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NWSL
Better wages have freed NWSL players to chase degrees, launch businesses, and build lives well beyond the pitch.
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Picture this: a professional footballer in cowgirl boots, weaving through a packed bar in Ketchum, Idaho, balancing martinis on a winter evening. That's Chicago Stars midfielder Bea Franklin - not scraping by, but choosing to step outside the football bubble for a spell.
It's a scene that tells you everything about where the NWSL finds itself right now. Players aren't just athletes any more. They're students, entrepreneurs, and business owners - and crucially, they're doing it because they want to, not because they have to.
Rewind five years, and the picture looked very different. Rock-bottom wages forced many NWSL players into second jobs simply to survive. The frustration boiled over into the "No More Side Hustles" campaign, shining a harsh light on a league that expected elite performance while paying poverty-level salaries.
A collective bargaining agreement struck in 2022 changed the game. Wages rose significantly, finally giving players breathing room to think beyond the next paycheque, The Guardian reports.
Washington Spirit defender Gabrielle Carle is studying for the MCAT alongside her professional career. Lucia Di Guglielmo already holds an advanced degree. Meanwhile, Jordyn Huitema has launched a skincare line and Janine Sonis runs her own coffee brand.
The league itself is backing these ambitions. A partnership with Syracuse University now offers players online degrees across multiple disciplines - a tangible investment in life after football.
Financial security hasn't dulled the competitive edge. If anything, it's sharpened it. Players who feel valued off the pitch tend to perform better on it.
Written by
Updated
Copyright 2026 VIASPORT
Eva Hernández, Editor-in-Chief
VIASPORT uses AI to generate, enhance, and quality-assure its journalism. While we strive to create engaging and accurate material, imagery, grammar, and spelling may occasionally deviate from conventional standards.
