PWHL Gamers Affiliation votes to reveal salaries: Why they made the choice

In a choice meant to assist its members advocate for themselves in contract negotiations, the PWHL Gamers Affiliation has voted to reveal salaries for the primary time within the league’s two-season historical past, PWHLPA govt director Malaika Underwood informed The Athletic. 

An “overwhelming majority” of gamers voted in favor of the change over a 10-day interval that ended late final week.

“I’m pleased with the gamers,” Underwood stated. “It’s an enormous step in the best route by way of transparency.”

The timing of the transfer is especially essential as a result of league’s pre-expansion-draft signing window that opens on Wednesday at 9 a.m. ET. In the course of the signing interval, all unprotected gamers and free brokers can negotiate with the PWHL’s two new franchises in Vancouver and Seattle. A normal free-agency interval is anticipated to be someday after the entry draft on June 24.

The choice to permit for the disclosure of gamers’ salaries will give every participant extra info and company of their negotiations with groups.

“This will likely be a instrument for gamers as they take into account alternatives throughout the league,” stated Underwood.

The PWHL simply accomplished its second season, with the Minnesota Frost successful back-to-back Walter Cup championships. Within the first two seasons, no participant salaries had been made public.

Lots of the league’s elite gamers signed three-year contracts paying them not less than $80,000 with their chosen staff earlier than the league’s inaugural draft. In line with the collective bargaining settlement, the 2025-26 wage cap will likely be $1.34 million, with minimal salaries set at $37,131.50. Every staff’s common wage will must be $58,349.50 to be cap compliant.

The Gamers Affiliation received’t be publishing a public wage database right now, however will present the data upon request. For now, Underwood stated, the main target is on supporting the gamers and offering them with the instruments wanted to advocate for themselves on the negotiating desk.

“From the beginning, the PWHL has been a progressive, athlete-driven league,” stated Underwood. “And permitting for wage disclosure was a choice the gamers made with that in thoughts.”

(Picture: Mark Blinch / Getty Pictures)