New Teams, Media, Plans: PWHL Preps For Biggest Season In League History
Friday, October 2, 2026 at 07:02PM By Barry Janoff
UPDATED October 2, 2026: The Professional Women’s Hockey League has made more changes to its previously unveiled plans.
PWHL released its 180-game regular-season schedule — up from 120 — to run Dec. 5 to April 18, followed by the post-season..
The Takeover Tour Series will also expand, from 16 to 24 games at neutral sites, with dates and locations TBD.
With the addition of four teams — Detroit, Las Vegas, San Jose and Hamilton, Ontario. — PWHL will for the first time have two-six team conferences. This will also impact the post-season.
The Eastern Conference will include Boston, New York, Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto and Hamilton.
The Western. Conference will feature Detroit, Minnesota, Las Vegas, San Jose, Seattle and Vancouver will play in the West.
“The schedule reflects the PWHL’s monumental growth, as anticipation builds for our fourth season,” Jayna Hefford, evp-hockey operations, said via the PWHL. “The introduction of conferences and an expanded playoff format will deepen rivalries and fuel the competitiveness.”
September 28, 2026: With new teams, expanded media deals, its first infuse of outside investment funding and the premiere of an All-Star Game, the Professional Women’s Hockey League is anticipating the most impactful season in its history.
Launched on Jan. 1, 2024, the 2025-26 season was comprised of eight teams — Boston, Minnesota, Montréal, New York, Ottawa, Seattle, Toronto, and Vancouver.
They will be joined by Detroit, Hamilton, Las Vegas and San Jose entering the 2026-27 season, scheduled to begin Dec. 5-6.
The PWHL and all of its teams are owned by the Mark Walter Group. The Advisory Board of the PWHL is formed by Billie Jean King, Ilana Kloss, Stan Kasten and Royce Cohen.
Among the vital changes, venerable sports organizations Kilmer Sports Ventures and Ilitch Companies have joined as strategic partners and as the first outside investors since the league was established.
Kilmer's portfolio includes the NBA Toronto Raptors and NHL Maple Leafs; Ilitch's roster features MLB's Detroit Tigers and NHL Red Wings,
According to the league, “The significant new investment brings in two accomplished sports ownership groups with deep roots in PWHL markets to capitalize on the league's continued growth and momentum.
“This strong foundation and early success positioned the league to selectively welcome outside investment for the first time.”
Financial terms were not released.
Also new this season, PWHL will bring its biggest stars together in Toronto on March 7, 2027, for PWHL All-Star presented by Scotiabank, featuring a four-team, 3-on-3 tournament in Scotiabank Arena, the first PWHL-hosted all-star event in league history.
Scripps Sports will air the tournament on ION throughout the U.S., while TSN will provide English-language coverage and Radio-Canada will provide French-language coverage in Canada.
“The PWHL was built to feature the best players in the world, and now fans will see the highest level of skill in women’s hockey showcased in a new and unique way,” Jayna Hefford, PWHL evp-hockey operations, said via the league.
The PWHL began its 2026-27 marketing push with a humorous animated spot, “PWHL 101 with Professor Puck,” recapping the league’s history to date but more importantly looking ahead.
The league’s media platform for 2026-27 now includes an expanded alliance with Scripps Sports and a new pact with the Canadian Broadcasting Corp. Every game will also continue to stream live on the league’s official YouTube channel and the PWHL.com in the U.S. and worldwide outside of Canada,
The PWHL will take over an iconic broadcasting spot long occupied by the NHL.
This past June, the CBC said it would no longer broadcast “Hockey Night in Canada” NHL games after it and national rights-holder Rogers Sportsnet were unable to agree on a new deal.
The CBC, which first aired “Hockey Night in Canada” on TV in 1952, plans to air eight prime time PWHL games on Saturday nights, The schedule begins Dec. 5, with the defending Walter Cup champion Montreal Victoire hosting Hamilton’s expansion team.
