025, $113MM through year 2 (2nd all-time to Prescott), and $166M through year 3 (2nd all-time to Prescott).

6-Year Cash Flow
2025: $58M
2026: $55M
2027: $53M
2028: $54M
2029: $52.5M
2030: $57.5M

For a little clarity, yes, Josh Allen’s $55M APY ties him for 2nd with Joe Burrow, Jordan Love, & Trevor Lawrence. But these players were extending out of a rookie contract to secure that number - which means there were previous years and cash built into that new deal. Burrow’s 4-year cash APY is $45.4M. For Love it’s $46.5M, and for Lawrence it’s only $38.8M.

Allen’s $220M through 2028 means he’ll earn a true $55M per year over that span.

The Guarantee Structure

$147M of the $330M total is guaranteed at signing, comprised of:
Signing Bonus: $56.745M
2025 Salary: $1.255M
2026 Salary/Bonus: $54.5M
2026 Salary: $34.5M

It’s the second most guaranteed signing in NFL history, behind only Deshaun Watson’s $230M. However, if we compare this number to the total value of the contract, Allen slips down the list quite a bit:

% of Contract Guaranteed at Signing

In total, $250M of this $330M contract is guaranteed, as $18M of 2027 salary locks in next March, $53.5M of 2028 salary locks in March of 2027, $14M of 2029 salary locks in March of 2028, and a final $17.5M becomes fully guaranteed in March of 2029. The $250M total guarantee is the most in NFL history, soaring past Dak Prescott’s $231M previous high mark.

The Salary Cap Flow

Here’s where things get a little tricky. Generally speaking, a huge contract with 4 prorated bonuses offers the team a substantial amount of salary cap relief early on. The Bills chose not to go this route - at least initially. What does that mean?

Out of the gate, some of these initial cap figures look daunting, if not downright terrifying. However, Allen’s $41.3M cap hit this year represents less than 15% of the league salary cap. That balloons to over 20% next year based on projections, but then decreases nicely through 2028. Even small salary conversion adjustments over the next 3 offseasons will keep Allen’s cap hit in the teens in terms of percentages, which should allow Buffalo the opportunity to continue to build and grow appropriately.

2025 - $41,335,281
Allen receives a $56.745M signing bonus that spreads out over 5 years, and a veteran minimum $1.255M base salary. Everything about this year is as minimized as possible for salary cap purposes. Allen’s cap hit for the upcoming season stands at $41.3M, which represents $3.9M of savings from his previous contract.

2026- $61,388,000
There’s a $38M option bonus available that when exercised will spread out over 5 years for cap purposes, but Allen is also due a $16.5M base salary in 2026. This is $15.2M more than the veteran minimum next season ($1.3M). If Buffalo processes a simple salary conversion next March, they can lower the cap hit down to $49.3M, saving over $12M of room.

Now you get the picture. After 2025, Josh Allen has base salaries that are significantly higher than the minimum for that particular season, giving Buffalo room/option to maneuver a little bit as needed.

Base Salary vs. Minimum Salary

The Practical Outcome

Assuming Allen and the Bills are still in a good place a few years down the road here, the logical time to start looking sideways at this contract will be the 2029 year, which currently boasts an $86.15M cap figure. That number is likely to increase with a cap conversion or two over the next few offseasons, likely making it an untenable cap hit to enter March with.

Will Buffalo be comfortable processing another conversion that late into the contract? Or will it make more sense to bail out on the final two years of this contract and freshen Allen’s pot a bit?

If Allen is still an MVP-caliber quarterback, the Bills will most likely be motivated to start over again prior to the 2029 season. If there’s even a sliver of doubt with their multi-year future, I think it stands to reason that this contract is allowed to play out through 2029 (5 years, $272.5M), after which an extension can be negotiated.

Here’s what we know for sure: Allen will be earning (at least) $220M over the course of the next 4 seasons (TBD incentives are available as well) - more than any NFL player has ever earned over a 4-year span. So while he may have left a few million per year (the math says around $7M) on the table, the structure of this contract certainly benefits him where it counts most - cash in hand.

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

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