What’s the biggest issue in women’s hockey today? PWHL players talk salary, schedules, more

When The Athletic last surveyed some of the top women’s hockey players nearly three years ago, their biggest issue was pretty clear.

At the time, in April 2023, the sport was still divided between the Professional Women’s Hockey Players Association — which was playing in barnstorming showcases around North America — and the Premier Hockey Federation. The landscape of women’s hockey was, frankly, confusing, and with no “truly” professional league to play in, visibility and marketing around the sport suffered.

“It’s not easy for people to know where we play, when we play and how they’re going to watch,” said one player at the time.

Since then, women’s professional hockey has fundamentally changed. The Professional Women’s Hockey League has crowned a champion twice and added two more teams, with more expansion on the horizon.

Now that the PWHL exists, what do players think about the issues facing women’s hockey, including salaries, officiating and the international schedule?

To answer that question, The Athletic spoke to over a quarter of the league’s players, from all eight teams, before the start of the 2025-26 season, as part of our first-ever PWHL player poll. We asked who the league’s best player is, the best — and worst — arena to play in, and what is the biggest issue facing women’s hockey?

Players were granted anonymity to speak freely. They were also permitted to skip individual questions and to vote for their team or teammates. Some players provided multiple answers, which were given equal weight. Each question shows the number of responses for full transparency.

Note: Some player quotes have been lightly edited for length and clarity.

A handful of players still believe visibility and marketing are among the biggest issues facing the sport. But it is no longer the leading vote-getter three years down the road. This time around, it’s salaries.

In the league’s first few seasons, player salaries have not been made public. PWHL players did vote in June 2025 to disclose salaries throughout the league in an effort to help players — and their agents — better advocate for themselves in contract negotiations. Those figures have not been made public at this time.

What we do know, according to the collective bargaining agreement, is that the 2025-26 salary cap is around $1.34 million, with minimum salaries set at $37,131.50. Each team’s average salary will need to be $58,349.50 to be cap compliant. These figures will go up 3 percent each league year.

There are 18 foundational players who signed in the league’s inaugural season who are being paid at least $80,000, which has created a significant salary gap. And, according to a source briefed on league salaries, at least nine players are being paid above $100,000 this season, led by Emily Clark, who, according to the Associated Press, is the highest-paid player in the league this season.

There are other financial benefits laid out in the CBA, like housing stipends and performance bonuses. Still, players largely take issue with the salary gap that exists between the top players and those being paid league minimum.

“We need better pay for more of the league, and an increased salary cap would help,” said one player. “Some players are paid great, but we have teammates making league minimum, and it’s tough.”

“We’re grateful for the league,” said one player. “But some people still have summer jobs.”

One player wondered if the current salary structure might inhibit the league’s ability to attract top talent from outside North America. Swedish Women’s Hockey League salaries are not made public, but one European player said those wages aren’t all that lucrative. Still, it could be a big move for a small raise for many players. Not to mention a big adjustment to playing style and ice time.

Salary bumps will be on the PWHL Players Association’s wish list when the current CBA expires in 2031. But whether there will be an opportunity to renegotiate any terms remains to be seen.

“I don’t want to project this, but there’s always an opportunity to make improvements, as we saw with the NWSL opening their CBA early because both sides of the table had something they wanted to accomplish,” PWHLPA executive director Malaika Underwood told The Athletic in April. “So we have to be ready even for that possibility. Should things continue to grow and expand and be as successful as they have been in the first two seasons, we’ll be ready whenever it’s time to open up the CBA, whether that’s soon or at the end of the current term.”

The international schedule was also viewed as an issue, with several breaks in the PWHL season for things like Canada-USA Rivalry Series, the Women’s Euro Hockey Tour — and this year, the Olympic Games.

“There are a lot of demands on players in an Olympic year,” said one American player. “It’s a lot to juggle.”

After about half of the poll was completed, the PWHL and the International Ice Hockey Federation announced that women’s world championships would be moved from April — which necessitated an international break before the end of the regular season — to November, before the start of the PWHL season.

“This was a complex situation to solve, and we have reached a landmark moment for women’s hockey,” said IIHF President Luc Tardif in a press release. “The Women’s World Championship is an important event for the growth of the game globally. Working together with the PWHL, we’ve developed a calendar that preserves the integrity of international competition while avoiding significant interruptions to the league season.”

Three players still picked scheduling after that announcement was made. Some felt like starting the PWHL season sooner and hosting worlds at the end of the season was the optimal schedule of events.

“Starting in November is way too late,” said one person before the Oct. 6 announcement.

“Ideally, worlds would be after playoffs,” said another player, who also said she didn’t see the need for worlds in an Olympic year.

Of course, officiating was a discussion amongst players. Since the launch of the PWHL, women’s hockey has become more physical than ever before. And while the increased contact has largely been celebrated — by both players and fans — integrating more contact has been a work in progress. There’s been bad hits, inconsistent calls by referees and some ambiguity about how to interpret the PWHL’s rulebook.

“We added physicality, but we don’t all know what that looks like,” said one player. “It’s not all on the refs either. Getting that area of the game cleaned up would be better and safer.”

The league has done plenty of work the last few years to help everyone, from players to refs and staff, navigate a new style of play, including hosting seminars with former NHLer Ryan Getzlaf on hitting and how to protect themselves on the ice.

Still, players want to see more consistency, especially between the PWHL and IIHF officials.

“The IIHF should mimic the PWHL,” said one player. “Reffing can be pretty poor in general, but having two different standards leaves more questions of what even is a penalty.”

Many players wanted to see the league continue to grow, whether that means improving the New York fan base, getting a national U.S. television deal or increasing resources. Some players specifically wanted improved travel. The PWHL’s CBA mandates commercial air travel for trips more than 400 miles away.

“If we are expanding and adding teams and adding travel we should get some charters to help with that load on your body,” said one player.

Another did not think there was enough support — financially or in terms of resources for players — for there to be as many trades.

“Having gone through a trade, it was a disaster,” one player said.

Others talked about rapid expansion and how it might impact depth around the league if players are poached for new franchises once again this summer. One Canadian player suggested focusing on a farm system, rather than adding new teams.

“It’s a really big jump from college to PW, but there’s nowhere to fall in between,” she said. “I think this league could get better without expanding like crazy. The more we expand, the more players that can play, but that doesn’t necessarily mean the competition is going to be good.”

For all the issues, most players agreed that the PWHL has changed the landscape of the sport for the better.

“It is night and day from then to now.”