Where It All Began
The origins of the best paid female soccer player can be traced to a time when women’s football was barely acknowledged, let alone compensated. The early 1970s saw the first professional leagues emerge in Europe, but wages were negligible—often just enough to cover basic expenses. Players like Kristine Lilly, who became a legend in the U.S. women’s national team, recall earning as little as $1,500 per year in the late 1980s. The sport’s growth was organic, driven by grassroots enthusiasm rather than commercial viability. By the 1990s, the landscape shifted with the formation of the Women’s United Soccer Association (WUSA) in 2001, the first major professional league in the U.S. Stars like Mia Hamm and Brandi Chastain became household names, but their earnings still paled in comparison to their male counterparts. Hamm, for instance, earned around $100,000 per year during WUSA’s brief run, while top male players in MLS were making six figures. The league folded in 2003, leaving women’s soccer in limbo—until the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) launched in 2013, offering a glimmer of stability.The Early Signs
The first cracks in the pay ceiling appeared when players began negotiating individual deals outside the league’s standard contracts. In 2016, Morgan became the first NWSL player to sign a personal services agreement (PSA), a move that allowed her to secure additional revenue streams, including her landmark deal with Orlando. The PSA was a workaround—a way to bypass the league’s salary cap and attract top talent. It wasn’t just about Morgan; it was about signaling that the highest-earning women’s soccer players could no longer be sidelined. Meanwhile, European clubs were experimenting with similar structures. In 2017, Manchester City signed Sam Kerr on a reported £100,000-per-season contract, a figure that seemed generous at the time but was still a fraction of what male players at the club earned. The disparity was stark: City’s male stars were making six or seven times more. Yet these early deals planted the seed for what was to come. The top female soccer earners were no longer content with scraps—they wanted a piece of the pie.The Turning Point
The inflection point arrived in 2020, when the U.S. women’s national team filed a gender discrimination lawsuit against U.S. Soccer. The case, which highlighted the vast pay gap between the men’s and women’s teams, forced the organization to confront its own inequities. While the lawsuit was ongoing, the commercial landscape was changing. Brands like Nike, Coca-Cola, and Visa began investing heavily in women’s soccer, recognizing its untapped potential. The best paid female soccer player in 2023 isn’t just a soccer star—she’s a business asset. Players like Morgan, Megan Rapinoe, and Sam Kerr have become global ambassadors, leveraging their platforms to secure lucrative endorsement deals. Rapinoe, for example, has partnerships with brands like Nike, Adidas, and North Face, which collectively add millions to her earnings. But even these off-field deals pale beside the on-field contracts now being offered. The highest-paid women’s soccer players are no longer outliers; they’re the new standard.“When I first started playing, we were told we’d never make a living from soccer. Now, the best players are earning what the best men’s players were earning a decade ago. That’s progress.” — Megan Rapinoe, 2022The turning point wasn’t just about money—it was about visibility. The 2019 Women’s World Cup, watched by over 1.1 billion people, proved that women’s soccer could command global attention. Broadcasters, sponsors, and fans were no longer willing to accept second-class treatment. The top female soccer earners became the face of a movement, pushing leagues and federations to invest in their players’ futures.
The Build-Up, Year by Year
| Period | Key Developments |
|---|---|
| 2013–2015 | The NWSL launches, but salaries remain modest (average $30K–$50K). Players rely on side gigs to survive. |
| 2016 | Alex Morgan signs the first NWSL PSA, earning an estimated $150K base plus bonuses. The league introduces salary caps to limit spending. |
| 2017–2018 | European clubs like Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain offer higher contracts (£50K–£100K), but gaps persist. The U.S. women’s team wins the World Cup, boosting global interest. |
| 2019 | Morgan’s $4M Orlando Pride deal shocks the industry. The NWSL’s revenue reaches $20M, but player wages still lag behind men’s leagues. |
| 2020–2023 | The U.S. women’s team lawsuit exposes pay disparities. The best paid female soccer player now includes Rapinoe (reportedly $1.5M+ annually with endorsements), Kerr (£200K+ at Chelsea), and Lieke Martens (€1M+ at Barcelona). Leagues introduce equity measures, but progress is uneven. |
Lessons From the Journey
- Money follows attention. The 2019 World Cup’s record viewership directly correlated with higher contracts for top players.
- PSAs are a double-edged sword. They allow stars to earn more but create inequality within leagues.
- European clubs lead in pay, but cultural barriers remain. In some countries, women’s soccer is still seen as a hobby.
