The National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) has released a new process for allocating players for the upcoming 2016 season.
Minutes before the 2016 NWSL College Draft was about to begin. But that is neither here nor there.
The process introduces new terms in Subsidized Players and Unattached Subsidized Individuals (USI). Federations pay the salaries for the season for Subsidized Players, formerly called Allocated Players. Any player identified by their federation as a potential Subsidized Player but whose rights are not attached to a team in the league is classified as a USI. Once a team relinquishes its rights to a Subsidized Player, the player becomes a USI.
The U.S. Soccer Federation released the list of subsidized players for the 2016 season this week. The list of Canadian subsidized players is still forthcoming.
The USI Process
The process for selecting USIs can be made on a rolling basis once federations notify the NWSL that a USI is available for selection. The USI player is awarded to the team that selects them. In the event more than one team requests the USI player, the player is awarded to the team ranked the highest in the Allocation Ranking.
Teams are ranked in the Allocation Ranking in the reverse order of finish in the prior NWSL season, including the playoffs. When an expansion team is entering the league, the team occupies the final ranking spot.
Once a team selects a USI player, the team drops to the last spot in the ranking order. Allocation Ranking spots can be traded between teams but part of the compensation received in return must be the other teams Allocation Ranking spot.
The ranking order resets after the current year’s league championship final.
Allocation Ranking Order
Pre-NWSL Draft:
- Boston Breakers
- Sky Blue FC
- Western New York Flash
- Portland Thorns FC
- Houston Dash
- Washington Spirit
- Chicago Red Stars
- Seattle Reign FC
- FC Kansas City
- Orlando Pride
Post-NWSL Draft:
- Portland Thorns FC
- Sky Blue FC
- Western New York Flash
- Boston Breakers
- Houston Dash
- Washington Spirit
- Chicago Red Stars
- Seattle Reign FC
- FC Kansas City
- Orlando Pride
After the new process for USI allocations was announced, Portland traded its third overall pick in the 2016 NWSL College Draft to Boston in exchange for the No. 1 spot in the Allocation Ranking Order.