The PWHL, in its fourth season of expansion, has secured its inaugural season-long U.S. national broadcast agreement with Scripps Sports, the women’s hockey league revealed on Wednesday. Scripps had previously broadcast a limited number of regular-season games and the entire Walter Cup Finals playoff series last season. This new deal will allow the PWHL to reach over 128 million U.S. households, with games airing on ION, Scripps’ national sports and entertainment network.
Under the agreement, Scripps will produce and broadcast a game every Saturday on ION, available on various platforms such as over-the-air, connected TV, streaming services, and pay television. Additionally, the Scripps Sports Network will air two national games weekly on platforms like Roku, Prime Video, Fire TV, Google TV Freeplay, and Tubi. As part of the collaboration, Scripps’ television affiliates in Detroit and Las Vegas will have the local broadcasting rights for the two new expansion teams.
Amy Scheer, PWHL’s executive vice-president of business operations, expressed excitement about the league’s first season-long national TV presence in the U.S., seeing it as a significant advancement in the league’s growth. While the league has not yet released its schedule, the season is expected to kick off in late November. PWHL games will still be live-streamed on their YouTube channel globally, excluding Canada, where the league has existing broadcast partnerships, including with CBC Sports.
The partnership with Scripps developed during the Winter Games in Milan when the league hosted network executives. This collaboration continues the momentum generated by women’s hockey in the U.S. following Team USA’s third Olympic gold medal win against Canada. The PWHL has expanded significantly since its establishment in 2024, growing from eight to twelve teams, including new franchises in San Jose, California, and Hamilton, Ontario, making it a seven-team league in the U.S. and a five-team league in Canada.
Scripps further solidifies its commitment to women’s sports with existing broadcast agreements in place for the WNBA, NWSL, and the Women’s TMRW Golf League. Brian Lawlor, Scripps Sports president, highlighted ION as the primary platform for women’s sports, where athletes can shine and fans can support their favorite teams. Additionally, Scripps’ affiliates hold broadcasting rights for NHL teams like Florida and Las Vegas, the NBA’s Detroit Pistons, and the NCAA’s Big Sky Conference.