NWSL Announces Roster-Building Assets for Incoming Boston Legacy FC
“The roster-building mechanisms announced today allow Boston Legacy FC and Denver NWSL to build competitive squads ahead of their inaugural seasons."
The National Women’s Soccer League announced roster-building assets for use by incoming expansion teams including Boston Legacy FC ahead of their inaugural NWSL campaign kicking off in 2026.
Boston received access to $1,065,000 in allocation money to begin spending on July 1, 2025, with 50 percent of funds provided by the league. It will have until December 31, 2027, to use all funded allocation money. If the league salary cap increases, available allocation money will be increased.
Boston will spend against a $605,000 transfer fee threshold in 2026, but will have an additional $968,000 valid from January 1, 2025, through the conclusion of the 2026 secondary transfer window. Any transfer fees spent in excess of these amounts will incur a 25 percent charge towards the team’s salary cap.
From January 1, 2025 to the start of the 2025 secondary transfer window, expansion teams will not be subject to a salary cap. Any players signed during this period must have a net zero salary cap impact and must be loaned out with the loanee team picking up the full amount of salary and bonuses and qualify to be placed on SEI; or the expansion team must use allocation money to cover the salary cap charge.
Coinciding with the opening of the 2025 secondary transfer window, expansion teams may have a limited salary cap of $250,000 with the intent of signing college players or out-of-contract international players for the remainder of the calendar year.
Expansion teams are not required to meet the minimum roster size in 2025 but may not exceed the maximum roster size. Boston will be subject to the standard roster compliance dates in 2026.