Full Breakdown
PWHL Players Association Publishes First Public Salary Guide for 2025-26 Season
5/27/2026, 6:26:04 AM
Salary Disclosure Marks a New Transparency Milestone
On May 12 2026 the Professional Women’s Hockey League Players Association (PWHLPA) posted a salary guide covering all 194 players under contract for the 2025-26 season. The guide lists only base salaries in U.S. dollars; bonuses, incentives and other compensation are excluded. Ottawa Charge forward Emily Clark tops the list at $126,090, followed by New York Sirens forward Sarah Fillier at $125,000 and Montreal Victoire captain Marie-Philip Poulin at $110,216. The lowest base salary is $37,131.50.
League Structure and Collective-Bargaining Background
The league operates under an eight-year collective bargaining agreement (CBA) ratified in July 2023 and running through July 2031. The CBA sets a minimum annual base salary of $37,131.50, increases the league-wide average base salary by 3 percent each season, and requires each team’s average salary to fall within 10 percent of the target figure ($58,349.50 for 2025-26). The agreement contains no maximum salary or hard salary cap. All six original teams are owned by The Walter Group, giving each franchise identical resource ceilings.
Salary Landscape: Ranges, Averages, and Distribution
- Range: $37,131.50 – $126,090
- Average: $57,206.55 (Front Office Sports calculation) – the CBA cites an average of $55,000, while the required average for 2025-26 was $58,349.50.
- Median: $49,000 (reported by Front Office Sports).
- Top earners: Ten players earn at least $100,000; six-figure salaries are held by Clark, Fillier, Brianne Jenner, Abby Roque, Poulin, Renata Fast, Hilary Knight, Gabrielle Hughes, Megan Keller and Kendall Coyne Schofield.
- Lower tier: 97 players earn under $50,000; 16 players are on minimum contracts; 66 players (34 %) earn $60,000 or more.
Implications for Gender Pay Equity in Professional Hockey
The highest PWHL salary represents roughly 14.8 % of the NHL’s 2026-27 minimum of $775,000. Union leaders argue that public salary data equips players with clearer negotiating context and may pressure owners as the league expands from six to twelve teams. Comparisons have been drawn to the 2023 WNBA CBA, which lifted average salaries to $585,000, though the WNBA’s ownership model differs.
Official Union Statements
PWHLPA executive director Malaika Underwood said the disclosure “reflects our belief that greater salary transparency gives players clearer information and stronger context in individual negotiations, while also supporting a more transparent and credible marketplace for the league overall.” She added that the move follows player-approved voting and builds on the CBA’s public minimum and average figures. The union also highlighted non-salary benefits mandated by the CBA: a $1,700 monthly housing stipend (increasing by $100 each year), maternity leave, and comprehensive insurance coverage.
Player Criticism and Calls for Higher Compensation
A player poll conducted by The Athletic found that nearly one-third of respondents identified salaries as the league’s biggest issue. Montreal Victoire forward Catherine Dubois remarked, “I think there are people who think that we’re making millions,” emphasizing public misconceptions about earnings. An anonymous player quoted in a fan outlet said, “We need better pay for more people in the league, and a higher salary cap would help. Some players are paid very well, but we have teammates making the league minimum, and it’s difficult.”
Conflicting Figures and Data Gaps
Sources differ on the league’s average salary (reported as $55,000, $57,206.55, and $58,349.50). Median salary appears only in Front Office Sports data. The published guide excludes bonuses, per-diem allowances, and performance incentives, leaving total compensation partially undisclosed. Housing stipend amounts are reported as $1,700 per month in some sources and $1,800 in others, reflecting a planned increase.
Verbatim Quotes
- “PWHLPA executive director Malaika Underwood explained the sentiments behind the move via CBC, stating “This decision reflects our belief that greater salary transparency gives players clearer information and stronger context in individual negotiations, while also supporting a more transparent and credible marketplace for the league overall.” — Malaika Underwood, PWHLPA executive director
- “But with that being said, ultimately, at the end of the day, we want players to be able to push for more and ask for more based on what other people around them are making.” — Laura Stacey, Montreal Victoire forward and PWHLPA president
- “I think there are people who think that we're making millions,” — Catherine Dubois, Montreal Victoire forward
- “We need better pay for more people in the league, and a higher salary cap would help.” — Anonymous player (survey respondent)
Future Outlook
The league will add four expansion franchises—Detroit, Hamilton, Las Vegas and San Jose—for the 2026-27 season, raising the total to twelve teams. The CBA mandates the average base salary to rise to $60,099.99 in that season. Union officials have indicated that raising the salary bar remains a priority as the league grows, suggesting that future collective bargaining discussions may focus on expanding the salary floor and addressing the disparity highlighted by the newly released data.
