The PWHL is racking up milestones, with the second-year pro women's hockey league officially passing the one-million-fan mark on Sunday.
The record-clinching game came during the league's penultimate 2025 Takeover Tour matchup, after 14,288 fans turned up to Detroit's Little Caesars Arena to see the New York Sirens take down the Minnesota Frost 4-1 on Sunday.
To honor the milestone, players tossed signed special "PWHL One Million Fans" pucks to fans during a commemorative timeout during the game's first period.
After averaging around 5,500 fans per game last season, the league has seen a 7,000 attendance average so far this season, resulting in the current all-time official tally of 1,001,648 fans.
Across its 70 completed second-season games, the PWHL has already racked up 518,118 attendees, surpassing the league's total attendance of 483,530 fans from all 85 games last season — inclusive of the PWHL's first-ever playoffs.
"This is truly a 'pinch me' moment," said PWHL EVP of business operations Amy Scheer. "The overwhelming support from fans, the energy in the arenas, and the league’s rapid growth all highlight how much people are connecting with the PWHL."
"Today is a moment we’ll always remember, and we’re grateful to the fans of Detroit for celebrating it with us in such a big way."
Detroit makes a case for PWHL expansion team
Sunday's special out-of-market matchup also set a new US attendance record for pro women's ice hockey, further boosting the city's case to claim a PWHL expansion team.
“It's another extremely big win for the sport globally,” Frost forward Kendall Coyne Schofield told reporters after Sunday’s game. "It’s important to tip our hockey helmet to Detroit."
Detroit's new US record comes one year to the day after the Michigan metropolis set the then-national attendance record at the league's first-ever Takeover Weekend, when 13,736 fans watched Boston defeat Ottawa 2-1 on March 16th, 2024.
With the PWHL eyeing expansion, announcing last November that it intends to increase from its current six-team roster to eight teams by the time the puck drops on the 2025/26 season, the enthusiasm of Detroit hockey fans could put the city at the top of the league's potential market list.
"To see the league grow so rapidly is a reflection of the dedication of our players, who demonstrate their world-class talent every day, as well as the countless individuals behind the scenes who work relentlessly to ensure the league's success," said PWHL EVP of hockey operations Jayna Hefford.
"The passion and support from our fans has been incredible, and this is only the beginning."
USA Hockey tapped 25 players to represent the US at April’s 2025 IIHF World Championships in Czechia on Wednesday, as the team looks to avenge their overtime loss to Canada in the 2024 IIHF Final.
A total of 21 players from that silver medal-winning squad will return to this year's roster, which will be led by superstar forward Hilary Knight.
Knight already boasts 14 World Championship medals, more than any other athlete in IIHF history, and is poised to help the US make a record-extending 24th appearance in the IIHF championship game.
PWHL and NCAA stars comprise Team USA
Boston Fleet captain Knight is one of 16 PWHL athletes to make Team USA's lineup, showcasing the impact of an in-season domestic league while teams around the world compete for international honors.
While all six PWHL teams are represented on the roster, the inaugural Walter Cup-winning Minnesota Frost will send a league-leading six US athletes to Czechia.
Trailing just behind Minnesota with three IIHF-bound skaters apiece are 2023/24 runners-up Boston and the Toronto Sceptres, who currently sit in second- and third-place on the 2024/25 PWHL table.
Completing the lineup and, more generally, gaining the experience to keep Team USA atop the sport are an impressive nine NCAA players, led by five skaters from No. 1 ranked Wisconsin.
One of those Badgers, sophomore goaltender Ava McNaughton, will join 2024 Wisconsin grad and Montréal Victoire defender Anna Wilgren as the team's two IIHF World Championship debutants.
Additionally, Frost defender Lee Stecklein and Sceptres forward Jesse Compher will round out the four athletes who did not feature on the 2024 roster. Both players will make their first return to the IIHF stage following silver medal-winning performances at the 2022 edition in Denmark.
"The 25 players selected to represent the US bring skill, talent, and passion on the ice," said US Women’s Hockey GM Katie Million. "The depth of our player pool never makes these decisions easy, but we’re excited to shift our focus on bringing a gold home from Czechia."
