USL season begins with players staging a quiet protest regarding CBA impasse.
The USL Championship season commenced on Friday with Louisville City FC securing a 2-1 victory over Lexington SC, but the match was preceded by a silent demonstration.
After the initial whistle, players from both teams stood still for one minute to draw attention to the stalled collective bargaining agreement (CBA) negotiations between the league and the USL Players Association (USLPA).
We take pride in our players for uniting today in the pursuit of professional standards.
This moment on the field was not about theatrics, but rather about solidarity and holding USLHQ accountable.
We stand together.
⁰#StandUpForStandards pic.twitter.com/NoKkqGzg5O
— USLPA (@USLPlayers) March 7, 2026
The two parties have been working to finalize a new CBA for players in the USL Championship since August 2024. The previous agreement lapsed at the end of 2025, although both sides have continued to operate under its terms while negotiations are ongoing. Discussions have been vigorous, and on February 26, the USLPA membership authorized its bargaining committee to initiate a strike if they deemed it necessary to reach an agreement.
The USL and USLPA met most recently on Wednesday with a mediator from the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service, but they did not seem close to finalizing an agreement. A source from the league indicated that the USL has requested dates for the next bargaining session but has not yet received a response.
Following Wednesday’s meeting, The Guardian reported that the USL sent players an email containing, among other things, details regarding their rights if they choose to cross the picket line, as well as information on how they could resign from the USLPA if they desired. The USLPA responded by labeling the email as “classic union busting in action” and “an attempt to intimidate players from exercising their rights.”
Shortly after the players’ display of solidarity on Friday evening, the USLPA issued a statement on Instagram describing the players’ demonstration as “a unified show of resolve.”
The post stated in part, “This is not merely symbolic. Negotiations have reached a critical juncture where players must take a stand. Players will persist in voicing their concerns until a fair agreement is achieved. The next step lies with League headquarters.”
In response to the players’ demonstration on Friday, a USL spokesperson provided a statement to ESPN, saying, “Our focus remains on returning to the bargaining table and achieving a fair agreement.”
Wednesday’s bargaining session saw some progress regarding minimum compensation for players, which encompasses salary and a housing allowance.
The USL agreed to increase its offer from $38,500 to $40,000 annually, while the USLPA lowered its request from $43,000 to $42,000 per year.
“This Wednesday, the league issued an ultimatum that could have potentially relegated 100 players to $30K contracts,” the USLPA stated in a message to ESPN on Friday. “Since then, we have been evaluating recent developments and have informed the USL that we will be in contact. We will propose dates soon.”
The league noted that, unlike the previous CBA, health insurance is now categorized as a separate benefit distinct from salary and housing. However, union representatives argued that there is more complexity to what the USL is proposing. The USL is also seeking permission to sign up to four players under what it terms Entry Contracts—previously known as “flex contracts” in the former CBA—which would provide $33,000 annually in salary and housing allowances. A league source added that these contracts are intended for players under 23 who would not have otherwise qualified for a USL Championship contract.
The USL also agreed to eliminate a clause from their proposal that would have permitted it to unilaterally buy out three contracts per team over a two-year span. This had been a significant point of contention for the USLPA in recent weeks, with the union emphasizing that they never consented to such buyouts.
The latest proposal enhanced protections for players on teams that cease operations. According to the USL, its offer stipulates that if a team disbands before December 1 of a given year, players will receive six months of salary. If a team folds between December 1 and the beginning of the subsequent season, affected players would receive nine months of salary and two months of housing. The USLPA countered that both timeframes should include two months of housing allowances and health insurance.
The USL has also established terms that provide bonuses for players on championship-winning teams as well as for individual accolades. Players will also receive compensation for league-level promotional and personal appearances.
The remaining critical issues were not addressed during Wednesday’s session. These include a requirement for clubs to provide health insurance to players. While both parties agree that this should be part of the CBA, the matter has been stalled due to the USL’s proposal that players be given the option to access the same policy available to other club employees, whereas the USLPA insists that all players across the league should have access to the same policy. The topic of NIL rights, another significant concern for players, was also not discussed. Players are requesting $625,000 while the league is offering $125,000.
The negotiations are occurring alongside a push by the USL to establish a separate Division 1 league that would operate above the USL Championship and implement a system of promotion and relegation starting as early as 2028.
