The PWHL expansion era is in full swing — and Erica Al Ala and Rachel Donner are breaking down every move. On this episode of At Even Strength, we recap Phases 2 and 3 of PWHL free agency and look ahead to what Phase 4 means for Detroit, Hamilton, Las Vegas, San Jose, Seattle, and Vancouver.
In this episode:
🏒 Hillary Knight to Detroit — Vegas used the EFO, the sign-and-trade is in motion, and a one-year deal tells you everything you need to know about where this is heading
🏒 Daryl Watts signs the PWHL's first-ever 4-year contract with Detroit — a landmark moment for the league
🏒 Detroit's roster is building fast — Hayley Scamurra, Aerin Frankel, Mae Batherson, Nicole Hensley, Taylor Gerrard, Sidney Bard, Jesse Compher, Britta Curl Salemi, Hannah Bilka, and Kayla Barnes are already in the fold
🏒 Seattle's roster shakeup — Alex Carpenter, Julia Gosling, Michaela Grant-Mentis, and Danielle Serdachny form the core going forward, and why this looks like a youth movement
🏒 What Phase 4 opens up — Kristen Campbell available from Vancouver, goaltending questions for Detroit, and which unprotected players could reshape rosters
🏒 Existing teams: protection strategy breakdown — Montreal's cap flexibility after losing high-paid players, Minnesota keeping Maddie Rooney, Kelly Pannek, Lee Stecklein, and Grace Zumwinkle, and Toronto protecting Natalie Spooner and Kali Flanagan
🏒 Coaching hires — Molly Engstrom named head coach of Detroit (a deep dive into her player and coaching pedigree), and Christine Bumstead promoted to head coach of the Seattle Torrent after running the power play in Year 1
🏒 The women's coaching pipeline — are the best PWHL coaching candidates stuck as college assistants with nowhere to go? Can the PWHL lure them away? And will former PWHL players skip college coaching entirely and come straight to the pro bench?
Plus: Rachel Donner is going boots on the ground in Detroit for the PWHL Entry Draft and awards — is it the KK Harvey show at #1? Will Vancouver trade the pick? And where does Hillary Knight ultimately land?
🎙️ At Even Strength is a women's hockey podcast from Black Rosie Media, hosted by Erica L. Ayala and Rachel Donner. We cover the PWHL, NCAA women's hockey, and international play — with the depth and analysis the game deserves.
Enjoyed this episode? Here's how to stay in the loop:
📲 Subscribe on YouTube and hit the bell so you never miss an episode
🎧 Listen on your podcast app — search At Even Strength 🌐 BlackRosieMedia.com for all our coverage
🦋 Bluesky | 🎵 TikTok — @BlackRosieMedia
📬 Join our newsletter for access to our Slack community — free and paid tiers available at BlackRosieMedia.com
And drop a comment below 👇 — which player are you most excited to see sign in Phase 4?
TIMESTAMPS
0:00 – Phase 4 is here: what's at stake for every expansion team
6:00 – Hillary Knight to Detroit: breaking down the sign-and-trade
14:00 – Daryl Watts signs the PWHL's first-ever 4-year contract
23:00 – Minnesota, Montreal & Toronto: how the existing teams protected their core
27:00 – Seattle's roster overhaul: who stays, who goes, what's next
30:00 – Phase 4 preview: Kristen Campbell, goaltending, and key free agents still available
42:00 – Molly Engstrom & Christine Bumstead hired: the women's coaching pipeline is real
52:00 – Can the PWHL pull college coaches away? The future of women in hockey leadership
Follow us on Bluesky social!
Erica L Ayala
🦋https://bsky.app/profile/elindsay08.bsky.social
Rachel Donner
🦋https://bsky.app/profile/rmiriam.bsky.social
At Even Strength on TikTok
📲https://www.tiktok.com/@atevenstrength_pod
Follow & Subscribe on all Podcast platforms…
🎧https://blackrosiemedia.transistor.fm/
Black Rosie Media: Olympics, Women’s Hockey, Women’s Basketball, and other stories that matter!
🎧 https://linktr.ee/BlackRosieMedia
#pwhl #womenshockey #hockey
🎥 WATCH
🎧 LISTEN
• Download and follow & leave a 5⭐️ rating on Apple: http://bit.ly/4bCWKpn
• Other Black Rosie Media podcasts:
https://blackrosiemedia.transistor.fm/
📱FOLLOW BLACK ROSIE MEDIA
📖 READ
• More Black women in sports news:
💵Black Women in Sports
• Exclusive Interviews with Black Women in Sports:
• Must-Watch documentaries:
• Must-read books & articles:
ABOUT THE SHOW
Get your weekly women’s hockey fix with Erica L. Ayala and Rachel Donner. They will cover the top news in the PWHL, NCAA, and international women’s ice hockey.