The Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) is set to launch its inaugural season on January 1, 2024, with six teams in North America. The PWHL is the first-of-its-kind women’s hockey league that brings together the best players in the world, with the support of the Mark Walter Group and the Professional Women’s Hockey Players Association (PWHPA).
The Original Six Teams
The PWHL will feature three teams in Canada and three teams in the United States, representing the following cities:
- Montreal
- Ottawa
- Toronto
- New York
- Boston
- Minneapolis-St. Paul (Minnesota)
Each team will have a roster of 25 players, selected through a free agency period and a draft. The PWHL announced the general managers and coaches for each team in September 2023, and unveiled the jerseys with the city name across the chest in November 2023.
The Star Players
The PWHL boasts some of the biggest names in women’s hockey, including Olympic medalists, world champions, and national team members. Some of the star players who have signed with the PWHL are:
- Taylor Heise, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 draft, who played for the University of Minnesota and the U.S. national team.
- Jamie Lee Rattray, the captain of the Canadian national team and a two-time world champion, who signed with Ottawa.
- Hilary Knight, the all-time leading scorer for the U.S. national team and a three-time Olympic gold medalist, who signed with Boston.
- Marie-Philip Poulin, the captain of the Montreal team and the hero of the 2010 and 2014 Olympic gold medal games for Canada, who scored the game-winning goals in both finals.
- Kendall Coyne Schofield, the fastest skater in the 2019 NHL All-Star Skills Competition and a two-time Olympic medalist for the U.S., who signed with Minnesota.
- Sarah Nurse, the cousin of NBA star Darnell Nurse and a 2018 Olympic silver medalist for Canada, who signed with Toronto.
The Season Format
The PWHL will have a 24-game regular season, with each team playing four games against each of the other five teams. The season will run from January 1 to March 26, 2024, with a two-week break for the 2024 Winter Olympics in Beijing, China.
The top four teams will advance to the playoffs, which will consist of best-of-three semifinals and a best-of-five final. The winner of the final will be crowned the PWHL champion and receive the PWHL Cup.
The PWHL will also have a preseason evaluation camp and fan fest in December 2023, where fans can meet the players, watch scrimmages, and participate in various activities. The location and date of the event will be announced soon.
The Media Coverage
The PWHL will have a wide range of media coverage, both on television and online. The league has partnered with TSN, CBC, ESPN, and Sportsnet to broadcast and stream the games in Canada and the U.S. The league will also have its own website, app, and social media platforms, where fans can follow the latest news, scores, standings, and highlights.
The PWHL aims to showcase the talent and passion of women’s hockey players, and inspire future generations to dream bigger. The league is also committed to promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion in the sport and beyond.
