As the Pro Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) begins its second season on Saturday with the Toronto Sceptres taking on the Boston Fleet, the league is cooking up some big moves.
Driving the news: The PWHL is reportedly evaluating more than 25 proposals for new franchises as cities across North America want to get in on the on-ice action. The league has previously said it’s considering adding two more teams as soon as the 2025–26 season.
- The league is using a model to determine which cities would fit the best, weighing crucial factors like geography, size, and youth hockey participation.
Big picture: The PWHL is preparing to build off the momentum of an inaugural season that exceeded expectations. This time around, the six teams actually have names, there are more games, and the league has Canadian broadcasting deals with CBC, TSN, and Prime.
- In addition, several teams have moved into larger venues, more international players have been added, and the league will conduct a North American tour of nine cities.
Why it matters: The first season wasn’t all roses and attendance records, with issues like merchandise shortages and underperformance in the New York market. A successful second season will go a long way toward determining its future as a viable sports league.—QH