PWHL Seattle sign Cayla Barnes
PWHL Seattle took the next step in their roster build on Thursday, signing defender Cayla Barnes from the Montréal Victoire to a three-year standard player agreement.
Barnes, 26, becomes the third player signed to Seattle, after the club signed Danielle Serdachny from the Ottawa Charge and American hockey legend, Hilary Knight, from the Boston Fleet.
Becoming the first defender signed to Seattle, Barnes is coming off a rookie season with the Victoire, after being selected fifth overall in the 2024 PWHL Draft, following a standout collegiate career with Boston College and The Ohio State University.
CAYLA BARNES WINS IT IN OVERTIME! 💪
Her second goal of the season for @PWHL_Montreal is a backhand beauty! pic.twitter.com/yirlQU5gRu
In her first professional season, Barnes tied for the top-scoring defender with Montréal, netting two goals and 13 points, a tally that also put her fifth among all PWHL rookies, a strong follow-up to her 31 goals and 80 assists through her 170 NCAA games.
Internationally, Barnes has been a part of two U.S. Olympic teams, winning gold at the PyeongChang 2018 Games and silver at the Beijing 2022 Games. She has also represented Team USA at six IIHF Women’s World Championships, capturing three titles and three silvers, most recently winning the 2025 World Championship.
“I am thrilled and thankful for this opportunity to join PWHL Seattle in its inaugural season,” Barnes said in a release. “The passion for women’s hockey has proven that Seattle is truly a hockey town, and I can’t wait to get started.
“I want to thank the Montréal Victoire for the opportunity to play for such a historic city and for drafting me into this league. Playing for the Victoire will always be a memorable chapter in my career that I hold close to my heart. I am looking forward to returning to the West Coast and to get to know the fans, the city, and the hockey community in Seattle!”
Lacing up for the new expansion team won’t be the first time Barnes has played in Seattle either, having participated in the PWHL Takeover game between Montreal and the Boston Fleet, which also featured Knight, her new teammate.
While no schedule has been published for the 2025-26 season, the rosters are coming together for the expansion teams in Seattle and Vancouver, with the latter inking Emerance Maschmeyer, Sarah Nurse, Claire Thompson and Sophie Jaques as their first four players.
The two expansion teams are in an exclusive signing window and can bring in up to eight players ahead of June 8 at 5:00 p.m. ET, before the 2025 Expansion Draft on June 9, where both Seattle and Vancouver will select a minimum of seven players.