The PWHL, now in its fourth season, has secured a season-long U.S. national broadcast deal with Scripps Sports, as announced by the women’s hockey league. This agreement expands on Scripps’ previous broadcasting of select regular-season games and the entire Walter Cup Finals playoff series. The deal will allow the PWHL to reach over 128 million U.S. households, with games airing on ION, Scripps’ national sports and entertainment network.
Scripps will produce and broadcast a game of the week every Saturday on ION, which can be accessed through over-the-air channels, connected TV platforms, and various streaming and pay television services. Additionally, the Scripps Sports Network will broadcast two national games weekly, available on streaming platforms like Roku, Prime Video, Fire TV, Google TV Freeplay, and Tubi.
As part of the agreement, Scripps television affiliates in Detroit and Las Vegas will hold the local broadcast rights for two new expansion teams within the league. Amy Scheer, the PWHL’s executive vice-president of business operations, expressed that having a season-long national television presence in the U.S. is a significant milestone for the league’s growth.
The PWHL is yet to release its schedule, but the season is anticipated to commence in late November. The league will continue to livestream all games on its YouTube channel globally, excluding Canada where the games are broadcast through various affiliations, including CBC Sports.
The partnership with Scripps began during the Winter Games in Milan when the league hosted network executives. This collaboration further builds on the momentum of women’s hockey in the U.S., following the American team’s victory in the Olympic gold medal game against Canada.
Since its inception in 2024, the league has doubled in size by adding four expansion teams this season, including franchises in San Jose, California, and Hamilton, Ontario. With seven teams in the U.S. and five in Canada, the PWHL now boasts a total of 12 teams.
Scripps, already involved in women’s sports properties with deals in place with the WNBA, NWSL, and the Women’s TMRW Golf League, sees this partnership as a way to showcase women’s sports on a premier platform. The president of Scripps Sports, Brian Lawlor, highlighted ION as the go-to destination for women’s sports, providing a stage for athletes to shine and fans to support their favorite teams.
In addition to the PWHL deal, Scripps’ affiliates also hold broadcasting rights for various NHL teams, including Florida and Las Vegas, the NBA’s Detroit Pistons, and the NCAA’s Big Sky Conference.