Swanson: Sports without a draft or trades – could you dig it?

Power to the people. The people on the pitch.

Like, a lot of power.

On Thursday, the National Women’s Soccer League and NWSL Players Association announced a stunning new collective bargaining agreement that will – among many other important gains in pay, travel, parental leave – abolish all drafts and and require players to consent to trades.

Players will either be under contract or they’ll be unrestricted free agents. No drafting, no matching offers, the ball is at their feet.