The National Women’s Soccer League’s current footwear sponsorship policy continues to penalize players, despite its intention to create a “minimum standard” for brands to pay players.Players who wear cleats not produced by Nike, the league’s official outfitter, are subject to fines if they do not cover unauthorized logos in accordance with the current policy implemented on June 26.Adidas and Puma negotiated deals with the league to have their sponsored players wear their cleats. However, players who wear Adidas or Puma but do not have a deal are also subject to penalties if they do not cover the logos. At least two players were warned for wearing uncovered Adidas cleats without a deal, according to sources with knowledge of the policy procedures, who asked to remain anonymous due to ongoing negotiations. Adidas declined to comment.“Part of the program is to actually create minimum standards for the players so that they get paid,” NWSL commissioner Jessica Berman told The Athletic on Wednesday. “Our job as a league is to set policy that drives the behavior we want to see. We want our players to get paid by these brands if (the brands are) going to benefit from the promotion that comes from it.“It’s not just that the league’s getting paid; players are getting paid, too.”Equipment manufacturers, other than Nike, have to pay for the right to have their cleats visible during league matches and meet a minimum $5,000 cash investment to their players.KC Current forward Michelle Cooper was one of the first players fined for not covering her New Balance cleats. (Justin Edmonds / NWSL via Getty Images)Three players have been fined and four received warnings, according to sources within the league who asked to remain anonymous due to the sensitive financial nature of the policy.