The PWHL, in its fourth season of expansion, has signed its first season-long national broadcast deal with Scripps Sports, as announced by the women’s hockey league. Scripps Sports had previously broadcast select regular-season games and the entire Walter Cup Finals playoff series. This new agreement will allow the PWHL to reach over 128 million U.S. households through airing games 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 including over-the-air, connected TV, streaming services, and pay television. Additionally, Scripps Sports Network will air two national games weekly on platforms like Roku, Prime Video, Fire TV, Google TV Freeplay, and Tubi. Local broadcast rights for the two upcoming expansion teams will be held by Scripps television affiliates in Detroit and Las Vegas.
Amy Scheer, the PWHL’s executive vice-president of business operations, expressed excitement about the league’s national television presence in the U.S., viewing it as a significant advancement in the league’s growth. While the league’s schedule is yet to be released, the season is expected to commence in late November. In addition to the national broadcast deal, PWHL games will still be live-streamed on its YouTube channel globally, except in Canada where it has existing broadcast partnerships, including with CBC Sports.
The partnership with Scripps originated during the Winter Games in Milan, where network executives visited, fostering the collaboration. This opportunity comes on the heels of the success of women’s hockey in the U.S., highlighted by the American team’s thrilling Olympic gold medal victory against Canada.
Since its inception in 2024, the PWHL has grown from six to twelve teams, including new additions in San Jose, California, and Hamilton, Ontario. With seven teams in the U.S. and five in Canada, the league continues to expand. Scripps Sports, building on its portfolio of women’s sports properties, already has broadcast deals with the WNBA, NWSL, and the Women’s TMRW Golf League. Brian Lawlor, Scripps Sports president, emphasized ION as a premier platform for women’s sports, enabling athletes to showcase their skills and fans to engage with their favorite teams.
Scripps’ affiliates also hold broadcasting rights for several NHL teams, such as Florida and Las Vegas, the Detroit Pistons from the NBA, and the Big Sky Conference from the NCAA.