{{Short description|Canadian ice hockey player (born 1999)}} {{Infobox ice hockey player | image = Daryl Watts.jpg | alt = | caption = Watts with PWHL Ottawa in 2024 | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1999|5|15}} | birth_place = Toronto, Ontario, Canada | position = Forward | shoots = Left | height_ft = 5 | height_in = 6 | weight_lb = | league = PWHL | team = Toronto Sceptres | former_teams = PWHL Ottawa<br />Toronto Six<br />Boston College Eagles<br />Wisconsin Badgers | sex = f | ntl_team = Canada | career_start = 2015 | medaltemplates= {{MedalOlympic}} {{MedalSilver|2026 Milano Cortina|Team}} {{MedalCompetition|World Championships}} {{MedalSilver|2025 Czechia|}} {{MedalCompetition|World U18 Championships}} {{MedalSilver|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.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.pattykaz.com/news_article/show/898444|title= Daryl Watts Wins 21st Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award|publisher= Official Website for the Patty Kazmaier Award|author= USA Hockey Press Release|date= 17 March 2018|accessdate= 26 July 2018|archive-date= 25 November 2020|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20201125044038/https://www.pattykaz.com/news_article/show/898444|url-status= live}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://toronto.premierhockeyfederation.com/news/toronto-six-sign-patty-kazmaier-winning-forward-da |title=TORONTO SIX SIGN PATTY KAZMAIER WINNING FORWARD DARYL WATTS TO TWO-YEAR CONTRACT |website=PremierHockeyFederation.com |date=January 25, 2023 |access-date=January 26, 2023 |archive-date=January 26, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230126185955/https://toronto.premierhockeyfederation.com/news/toronto-six-sign-patty-kazmaier-winning-forward-da |url-status=live }}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.hockeycanada.ca/en-ca/team-canada/women/under-18/2016-wc/stats/team-rosters?teamid=378 |title=2016 IIHF U18 Women's World Championship – Team Roster |publisher=Hockey Canada |date=n.d. |accessdate=1 August 2018 |archive-date=2 August 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180802162838/https://www.hockeycanada.ca/en-ca/team-canada/women/under-18/2016-wc/stats/team-rosters?teamid=378 |url-status=live }}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite web |url= https://hockeycanada.ca/en-ca/national-championships/women/national-u18/2016/stats/player-profile?playerid=689 |title= 2016 IIHF U18 Women's World Championship Player Profile- Daryl Watts |publisher= Hockey Canada |date= n.d. |accessdate= 1 August 2018 |archive-date= 31 December 2017 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20171231082149/https://www.hockeycanada.ca/en-ca/national-championships/women/national-u18/2016/stats/player-profile?playerid=689 |url-status= live }}</ref>
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.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hockeycanada.ca/en-ca/team-canada/women/under-18/2016-17/world-championship/stats/game-summary?gameid=174|title=2017 IIHF U18 Women's World Championship: Game #22 – Gold/Or Final|publisher=Hockey Canada|author=Press Release|date=14 January 2017|accessdate=1 August 2018|archive-date=31 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171231212906/https://www.hockeycanada.ca/en-ca/team-canada/women/under-18/2016-17/world-championship/stats/game-summary?gameid=174|url-status=live}}</ref>
===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.<ref>{{cite web |date=January 25, 2023 |title=TORONTO SIX SIGN PATTY KAZMAIER WINNING FORWARD DARYL WATTS TO TWO-YEAR CONTRACT |url=https://toronto.premierhockeyfederation.com/news/toronto-six-sign-patty-kazmaier-winning-forward-da |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230126185955/https://toronto.premierhockeyfederation.com/news/toronto-six-sign-patty-kazmaier-winning-forward-da |archive-date=January 26, 2023 |access-date=January 26, 2023 |website=PremierHockeyFederation.com}}</ref>
