The PHF will have a minimum salary of $30,000 per player to go along with their $1.5 million team salary cap for 2023-2024.
While big numbers like Daryl Watts' $150,000 contract with the PHF's Toronto Six and the league's $1.5 million salary cap catch the headlines, a new minimum number that will also be impacting professional women's hockey.
That number is the league's new minimum salary of $30,000 and salary cap floor of $1.125 million.
“The PHF is continuing to lead the way forward with a new era that provides greater financial opportunities along with associated benefits and resources for current and prospective players as part of our steadfast commitment to building the best home for professional women’s hockey,” said PHF commissioner Reagan Carey in a league news release.“
The PHF's salary cap is set to double from $750,000 in 2022-2023 to $1.5 million next season. The league this season saw record contracts signed, including the $150,000 per season deal inked by former Patty Kazmaier winner as the NCAA's top player, Daryl Watts.
League rosters will include a minimum of 22 players, and two year contracts are again available this season.
Another new aspect of PHF contracts is the addition of performance bonuses.
“The Players’ Association continues to work with the league in support of our shared goal to enhance the player experience both on and off the ice,” said Nicole Corriero, Executive Director of the PHF Players’ Association in the league press release.
“PHF Players will have the opportunity to negotiate multi-year contracts with higher salaries than ever before, continuing the forward momentum towards our goal of a league with full-time professional players.”
One aspect that continues to develop in the PHF is salary and term disclosure. In 2022-2023, 17 players signed two-year contracts, although those names were not disclosed. Similarly, it was at player discretion whether or not to disclose the value/salary stipulated within their contract.
The PHF’s salary disclosure policy will once again apply to all signed player contracts as part of the league’s ongoing commitment to transparency and player autonomy. Players signing one-year contracts can select to disclose the actual value of their contract or choose to not disclose their salary. Players signing two-year contracts can select between disclosing the actual value of their salary per year, the AAV over two years, or choose no salary disclosure.
Similar to last season, there will be no PHF draft this year. Instead, all players not signed to a two-year contract are unrestricted free agents.