The PWHL’s expanded fourth season will include a season-long U.S. national broadcast deal with Scripps Sports, the women’s hockey league announced. This agreement expands on Scripps’ previous coverage, which included select regular-season games and the entire Walter Cup Finals playoff series. The deal will extend the league’s reach to 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 including over-the-air, connected TV, streaming services, and pay television. Additionally, the Scripps Sports Network will feature two national games weekly 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 have local broadcasting rights for two new expansion teams.
Amy Scheer, PWHL’s executive vice president of business operations, expressed excitement about the league’s season-long national TV presence in the U.S., highlighting it as a significant milestone in the league’s growth. The league is yet to release its schedule, with the season expected to commence in late November.
In addition to the TV deal, the PWHL will continue to stream all games live on its YouTube channel globally, except in Canada where the league has existing broadcast partnerships, including CBC Sports. The collaboration with Scripps began during the Winter Games in February in Milan and builds on the momentum of women’s hockey following the U.S. team’s Olympic gold win.
The PWHL, now featuring 12 teams after adding four expansion teams this off-season, has seen significant growth since its 2024 launch, with new teams in San Jose and Hamilton. Scripps, already involved in women’s sports broadcasting with deals in WNBA, NWSL, and Women’s TMRW Golf League, views this partnership as a way to showcase women’s sports on a premier platform. Scripps Sports president Brian Lawlor emphasized ION’s role as a top destination for women’s sports, where athletes can shine, and fans can connect with 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.