Overview
- The PWHL and the PWHL Players Association announced the agreement on Thursday, Oct. 29, 2026, and said it takes effect for training camps that open Nov. 18 and the season that begins Dec. 5.
- Minimum base pay will rise to $42,000 for the upcoming season with scheduled increases to $45,000 in 2027-28 and $2,500 annual steps through a $52,500 floor by 2030-31.
- Each team’s active roster grows from 23 to 24 players, a change that combined with expansion to 12 franchises creates roughly 104 new active roster slots compared with last season.
- The agreement eliminates the prior reserve-player designation that paid a $15,000 stipend and replaces it with short-form one-game standard contracts alongside existing 10-day contracts.
- League and union officials framed the package as a coordinated move to boost player opportunities, strengthen the sport’s pay structure, and support the PWHL’s long-term professional growth.