No, PEMDAS.

You do the exponent first, then multiplication.

-3² = -1 * 3²

or

-3² = (-1)(3²)

(-3)² would be how you’d represent what you are interpreting it as.

Your interpretation:

-3² != (-3)² = (-1(3))² = (-1 * 3)² = 9

vs

Correct Interpretation:

-3² = -3² = (-1)(3²) = -1 * 3² = -9

EDIT:

Every time you see a - directly infront of a number, say…

-x

…and there is no space to indicate the - represents a subtraction operator, such as in…

y - x

…the immediate prefix - actually represents:

(-1)x

or

-1 * x

Due to PEMDAS, if the exponent ² or ^2 is attached to…

-x² or -x^2

… this actually represents

(-1)(x²) or -1 * x^2

… such that PEMDAS is upheld, and the exponent recieves computational primacy.

EDIT 2:

I don’t make these rules, but this is how it works.

Double check in wolfram alpha if you doubt it.