Monica Abbott, Changing The Game, Signs Record $1-Mil Deal.

Chicago Bandits Win 2015 NPF Championship, Abbott two CG (Photo: National Pro Fastpitch)

This offseason we have seen the National Professional FastPitch (NPF) softball league experience an enormous amount of growth. In October, the league announced that a new expansion franchise would join the league based out of Woodland, Texas. Located just outside of Houston, the team called the Scrap Yard Dawgs became the sixth member of the country’s most prominent softball league. Then in April the league said they would be renewing its television deal with the CBS Sports Network, bringing more media coverage to the league and its players. As part of that deal CBS Sports Network aired the 2016 NPF College Draft this past April and have done so for the past two seasons. The growth on social media also skyrocketed since last season, a positive indications that the awareness of the league, its franchises and the players are heading in the right direction.

Today the leagues premiere pitcher, Monica Abbott, signed a record six-year $1 million contract with the Scrap Yard Dawgs. Prior to her signing with the Dawgs, Abbott had spent the past five seasons with the Chicago Bandits and won the 2015 NPF title. The contract, one we have never seen in women’s athletics, includes a base salary of $20,000 and other incentives and bonus’. This makes the reigning pitcher of the year and NPF champion the first millionaire in league history. The contract is also believed to be the richest in women’s team athletics. By the time the contract runs out Abbott will be 37. So safe to say she will most likely spend the rest of her career with the Dawgs. Due to signing a franchise tagged player the Dawgs will have to forfeit their first round pick in 2017 to the Bandits. The contract is also structured in such a way that Abbott will have the opportunity to return to the Olympics in 2020.

Abbott will be ready to go in 2020 (Photo: USA Softball)

The magnitude of this deal goes way beyond the numbers. This moment was long overdue for the softball league. For those who haven’t been to an NPF game I strongly urge you to go! These players are true athletes and deserve to be treated as such. NPF players want to raise the bar for their sport, not only on the field but off the field as well; Abbott’s contract definitely makes a statement on that mission. This also sets the tone for a very bright future for the league. I’d like to think now that softball players of all ages can now strive more to play in the National Pro Fastpitch as they grow older. Abbott has made a huge impact on the game and now has made an even bigger make on the future of softball.

This moment has to be one of the NPF’s proudest moments. This clearly shows that the NPF is making huge strides to one day pay a livable wage to play. Will Monica live up to her contact? No doubt. Wishing her well from Chicago to Houston!

Follow Eric Katz on Twitter @Sportsteamnews