PWHL Signings Round-Up: Kadirova re-ups with Ottawa; Las Vegas, San Jose add depth
There was some movement in the PWHL on Wednesday, as two of the league’s newest teams added up some secondary assets, while one of the most surprising performers last season is staying in the nation’s capital.
Kadirova extends her stay in Ottawa
After signing Rebecca Leslie to a one-year extension on Tuesday, the Ottawa Charge ensured that some of its offense will stick around for the foreseeable future, signing forward Fanuza Kadirova to a two-year contract, which keeps her on the books through the 2027-28 season.
When general manager Mike Hirshfeld took not one, but two Russians in the 2025 PWHL Draft, some (including yours truly) thought he was a little crazy. However, Kadirova proved him right. After a slow start, she quickly became one of the team’s clutch players, scoring big goals as the team reached the Walter Cup Playoffs for the second year in a row. In 28 games during the regular season, she potted 10 goals and 12 points. In the postseason, she added two goals and five points in eight games, finishing fifth in playoff scoring and second on Ottawa’s roster behind Leslie.
She was a key part in the Charge making it back to the Walter Cup Final, where they ultimately lost to the Montreal Victoire in four games.
The Charge now have 17 players signed to contracts for the 2026-27 campaign.
Bryant moves down to San Jose
A native of the Golden State returning to her home state. PWHL San Jose signed forward Brooke Bryant to a one-year contract for the 2026-27 season.
It’s the third team that Bryant has joined in her brief PWHL career, and the second year in a row she signed with an expansion team. Last summer, the Linden, Calif. native inked a one-year deal with the Seattle Torrent. In just 23 games last year, she registered one assist, a plus/minus of -6 while averaging 7:57 of ice time.
The 25-year-old started her tenure in the league with the Minnesota Frost, playing a depth role on a team that won back-to-back Walter Cups. In 71 regular-season games, Bryant has scored two goals and six points, having played in nine postseason contests.
Bryant is the 13th player San Jose has signed to a standard contract for its inaugural season.
Las Vegas signs Langseth for two years
The other multi-year contract signed on Wednesday came from Sin City, as PWHL Las Vegas inked forward Sydney Langseth to a two-year contract that will carry through the 2027-28 campaign.
Like Bryant, Langseth joins an expansion team after playing with the Torrent during their inaugural season. The Eden Prairie, Minn. native started her rookie season as a reserve player, but thanks to injuries to Hannah Bilka and Hilary Knight at the Winter Olympics, Langseth was activated to the main roster for the remainder of the season. She ended up appearing in 16 games, but didn’t score a point, with a -4 rating and an average TOI of 7:42.
Prior to the PWHL, Langseth had a solid college career at Minnesota State, scoring 90 points in 162 games.
Las Vegas also has 13 players signed to standard deals for its first year of existence.