What is the PWHL?
The Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) brings together the world’s top women’s hockey players and offers fans a new way to experience the sport.
Founded in 2023, the PWHL began play on January 1, 2024, with six teams in the United States and Canada. It will enter its 2026-27 season with 12 teams, doubling in size in three years.
However, the PWHL’s origins extend well before its inaugural season.
How Did the PWHL Begin?
Women’s professional hockey has a long history, though establishing a stable league has been challenging.
After the Canadian Women’s Hockey League folded in 2019, many top players formed the Professional Women’s Hockey Players’ Association (PWHPA) to advocate for a sustainable league with better pay, benefits, and working conditions.
At the same time, the Premier Hockey Federation (PHF), formerly the National Women’s Hockey League, offered another professional option for women players.
In 2023, investors acquired the PHF’s assets, paving the way for a new league. The PWHL united top players under a new professional structure supported by investors like Mark and Kimbra Walter and sports leaders including Billie Jean King.
Players also secured a collective bargaining agreement, establishing key workplace protections and compensation standards.
The result was a fresh start for professional women’s hockey.
What Is the PWHL Working Toward?
The PWHL is committed to establishing a lasting professional home for women’s hockey.
This includes providing athletes with career opportunities, building relationships with fans and communities, and creating a foundation to support future generations of players.
Visibility is also a key focus.
For years, talented women hockey players competed internationally, but opportunities to follow their professional careers were limited. The PWHL lets fans support these athletes throughout the regular season, follow their favorite teams, and join a growing hockey community.
Why Does the PWHL Matter?
The PWHL’s growth highlights the evolving future of women’s sports.
In the 2025-26 regular season, the league attracted over 1.1 million spectators across 120 games, setting a new attendance record for professional women’s hockey.
These figures demonstrate growing interest in the sport, but the impact extends beyond ticket sales.
The PWHL creates professional opportunities, attracts investment, and offers young athletes clear goals to pursue.
For fans, it is a chance to support women’s sports, discover talented athletes, and join a growing community.
The PWHL is more than a hockey league. It offers a chance to build a stronger future for athletes, fans, and communities who believe women’s sports deserve to thrive.
