There is no doubt women's soccer has rapidly evolved in both skill and popularity, leading to more opportunities for women to reach the professional level. Traditionally, the pipeline to the pros includes time in the youth and college levels, with some college players conceding their last year of eligibility to move onto professional play. However, women’s soccer is beginning to see young players take alternative pathways.

In March 2025, Mckenna Whitman became the youngest player to appear in the National Women’s Soccer League (“NWSL”) at just 14 years old. Before that, she was the youngest athlete to sign a Name, Image, and Likeness (“NIL”) deal with Nike and was the youngest professional women’s soccer player, at the age of 13. Like Whitman, players such as Melanie Barcenas, Chloe Ricketts, and KK Ream forewent their collegiate eligibility, signing with NWSL teams before the age of 15.

While we are seeing an increase in the number of girls skipping the collegiate level, none of this would be possible without one player in particular: Olivia Moultrie. Moultrie decommitted from the University of North Carolina and joined the Portland Thorns at the age of 13, with the conditions that she would not sign a professional contract and was not allowed to play in official games. These conditions, however, did not satisfy Moultrie’s desire to compete professionally. In 2021, Moultrie filed a lawsuit against the NWSL to challenge her ineligibility based on its Age Rule.

In Moultrie’s lawsuit, she sought an injunction to prevent the NWSL from enforcing its Age Rule, which required players to be at least 18 years old. The heart of Moultrie’s argument was her exclusion was causing irreparable harm by impeding her development as a soccer player and affecting her professional career. The NWSL argued the rule was beneficial for minor athletes’ development, for protecting from concerns in the Safe Sport Act, and for avoiding the complications of employment contracts involving minors. The Safe Sport Act was created to promote the safety and wellbeing of minor athletes, while protecting them from abuse within their sport. Along with testimony from collegiate coaches and professional players to support her arguments, Moultrie pointed to the public interest of her challenge, noting Major League Soccer, the male equivalent to the NWSL, has no age limit and minors are often employed by teams. Moultrie was successful in her suit, demonstrating the irreparable harm she suffered by being excluded from competition.

Following the lawsuit, the NWSL set forth several rules regarding minor players and their contracts. Amongst these rules, teams are now allowed two players under the age of eighteen, who must be signed to a guaranteed contract thar runs through the season of when the player turns eighteen. Additionally, the player cannot be traded or waived until they turn eighteen or with the consent of both the player and a parent.

This ruling opens the gate for young athletes to approach their careers in a manner geared toward reaching the highest level at a much faster rate. A side effect of this trend, however, may affect the world of college soccer. For example, if the rule limiting the number of minors on each NWSL team is challenged and deemed to be causing “irreparable harm,” more minors could forfeit their collegiate career to play professionally. The ruling also begs the question of how college soccer and recruiting will adapt to incentivize players to pursue the college route, including using the appeal of NIL deals. The rise of young players going straight to professional teams presents a challenge for women’s college soccer. It also presents a unique opportunity for sports lawyers and agents to represent a minor prodigy on the professional stage.