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.<ref name="cbc.ca">{{cite web |url=https://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/phf-daryl-watts-record-signing-1.6725545 |title=NCAA star Daryl Watts reveals record $150,000 US contract with PHF's Toronto Six |website=CBC.ca |date=January 26, 2023 |access-date=January 26, 2023 |archive-date=January 25, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230125192138/http://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/phf-daryl-watts-record-signing-1.6725545 |url-status=live}}</ref>
==== 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.<ref name="TOR signing">{{cite web |last1=Salvian |first1=Hailey |date=21 June 2024 |title=PWHL Toronto signs star forward Daryl Watts in free agency |url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5582342/2024/06/21/pwhl-toronto-signs-daryl-watts/ |access-date=21 June 2024 |website=The New York Times |language=en}}</ref>
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.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Olympic debut a full-circle moment for Sceptres star Daryl Watts|url=https://www.sportsnet.ca/pwhl/article/olympic-debut-a-full-circle-moment-for-sceptres-star-daryl-watts/|website=Sportsnet.ca|date=2026-01-29|access-date=2026-01-30|language=en|first=Katrina|last=Squazzin}}</ref> In January 2026, she was named to Canada’s roster for the 2026 Winter Olympic Games in Milan.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.tsn.ca/hockey-canada/article/team-canada-unveils-womens-roster-for-2026-olympics-in-milan/ |title=Team Canada unveils women’s roster for 2026 Olympics in Milan |website=TSN.ca |date=January 9, 2026 |access-date=January 9, 2026}}</ref>
On February 7, 2026, Watts was one of six Canadian skaters making their Olympic debut as Canada played Switzerland. <ref name="Canada defeats Switzerland">{{cite web |last1=Tozer |first1= Jamie|title=Team Canada defeats Switzerland in women's hockey opener|url=https://olympic.ca/2026/02/07/team-canada-defeats-switzerland-in-womens-hockey-opener/ |website=Team Canada |access-date=11 February 2026 |date=2026-02-07}}</ref> Defeating Switzerland in a 4-0 final, Watts contributed a multi point effort, recording a goal and assisting on a goal by Sarah Fillier.<ref name="Win over Switzerland">{{cite web |last1=Press |first1=Canadian|title=Fillier, Watts pace Canada to win over Switzerland to open Olympic tournament|url= https://www.tsn.ca/olympics/article/fillier-watts-pace-canada-to-win-over-switzerland-to-open-olympic-tournament/ |website=TSN|access-date=11 February 2026 |date=2026-02-07}}</ref>
In the final game of preliminary round play of Group A, Watts recorded a goal as Canada beat Finland by a 5-0 mark.<ref name="Canada blanks Finland">{{cite web |last1= Press|first1=Canadian |title= Canada blanks Finns in women's hockey, will face Germany in quarters|url=https://www.tsn.ca/olympics/article/canada-blanks-finns-in-womens-hockey-will-face-germany-in-quarters/ |website=TSN.ca |access-date=12 February 2025 |date=2025-02-12}}</ref>
In the 2026 Olympic quarterfinals against Germany, Watts had a goal and assist in the match, a 5-1 win.<ref name="5-1 win vs Germany">{{cite web |last1=Maat |first1=Sarah |title=Women's Hockey Takeaways: Poulin's historic comeback helps Canada rout Germany|url=https://www.sportsnet.ca/olympic-women-hockey/article/womens-hockey-takeaways-poulins-historic-comeback-helps-canada-rout-germany/ |website=Sportsnet |access-date=4 May 2025 |date=2025-04-11}}</ref> In the match, she assisted on the goal scored by Marie-Philip Poulin, tying Hayley Wickenheiser for most Olympic goals all-time with 18. <ref name="Canada 5 Germany 1">{{cite web |last1=Podnieks |first1=Andrew |title=Poulin ties "Wick" in return |url=https://www.iihf.com/en/events/2026/olympic-w/gamecenter/recap/68666/23-can-vs-ger |website=IIHF |access-date=4 May 2025 |date=2025-04-11}}</ref>
In the semifinals of the 2026 Olympics, Watts assisted on a goal by Marie-Philip Poulin in a 2-1 win.<ref name="Assist">{{cite web |last1= Kennedy |first1= Ian |title= Marie-Philip Poulin Sets all-time Canadian Olympic Goal Scoring Record Passing Hayley Wickenheiser|url= https://thehockeynews.com/womens/international/marie-philip-poulin-sets-all-time-canadian-olympic-goal-scoring-record-passing-hayley-wickenheiser |website=The Hockey News|access-date=17 February 2026 |date=2026-02-16}}</ref> Said goal was the 20th of Poulin's Olympic career, setting a scoring record. <ref name= "Assist"/>
