France has the world’s highest-paying women’s football league, the United States continues to produce the premier women’s national team, and England’s top men’s clubs are putting money into women’s football. However, debating which country has the best women’s football league is up for debate. When it comes to the men’s game, it is easy to see which leagues are elite. In the women’s game, it isn’t quite so easy to tell.
One of the world’s top female leagues, the FA Women’s Super League, has kicked off the season with a bang. Football fans can wager on the games this weekend in the WSL after getting the Pointsbet sign up code when opening a new account.
Women’s football in Europe is seeing incredible growth. Europe’s leading women’s football nations have been playing catch-up with the US since the late 1980s and early 1990s. Money is being funneled into the women’s game in Europe like never before. Top clubs such as Manchester City, Barcelona, and Liverpool are putting funds into their women’s teams. There are even semi-pro and other pro sides popping up in the women’s game.
The money in France, Spain, and England is luring more of the world’s best female players to Europe. The US’s National Women’s Soccer League has seen a number of top stars, including Alex Morgan, have departed this autumn. Morgan joined Tottenham Hotspur ladies due to the money available.
There is a common misconception, especially in American soccer circles, that the NWSL is the world’s leading female football league. The country’s national team is the reason for the misconception. However, the infrastructure of the NWSL pales in comparison to France and England, as does the salaries. The NWSL isn’t even the most competitive women’s league.
France’s Division 1 Feminine is considered the best league in the world and has produced seven-time Women’s UEFA Champions League winner Lyon. France paid the highest wages of any women’s league in 2017. The average player wage in 2017 was $49,782 per player. Meanwhile, players earned $43,730 in Germany, $35,355 in England and $27,054 in the USA’s NWSL on average that year.
The NWSL doesn’t attract a lot of foreign top players. Why? The salaries do not lure them. Many of the top domestic players earn money from the US Soccer as internationals. In contrast, France’s Division 1 Feminine has a few players earning six-figures.
At one time, there was a worry amongst NWSL clubs that they were running out of American-produced players. Just a few years ago, players were retiring from pro soccer. The reason for a rash of players retiring before the age of 25 was due to the pay. In 2015, the NWSL’s league minimum salary was $6,842.
In 2020, the NWSL minimum salary was much better, but still lower than what players make in Europe. The minimum for 2020 was $20,000 but the max salary was just $50,000. Some of the elite players made more through sponsorships and money paid to them from US Soccer. However, the likes of Morgan and others can play in Europe and earn far more.
The idea that the US has the best women’s league is false. Until the NWSL pays more money to its players, it is unlikely to lure top foreign players. It is also likely to lose more players and strengthen other leagues in the short-term.
