Daryl Watts

Daryl Watts
Watts with PWHL Ottawa in 2024
Born (1999-05-15) May 15, 1999
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Height 5 ft 6 in (168 cm)
Position Forward
Shoots Left
PWHL team
Former teams		 Toronto Sceptres
PWHL Ottawa
Toronto Six
Boston College Eagles
Wisconsin Badgers
National team  Canada
Playing career 2015–present
Medal record
Olympic Games
2026 Milano Cortina Team
World Championships
2025 Czechia
World U18 Championships
2017 Czech Republic

Daryl Watts (born May 15, 1999) is a Canadian ice hockey forward for the Toronto Sceptres of the Professional Women's Hockey League (PWHL) and a member of Canada’s national women’s hockey team.

Watts finished her NCAA career as the second-highest scorer of all time and remains the highest-scoring active player to have competed in NCAA women’s hockey. A four-time NCAA All-American (three First Team selections), she is the first freshman ever to win the Patty Kazmaier Award.[1] She also publicly disclosed a US$150,000 salary for the 2023–24 PHF season, which remains the highest publicly disclosed annual salary in professional women’s hockey.[2] In 2021, she was named University of Wisconsin Female Athlete of the Year.

Playing career

Hockey Canada

Watts was a member of Canada's entry at the 2016 IIHF U18 Women's World Championships in St. Catharine's, Ontario.[3] Her first appearance in a Hockey Canada jersey took place in August 2015 as Canada's National Women's Under-18 Team challenged the United States in a three-game series in Lake Placid, New York.[4]

In the gold medal game of the 2017 IIHF U18 Women's World Championships, contested at PSG Arena in Zlin, Czech Republic, Watts scored a goal for Canada in the third period, their first of the game. Although said goal would tie the game, the US would score twice in the final three minutes, prevailing in a 3–1 final.[5]

College career

Boston College

Watts played her first two collegiate seasons at Boston College. During the 2017–18 season, she recorded 42 goals and 40 assists for 82 points in 38 games, leading all of NCAA Division I women’s hockey in scoring. That season, she won the Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award, becoming the first freshman to receive the honour. She was also named NCAA Rookie of the Year, Hockey East Player of the Year, and Hockey East Rookie of the Year.

Watts returned for the 2018–19 season, recording 48 points in 39 games, before entering the NCAA transfer portal.

Wisconsin

Watts transferred to the University of Wisconsin in 2019. She led the NCAA in scoring during the 2019–20 season and was named WCHA Player of the Year in 2021. That same season, she scored the overtime game-winning goal in the NCAA national championship game.

In recognition of her achievements across all varsity sports, Wisconsin named Watts its Female Athlete of the Year in 2021.

Professional career

Premier Hockey Federation (PHF)

In January 2023, Watts signed a two-year contract with the Toronto Six of the Premier Hockey Federation. She joined the team late in the 2022–23 season and won the Isobel Cup championship.[6]

Ahead of the following season, Watts publicly disclosed that her 2023–24 salary would be US$150,000, a figure that received widespread North American media coverage and remains the highest publicly disclosed annual salary in professional women’s hockey.[7]

Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL)

Following the dissolution of the PHF, Watts entered the PWHL and was selected by Ottawa in the league’s inaugural draft. After the 2023–24 season, she became a free agent and signed with the Toronto Sceptres.[8]

While with Toronto, Watts emerged as one of the league’s top offensive players, becoming the second player in PWHL history to reach 50 career points. She was named a PWHL Second Team All-Star in 2025.

International play

Watts represented Canada at the IIHF U18 Women’s World Championship and later earned selection to the senior national team where she won silver in the 2025 IIHF Women's World Championship.[9] In January 2026, she was named to Canada’s roster for the 2026 Winter Olympic Games in Milan.[10]

On February 7, 2026, Watts was one of six Canadian skaters making their Olympic debut as Canada played Switzerland. [11] Defeating Switzerland in a 4-0 final, Watts contributed a multi point effort, recording a goal and assisting on a goal by Sarah Fillier.[12]

In the final game of preliminary round play of Group A, Watts recorded a goal as Canada beat Finland by a 5-0 mark.[13]

