US Women's Hockey Team Signs New Contract, Averts World Championship Boycott

USA Hockey agreed to a new contract with the United States women's national team, USA Today's Kevin Allen and A.J. Perez reported Tuesday.

The national team was planning to boycott the IIHF Women's World Championship over a pay dispute with the federation.

"Today reflects everyone coming together and compromising in order to reach a resolution for the betterment of the sport," USA Hockey president Jim Smith said. "We'll now move forward together knowing we'll look back on this day as one of the most positive in the history of USA Hockey."

The agreement allows USA Hockey to avoid what would've been an embarrassing situation at the Women's World Championship. Perez noted many players had turned down the opportunity to play for the national team in the event during the boycott, leaving the federation to ask players from under-16 and adult leagues and NCAA Division III schools.

According to Allen and Perez, the full terms of the national team's contract weren't disclosed. USA Hockey will create a Women's High Performance Advisory Group made up of former and current national team players that will help grow the game for girls and women in the U.S.

ESPN's Johnette Howard also reported each national team player will receive about $70,000 a year, and players could earn six figures if they meet certain performance bonuses.

Earlier this month, team captain Meghan Duggan said she and her teammates were looking to receive a living wage and for USA Hockey to "stop treating us like an afterthought," per the New York Times' Seth Berkman.

Having officially signed a new contract, the national team will have little preparation time before the Women's World Championship begins. The U.S. plays Canada on Friday, and ESPN's Craig Custance reported the team will have its first official practice Thursday.

Despite the lack of preparation resulting from the boycott, the United States will enter the event as one of the top favorites. The U.S. has won the past three tournaments and six of the last seven.