CBA Compensation Details: New Professional Women's Hockey League

From a copy of the newly ratified PWHL / PWHLPA collective bargaining agreement obtained by The Hockey News, we explain compensation details for the new PWHL.

Compensation has become a major topic of discussion related to the new Professional Women's Hockey League (PWHL). The Hockey News obtained a copy of the PWHLPA and PWHL's collective bargaining agreement in full.

Below are financial details as expressed in the CBA. The league's preseason will begin no earlier than November 1, at which time each team will bring a minimum of 28 players and/or potential players to their respective preseason training camps. For each week players participate in preseason training camps, they will receive a stipend of $500. Similar to total contract figures, this stipend will increase by 3% in each coming season.

As previously reported, the initial year, "anticipated to be 2023-2024," each team in the PWHL will sign no fewer than six players to standard player agreements "of no less than $80,000 per League Year." 

It clarifies that $80,000 is a minimum for the six top signed players, not a maximum.

The minimum annualized base salary excluding performance or incentive compensation will be $35,000, and as reported, no more than nine players on any given team shall be paid this league minimum. The only exception to this league minimum is reserve players. Reserve players "shall receive a stipend for the League Season of no less than $15,000."

Reserve players can be added to rosters on standard player agreements, including short term agreements which can be signed for a 10-day period.

As reported previously, the minimum base salary will increase by 3% in each subsequent year of the agreement, which expires in 2031.

The average salary for each team will be enforced at $55,000. As the CBA states, "the League shall endeavor to maintain the required average Salary on each Team, but there may be a variation in the Salary on a particular Team as compared to the average annual base Salary of up to ten percent (10%) due to Player movement and new signings."

The PWHL's Collective Bargaining Agreement also stipulates a list of performance bonuses for players and teams. For those who participate in the All-Star Game, the runner up team of 12 players will each receive $1000, while the All-Star Game winners will each receive $1500.

In terms of annual league awards, the league MVP will receive a $5000 bonus, while all other award winners (top forward, top defense, top goaltender, rookie of the year, and a community/philanthropy-based award) will each receive $4000.

At the team level, four of the six teams involved in the league will receive financial bonuses for playoff competition. Teams reaching the playoff semi-finals will receive $23,000 each, equivalent to $1000 per player on a 23 player roster. From the final, the playoff runner-up will receive $40,250, while the playoff champion will receive $63,250 for the team.

Other financial terms are also included in the CBA, including a $1500 per month housing stipend, which will increase by $100 each year of the contract. Other figures included in the agreement include meal per diems of $81 per day the team is travelling ($21 for breakfast; $25 for lunch; and $35 for dinner). Relocation reimbursements of up to $2500 for newly acquired players, transportation costs, and compensation for any player who needs to break a lease due to being traded are also mentioned.

Continue to follow The Hockey News as we will break down other components of the newly ratified Collective Bargaining Agreement in the coming days.