Professional women's soccer league to host tryouts for team scouts
National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) Announces Combines for Prospective Players
The National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) has unveiled plans for combines that will provide opportunities for both college and youth players to showcase their talents and gain exposure to a professional environment. The combines, scheduled to take place over three days in December, mark a strategic platform for supporting NWSL clubs in early talent evaluation.
In a statement, Karla Thompson, the NWSL's director of youth development, highlighted the importance of the combines, explaining they are designed to widen the pool of players seen and ensure that talent, regardless of its location, has a continued pathway to the NWSL.
This year, the NWSL draft, traditionally held in January, was eliminated in the 2024 collective bargaining agreement with the players' union. In its place, the league will host two separate combines: one for players aged 18 to 23, and another for players aged 13 to 17.
The selection of players for the combines will be based on input from a network of scouts and experts across all levels of soccer, as well as feedback from clubs. Approximately 60 players will be invited to each combine.
The aim of the combines is to provide players with an opportunity to demonstrate their skills and give teams scouting opportunities. For the youth combine, the focus is on identifying potential professional players. The college and youth combine, on the other hand, is intended to offer a chance for players to prove themselves as they prepare for the NWSL preseason.
Although no specific dates or locations for the combines have been announced by the league, it has been confirmed that the combines will take place ahead of the 2026 preseason. The National Women's Soccer League currently does not have an academy system or formal development pathway, but some individual teams have academies.
The 2024 collective bargaining agreement also included unrestricted free agency for all players. This move, along with the introduction of the combines, is part of the evolving women's soccer landscape, providing more opportunities for players to progress in their careers.
The combines are not a replacement for the draft, but rather a new approach to talent identification and development within the NWSL. As the league continues to grow and evolve, the combines are set to play a crucial role in ensuring a diverse and talented pool of players is available for NWSL teams.
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