The PWHL, in its fourth season, has announced its inaugural season-long U.S. national broadcast partnership with Scripps Sports. This collaboration expands on Scripps’ previous coverage of a limited number of regular-season games and the Walter Cup Finals playoffs last season. The agreement will enable the PWHL 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 through over-the-air, connected TV platforms, streaming services, and pay television. Additionally, the Scripps Sports Network will air two national games weekly on various streaming platforms such as Roku, Prime Video, Fire TV, Google TV Freeplay, and Tubi. Scripps’ TV 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, described the national television exposure as a significant milestone for the league’s growth. The league is yet to unveil its schedule, but the season is set to commence in late November. PWHL games will continue to be streamed live on its YouTube channel globally, except in Canada where the league has existing broadcast partnerships, including CBC Sports.
The partnership with Scripps began during the Winter Games in Milan when network executives visited the league and has been bolstered by the recent success of women’s hockey in the U.S., highlighted by the American team’s gold medal victory at the Olympics. The PWHL has expanded significantly since its establishment in 2024, adding four new teams this season, including franchises in San Jose, California, and Hamilton, Ontario, bringing the total to 12 teams – seven in the U.S. and five in Canada.
Scripps continues to enhance its portfolio in women’s sports, with existing broadcast agreements with the WNBA, NWSL, and the Women’s TMRW Golf League. Scripps Sports president Brian Lawlor emphasized ION as a top-tier platform for women’s sports, providing athletes a prominent stage to showcase their skills and fans an avenue to support their favorite teams. Additionally, Scripps’ affiliates hold broadcasting rights for various NHL teams, such as Florida and Las Vegas, the Detroit Pistons of the NBA, and the Big Sky Conference of the NCAA.