Angel City FC forward Sydney Leroux called for the NWSL to reevaluate its policies around childcare Friday, following sanctions pressed against her club for exceeding the league’s salary cap.
“Since the inception of this league, players have pushed the NWSL to a world class standard, and we’ll continue to fight for our league to be an inclusive and supportive place for all of us,” Leroux wrote in a post on X. “The NWSL should not force a mother to choose between chasing her dreams or having children, nor should teams be forced to choose between having mothers on their roster or not.
“While I understand that mistakes were made by Angel City, I sincerely hope that the league reevaluates its policies around childcare and supporting working moms, as that should be encouraged and NEVER subject to the salary cap.”
— Sydney Leroux (@sydneyleroux) October 25, 2024
The NWSL fined Angel City $200,000 and deducted three points from the club’s standings earlier this month following a league investigation that uncovered “side letters” between the team and five players for various payments in 2023. The league said Angel City “exceeded the salary cap by approximately $50,000 for four weeks during the 2024 season.”
Angel City later issued a statement disputing some of the league’s findings, specifically as it pertains to childcare payments given to players, saying, in part, that it did not believe childcare parents counted against the salary cap. The club asked the league to reconsider its sanctions, with the league later saying the discipline would remain.
Angel City’s “side letters” and payments were not limited to those involving childcare.
Leroux, a former U.S. women’s national team striker and mother of two, is part of an early generation of players in the NWSL who visibly juggled parenthood and professional soccer. In 2019, she made an emotional return to the pitch just three months and one day after giving birth to her second child, Roux, when she played for the Orlando Pride.
The number of parents in the league has only grown since, as have the conversations around parenthood and fertility. In 2021, Racing Louisville announced what it described as a “first-of-its-kind” partnership with Kentucky Fertility to offer players complimentary fertility preservations, including egg freezing, embryo freezing and long-term transfer.
The NWSL sanctions against Angel City reopened the conversation around what childcare support looks like for players.
While Angel City acknowledged its mistakes, the club said last week that it would “continue to work towards more equitable solutions to support our players’ childcare needs. Childcare support is fundamental in advancing the professionalization of women’s sports and ensuring that our players feel valued and supported as both professionals and parents.”
Leroux, whose comments were also supported by Angel City on social media, said she hoped everyone in the league could “work together to figure out a better solution.”
“I truly believe it benefits ALL OF US when we support mothers chasing their dreams with their children by their side,” she said.
Required reading
- Angel City FC disputes part of NWSL sanctions, argues team did not exceed salary cap
- Angel City salary-cap violation was revealed by former player, says NWSL commissioner
- NWSL fines Angel City FC $200,000, deducts 3 points from standings for salary cap violation
(Photo: Gary A. Vasquez / Imagn Images)