==Career statistics== === Regular season and playoffs === {| border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="0" style="text-align:center; width:60em" |- bgcolor="#e0e0e0" ! colspan="3" bgcolor="#ffffff"| ! rowspan="100" bgcolor="#ffffff"| ! colspan="5"|Regular season ! rowspan="100" bgcolor="#ffffff"| ! colspan="5"|Playoffs |- bgcolor="#e0e0e0" ! 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 |- bgcolor="f0f0f0" | 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 |- bgcolor="f0f0f0" | 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 || — || — || — || — || — |- bgcolor="f0f0f0" | 2018–19 || Boston College Eagles || WHEA || 39 || 22 || 26 || 48 || 20 || — || — || — || — || — |- | 2019–20 || Wisconsin Badgers || WCHA || 36 || 25 || 49 || 74 || 4 || — || — || — || — || — |- bgcolor="f0f0f0" | 2020–21 || Wisconsin Badgers || WCHA || 21 || 19 || 17 || 36 || 0 || — || — || — || — || — |- | 2021–22 || Wisconsin Badgers || WCHA || 38 || 28 || 29 || 57 || 12 || — || — || — || — || — |- bgcolor="f0f0f0" | 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 || — || — || — || — || — |- bgcolor="f0f0f0" | 2024–25 || Toronto Sceptres || PWHL || 30 || 12 || 15 || 27 || 12 || 4 || 1 || 1 || 2 || 2 |- | 2025–26 | Toronto Sceptres | PWHL | 27 || 10 || 9 || 19 || 4 | — || — || — || — || — |- bgcolor="#e0e0e0" ! colspan="3"| PHF totals ! 12 !! 3 !! 4 !! 7 !! 6 ! 4 !! 0 !! 1 !! 1 !! 0 |- bgcolor="#e0e0e0" ! colspan="3"| PWHL totals ! 81 !! 32 !! 31 !! 63 !! 24 ! 4 !! 1 !! 1 !! 2 !! 2 |}
===Hockey Canada=== {| class="wikitable" style="width:80%;" |- style="text-align:center; background:red; color:#fff;" | '''Year''' || '''Event'''|| '''GP''' ||'''G''' || '''A''' || '''Pts'''|| '''PIM''' |- style="text-align:center;" bgcolor="" |2016 ||National Women's U18 Championships ||5||4 ||4 ||8 ||0 |- style="text-align:center;" bgcolor="" |2017 ||IIHF U18 World Championships ||5||2 ||1 ||3 ||4 |- style="text-align:center;" bgcolor="" |}
==Awards and honours== *2018 Boston College Athletics Female Rookie of the Year Award<ref>{{cite web |url= https://bceagles.com/news/2018/4/27/boston-college-athletics-2018-golden-eagle-award-winners.aspx |title= 2018 Golden Eagle Award Winners |publisher= Boston College Eagles Athletics |author= Athletic Communications |date= 6 May 2018 |accessdate= 27 July 2018 |archive-date= 30 July 2018 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20180730203140/https://bceagles.com/news/2018/4/27/boston-college-athletics-2018-golden-eagle-award-winners.aspx |url-status= live }}</ref> *2018 Cammi Granato Award, awarded to Women's Hockey East Player of the Year<ref>{{cite web|url= http://hockeyeastonline.com/women/pres1718/201803/mar2awa.php|title= DARYL WATTS HONORED AS LEAGUE'S PLAYER, ROOKIE OF THE YEAR|publisher= Canadian Broadcasting Corporation|author= Hockey East|date= 2 March 2018|accessdate= 26 July 2018|archive-date= 28 July 2018|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20180728002850/http://hockeyeastonline.com/women/pres1718/201803/mar2awa.php|url-status= live}}</ref> *2018 Hockey East Rookie of the Year *2018 Women's Hockey Commissioners Association National Rookie of the Year *2017–18 First Team Hockey East<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.hockeyeastonline.com/women/pres1718/201803/mar2as.php |title= Women's Hockey East Names 2017–18 All-Star Teams |publisher= Hockey East |author= Press Release |date= 2 March 2018 |accessdate= 27 July 2018 |archive-date= 30 July 2018 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20180730234458/http://www.hockeyeastonline.com/women/pres1718/201803/mar2as.php |url-status= live }}</ref> *2018 Patty Kazmaier Award *CCM/AHCA 2018–19 Second Team All-American *CCM/AHCA 2019–20 Second Team All-American<ref>{{cite web| url=https://www.ahcahockey.com/news/1920/0324w1aa.php| title=2019–20 CCM/AHCA Women's University Division All-Americans Announced| website=ahcahockey.com| date=24 March 2020| accessdate=1 April 2021| archive-date=4 February 2023| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230204010635/https://www.ahcahockey.com/news/1920/0324w1aa.php| url-status=live}}</ref> *2019–20 NCAA scoring champion (74 points) *2019–20 Wisconsin Badgers Offensive Player of the Year honors: (tied with Abby Roque).