USL, players reach agreement on new CBA: Key details of new deal

USL Championship players, like those for Sporting Jax and Hartford Athletic, stand to benefit from a new CBA Clayton Freeman / Florida Times-Union / USA TODAY Network / Imagn Images Share articleThe USL and USL Players Association reached a tentative agreement on the framework of a new collective bargaining agreement on Thursday night. The two sides issued a joint statement calling the agreement, “a significant step forward for the league and its players, reflecting a shared commitment to the continued growth of the game and the advancement of professional standards.” The two sides had gone back and forth publicly as they approached the deadline of the previous CBA. USL players protested at the start of games in the first week of the season — at one point threatening to strike — as they fought for higher minimum salaries, better housing options and guaranteed health insurance, among other issues. They have played on without any work stoppage. Sources briefed of the deal that spoke to The Athletic but were not authorized to speak publicly until it was ratified, said the sides reached common ground in all of those areas. The agreement will span five years, through the end of 2030, with an option for a sixth year, pending agreements surrounding group insurance. The minimum salary will go up to $42,000 for players in the second-division USL Championship in 2026, with entry-level contracts at $34,000 for players under the age of 24, up from the previous minimums of $31,000 and $26,000, respectively. It also reduces the number of contracts at that entry-level number. Every player under contract in the Championship will make the $42,000 figure in 2026. The Division 1 league USL Premier, which is set to launch in 2028, will have minimums beginning at $67,500 with entry-level contracts set at $50,000. The USLPA had been seeking a minimum of $43,000 per year for Championship players. The sides also agreed on a group licensing deal that includes all four USL professional leagues — the USL Championship, third-division USL League One, women’s Gainbridge Super League and yet-to-launch USL Premier. It will include contributions both from the league and individual teams. Contracts will also be standardized as 12-month contracts, replacing the previous 10-month structure. Health insurance costs will not be included in minimum contract calculations, and all clubs will be required to offer health insurance with equivalent coverage to its full-time club employees beginning in 2027. There is still work to be done on language around minimum standards for living spaces and training facilities, however the two sides feel confident in the basic structure of those areas. Spot the pattern. Connect the terms Find the hidden link between sports terms