By Lesley Ryder
Last summer, the NWSL Players Association renewed their Collective Bargaining Agreement, and made historic gains in player autonomy: All drafts are abolished, all contracts are guaranteed, and all free agency is unrestricted.
Thanks to the good people of Ally Financial, we had the opportunity to speak with NWSLPA Executive Director Meghann Burke, and President Tori Huster ahead of the NWSL season finale to hear about the new CBA, the origins of the partnership between the NWSLPA and Ally, and the tremendous growth of Championship weekend.
Lesley Ryder: So I know you've been talking about the CBA agreement ad nauseam, but if there is a favorite part of the agreement, what would you say it is?
Tori Huster: It really is all the player rights. I think that's what we've been fighting for so long. And actually we didn't even know what that meant. We thought it was just normal that you could be waived at any time. You were told where to play. And so really going into it with the with the mindset that this should be the standard, because it's a global standard, and being able to win that in this negotiation, I think is really, really great for the next generation, and I'm really happy that we were able to get that.
LR: Was it a difficult get? I imagine at the bargaining table there's a bit of pushback here or there.
Meghann Burke: So yes, we could zero in on like, you know, was it at this at the bargaining table, was the league ready to get there? Obviously they were, because we agreed to it. But it's on the on the backs of so much work in organizing and so many players in the last few years in particular, speaking truth to power and calling attention and what Tori just described. I'll never forget sitting at a global women's football symposium in Amsterdam back in 2018 and sitting in the front row next to Hedvig Lindahl, and like, all these awesome players are there, and they're talking about this rules and the status and transfer players. And they talked about how under the RSTP, [the FIFA Regulations on the Status and Transfer of Players.] you cannot be fired midterm in your contract, even due to poor performance. I fell out of my chair. I was like, what? That kind of set me off like, what are we doing? Because everywhere else around the world, this is the global standard! So this latest CBA, I do think the league was ready, we wouldn't have done this midterm if they weren't ready to make these moves. We did the work early on and laid the foundation that if you're gonna want to reopen the CBA, you better come. Like…
LR: Prepared?
MB: Yeah, you better be ready to walk through the threshold of aligning with the global standard. And if you're not, that's okay. We'll see you in 2026. And they said ‘we're ready.’ We said, ‘Okay, we should talk.’ And then the next part of that, I think, when you asked the question, What's your favorite part of the CBA, Tori's answer is dead on. I would add to that we also embrace uniquely American commercial concepts like revenue sharing. You know, we're not afraid to talk about money. Players should get paid. And so this was not a Hobbesian choice. We were able to embrace it. Both concepts. We still have a lot of work to do, don't get me wrong, but yeah, long winded answer [laughs].
LR: Like the Washington Spirit, 2021 was the last time I was at a final, what do you think of the environment the final has become just over the past three years? I know [Tori] had the injury just before that.
TH: Yeah, I was not able to fly, and so I didn't get to experience the Louisville final. But I have experienced every single one since, because the next one was in DC, right? So I've seen it for the last three years, just become what it is today. And I think the growth that we've seen is really cool. Everything that's around it is really cool. I mean, even seeing more and more players come to championship week. It’s a special thing when you start seeing players buy into what The NWSL is doing. I think we're turning a page
LR: Has the union been a part of planning to be like, ‘Hey, let's all hang out this weekend at this championship, and make it a celebration of the work you guys have done’?
MB: that's a fun question, because I'll tell you, when the championship was in Louisville, you know, it was supposed to be in Portland?
LR: I remember! It was gonna be like a 9AM kickoff.
TH: And we were like, oh hell no.
MB: We said guess what? You’re moving the championship.
LR: Good!
MB: So it was moved to Louisville, you know, credit to them for being willing to take that on, right? I think it was 35 days later. It was so fast. And, you know, we’re in the middle of The Reckoning, so much is happening, and so Becca Roux (USWNTPA executive director) and I got together and we’re like ‘we just wanna get our people together!’ Because you need to be with your people, both in hard times, and small victories and I feel like the moment we’re living in now we needed it. So we thought a bourbon tasting would be super cool but we couldn’t find one!