In the 2026 Olympic quarterfinals against Germany, Watts had a goal and assist in the match, a 5-1 win.[14] In the match, she assisted on the goal scored by Marie-Philip Poulin, tying Hayley Wickenheiser for most Olympic goals all-time with 18. [15]

In the semifinals of the 2026 Olympics, Watts assisted on a goal by Marie-Philip Poulin in a 2-1 win.[16] Said goal was the 20th of Poulin's Olympic career, setting a scoring record. [16]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
2013–14 Toronto Jr. Aeros Prov. WHL 1 0 0 0 0 4 1 0 1 0
2014–15 Toronto Jr. Aeros Prov. WHL 37 28 20 48 6 13 6 6 12 0
2015–16 Mississauga Jr. Chiefs Prov. WHL 34 30 35 65 24 11 4 7 11 2
2016–17 Mississauga Jr. Chiefs Prov. WHL 31 37 15 52 22 13 14 3 17 8
2017–18 Boston College Eagles WHEA 38 42 40 82 34 — — — — —
2018–19 Boston College Eagles WHEA 39 22 26 48 20 — — — — —
2019–20 Wisconsin Badgers WCHA 36 25 49 74 4 — — — — —
2020–21 Wisconsin Badgers WCHA 21 19 17 36 0 — — — — —
2021–22 Wisconsin Badgers WCHA 38 28 29 57 12 — — — — —
2022–23 Toronto Six PHF 12 3 4 7 6 4 0 1 1 0
2023–24 PWHL Ottawa PWHL 24 10 7 17 8 — — — — —
2024–25 Toronto Sceptres PWHL 30 12 15 27 12 4 1 1 2 2
NCAA totals 172 136 161 297 70 — — — — —
PHF totals 12 3 4 7 6 4 0 1 1 0
PWHL totals 54 22 22 44 20 4 1 1 2 2

Source: [17]

Hockey Canada

Year Event GP G A Pts PIM
2016 National Women's U18 Championships 5 4 4 8 0
2017 IIHF U18 World Championships 5 2 1 3 4

Awards and honours

  • 2018 Boston College Athletics Female Rookie of the Year Award[18]
  • 2018 Cammi Granato Award, awarded to Women's Hockey East Player of the Year[19]
  • 2018 Hockey East Rookie of the Year
  • 2018 Women's Hockey Commissioners Association National Rookie of the Year
  • 2017–18 First Team Hockey East[20]
  • 2018 Patty Kazmaier Award
  • CCM/AHCA 2018–19 Second Team All-American
  • CCM/AHCA 2019–20 Second Team All-American[21]
  • 2019–20 NCAA scoring champion (74 points)
  • 2019–20 Wisconsin Badgers Offensive Player of the Year honors: (tied with Abby Roque).[22]
  • 2020–21 NCAA leader: points per game (1.79)
  • 2020–21 NCAA leader: goals per game (0.89)
  • 2020–21 NCAA leader (tied): goals (17)
  • 2020–21 WCHA leader: game-winning goals (4)
  • 2020–21 WCHA Player of the Year[23]
  • 2021 University of Wisconsin Female Athlete of the Year
  • Top-three Finalist: 2021 Patty Kazmaier Award
  • CCM/AHCA 2020–21 First Team All-American[24]
  • 2020–21 All-USCHO.com First Team[25]
  • 2024–25: PWHL Second All-Star Team[26]

