PWHL Players Association is disclosing salaries as members vote to approve transparency

The Professional Women’s Hockey League Players Association began publicly listing salaries this week on its website, doing so after the union's leader said members voted to approve the disclosure.

PWHLPA executive director Malaika Underwood called it the natural next step after players gave the green light to share salary numbers among each other and agents and that minimum and average figures were already public in the collective bargaining agreement.

“This decision reflects our belief that greater salary transparency gives players clearer information and stronger context in individual negotiations, while also supporting a more transparent and credible marketplace for the league overall,” Underwood said in a statement to The Associated Press on Thursday.

The range for the 2025-26 season goes from the league minimum $37,131.50 to highest-paid Emily Clark of the Ottawa Charge at $126,090. Sarah Fillier of the New York Sirens is next at $125,000, followed by Ottawa's Brianne Jenner at $122,003.

Abby Roque ($116,699) and Marie-Philip Poulin ($110,216) of the Walter Cup champion Montreal Victoire were among the 10 players to eclipse six figures of earnings this past season. They're joined by Seattle's Hilary Knight and Toronto's Renata Fast ($106,090), Boston's Megan Keller and Ottawa's Gabrielle Hughes ($105,000) and Minnesota's Kendal Coyne Schofield ($100,785.50).

Knight, Coyne Schofield and recently named Hamilton general manager Meghan Duggan were among the key figures who were part of the dispute with USA Hockey in 2017 that led to a contract for the women's national team to pay players at a time when a professional path in the sport to make a living wage was not possible.

“You think about where women’s sports, women’s hockey, professional women’s hockey have gone since then,” Duggan said on a video call with reporters Thursday. “Back then, women’s professional hockey players really were not making a whole lot, and now we have this this league where players are making a living and and beyond.”

The PWHL is expanding from eight to 12 teams for next season, adding teams in Detroit, Las Vegas, San Jose, California, and Hamilton, Ontario. An incoming rookie class made up of five gold medal-winning U.S. Olympians, led by tournament MVP Caroline Harvey, and an influx influx of European talent will be entering the league as part of the expansion.

Las Vegas GM Dominique DiDia, who was an agent before moving into management, said she has been a proponent of players knowing their salaries and those of others since the beginning.

“It’s something that on the NHL side is visible, and it helps players and agents make comparisons in order to know what they should be paid and making sure that they’re on the same playing field as their peers,” DiDia said. "I think it’s something that is beneficial for both sides, allowing us to have clarity and make sure that players are being paid for what they deserve.”

Duggan said players deserve these salaries after the PWHL worked to build a successful league from the ground up.

“They and the staff have put butts in the seats and created something,” Duggan said. “I’d like to call it a movement — a movement where people want to be a part of this. People want to come to the rink. They want to support women’s hockey. They want pay to see these players be excellent. We’re only going to continue to improve from here. But I love knowing that a lot of the women are being paid for the effort that they’ve put in for so long."

AP women’s hockey: https://apnews.com/hub/womens-hockey

Montreal Victoire's Amanda Boulier (44) drinks beer from the PWHL Walter Cup, held by Shiann Darkangelo (27), after the team's win against the Ottawa Charge, in Ottawa, on Wednesday, May 20, 2026. (Justin Tang/The Canadian Press via AP) CORRECTION: name of photographer Justin Tang

Montreal Victoire's Abby Roque (11) celebrates her goal against the Ottawa Charge during third period in Game 4 PWHL Walter Cup final hockey game in Ottawa, Wednesday, May 20, 2026. (Justin Tang/The Canadian Press via AP)

Montreal Victoire's Marie-Philip Poulin (29) raises the PWHL Walter Cup after the team's win against the Ottawa Charge, in Ottawa, on Wednesday, May 20, 2026. (Justin Tang/The Canadian Press via AP) CORRECTION: name of photographer Justin Tang

Montreal Victoire goaltender Ann-Renee Desbiens, front left, comes out of her crease to challenge Ottawa Charge's Emily Clark (26) for the puck during the second period of Game 3 in the PWHL Walter Cup finals hockey series in Ottawa, Ontario, Monday May 18, 2026. (Justin Tang/The Canadian Press via AP)

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — Democrat Xavier Becerra advanced to the general election for California governor Friday after pitching himself as an experienced choice to lead the nation’s most populous state and succeed Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom.

Becerra leaned on his more than 35 years in public office, including as state attorney general and U.S. health secretary, to argue that he was the most qualified candidate in a crowded field.

“The people of the great state of California, in the greatest nation on earth, have spoken — loudly and proudly,” Becerra said in a statement. “We are never backing down. November, here we come.”

It was not yet clear who Becerra would face in the general election. His top rivals came down to Republican Steve Hilton, a former Fox News commentator backed by President Donald Trump, and Democrat Tom Steyer, a billionaire climate activist who poured $215 million of his own money into his campaign.

Born and raised in Sacramento by Mexican immigrant parents, Becerra has a wife and three daughters. He has said his family’s immigrant background mirrored his “underdog” gubernatorial campaign, in which he initially failed to garner substantial support before surging in the final months.

After one of the top Democratic contenders, Rep. Eric Swalwell, was accused of sexual assault and dropped out of the race, Becerra benefited from an opening to coalesce Democratic support. He quickly racked up key endorsements from labor groups and Latino legislative leaders.

Becerra has vowed to maintain the state’s mantle as a chief antagonist to President Donald Trump. As attorney general, he filed more than 120 legal actions against the first Trump administration on everything from immigration to climate policy.

The president has also been in a spat with the state over its drawn-out vote count. Trump made baseless claims about mass fraud Thursday, and on Friday, federal prosecutors said they opened investigations into allegations of election fraud. Hilton called for California to limit mail ballots to those who request them, rather than sending them to all registered voters.

During the campaign, Becerra’s rivals scrutinized his leadership as health secretary during the COVID-19 pandemic and the unaccompanied migrant children crisis in 2021, when Becerra’s Department of Health and Human Services was responsible for shelters where they were housed. Some of them were criticized as having inadequate living conditions, and there were also concerns about authorities failing to thoroughly vet sponsors with whom some children were placed.

If elected, Becerra said, he would declare states of emergency to address high energy costs and housing shortages and to freeze home insurance rates.

Though California is one of the nation’s most diverse states, Becerra would be the first Latino to hold the office since the late 1800s.

Newsom was barred by term limits from seeking a third stint in office.

Democratic gubernatorial candidate Tom Steyer speaks during his election night watch party in San Francisco on Tuesday, June 2, 2026. (Santiago Mejia/San Francisco Chronicle via AP)

California gubernatorial candidate Steve Hilton speaks during an election night event Tuesday, June 2, 2026, in Huntington Beach, Calif. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)

California gubernatorial candidate Xavier Becerra speaks during an election night event Tuesday, June 2, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)