On a chilly winter night in Ketchum, Idaho, Bea Franklin, a midfielder for the Chicago Stars, took on a role far removed from her usual soccer duties. At the Pioneer Saloon, a local bar known for its taxidermied animals and rustic charm, Franklin served as a cocktail waitress, balancing martinis with precision while wearing cowgirl boots. Her task was to ensure that olives didn’t spill when she walked down the stairs. Franklin wasn't doing this out of financial need, but as a way to step away from the intense focus of soccer and explore something different. “It was just so much fun, and a really great way to kind of disconnect from soccer,” Franklin said. Just a few years ago, players like Franklin might have needed a second job to survive. In 2019, the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) faced criticism for its low salaries, prompting players to launch the “No More Side Hustles” campaign. At the time, many NWSL players earned less than $31,000 a year, forcing them to take on part-time jobs like packing boxes, driving for food delivery services, or cleaning homes. The situation sparked a push for better pay and working conditions. The league has since made significant strides. In 2022, the NWSL Players Association reached its first collective bargaining agreement with the league, and a new agreement in 2024 raised the minimum salary to $50,500 for the 2026 season—nearly matching the previous maximum. With this financial security, players now have the freedom to pursue other interests, not out of necessity, but out of choice. Washington Spirit defender Gabrielle Carle is one such player. She’s working toward becoming a doctor after her soccer career ends. During the 2025 season, she prepared for the MCAT, the entrance exam for medical school, while still playing. Carle aims to use her score to apply for medical school within the next three years. She’s also exploring opportunities in sports medicine research. Her teammate, Lucia Di Guglielmo, has a master’s degree in industrial chemistry, while players in other leagues, such as Erin Cuthbert of England and Phallon Tullis-Joyce of Manchester United, have earned MBAs or used their scientific backgrounds in unique ways. This year, the NWSL partnered with Syracuse University to offer online degrees and certificates in fields like sports analytics and business management, allowing players to further their education while still playing. Franklin, who studied finance at the University of Arkansas, took a part-time job at Bank of America as a wealth management analyst during the 2024 season. She found the experience valuable, even if she doesn’t earn the same income as her clients. “It puts some real-world application into how people get credit and actually going through the banking process,” Franklin said. “Now, when I do it again, I’ll have a bit more patience for the person on the other end of the phone.” Several players have taken their ambitions even further by launching their own businesses. This summer, two Canadian national team players, Jordyn Huitema and Janine Sonis, launched skincare and coffee brands, respectively. Coffee has become a popular platform for entrepreneurial soccer players, with others like Erin Cuthbert and Jill Scott also running coffee businesses. Sonis, a full-back for the Denver Summit, started her coffee brand 90Brew in the middle of a strong season, scoring nine goals in the team’s expansion year. Her journey began with a simple desire to stay awake and evolved into a full-fledged business, supported by her club and family. “It’s a full-circle moment,” Sonis said. “Now I can support myself in multiple ventures because of the direction that the game has moved in.”