LR: In Louisville??!
MB: It was all booked up! So we ended up at a pizza parlor. I’ll tell you what, it was the most fun. We put a credit card down, and it was the cheapest, most fun party Becca’s ever thrown. She wouldn’t let me split the cost.
LR: What’s an end to a soccer season without a pizza party?
TH: Exactly.
MB: We had like, 40 players packed into this dinky little pizza parlor, and then some friends of the PA started coming in, the place was just packed. We just don’t get enough moments like that. These players grew up together. They’ve been through a lot together. To have that moment was really important, so we made it an annual thing. That became the Player’s Party. And thanks to Ally, we get to bring people together to celebrate and have that space.
LR: Speaking of Ally, we just had a chance to chat with Andrea Brimmer, I’m curious to know how you two came into each others’ orbit?
MB: [laughs] So, shit hit the fan, in a big way. In October of 2021, Andrea reached out to me, she wanted to see how Ally could be part of how we move forward. ‘How do ee support the union? We’re a league sponsor, but we can see what’s happening, and it’s important that we’re with you, the players”—I was suspicious. I was like ‘why does a bank want to sponsor a union?’ So I took my time replying. We finally connected when Andrea got my number from Aly Wagner. You know, sometimes you need to eyeball someone, and you start to realize they’re for real. They’re your people. I got the sense that Andrea was the real deal. When the hurricane devastated Asheville, which is our home, as soon as I got cell service, the first text was from Andrea: What do you need? I told her I needed the biggest solar-powered generator money could buy, and she got it delivered to where I was staying in Charlotte. And now the PA can operate from anywhere under any conditions.
So the player’s party and some of the more public-facing things we do are important sponsorship elements, but there’s a real depth of substance to the relationship.
LR: and how is home right now?
MB: We finally got potable water back two days before we got here! I was joking before that the featured cocktail at the Player’s Party was gonna be Asheville tap water.
LR: If we could go back to ‘shit hitting the fan’ in a way, I’m sure you’ve heard about what’s allegedly going on in the San Diego front office. What can the league be doing better to make sure all employees are safe and protected?
MB: Well first of all, all the things we’ve fought for apply to all employees. And second, I would love to see front office workers organize. I think being part of a union is one of the most important steps workers can take to protect themselves. I’m a firm believer in union organizing. It’s not just the players who need the protection of a union. We’re certainly watching what’s happening in San Diego. We may not always be able to comment publicly on certain things, but we’re aware. We’re watching.
LR: Over to Tori, now that you’re on this side of the fence, how has this transition been for you?
TH: I don’t know if it feels all that different! I'm very blessed, because I know so many people that have struggled and haven't had support, and even in their career, didn't have the necessary support and tried to find a new dream altogether, and that's really hard to do. So to have two dreams in one lifetime is not something that everyone can find. And I certainly found what my next dream of, you know, helping players, helping former teammates, just have a better experience than I did. That's something I'm super passionate about, and feel blessed that my transition has been as uncomplicated as possible. There's been challenges, like, it's hard to find time to work out, and I miss being able to work out for a job, but it's I feel like I have just joined a new team, and that's really cool and really, really special.
LR: What’s it like watching that Spirit team who won in 2021 grow, and return to the championship?
TH: They're some of my best friends, right? And it's been cool to watch them grow up. Andy Sullivan is like a sister to me, and I feel for her. She's not able to be out on that field, but she's out on that field more than she knows, and I'm really excited to watch the Spirit be able to play, not in spite of something, but because they've been given a really, really cool opportunity to play in a final and go out there and perform at their best. Definitely rooting for them on Saturday. If I need to say that twice, I will. Go Spirit.
MB: And we love the Pride!
LR: The NWSLPA loves all their children equally. There are no favorites.
MB: Exactly.
This interview has been lightly edited for clarity