Daryl Watts sets the highest-paid record in Women’s Hockey

There is a new record for the highest-paid woman in professional hockey history. That new total goes to Daryl Watts, a rookie in the Premier Hockey Federation, who last week signed with the Toronto Six.

Toronto Six disclosed Daryl Watts’ contract terms, and her US$150,000 salary in 2023-24 will be a PHF’s record.

The Six signed the 23-year-old from Toronto to a two-year contract last week.

“We’re pretty ecstatic that Daryl Watts is joining our organization,” said Toronto Six GM and hockey legend Angela James in a team press release. “I think for those who know Daryl, this is a great opportunity for the Toronto Six to have a player of her caliber join us.

“Players of her stature will only raise the play of others around her, and in turn, her performance as well. With the talent we already have in the dressing room, I think Daryl will thrive in our organization, and I can’t wait to see what she brings to the Toronto Six.”

The PHF’s current salary cap of $750,000 is scheduled to double next season to $1.5 million with a projected salary floor of $1.125 million.

Currently, Buffalo Beauts forward Mikyla-Grant Mentis is the highest-paid player in the PHF and in North American professional women’s hockey history, making $80,000 this season.

The seven-team PHF, with clubs in both Toronto and Montreal, intends to double the salary cap from its current $750,000 per team to $1.5 million next season.

Watts ranks second all-time in NCAA scoring with 297 points in 172 games, including 136 goals and 161 assists recorded over five seasons from 2017-22 with both Boston College and the University of Wisconsin.

In her rookie season at Boston, she was the first freshman to win the Patty Kazmaier Award that goes to the top player in women’s Division 1 hockey.

This article was reported by CP.