NWSL to Host First Player Combines for Development and Scouting

NEW YORK, NY — The National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) announced Wednesday plans to launch two player combines in December to provide expanded pathways into the league. The combines will cater to both adult and college-aged players (ages 18-23) and youth players (ages 13-17), taking place over three days before the 2026 preseason.

This marks a significant move for the NWSL, as it will be the league’s first-ever combines. Karla Thompson, the league’s director of youth development, emphasized the combines’ strategic importance, stating, “A combine is a strategic platform that will allow us to support NWSL clubs in early talent evaluation and provide players with exposure to a professional environment.”

The NWSL aims to provide a broader opportunity for player evaluation, allowing talent from various regions to gain visibility. These combines come in the wake of last year’s pivotal collective bargaining agreement, which eliminated the traditional college draft and introduced unrestricted free agency for all players, aligning with global football standards.

The adult combine will serve as a new path into the NWSL, featuring competitive matches, performance testing, and opportunities to interact directly with club representatives. The youth combine, described as an “international bridge,” will include training sessions and off-field educational programming to prepare young athletes for a professional future.

Women’s professional soccer has evolved rapidly in the U.S., with the emergence of two Division I leagues and an increasing number of teenage players in the NWSL. The league has seen young players, such as Portland Thorns‘ Olivia Moultrie, achieve professional status at an early age, prompting a review of age-limit rules.

With these initiatives, the NWSL is poised to identify new talent in line with the direction of women’s soccer at the national level. As the landscape continues to change, the combines are an encouraging step towards nurturing future stars of the game.