The PWHL, now in its fourth season, has secured its first season-long U.S. national broadcast deal with Scripps Sports, as announced by the women’s hockey league. This agreement follows Scripps’ previous broadcasting of select regular-season games and the complete Walter Cup Finals playoff series last season. It 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 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 feature two national games weekly, accessible on streaming platforms like Roku, Prime Video, Fire TV, Google TV Freeplay, and Tubi. As part of the deal, Scripps television affiliates in Detroit and Las Vegas will hold the local broadcasting rights for the two new expansion teams.
Amy Scheer, the PWHL’s executive vice-president of business operations, expressed excitement about the league’s season-long national television presence in the U.S., marking a significant milestone in their growth as a league. The league’s schedule is yet to be released, with the season expected to kick off in late November. While games will be broadcast live on the league’s YouTube channel globally, excluding Canada, where the PWHL has existing broadcast affiliations like CBC Sports.
The partnership with Scripps originated during the Winter Games in February when network executives visited Milan. This collaboration continues the momentum of women’s hockey in the U.S. following the Americans’ thrilling victory against Canada in the Olympics. The PWHL has expanded since its inception in 2024, adding four new teams this season, including franchises in San Jose, California, and Hamilton, Ontario, bringing the total to 12 teams with seven in the U.S. and five in Canada.
Scripps further solidifies its position in women’s sports with existing broadcast deals in the WNBA, NWSL, and the Women’s TMRW Golf League. Scripps Sports president Brian Lawlor emphasized ION as the premier platform for women’s sports, allowing athletes to showcase their skills and fans to support their favorite teams. Scripps affiliates also hold broadcasting rights for NHL teams like Florida and Las Vegas, the NBA’s Detroit Pistons, and the NCAA’s Big Sky Conference.