References

  1. ^ USA Hockey Press Release (17 March 2018). "Daryl Watts Wins 21st Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award". Official Website for the Patty Kazmaier Award. Archived from the original on 25 November 2020. Retrieved 26 July 2018.
  2. ^ "TORONTO SIX SIGN PATTY KAZMAIER WINNING FORWARD DARYL WATTS TO TWO-YEAR CONTRACT". PremierHockeyFederation.com. January 25, 2023. Archived from the original on January 26, 2023. Retrieved January 26, 2023.
  3. ^ "2016 IIHF U18 Women's World Championship – Team Roster". Hockey Canada. n.d. Archived from the original on 2 August 2018. Retrieved 1 August 2018.
  4. ^ "2016 IIHF U18 Women's World Championship Player Profile- Daryl Watts". Hockey Canada. n.d. Archived from the original on 31 December 2017. Retrieved 1 August 2018.
  5. ^ Press Release (14 January 2017). "2017 IIHF U18 Women's World Championship: Game #22 – Gold/Or Final". Hockey Canada. Archived from the original on 31 December 2017. Retrieved 1 August 2018.
  6. ^ "TORONTO SIX SIGN PATTY KAZMAIER WINNING FORWARD DARYL WATTS TO TWO-YEAR CONTRACT". PremierHockeyFederation.com. January 25, 2023. Archived from the original on January 26, 2023. Retrieved January 26, 2023.
  7. ^ "NCAA star Daryl Watts reveals record $150,000 US contract with PHF's Toronto Six". CBC.ca. January 26, 2023. Archived from the original on January 25, 2023. Retrieved January 26, 2023.
  8. ^ Salvian, Hailey (21 June 2024). "PWHL Toronto signs star forward Daryl Watts in free agency". The New York Times. Retrieved 21 June 2024.
  9. ^ Squazzin, Katrina (2026-01-29). "Olympic debut a full-circle moment for Sceptres star Daryl Watts". Sportsnet.ca. Retrieved 2026-01-30.
  10. ^ "Team Canada unveils women's roster for 2026 Olympics in Milan". TSN.ca. January 9, 2026. Retrieved January 9, 2026.
  11. ^ Tozer, Jamie (2026-02-07). "Team Canada defeats Switzerland in women's hockey opener". Team Canada. Retrieved 11 February 2026.
  12. ^ Press, Canadian (2026-02-07). "Fillier, Watts pace Canada to win over Switzerland to open Olympic tournament". TSN. Retrieved 11 February 2026.
  13. ^ Press, Canadian (2025-02-12). "Canada blanks Finns in women's hockey, will face Germany in quarters". TSN.ca. Retrieved 12 February 2025.
  14. ^ Maat, Sarah (2025-04-11). "Women's Hockey Takeaways: Poulin's historic comeback helps Canada rout Germany". Sportsnet. Retrieved 4 May 2025.
  15. ^ Podnieks, Andrew (2025-04-11). "Poulin ties "Wick" in return". IIHF. Retrieved 4 May 2025.
  16. ^ a b Kennedy, Ian (2026-02-16). "Marie-Philip Poulin Sets all-time Canadian Olympic Goal Scoring Record Passing Hayley Wickenheiser". The Hockey News. Retrieved 17 February 2026.
  17. ^ "Playing profile: Daryl Watts". Elite Prospects. Retrieved June 22, 2024.
  18. ^ Athletic Communications (6 May 2018). "2018 Golden Eagle Award Winners". Boston College Eagles Athletics. Archived from the original on 30 July 2018. Retrieved 27 July 2018.
  19. ^ Hockey East (2 March 2018). "DARYL WATTS HONORED AS LEAGUE'S PLAYER, ROOKIE OF THE YEAR". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. Archived from the original on 28 July 2018. Retrieved 26 July 2018.
  20. ^ Press Release (2 March 2018). "Women's Hockey East Names 2017–18 All-Star Teams". Hockey East. Archived from the original on 30 July 2018. Retrieved 27 July 2018.
  21. ^ "2019–20 CCM/AHCA Women's University Division All-Americans Announced". ahcahockey.com. 24 March 2020. Archived from the original on 4 February 2023. Retrieved 1 April 2021.
  22. ^ "Badgers announce 2019–2020 award winners". uwbadgers.com. 2020-05-20. Archived from the original on 2023-02-12. Retrieved 2021-03-03.
  23. ^ "WISCONSIN'S DARYL WATTS NAMED 2020–21 WCHA PLAYER OF THE YEAR, PRESENTED BY STERLING TROPHY". wcha.com. 2021-03-05. Archived from the original on 2021-04-15. Retrieved 2021-03-29.
  24. ^ "Five Hockey East Players Players Named CCM/AHCA Women's All-Americans – NCAA #1 seed Northeastern boasts four players on the two teams". hockeyeastonline.com. 2021-03-19. Archived from the original on 2021-03-19. Retrieved 2021-03-19.
  25. ^ "Women's Division I College Hockey: 2020–2021 All-USCHO Teams". uscho.com. 2021-04-02. Archived from the original on 2021-04-16. Retrieved 2021-03-29.
  26. ^ "PWHL Announces 2025 Award Winners". thepwhl.com. June 25, 2025. Retrieved June 25, 2025.
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