Curl-Salemme Announces Pregnancy, Will Miss PWHL Season
The Olympic gold medalist and PWHL Detroit forward revealed the news on Instagram, days before the world championship tournament opens.
Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Pregnancy
Britta Curl-Salemme announced her pregnancy on Monday through an Instagram post and will miss the PWHL season with expansion team PWHL Detroit. She is the second member of the U.S. team that won gold at the Milan Cortina Games to announce a pregnancy.
Why it matters
The announcement removes a player who finished third in the league last season with 29 points from PWHL Detroit's inaugural roster. It also adds to a growing list of U.S. Olympic hockey players who have chosen to start families during their careers.
Curl-Salemme signed a three-year contract with Detroit in June and finished last season with 29 points, third in the league. The announcement does not state when she expects to return to competition or whether her contract terms will change.
The players
Britta Curl-Salemme
A U.S. Olympic gold medalist forward who won the 2025 Walter Cup with Minnesota and joined PWHL Detroit on a three-year deal, and who grew up in Bismarck, North Dakota.
PWHL Detroit
An expansion franchise in the Professional Women's Hockey League playing its inaugural season.
Manon Rheaume
The general manager of PWHL Detroit and a former goaltender who became the first woman to play in an NHL preseason game.
The details
Curl-Salemme posted a photo of herself and her husband, Andrew, beside an open oven to reveal the news. PWHL Detroit general manager Manon Rheaume congratulated her in a post on the team's X account. Curl-Salemme, 26, won the 2025 Walter Cup with Minnesota in her rookie season and was left off the U.S. roster for the world championship tournament in Denmark.
Timeline
June: Curl-Salemme signed a three-year contract with PWHL Detroit.
February 2026: Curl-Salemme made her Olympic debut at the Milan Cortina Games, where the U.S. won gold.
Monday, November 2, 2026: Curl-Salemme announced her pregnancy.
Friday: The world championship tournament opens in Denmark.
Season Trajectory
Curl-Salemme's absence changes Detroit's inaugural-season roster just as it establishes itself, following a 2025 Walter Cup run that made her a rising star. Her departure from the lineup narrows the depth of a new franchise that must build a competitive identity from scratch.
Athletes who step away for pregnancy often face questions about contract status and roster spots, which can matter for families planning around career timelines. Readers navigating similar decisions may find it useful to review their own employment agreements for leave and return provisions.
The takeaway
Career pauses for pregnancy are becoming a more visible part of elite women's sports, and contract terms and team planning increasingly account for them. Athletes and families considering similar paths can benefit from understanding leave provisions before making announcements.
Further reading
Explore more on Pregnancy for context on athletes returning to competition after starting families.
