* The rule allows clubs to pay a player a salary that exceeds the cap to prevent star players from leaving the NWSL for non-salary capped leagues since teams can now go over the cap to sign a player
* Chawinga becomes one of the first players in the league to be signed under the new mechanism, which takes effect on July 1, and the first in KC Current’s history
Maravi Express
Around a year and a half after announcing a contract extension for Temwa Chawinga, Kansas City (KC) Current has signed its star forward to a new contract under the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL’s) High Impact Player (HIP) rule.
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Chawinga becomes one of the first players in the league to be signed under the new mechanism, which takes effect on July 1, and the first in KC Current’s history.
The HIP rule, which was first introduced in December — intended to keep Trinity Rodman with the Washington Spirit — is to prevent star players from leaving the NWSL for non-salary capped leagues, since teams can now go over the cap to sign a player.
The HIP mechanism is similar to the Designated Player rule in men’s Major League Soccer, which allows teams to pay three players an unlimited salary but only be counted against the cap at a fixed, predetermined number.
NWSL teams can spend up to US$1 million outside the league’s salary cap (US$3.7 million in 2026, US$4.4 million in 2027), and the allowance is expected to increase yearly in line with salary cap increases.
The cap charge of HIPs must be a minimum of 12% of the base salary cap, around US$444,000 this season.
The rule was met with criticism from players and fans because it was implemented without negotiations with the NWSL Players Association and they filed a grievance against the league over the rule in January.
Trinity Rodman
Rodman was the first player to sign under the rule in January after her initial US$1.1 million contract with the Spirit was rejected by the league. She got a three-year contract worth US$2 million annually, according to reports — making her the highest-paid women’s soccer player, her agent has said.
One of the most controversial parts of the rule is the criteria players must meet to be eligible. HIPs must meet at least one of eight determining factors, among which is inclusion in the top 40 of The Guardian’s most recent ‘100 Best’ lists.
They also could place on the most recent SportsPro Media Top 150 Most Marketable Athletes list, on one of the two most recent Ballon d’Or Feminin Top 30 lists or be a recent MVP finalist or Best XI honoree.
Ballon d’Or Feminin lists have been criticised for skewing toward players at the biggest clubs in countries like England, Spain, France and Germany.
The Ballon d’Or
Chawinga’s contract details have yet to be disclosed. Her extension that was signed last January went through 2028 and the new deal, which runs through 2029, takes advantage of the NWSL rule that allows clubs to pay a player a salary that exceeds the cap.
“This contract extension means a lot to me because I call Kansas City home,” Chawinga said in a statement. “The way the club and the city supports me and my teammates is truly special. I’m looking forward to staying longer in Kansas City and working hard with my teammates.”
This announcement comes just days after the KC Current traded United States women’s national team attacker Ally Sentnor to Angel City FC. US Women’s members Trinity Rodman (Washington Spirit) and Catarina Macario (San Diego Wave) are the two most notable HIPs in the league so far.
Chawinga was honoured last week, to-bask-in-the-prestige-of-attending-a-FIFA-World-Cup-on-the-pitch where she had the privilege of greeting Argentina and world football legend Lionel Messi.
As one of USA’s host cities, Kansas appointed Temwa as local ‘KC Royalty’ ambassador to deliver to the match officials the tossing coin before Argentina’s 3-0 victory over Algeria.
The back-to-back league MVP, has been a top on-field producer for KC Current since arriving in 2024 as a relative unknown, despite gaudy statistics at Chinese club Wuhan Jianghan.
Chawinga has scored 47 goals with 12 assists in 61 matches across all competitions. She has won the Golden Boot in both of her seasons in the NWSL, the second player ever to do so.
Former head coach (and now sporting director) Vlatko Andonovski had been scouting Chawinga since his days as head coach for Seattle Reign in 2017. He couldn’t bring her to Seattle then, but eventually signed her to the Current after his stint with the US Women’s national team.
In her first season, the Malawian became the first player to tally 20 regular-season goals, setting a new league record with 26 goal contributions in a season — in which KC Current ended in the NWSL semifinals, losing to eventual champion Orlando Pride.
The 2025 season was no different. Chawinga recorded 15 goals, helping the team win the NWSL Shield in a record-breaking season — with the club achieving the most points, most wins and fewest goals allowed in a season.
But Chawinga missed the Current’s lone playoff game due to injury, and KC was upset as the top-seed by eventual champion Gotham FC. Despite missing the first four games of this season with the same hip injury, she currently sits second in NWSL scoring with seven goals and two assists.
“Temwa is truly special, and no one changes the game more than she does,” KC Current co-owners Angie and Chris Long said in a statement. “She displays an unwavering commitment to scoring goals under pressure and when it matters most.
“Combined with her defensive presence, she is, without question, one of the best players in the world. She is someone people want to play with, and she makes our team better. We are so excited to extend her contract and keep her in Kansas City.”—Reporting by The Kansas City Star; editing by Maravi Express
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