- Endorsements matter more than ever. Players like Rapinoe and Morgan earn as much off-field as they do on it.
- The gap is closing, but slowly. The highest-paid female soccer player in 2023 still earns less than the average male player in MLS or the Premier League.
Where Things Stand Today
As of 2023, the best paid female soccer player is a rotating cast of global stars. Megan Rapinoe remains a benchmark, with her total earnings—salary, bonuses, and endorsements—estimated in the $1.5 million to $2 million range annually. Sam Kerr, now at Chelsea, reportedly earns around £200,000 per season, a figure that would have been unthinkable a decade ago. In Europe, Lieke Martens’ move to Barcelona for a reported €1 million deal (including bonuses) set a new standard, though critics argue the contract is more about image than sustainability. The NWSL has made strides, with average salaries now hovering around $100,000—still far below men’s leagues but a significant jump from the $30,000 mark of the early 2010s. The league’s revenue has grown, but so have expenses, leaving players in a precarious position. Meanwhile, European clubs are experimenting with longer-term deals, though the top female soccer earners still face the challenge of balancing club contracts with national team obligations. The highest-paid women’s soccer players today are not just athletes—they’re negotiators, brand managers, and activists, navigating a sport that’s evolving faster than its financial structures can keep up.
Conclusion
The rise of the best paid female soccer player is more than a financial story—it’s a reflection of a sport’s maturation. What began as a grassroots movement has become a global industry, where the top female soccer earners are no longer anomalies but the rule. Yet the journey is far from over. The pay gap persists, and the infrastructure—from medical support to travel budgets—remains uneven. The highest-paid women’s soccer players of today are the pioneers of tomorrow’s standards. For all the progress, the numbers still tell a story of imbalance. The best paid female soccer player in 2030 may earn what the average male player does today—but only if the sport’s commercial and cultural momentum continues. The question isn’t whether women’s soccer will catch up; it’s how quickly, and at what cost.Comprehensive FAQs
Q: Who is currently the best paid female soccer player?
As of 2023, Megan Rapinoe is often cited as the highest earner, with her total compensation (salary, bonuses, and endorsements) estimated between $1.5 million and $2 million annually. However, players like Sam Kerr and Lieke Martens have secured multi-million-euro contracts in Europe, narrowing the gap.
Q: How do the salaries of the best paid female soccer players compare to male players?
The disparity remains significant. While the top female soccer earners now make six or seven figures, the average male player in leagues like the Premier League or MLS earns three to five times more. For example, a top NWSL player might earn $100,000, while a mid-tier male player in MLS earns $300,000–$500,000.
Q: Why do some players earn more than others in women’s soccer?
Earnings in women’s soccer vary due to contract structures, endorsements, and league differences. Players with global brand appeal (e.g., Rapinoe, Morgan) secure higher off-field deals, while club contracts depend on league revenue. European clubs can offer more than NWSL teams, but even there, pay scales are uneven.
Q: What role do endorsements play in a player’s total earnings?
Endorsements are critical. For the best paid female soccer player, deals with brands like Nike, Coca-Cola, or local sponsors can double or triple their on-field income. Rapinoe’s partnerships alone reportedly add millions to her annual earnings, making her a rare example of a player whose off-field income surpasses her club salary.
Q: How has the U.S. women’s team lawsuit impacted player salaries?
The 2022 settlement—where U.S. Soccer agreed to equal pay for future World Cup matches—has indirectly boosted salaries by increasing league and federation revenue. While it didn’t immediately raise club wages, it pressured organizations to invest more in player development and compensation structures.
Q: Are there differences in pay between leagues (NWSL vs. Europe)?
Yes. European leagues, particularly in Spain and France, offer higher base salaries (€100K–€1M+) than the NWSL (average $100K). However, European contracts often include performance bonuses and shorter durations, while NWSL players benefit from longer-term stability. The highest-paid women’s soccer players tend to be those who move to Europe or secure PSAs.
Q: What’s the biggest challenge for the best paid female soccer players today?
Balancing club contracts, national team obligations, and endorsements while advocating for systemic change. Many top earners spend months negotiating deals, managing public perception, and pushing for league-wide equity—all while maintaining peak performance.
Q: Will the best paid female soccer player earn as much as male players in the next decade?
Industry estimates suggest partial convergence by 2030, but full parity is unlikely without major league expansions, increased sponsorships, and broader cultural shifts. The top female soccer earners will continue to close the gap, but structural inequalities—like revenue sharing and media rights—must also evolve.
