The PWHL, 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 expands on Scripps’ previous season coverage, which included a select number of regular-season games and the entire Walter Cup Finals playoff series. It will now allow the league to reach over 128 million U.S. households, with games airing on ION, Scripps’ national sports and entertainment network.
Under the deal, Scripps will produce and broadcast a game every Saturday on ION, available on various platforms like over-the-air, connected TV, streaming services, and pay television. Additionally, the Scripps Sports Network will air two national games weekly on platforms such as Roku, Prime Video, Fire TV, Google TV Freeplay, and Tubi. Scripps’ television affiliates in Detroit and Las Vegas will hold the local broadcast rights for the two new expansion teams.
Amy Scheer, PWHL’s executive vice-president of business operations, expressed excitement about the league’s season-long national television presence in the U.S., highlighting its importance for the league’s growth. The league is set to kick off its season in late November, although the schedule has not been released yet. PWHL games will also continue to be streamed live on its YouTube channel globally, except in Canada where other broadcast affiliations exist, including CBC Sports.
The partnership with Scripps originated during the Winter Games in Milan, where the league hosted network executives. It continues the momentum of women’s hockey following the U.S. team’s thrilling victory in the Olympics. The PWHL has expanded to 12 teams since its 2024 launch, adding four new teams this season, including ones in San Jose, California, and Hamilton, Ontario. The league now comprises seven U.S. teams and five Canadian teams.
Scripps’ commitment to women’s sports grows with this deal, adding to its existing broadcast agreements with the WNBA, NWSL, and the Women’s TMRW Golf League. Scripps Sports president Brian Lawlor emphasized ION as a premier platform for women’s sports, where athletes can shine and fans can support their favorite teams. Scripps’ affiliates also hold broadcasting rights for various NHL, NBA, and NCAA teams.
