When I first started researching women's soccer salaries, I'll admit I was shocked by the numbers. Having followed Major League Soccer for years and watched the incredible growth of the National Women's Soccer League, I expected the financial gap to be significant, but the reality still managed to surprise me. The average NWSL player salary currently sits around $54,000 annually, which represents tremendous progress from where we were just five years ago, yet still pales in comparison to what many male MLS players earn. This disparity becomes even more striking when you consider that the US women's national team has consistently outperformed their male counterparts on the international stage, winning multiple World Cup titles while the men's team struggles to make deep tournament runs.

I remember watching a particularly dominant performance by a women's college team recently that reminded me why this pay gap feels so unjust. The game saw DLSZ establish complete control from the opening whistle, building a staggering 31-6 first quarter lead before extending their advantage to 59-12 by halftime. That level of dominance, that sheer technical excellence – it's what women's soccer delivers regularly, yet the financial rewards still don't match the quality of play. When I see athletes performing at that level, I can't help but think they deserve compensation that reflects their skill and dedication to the sport.

The financial landscape is gradually changing, thank goodness. Just last year, the NWSL saw its average salary increase by nearly 30%, with the league minimum rising to $36,400. While these numbers still fall short of the MLS, where the average base salary exceeds $410,000, the trajectory is encouraging. What many people don't realize is that MLS has been operating since 1996, while the NWSL only launched in 2013. The men's league had a significant head start, but the women's game is catching up faster than many anticipated. From my perspective as someone who's studied sports business for over a decade, the NWSL's growth curve is actually steeper than MLS was experiencing at the same stage of development.

Television deals tell an important part of this story. The NWSL's current media rights agreement with CBS Sports and Twitch is worth approximately $4.5 million annually, while MLS's deal with ESPN, Fox Sports, and Univision averages about $90 million per year. That's a massive difference, but what gives me hope is seeing the rising viewership numbers for NWSL broadcasts. The 2022 championship match drew over 915,000 viewers, making it the most-watched NWSL final in nearly a decade. As these numbers continue to grow, so will the value of broadcasting rights, which should directly impact player compensation.

Sponsorship revenue represents another critical piece of the puzzle. Here too we're seeing encouraging signs, with the NWSL securing landmark deals with companies like Nike, Google, and Nationwide. The league's first-ever jersey sponsorship program launched recently, allowing individual teams to secure their own patch partners. While these deals might not yet reach the eight-figure agreements common in MLS, they're establishing a foundation for future growth. I've noticed more corporate brands specifically seeking to align with women's sports lately, recognizing not just the moral imperative but the business opportunity in supporting these athletes.

What often gets lost in these salary discussions is the sheer diversity of compensation within both leagues. While the average NWSL salary sits around $54,000, the league's highest-paid players earn significantly more. US women's national team stars like Megan Rapinoe and Alex Morgan make around $450,000 annually when you combine their NWSL salaries with federation payments. Similarly, in MLS, there's an enormous range between the league's minimum salary of $85,444 and the millions earned by designated players like Xherdan Shaqiri or Javier Hernández. This complexity makes direct comparisons challenging, but it doesn't negate the fundamental disparity at the median income level.

From my perspective, the most promising development has been the recent collective bargaining agreements. The NWSL Players Association secured a groundbreaking CBA in 2022 that established free agency for the first time, increased minimum salaries, and improved benefits. These structural changes matter just as much as the raw salary numbers because they give players more control over their careers and earning potential. Having advised sports unions in the past, I can tell you that these agreements create frameworks for sustainable growth rather than just temporary fixes.

The stadium attendance figures provide another reason for optimism. While MLS averages around 21,000 fans per game, the NWSL has been steadily growing its attendance, with the 2022 season averaging about 7,500 fans per match. Some teams, like the Portland Thorns, regularly draw crowds exceeding 15,000. What's particularly exciting is that the NWSL's attendance growth has outpaced MLS's during comparable periods of development. If this trend continues, we should see revenue – and consequently player salaries – continue to rise significantly.

