A significant voice spoke this week calling on women's sports leagues and clubs across the globe to better pay their athletes.
Entering their third season, the PWHL's minimum annual salary is $37,131.50 this year. The NHL's minimum salary is currently $775,000. The NHL's minimum will increase to $1 million for the 2029-30 season, at which point the PWHL's minimum will have increased to only $41,791.83.
“The playing field is still far from level,” United Nations Rights Chief Volker Türk said.
"Collectively, we need to dismantle the barriers and patriarchal attitudes that are limiting women’s progress in sport. Instead, we need to build up a world of sport in which women and girls, in all their diversity, are equally valued, visible and paid."
The PWHL's goal is to professionalize the sport to the point where women playing do not need to work another job in the offseason or in their off hours. There are still many in the PWHL searching for secondary sources of income, and more still who leave the game for better paying careers. This year, some players in the PWHL even effectively used the threat of leaving the league for better paying coaching jobs and careers to negotiate raises within the league.
“Without a stable income, women are forced to take other jobs, leaving them with less time and energy to focus on training and improving,” Türk said.
An item Türk discussed that the PWHL did not include in their CBA which is a significant gap toward equitable payment of athletes in the league was the importance of revenue sharing. Currently the PWHL does not have a revenue sharing model related to broadcasting rights or merchandise, which could mean millions of dollars lost for the players.
One aspect the PWHL has helped to push forward is better protections related to maternity leave and child care in the league. It was another point Türk pointed to as a global gap.
"Maternity leave, which is essential to many women embarking on an athletic career, is frequently overlooked in women’s sports, holding women athletes back and forcing them to take alternative employment," he said.
Türk spoke on the importance of media coverage, violence prevention, sport education, and an underrepresentation of women in leadership roles as well.
Overall, his call to action was clear.
"Sport can drive social change, which is much needed in today’s polarised world, and it can inspire and promote fairness, respect, and equal opportunities for all," Türk said.
"Together, let's champion a sporting world where women and girls can thrive."