The exclusive signing window opened at 9 am on Wednesday, June 4 and things were quiet for much of the day before going a bit nuts around dinner time. We will update this tracker as news is confirmed by a player, team or the league. Information that has not been officially announced will be marked as rumored or reported.
Here's what we know so far:
Seattle signings:
F Hilary Knight (from Boston)
F Danielle Serdachny (from Ottawa)
D Cayla Barnes (from Montréal)
Vancouver signings:
D Claire Thompson (from Minnesota)
D Sophie Jaques (from Minnesota)
G Emerance Maschmeyer (from Ottawa)
F Sarah Nurse (from Toronto)
Jun 5, 02:00 PM Eastern
Vancouver signs Sarah Nurse to a one-year contract
One of Toronto's first-three signings, Nurse ranks fifth with a career points-per-game average of 0.82, compiling 37 points on 17 goals and 20 assists in 45 games played. She's a tw0-time two-time Olympian who won silver in 2018 and gold in 2022, where she broke the tournament points record, racking up 18. She is also a six-time World Championship medalist.
Jun 5, 01:15 PM Eastern
Seattle signs Cayla Barnes to a three-year contract
The fifth-overall pick in the 2024 draft, Barnes was fifth among all PWHL rookies with 13 points on two goals and 11 assists in 30 games. Fast and crafty, she's a tough defender who's difficult to beat that adds dimension offensively. She's got great vision and instinct for how a play will develop and thrives in transition.
Barnes won gold at the 2018 Olympics and silver in 2022 and has six medals (three gold, three silver) through six IIHF Women's World Championships appearances with Team USA.
Jun 5, 12:00 PM Eastern
Seattle signs Danielle Serdachny to a two-year contract
The number two overall pick in 2024, Serdachny was outstanding in college and was a Patty Kazmeier top-three finalist in 2024. She has been a standout with Canada in three World Championships, including scoring the overtime gold-medal winning goal in 2024. She didn't quite reach her full potential in her first season, but the ceiling is quite high.
The signing triggered an additional protected player for Ottawa, who added Gabbie Hughes to their protected list.
Jun 5, 11:00 AM Eastern
Vancouver signs Emerance Maschmeyer to a two-year contract
An untimely injury and an outstanding run by backup Gwyn Philips changed the course of things in Ottawa and left Maschemeyer available. An eight-time medal winner at the IIHF World Championships and 2022 Olympic gold medalist, she was one of Ottawa’s three foundational signings and had 15 wins with two shutouts, with a career goals-against-average of 2.42 and save percentage of .914 in her two seasons with the Charge. She's the first goalie in PWHL history to surpass 1,000 career regular-season saves.
June 4, 10:20 PM Eastern
Seattle signs Hilary Knight to one-year contract
The team captain and original-three signee with the Boston Fleet is moving on to Seattle. She is the co-winner of the 2024-25 PWHL Points Leader Award after tying for the league lead with 29 points on 15 goals and 14 assists over 30 games, Knight is a finalist for the 2025 Forward of the Year and Billie Jean King MVP award.
Though she announced she would not sign on for another four-year Olympic cycle with Team USA following the 2026 games, she told Sarah Spain on the "Good Game" podcast that she planned to continue to play in the PWHL and specfically spoke of her allegiance to Boston and her desire to bring a title to the city, which made the team leaving her unprotected especially surprising.
That being said, Seattle is closer to home for both Knight and her girlfriend, US Speedskater Brittany Bowe (US Speedskating is based on Utah).
June 4, 08:30 PM Eastern
Rumored and reported, but not yet announced via team or league:
Sarah Nurse to Vancouver (via Hailey Salvian)
Jun 4, 07:15 PM Eastern
Vancouver signs Sophie Jaques to three-year contract
Jaques was under contract with Minnesota for one more season, but is now under contract with Vancouver through the 2027-2028 season. She tied for the lead in scoring among defenders this season with 22 points on seven goals and 15 assists in 25 games. She had two goals and five assists in eight games this past postseason. A two-time Walter Cup Champion, Jaques was selected 10th overall in the 2023 draft by Boston. She was traded to Minnesota in February 2024.
Jun 4, 06:33 PM Eastern
Vancouver signs Claire Thompson to one-year contract
The 27-year-old was drafted third overall in 2024 by Minnesota. She was a finalist for Defender of the Year and won the Walter Cup with the Frost. She was third in scoring among defenders with 18 points on four goals and 14 assists in 30 games.
Jun 3, 12:00 PM Eastern
League announces team protection lists:
Boston Fleet (3): Aerin Frankel (G), Megan Keller (D), Alina Müller (F)
Minnesota Frost (3): Kendall Coyne Schofield (F), Taylor Heise (F), Lee Stecklein (D)
Montréal Victoire (3): Ann-Renée Desbiens (G), Marie-Philip Poulin (F), Laura Stacey (F)
New York Sirens (3): Sarah Fillier (F), Ella Shelton (D), Micah Zandee-Hart (D)
Ottawa Charge (3): Emily Clark (F), Gwyneth Philips (G), Ronja Savolainen (D)
Toronto Sceptres (3): Renata Fast (D), Blayre Turnbull (F), Daryl Watts (F)
(Photo: PWHL)