<ref>{{Cite news|url= https://uwbadgers.com/news/2020/5/20/womens-hockey-badgers-announce-2019-2020-award-winners.aspx|title= Badgers announce 2019–2020 award winners|website= uwbadgers.com|date= 2020-05-20|access-date= 2021-03-03|language= en|archive-date= 2023-02-12|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20230212191856/https://uwbadgers.com/news/2020/5/20/womens-hockey-badgers-announce-2019-2020-award-winners.aspx|url-status= live}}</ref> *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<ref>{{Cite news|url= http://www.wcha.com/women/articles/2021/03/wisconsins-daryl-watts-named-2020-21-wcha-player-of-the-year-presented-by-sterling-trophy.php|title= WISCONSIN'S DARYL WATTS NAMED 2020–21 WCHA PLAYER OF THE YEAR, PRESENTED BY STERLING TROPHY|website= wcha.com|date= 2021-03-05|access-date= 2021-03-29|language= en|archive-date= 2021-04-15|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20210415160953/http://www.wcha.com/women/articles/2021/03/wisconsins-daryl-watts-named-2020-21-wcha-player-of-the-year-presented-by-sterling-trophy.php|url-status= live}}</ref> *2021 University of Wisconsin Female Athlete of the Year *Top-three Finalist: 2021 Patty Kazmaier Award *CCM/AHCA 2020–21 First Team All-American<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://hockeyeastonline.com/women/articles/2021/03/five-hockey-east-players-named-ccm-ahca-womens-all-americans.php|title=Five Hockey East Players Players Named CCM/AHCA Women's All-Americans – NCAA #1 seed Northeastern boasts four players on the two teams|website=hockeyeastonline.com|date=2021-03-19|access-date=2021-03-19|language=en|archive-date=2021-03-19|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210319151115/http://hockeyeastonline.com/women/articles/2021/03/five-hockey-east-players-named-ccm-ahca-womens-all-americans.php|url-status=live}}</ref> *2020–21 All-USCHO.com First Team<ref>{{Cite news|url= https://www.uscho.com/2021/04/02/womens-division-i-college-hockey-2020-2021-all-uscho-teams/|title= Women's Division I College Hockey: 2020–2021 All-USCHO Teams|website= uscho.com|date= 2021-04-02|access-date= 2021-03-29|language= en|archive-date= 2021-04-16|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20210416064329/https://www.uscho.com/2021/04/02/womens-division-i-college-hockey-2020-2021-all-uscho-teams/|url-status= live}}</ref> *2024–25: PWHL Second All-Star Team<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.thepwhl.com/en/news/2025/june/25/pwhl-announces-2025-award-winners |title=PWHL Announces 2025 Award Winners |website=thepwhl.com |date=June 25, 2025 |access-date=June 25, 2025}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== {{commons category}} * {{Ice hockey stats}} * [https://www.hockeycanada.ca/en-ca/team-canada/women/olympics/2026/stats/player-profile/689 Daryl Watts] at Hockey Canada * {{Team Canada|daryl-watts}} * [https://www.olympics.com/en/milano-cortina-2026/results/athlete-details/54001 Daryl Watts] at Milano Cortina 2026 * {{Olympics.com|daryl-watts}} * {{Olympedia}}
{{S-start}} {{s-ach}} {{succession box | before = Ann-Renée Desbiens | title = Patty Kazmaier Award | years = 2017–18 | after = Loren Gabel}} {{S-end}}
{{Wisconsin Badgers women's ice hockey navbox}} {{Boston College Eagles women's ice hockey navbox}} {{Patty Kazmaier Award}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Watts, Daryl}} Category:1999 births Category:Boston College Eagles women's ice hockey players Category:Canadian women's ice hockey forwards Category:Living people Category:Patty Kazmaier Award winners Category:Ice hockey people from Toronto Category:Ice hockey players at the 2026 Winter Olympics Category:Medalists at the 2026 Winter Olympics Category:Olympic silver medalists for Canada Category:Olympic medalists in ice hockey Category:Olympic ice hockey players for Canada Category:Toronto Six players Category:Wisconsin Badgers women's ice hockey players Category:Canadian expatriate ice hockey players in the United States Category:Ottawa Charge players Category:Toronto Jr. Aeros players Category:Toronto Sceptres players Category:21st-century Canadian sportswomen