The PWHL and PWHLPA gave players and teams welcome news Thursday, agreeing to increase the league's roster size by one spot, growing teams from 23 to 24 players while also boosting minimum salaries ahead of the 2026/27 season.
Under the new deal, PWHL salaries will start at $42,000 — up from last season's $37,131 minimum — and continue rising through 2030/31, when the floor reaches $52,500.
PWHL News Update: Bigger Salaries, More Players in 2026/27
Those increases outpace the 3% annual raises baked into the original CBA.
At the same time, the reserve player structure, which previously paid athletes roughly $15,000 to train alongside the active squad as insurance for injuries, will not return this season. A one-game standard player agreement now covers emergency roster situations instead.
"The PWHL and PWHLPA remain committed to working collaboratively to advance player opportunities, compensation, and the continued growth of professional women’s hockey,” both organizations said in a joint press release.
Now that the PWHL has doubled its footprint from eight to 12 clubs, the combined changes open 104 additional active roster spots and put 288 players on active rosters leaguewide. Those dozen teams will also organize into a pair of six-team conferences, marking a first for the league.
Training camps open Nov. 18th after the IIHF Women's World Championship wraps up in Denmark, and the regular season begins Dec. 5th.
