How much do PHF players make?
By Tina Nguyen
How much do PHF players make and how do their maximum salaries compare to women’s professional soccer and basketball players in the NBA and WNBA?
The PHF, formerly known as the Canadian Women’s Hockey League (CWHL), is the top women’s professional hockey league in North America. The league was founded in 2007 and currently features six teams. The Boston Pride, the Buffalo Beauts, the Connecticut Whale, the Metropolitan Riveters, the Minnesota Whitecaps, the Montreal Force, and the Toronto Six.
Early this year, we saw a major development for the league when the salary cap for players doubled from $300,000 to $750,000, with a cap floor of $562,000. This substantial boost will have a great impact on player salaries, increasing the average salary to $37,500 for a minimum 20-player roster or $30,000 for a maximum 25-player roster. Notably, there will be no restrictions on individual player salaries, as long as the team’s overall payroll remains within the cap limit.
Accordingly, there will be significant implications for the league and its players, as they look to capitalize on the increased funding and build upon the momentum of the sport. The league is expected to closely monitor the impact of this significant salary cap increase on team payrolls, player recruitment and overall league competitiveness.
These numbers are drastic in comparison to the compensation that CWHL players received, which ranged from $2,000 to $10,000 per player ($100,000 salary cap), based on how many years they had played in the league.
The PHF has also announced plans to provide significant benefits to its players, following an influx of funding. As part of this, players will now receive full healthcare benefits, improved facilities, and more frequent practice opportunities. Additionally, players will gain a 10 percent equity stake in their respective teams through a joint investment fund and will have control over their likeness for marketing purposes.
Speaking on the development, PHF board of governors chairman John Boynton noted that this was a pivotal moment for women’s hockey and that the league was committed to supporting its players as they pursue their dreams.
The PHF’s efforts to build a sustainable business model have also paid off, with the league securing key sponsorship and broadcasting deals over the past year. Notably, the league’s games are now being aired on ESPN+ in the U.S. and Canada’s TSN. While these agreements were based on the Olympic year, PHF commissioner Tyler Tumminia remains optimistic about the league’s future prospects.
This renewed investment in women’s hockey follows two years of significant change within the PHF, including an overhaul of its business and ownership model and a rebranding effort that saw the league change its name from the National Women’s Hockey League. With privately-owned teams now in place, the PHF is poised to make significant strides in promoting women’s hockey and creating new opportunities for female players.
How do PHF player salaries compare to WNBA salaries?
In the world of women’s professional basketball, significant changes have been made to player salaries and earning opportunities. In the WNBA, the maximum base salary has been set at $202,154, while the league minimum now stands at $74,000. The WNBA operates under a hard salary cap of $1,420,500, which is divided among 11 or 12 players on each of the 12 rosters. Comparatively, the top WNBA base salary was $228,094 in 2022 and $190,550 in 2021.
These developments stem from a revolutionary collective bargaining agreement brokered between the WNBPA, the WNBA Board of Governors, and WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert in January 2020. The agreement boosted base salaries for players and created new opportunities for them to earn more money. As part of this, max and supermax players receive annual 3 percent salary increases, and by 2027, the salary cap is set to grow incrementally by nearly $300,000. These changes represent a major step forward for women’s basketball and reflect the league’s commitment to supporting its players.
How do PHF player salaries compare to NWSL salaries?
The NWSL is the top women’s professional soccer league in the United States, featuring 10 teams. After 10 seasons, the NWSL finally signed its first collective bargaining agreement with the NWSL Players Association on Feb. 1, 2022. This groundbreaking agreement guarantees women’s soccer players a living wage and increases salaries and benefits, such as parental leave. The deal runs through the 2026 season and removes the U.S. Soccer Federation and Canadian Soccer Association from bankrolling national-team players.
In 2020, the NWSL’s maximum salary was $50,000, excluding players paid by the USWNT or Canadian national team. However, as part of a recent overhaul of the league’s salary structure, the maximum salary has been increased to $75,000. Under the new CBA, the league has nearly doubled its salary cap to $1.1 million in 2022, with an additional $500,000 in allocation money. This means that clubs can now afford to sign top-tier players with a maximum spending limit of $575,000 per player. Furthermore, players may be eligible for allocation money, which could raise their total compensation to as high as $575,000. National team players also receive compensation from their federations for appearances in international matches, providing additional earning opportunities for top players.
Previously, NWSL clubs were limited to paying players a maximum of $350,000, which included $300,000 in allocation spending per club and $50,000 for maximum salaries.
In 2020, the NWSL allowed allocation spending for the first time, with a salary cap of $682,500 for the following year. This did not include the $400,000 allocation money that clubs could use to pay players above the maximum or for transfer fees.
While the salaries of PHF players may not be as high as those in the WNBA or NWSL, it is important to note that women’s hockey is still relatively new as a professional sport. The PHF has made significant progress in recent years, increasing salaries and providing other benefits to players. Additionally, the league is working to increase its exposure and fan base, which could lead to higher salaries in the future.
Overall, the salaries of professional female athletes are still significantly lower than those of male athletes in comparable leagues. However, the progress made in recent years in the PHF, WNBA, and NWSL is a positive sign for the future of women’s sports and the continued growth and development of these leagues.
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