The PWHL, in its fourth season, has secured its first full-season U.S. national broadcast deal with Scripps Sports, the women’s hockey league revealed on Wednesday. This agreement expands on Scripps’ previous coverage of select regular-season games and the entire Walter Cup Finals playoff series from the last season. The deal will now bring PWHL games to over 128 million U.S. households, with broadcasts scheduled on ION, Scripps’ national sports and entertainment network.

Scripps will produce and air a game every Saturday on ION, which can be accessed on various platforms like over-the-air, connected TV, and streaming services. Additionally, Scripps Sports Network will broadcast two national games weekly, available on popular streaming platforms such as Roku, Prime Video, Fire TV, Google TV Freeplay, and Tubi.

Under the terms of the agreement, Scripps’ television affiliates in Detroit and Las Vegas will hold the local broadcast rights for the league’s two forthcoming expansion teams. Amy Scheer, PWHL’s executive vice-president of business operations, expressed excitement over the league’s national TV presence in the U.S., emphasizing its importance for the league’s growth.

The PWHL has not yet released its upcoming season schedule but is anticipated to commence in late November. Besides the national broadcasts, PWHL will continue live streaming all games on its YouTube channel globally, excluding Canada, where the league has existing broadcast partnerships, including CBC Sports.

The collaboration with Scripps began during the Winter Games in Milan when the league hosted network executives. The partnership capitalizes on the momentum of women’s hockey in the U.S. following the American team’s third Olympic gold medal win against Canada.

Since its inception in 2024, the 12-team PWHL has expanded by adding four new teams this season, including franchises in San Jose, California, and Hamilton, Ontario. The league now comprises seven teams in the U.S. and five in Canada.

Scripps further enhances its women’s sports portfolio with existing broadcast deals in place for the WNBA, NWSL, and the new Women’s TMRW Golf League. Brian Lawlor, Scripps Sports president, highlighted ION as the top destination for women’s sports, allowing athletes to showcase their skills and fans to support their favorite teams.

In addition to the PWHL agreement, Scripps affiliates hold broadcasting rights for various NHL teams like Florida and Las Vegas, the NBA’s Detroit Pistons, and the NCAA’s Big Sky Conference.