The 2025 Free Agency Period is fully underway for the National Women’s Soccer League. On December 10, all fourteen teams in the league issued their end-of-year roster decisions, which means players who aren’t currently signed with a contract are on the chopping block. Some of the league’s most valuable players are exiting their contracts to become free agents, which has the potential to shake the league up a bit.
Orlando Pride captain and 2024 NWSL champion Marta is one of the league’s standout free agents potentially looking for a new contract for the next season. Named FIFA’s World Football Player five times from 2006 to 2010, Marta is considered one of the most remarkable women’s soccer players ever. If she chooses to leave the Orlando Pride for another squad, the current national champions will struggle to mirror their 2024 success.
Aware of the risk of losing her, the Orlando Pride is currently negotiating to keep the striker on their team. However, with the potential to apply as a free agent, the team’s owners, Mark, Zygi, and Lenny Wilf will likely have to offer her a much steeper contract.
Several USWNT standouts like Christen Press and Becky Sauerbraunn are also in talks to negotiate higher contracts with their teams lest they position themselves to become free agents. Another USWNT star, Midge Purce, announced that she is out of contract with Gotham FC and looking for a new team to join.
Under the NWSL’s new collective bargaining agreement, players who decline their existing team’s contract option automatically become unrestricted free agents. This will help the league shake up some of its established rosters, especially in a year with few college options. The league’s trading window will only be open from December 13 to the 20th, taking a moratorium until the 27th.
This shakeup is lucrative for some clubs, like the Houston Dash, which finished last in the league in 2024. The squad just signed defender Christen Westphal from San Diego and Delanie Sheehan, who was forced into a free-agent position when Gotham FC failed to renew her contract.