“Our partnership with the PWHL opens a new chapter in sports history,” Chris Wilson, CBC’s executive director of Sports and Olympics, said via the media company. “We are proud to announce the return of the iconic Hockey Night in Canada brand, building on this beloved Canadian tradition with the PWHL’s growing fanbase and providing audiences across the country with free access to world-class hockey.”
According to PWHL executive vp-business operations Amy Scheer via the league, “Hockey Night in Canada is a fixture in Canadian sports culture, and its Saturday night schedule has ritually captivated hockey fans for nearly a century.
"The opportunity to be part of this iconic brand represents another groundbreaking step for the PWHL to connect with our fans and forge new traditions together."
The Scripps Sports broadcast rights agreement for the 2026-27 season represents the league’s first season-long national television package in the U.S.
Scripps Sports will produce and televise a featured Saturday “Game of the Week” to air exclusively in the U.S. on ION, Scripps’ national sports and entertainment network
ION is available over-the-air, across pay television, connected TV platforms and on streaming services, reaching more than 128 million households nationally.
ION also will return as the exclusive U.S. home for the league’s Walter Cup Finals, in addition to airing a Walter Cup Playoff series,
“A season-long national television presence in the U.S. is something we’ve been working toward and represents a significant step in our continued growth as a league,” said Scheer.
“Scripps continues to be a committed partner in shining a spotlight on women’s sports, and for the first time, our American fans will have the opportunity to follow the league on national television throughout an entire season, making the PWHL more accessible than ever before.”
Beyond the game broadcasts, Scripps said it is “reinforcing its commitment to promoting the PWHL throughout the season through dedicated marketing support, helping drive awareness of the league, its players and its biggest moments.”
“Women’s sports is a cornerstone of our mission to create meaningful connections between communities and the sports and teams they love,” Brian Lawlor, president of Scripps Sports, said via the company.
“This partnership further demonstrates ION as the premier destination for women’s sports, where athletes can showcase their talents on the biggest stage and fans can discover their next favorite team.”
Regarding its first All-Star Game, “From the beginning, our players have been at the center of the PWHL’s growth, and our first-ever All-Star gives us a new stage to celebrate them — and bring fans even closer to the personalities that make this league special,” said Scheer.
“Bringing the best players in the world together at Scotiabank Arena, with Scripps Sports, TSN, and Radio-Canada showcasing the event to fans across Canada and the U.S., speaks to how far this league has come in three years.”
The PWHL said in its third season it surpassed one million single-season attendees for the first time, its partnership portfolio grew by 35%, online merchandise sales increased by 50%, and social platforms generated more than 682 million impressions.
Average attendance across all primary home venues grew by 35% season-over-season.
The PWHL completed its second Takeover Tour season, featuring 16 games hosted in neutral-site cities.
The 2025-26 PWHL Takeover Tour visited seven new cities experiencing the PWHL for the first time — Calgary, Chicago, Dallas, Halifax, Hamilton, Washington D.C., and Winnipeg — with 200,000 attendees across all 16 stops.
Photo: Emma JanoffSome 18,006 fans sold-out the first PWHL game ever played in New York's Madison Square Garden (pictured), presented by e.l.f. Cosmetics, this past April 4 when the New York Sirens hosted the Seattle Torrent.
Takeover Tour neutral-site dates for the coming season are TBD.
The league and team partnership portfolio grew 35% season-over-season to 81 corporate partners.
Key additions included league partners AERO (Nestlé), DoorDash, Global Industrial, and Aveeno; as well as team partners Symetra, Alaska Airlines, Snoqualmie Casino and Hotel, Good Protein, LiUNA!, Organika, Mr. Sub, Tommee Tippee, and Sprouts Farmers Market.
“The PWHL's rise has been one of the most compelling stories in professional sports, and we are proud to be part of that story,” said CEO Chris Ilitch, via Ilitch Companies. “Investing in the PWHL means an opportunity to broaden the game’s reach, connect with new fans, and create pathways for athletes for generations to come.
“Our organization has long believed in the power of hockey to bring communities together and open doors for the next generation. From supporting youth and amateur hockey for nearly 60 years to investing in the future of women’s professional hockey, we are proud to help advance the game at every level.”
See full schedule here.
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