The college draft is a pillar of American sports, but we’re about to see what it’s like without one

The National Women’s Soccer League has experienced incredible growth this year.

It is in the first year of a four-year, $240 million media rights deal. As of June 27, the league has seen dramatic year-over-year improvements in attendance (42 percent), Nielsen ratings (95 percent) and retail performance on NWSLShop.com (nearly 300 percent).

On Thursday came the league’s most interesting development yet.

As part of a new collective bargaining agreement, the NWSL will become the first major domestic sports league to eliminate its college draft, granting all unsigned players unrestricted free agency. Additionally, every trade now requires a player’s approval before being officially completed.

Though soccer leagues around the world similarly operate without drafts, it is an unthinkable notion to generations of players raised in a nation where drafts are lucrative tentpole events and fashion shows, attached to lifelong dreams and broadcast in primetime.

“The draft is an antiquated model that empowers teams to decide for players instead of players deciding for themselves,” NWSLPA president Tori Huster said in a statement. “Now, players can choose the team environment that fits their needs and maximizes their opportunities. Teams will need to step up to create environments that appeal to players.”

Drafts are so anticipated, so ingrained in American culture and the economic model of every major sport, that there is rarely meaningful discussion about whether the inherently un-American practice should take place.

The first NFL Draft was held in 1936 as a means of aiding less successful franchises. Eventually, every major sports league in the nation followed suit, giving every team the ability — or the hope — of benefitting from failure.

In return, college’s top superstars were often penalized for their success.

Why should Bo Jackson have been asked to join the Buccaneers, who selected him against his wishes? Why should Steve Francis have been sent to Vancouver? Why should the top picks in every draft be asked to save struggling franchises and potentially be thrown into positions set up for failure, a la David Carr?

In what other professions do you have no say regarding where you will live and work?

The incredible victory by the players of the NWSL makes it natural to wonder what a draftless existence would look like in other leagues.

It would end the incentive for tanking. That’s probably enough justification.

It would be a welcome change for big-market teams, as well as franchises that benefit from warm climates and/or states without income tax, such as Florida and Texas.

While it may seem as if the richest franchises would greatly benefit from universal free agency, salary caps, luxury taxes and roster limits would prevent any team from hoarding the world’s best players.

It would be fascinating to see where the best college players — including Duke forward Cooper Flagg and Georgia quarterback Carson Beck — would land. Which rookies would take discounts to play on contenders? Which players would prioritize being a team’s marquee superstar? What would Steve Serby do with all his free time, sans a string of mock drafts to produce?

The NWSL model won’t be adopted by any other major sports league anytime soon.

But maybe it should.

Today’s back page

The scoreboard

Mets 8, Padres 3: The Mets got off to a good start to their criticial 10-game road trip thanks to a short, but solid, start from Luis Severino and a some shutdown work from the bullpen. The offense chipped in, too, with 17 hits, three of them by Pete Alonso, and a clutch two-run single in the ninth to blow the game open.

Yankees 6, Guardians 0: Gerrit Cole — when he wasn’t confronting the ump — went six innings in a combined one-hitter (cue Harry Doyle) for career win No. 150, and Giancarlo Stanton blasted a three-run homer as the Yankees took the series in a Bronx matinee. And, oh yeah, Aaron Judge, making a routine of the majestic, hit his 48th home run of the season.

Liberty 79, Wings 71: The letdown-proof Liberty (25-4) won their eighth straight despite shooting just 35 percent. On top of Breanna Stewart’s 19 points, they got 16 points apiece from Leonie Fiebich and Kayla Thornton plus a jolt from undrafted rookie Jaylyn Sherrod. The second-place Connecticut Sun visit Barclays Center on Saturday.

Worth the wait

Sports are at the center of so many Adam Sandler films: The Waterboy. The Longest Yard. Hustle. Uncut Gems.

Nearly three decades after its 1996 release, Happy Gilmore still may be the most beloved title in Sandler’s filmography.

“I feel like that is his signature movie,” said Gordy Bonker, a Sandler superfan. “It’s probably his best. I’ve probably seen it 100 times.”

The absurd and hilarious tale of the violent but loveable failed hockey player turned golf sensation is now scheduled for a sequel few saw coming. In May, Sandler confirmed he would start shooting Happy Gilmore 2. 

This week, he revealed Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce will make a cameo in the film, which will be released on Netflix. On Tuesday, thousands came to the Hyatt Regency in Morristown, N.J., in hopes of the same.

The first hint of chaos came upon exiting the highway, when the traffic app estimated a ride of less than a mile would take more than 30 minutes. Cars spilled from the hotel entrance into the street, featuring license plates from Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and Kansas. A line of people snaked around multiple blocks, measuring more than a half-mile.

They carried résumés and headshots and golf clubs. They sat in strollers and wheelchairs. They drank cocktails from the hotel bar and ate sandwiches from home. They dressed to impress. They sported golf shirts and hockey jerseys. They prepared for battle.

“I had to stand out,” said David Segelken, a Civil War reenactor, wearing a Confederate uniform. “I’ll do whatever it takes. I’ll get a parking ticket.”

No one knew where the line started. Shock was slapped upon the face of every excited newcomer, each of whom was redirected by a police officer from the front of the hotel to a street that couldn’t be seen, approximately four hours from the finish line. The deli across the street took advantage, handing out samples of pastrami on the sidewalk.

Cheers rang out whenever a new group of people descended the stairs and exited through the automatic sliding doors. The line remained frozen. The casting call employee waited for clearance from above.

“Just when you think it’s over, it’s not over,” said Matt Roarty. “But it hasn’t been too long. It’s only been three hours.”

