Several leading members of the USWNT will face major contract decisions in 2026, with expiring deals across Europe and a new rule in England set to shape the next wave of moves.
Lindsey Heaps and Catarina Macario are among the headline names whose situations will be closely watched as club futures come into focus. Heaps has long been a key figure abroad and remains one of the most established Americans in the European game, while Macario’s next steps will also draw attention as she continues her career at the top level.
What adds another layer to the conversation is a confirmed change in the Women’s Super League: a new “High Impact Player” rule is looming. The regulation is designed to give clubs more flexibility in recruitment, and with several USWNT players already in England — and more potentially on the market as contracts run down — it could have a direct effect on how teams build their squads.
The timing matters. With 2026 approaching, a number of USWNT internationals will be weighing whether to extend where they are, look for new challenges, or position themselves in leagues where roster rules and financial structures might better fit their ambitions.
For Heaps, Macario and others in the same bracket, the next year will be about more than form on the pitch. Contract lengths, league rules and club plans will all play a part in decisions that could reshape the USWNT’s presence abroad ahead of the next cycle.
