Get to Know AFL-CIO’s Affiliates: National Women’s Soccer League Players Association
This is the next post in our series that will take a deeper look at each of our affiliates. The series will run weekly until we’ve covered all 65 of our affiliates. Next up is the NWSL Players Association (NWSLPA).
Name of Union: National Women’s Soccer League Players Association
Mission: The players of the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) vow to build on the opportunity that has been afforded to them, as well as work to achieve those goals that have not yet been attained. They honor the vision and progress of those who came before them. They commit themselves to doing all in their power for the betterment of their members so that they may best contribute to the common goal: to play world-class soccer on the field and to inspire the next generation off the field.
Current Leadership of the Union: The executive committee consists of Haley Hopkins (president), Dani Weatherholt and Madison Hammond (vice presidents), Maggie Graham (secretary), and Emily Menges (treasurer).
Day-to-day operations are handled by Executive Director Meghann Burke and Deputy Executive Director Tori Huster.
Current Number of Members: More than 400
Members Work As: Professional soccer players.
Industries Represented: Professional women’s soccer.
History: The NWSLPA was first organized in 2017, as players conducted a card-check drive to unionize all NWSL players under a standard player agreement. The NWSLPA adopted its constitution and bylaws, and Yael Averbuch was elected as the union’s first president.
In 2018, the NWSL voluntarily recognized the NWSLPA as the exclusive bargaining representative of all NWSL players.
In April 2019, Brooke Elby was elected as the union’s second president. That same month, the NWSLPA engaged in its first-ever work stoppage, as players on the Chicago Red Stars and Reign FC refused to play in unsafe field conditions. By December, Elby was named co-executive director, sharing responsibilities with Averbuch.
In 2020, Tori Huster was elected the third president in NWSLPA history. In July 2020, the NWSLPA notified the league of its intent to negotiate its first collective bargaining agreement (CBA).
In March 2021, the NWSLPA named Meghann Burke as its first full-time executive director, formalizing the union’s leadership at a critical moment. By August 2021, players brought forward reports of misconduct by coaches and others in positions of power, prompting a broader reckoning across the league. After successfully canceling a full weekend of games, players returned to the field on Oct. 6, 2021. In the sixth minute of play, matches across the league paused as the players gathered at the center circle, standing arm-in-arm in silence to call for change. The NWSLPA issued eight demands outlining a path toward accountability and structural reform.
In January 2022, the NWSLPA ratified its first CBA. The agreement established free agency rights for the first time in U.S. domestic women’s professional soccer under a CBA, significantly increased minimum salaries, returned group licensing rights to players, introduced revenue-sharing mechanisms, and secured critical health and safety protections—including mental health leave, pregnancy and parental leave, second medical opinions, and the right to choose a surgeon.
In October 2022, the joint investigative team—formed by the NWSLPA and NWSL in response to the players’ demands—released its findings, marking a critical step toward accountability and reform. On Dec. 14, 2022, the NWSL announced unprecedented disciplinary sanctions in response to the report, signaling a turning point for the league.
In 2024, the NWSLPA and NWSL reached and ratified a second CBA after months of voluntary bargaining, securing further historic gains for players and continuing to reshape standards across women’s professional sports in the United States.
Current Campaigns/Community Efforts: The NWSLPA partners with various organizations. The Support the Players National Emergency Trust was created to provide charitable assistance to current and former professional women’s soccer players with unexpected financial hardships, and to remove cost as a barrier to accessing mental health services. The NWSLPA works with various partners to feature officially licensed products.