I'm often asked whether the salary gap will ever fully close. My honest opinion? Probably not completely, but it will become much narrower than it is today. The markets for men's and women's sports have different characteristics and revenue potentials, but the current gap vastly overstates those natural differences. As women's soccer continues to build its commercial foundation and fan base, I believe we'll see NWSL average salaries reach at least $150,000 within the next five to seven years. That would still be less than half of today's MLS average, but it would represent life-changing money for more players and properly recognize their professional status.

What encourages me most is seeing how quickly perceptions are changing. When I started writing about women's soccer a decade ago, I frequently encountered dismissive attitudes about its commercial viability. Today, investors are pouring millions into NWSL expansion teams, media companies are competing for broadcast rights, and corporate partners are lining up to associate with the league. This shift isn't just about fairness – it's about recognizing the quality of the product and the passion of its fans. The athletes delivering stunning performances like that 59-12 halftime domination I mentioned earlier deserve compensation that reflects their excellence, and for the first time, I'm confident we're moving steadily in that direction.

LIGHTING, LIGHTING, AND MORE LIGHTING
People are typically drawn to bars solely based on their atmosphere. The best way to knock your next commercial bar design out of the park is using the perfect amount and type of lighting. Use standout light fixtures as their very own statement piece, track lighting for adjustable ambiance, hanging pendant lights over tables, and ambient backlighting to display the alcohol. Bartenders need to serve and customers need to order, so make sure it’s just functional as it is attractive. 

CHOOSING YOUR BARTOP
What may seem so obvious, is often so overlooked in commercial bar design- the material of your actual bartop itself. While we realize stone and marble are as classy and elegant-looking as can be, the reality is that they just aren’t your best option for a durable and long lasting bartop. They crack, have no grip, and break way too many glasses. Opt for a high-quality wood bar instead. Oaks, maples, mahoganies, and ashes are sturdy and provide your customers with a firm grip for their glasses. 

THEME 
In a sea of millions upon millions of bars, how can you make your commercial bar design stand apart from the rest? The answer is to pick a unique, centralized theme and run with it. Whether it’s your next sit-down restaurant bar design, or remodeling the small, locally-favorite gem, you have to find out what your clientele wants. Survey the neighborhood of your establishment and find out what the demographics are there. Maybe a gritty, western bar would be a hit. Or maybe a more modern, sleek design is what’s missing in the area. Whatever theme you decide upon, hit it out of the park with the perfect lighting, wall art, music, and furniture. It’s all in the details. 

THE GUIDE TO YOUR NEXT RESTOBAR 
You’ve got the food, you’ve got the restaurant, you’ve got the customers, now all you need is a beautifully designed bar to top it all off.  Small bar designs for restaurants have a tendency to be a little thrown together and incohesive with the rest of the establishment. Stay on brand- create consistency with tying in the same color scheme, furniture, art, and overall ambiance of the pre-existing restaurant. Make sure the placement of your bar makes sense as well, have it in a place where it’s visible and easy to navigate but not in the way of servers and other guests. If the bar is going to serve food, be sure to consider the location of the kitchen to not obstruct traffic flow. Consider all of these small tips as you work through your next restaurant bar design. 

SPACE CONSTRAINT 
It’s no secret that bars have the reputation of being a little cramped, and in some cases- way too cramped. Consider all of the space constraints while designing your next commercial bar design and we can change that bad rap that bars have been holding for far too long. First and foremost, be sure to measure your bar, barstool, cabinet, and equipment height. Generally, a bar is 42” in height while a stool is 30” in height. Also be sure to allow at least 3’ of space between the bar and the alcohol for the bartender’s functionality and efficiency. Consider multiple register and drink-making stations for bartenders as well. Allowing 2’ between patrons is going to give them enough space to eat and drink, and most importantly, simply be comfortable. All of these considerations are especially helpful if it is a restaurant bar design, where the space is even more valuable.