Many attendees were experienced, bringing chairs and books and snacks. Others wondered when they’d get to see Sandler. One spoke of a recent vasectomy and a concealed ice pack.

Katie Judd, 12, was born 16 years after the original movie was released. She found it “a little bit inappropriate.” Still, the aspiring young actress’ smile appeared indelible, constructed of innocence and hope, hours into the ordeal.

“It’s our first casting call for a movie,” her mother, Jennifer, said. “We’re probably just going to be standing on this long line for hours, go in for five seconds and then leave, but there’s no school until next week. We’ve got time.”

Roughly 300 to 500 hopefuls were called inside to be seen every hour. Approximately 3,000 of them reached the end. By 4:30 p.m., new arrivals were told to leave. They wouldn’t reach the end of the line before the curtain fell (8 p.m.).

Word spread that the journey ended with an anticlimactic photograph and a brief form to fill out. There was no audition. There was no one of note to meet from the film. When they reached the finish line inside the second floor conference room, they were reminded they were applying for non-speaking roles. The pay wasn’t much more than minimum wage. The days would be long. They would not be given the shooting schedule until the night prior. They could be called anywhere between September and December — or never.

After each person’s picture was taken, they were asked to quickly leave the building. Their parking would be validated.

“It was pleasant,” said Maggie Seller, a real estate agent. “Everyone was having a good time.”

Most did not know they could register online without waiting on line, unaware there was no advantage to the endurance test. Many were informed as the line grew, most ignoring the advice.

“I’m sure most of it is just to be standing in the crowd, but maybe they have a role where I get to be a caddie or even talk to Shooter McGavin,” Bonker said. “That would be amazing. Let’s hope for the best.”

The same could be said for the film.

The record of sports movie sequels is spotty. Even the greatest sports comedy of all time begat the ultimate cautionary tale: Caddyshack II.

Will Happy Gilmore 2 be worth the wait?

“I feel like it won’t be good,” said Joey Dunphy, 23. “It’ll probably be a s–tty movie, but I’d still want to be in it.”

Love lost at U.S. Open?

Tennis is no stranger to villains.

Few sports have seen so many legends — Jimmy Connors, John McEnroe, Ivan Lendl, etc. — wear the black hat at some point during their careers. Even after the introduction of Hawk-eye eliminated the catalyst for the majority of player outbursts, several stars of the current era have earned the disdain of their audience, including Novak Djokovic, Daniil Medvedev and Nick Kyrgios.

The U.S. Open will reveal if Jannik Sinner is next.

The world’s top-ranked player arrives in Queens following this week’s revelation that he twice tested positive in March for an anabolic steroid, but will avoid suspension after successfully appealing his case to the International Tennis Integrity Agency.

Sinner, who denied any intentional wrongdoing, claims he was exposed to the steroid (Clostebol, a performance-enhancing drug that earned MLB star Fernando Tatis Jr. an 80-game suspension) when his physiotherapist used a spray containing the substance to treat an injured finger, then inadvertently transmitted traces of the drug to Sinner via massage.

Understandably, some players aren’t buying what Sinner is selling.

Nick Kyrgios declared the slap on the wrist — Sinner was deducted $325,000 and 400 ranking points — “ridiculous” and said the 23-year-old should serve a two-year suspension. Denis Shapovalov and Roberto Caballes Baena both wrote that it is an example of “different rules for different players.”

Even if Sinner isn’t receiving preferential treatment, it will be difficult for him to shake that perception.

Sinner, tabbed as one of tennis’ torchbearers alongside rival Carlos Alcaraz, is in the midst of the best season of his career, winning the Australian Open — after handing Djokovic his first loss at Melbourne in six years — before reaching the French Open semifinals and Wimbledon quarterfinals.

Most recently, the world No. 1 captured the title in Cincinnati — his fifth of the year — improving to 48-5 this season.

Now, Sinner comes to New York, the rowdiest environment of all grand slams.

Here we will learn if his reputation has taken a significant hint, if fans are willing to accept his seemingly shaky excuse or boo him out of Arthur Ashe Stadium for committing a sin — intentionally or not — that forever defines many athletes.

Sinner could be the future of the sport or its newest villain.

Maybe even both.

Prospect of the day

The Yankees’ High-A Hudson Valley affiliate had a nightcap to remember.

Trent Sellers, Mason Vinyard and Thomas Balboni combined on a no-hitter in the second game of a doubleheader, a 6-0 win.

Sellers went the first 4 ⅔ innings, striking out five and walking one.

Vinyard handled things for 1 ⅓ innings before Balboni struck out the side in the seventh to close out the team’s second no-no in five weeks.

On the offensive side, Garrett Martin crushed three homers across the twinbill, with two blasts coming in the second contest.

What we’re reading 👀

🏈 “There is nothing the Giants can do to gain the benefit of the doubt that they are on the right track. Until the season gets underway, that is,” The Post’s Paul Schwartz writes of the public skepticism surrounding Big Blue.

🏈 Jets fans will have to wait until the regular-season opener in San Francisco before they get their next glimpse of Aaron Rodgers under center.

🏀 Rick Pitino’s office was ripped off for some memorabilia, booze and a sword. First steal of the St. John’s season.

⚾ After the sinking Mariners canned Scott Servais, and The Post’s Jon Heyman looks at baseball’s managerial hot seats in his weekly notes.

🎾 Naomi Osaka’s opener. A potential Ben Shelton-Novak Djokovic rematch. Here’s a guide to the U.S. Open draw.

⛳ Charley Hull had a smokin’ start to the Women’s British Open.