“The Players Are Getting Squeezed” – NWSL Commissioner Voices Concern Over Tight Schedule Following CONCACAF W Champions Cup Announcement

The NWSL has been on a northward journey since Jessica Berman took over as its Commissioner in 2022. The league’s four-year $240 million media rights deal and record attendances last year are testaments to that. Speaking of attendance, the top-flight women’s league eyes better numbers this season which starts on Friday. However, the NWSL’s ride this season won’t be without any roadblocks.  In a recent interview, Berman revealed she is alarmingly concerned about NWSL players’ fitness and safety, considering their increasing workload. Notably, the CONCACAF announced the W Champions Cup for clubs recently.

Jessica Berman hinted that the women’s soccer league system’s calendar badly needs a revamp. She says it is paramount to fix the calendar in such a manner that maximum player safety is its top priority.

NWSL chief to prioritize player wellness amid increasingly crammed league calendar

A recent FIFPRO study has linked an increase in thigh, hamstring, and cruciate ligament injuries to the increasing workload of players. Before heading to the 2024 NWSL season, teams such as Gotham FC and San Diego Wave play in the Women’s Cup and the NWSL Cup. The CONCACAF W Champions Cup is a novel addition to this tight calendar. “We are thinking about it through the lens of how we make sure we’re actually making decisions from a player welfare perspective,” Jessica Berman told The Athletic, referring to fixing women’s soccer league calendar. “The players are getting squeezed,” Berman added.

The NWSL currently cannot influence FIFA’s decisions regarding the women’s soccer calendar. However, the NWSL chief added that she is negotiating with other women’s league chiefs to form a coalition and advocate reasonable changes for the 2026-31 period. She said that if she and other stakeholders’ efforts are met, it would be a monumental achievement. If not, it would be a blow to players’ welfare. Berman’s arguments are all the more valid, considering some NWSL clubs will compete in the newly-announced CONCACAF W Champions Cup.

CONCACAF W Champions Cup matches might be a hurdle to NWSL clubs

Following the success of the CONCACAF W Gold Cup, the regional federation announced the W Champions Cup which will feature top clubs from North America, Central America, and the Caribbean. The competition will serve as the sole qualification route for the forthcoming FIFA Women’s Club World Cup for clubs from these regions. The federation will hold the group-stage matches of the championship in August, September, and October.

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These group-stage games would clash with the NWSL regular season schedule. The NWSL is already breaking its regular season so as not to clash with the Paris Olympics in late July and early August. Anyhow, the NWSL will also hold a tournament featuring all clubs in July. This means there is a chance that at least a few NWSL stars would play in the Olympics, the in-season tournament, and the group stage of the CONCACAF championship within a month! If this is not a crammed schedule, we don’t know what else is. And hence, Berman’s efforts are indeed the need of the hour.

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