Team USA's 2025 IIHF Women's World Championship roster
- Forwards: Alex Carpenter (New York Sirens), Jesse Compher (Toronto Sceptres), Kendall Coyne-Schofield (Minnesota Frost), Britta Curl-Salemme (Minnesota Frost), Joy Dunne (Ohio State University), Lacey Eden (University of Wisconsin), Taylor Heise (Minnesota Frost), Tessa Janecke (Penn State University), Hilary Knight (Boston Fleet), Abbey Murphy (University of Minnesota), Kelly Pannek (Minnesota Frost), Hayley Scamurra (Toronto Sceptres), Kirsten Simms (University of Wisconsin), Grace Zumwinkle (Minnesota Frost)
- Defenders: Cayla Barnes (Montréal Victoire), Laila Edwards (University of Wisconsin), Savannah Harmon (Toronto Sceptres), Caroline Harvey (University of Wisconsin), Megan Keller (Boston Fleet), Lee Stecklein (Minnesota Frost), Anna Wilgren (Montréal Victoire), Haley Winn (Clarkson University)
- Goaltenders: Aerin Frankel (Boston Fleet), Ava McNaughton (University of Wisconsin), Gwyneth Philips (Ottawa Charge)
How to watch the 2025 IIHF Women's World Championship
The puck will drop on the 2025 IIHF Women's World Championship on Wednesday, April 9th, and run through the tournament's 12 PM ET championship game on Sunday, April 20th.
Team USA will first take the ice against Finland at 9 AM ET on April 9th.
All US games will be air live on the NHL Network.
The PWHL Player Safety Committee issued fines to two star players on Tuesday, after reviewing penalties that occurred during Saturday’s matchup between the Montréal Victoire and the New York Sirens.
Victoire forward Marie-Philip Poulin was charged a $500 fine for roughing in the second period. The Committee found that she "exhibited no attempt at playing the puck as she hit her opponent in retaliatory fashion."
Forward Dara Greig also caught a fine for a second-period penalty. There, the PWHL issued a $250 penalty charge for boarding after determining that Greig's check came "from behind and caused her opponent to impact the boards dangerously."
The league-leading Victoire went on to beat the Sirens 6-2.
Poulin pays back-to-back PWHL fines
This week’s ruling marked Greig’s first-ever PWHL fine. However, Victoire captain Poulin has now tallied two, with her first coming less than two weeks ago. That was when she incurred a $250 fine after a major penalty for charging during Montréal's 2-1 win over the Sirens on February 2nd.
In that incident, Poulin avoided an immediate "game misconduct" determination by on-ice referees. As outlined by PWHL rules, it was ruled that the charge did not cause injury to the head or face of her opponent.
Unlike Poulin's first fine, both her second and Greig's initial offense came from incidents that constituted minor penalties during competition.
PWHL monitors player safety in growing pro women's league
Operating under a new set of rules governing both gameplay and disciplinary action, the second-year women’s pro ice hockey league is still navigating how to handle penalties and when to impose fines.
Charting the league's disciplinary course is especially complex in a sport where body checking and other forms of physicality are hallmarks of the game.
When those tactics are deployed strategically, they can intensify the PWHL's already tough competition. However, that's only as long as the league's safety guardrails are clear enough to ensure player protection.
Behind a string of stellar performances, PWHL standouts Marie-Philip Poulin (Montréal), Corinne Schroeder (New York), and Sidney Morin (Boston) emerged as Monday's Stars of the Week.
After scoring two goals — including the superhero-style game-winner — in Wednesday's sold-out Takeover Tour win, Victoire captain Poulin registered an assist in front a record-breaking Denver crowd on Sunday to claim a three-point week.
Saturday belonged to Fleet defender Morin, who recorded a career-high five shots and notched both goals in Boston's 2-1 overtime win over Ottawa, doubling her single-goal scoring record last season.
The puck stops with Sirens goalie Corinne Schroeder
Sirens goaltender Schroeder made PWHL history on Sunday, becoming the first-ever goalie to record back-to-back regular-season shutouts.
New York's 1-0 victory over Toronto also made a mark, becoming the PWHL's first-ever scoreless game in regulation before New York's Jessie Eldridge found the back of the net in overtime.
Schroeder, who tops the league in average goals against (1.86) while sharing the lead in wins (5) and save percentage (0.935), hasn't conceded a goal in over 156 minutes of play.
"I think Schroeder has been our number one goalie for a long time," said Sirens coach Greg Fargo after the game. "She's been demonstrating the level of her play since day one, but there's a calmness to her game and a competitiveness that we really like right now."
How to watch PWHL games this week
While teams jockey for points one-third of the way through the PWHL's second season, individual athletes are separating themselves from the pack by tearing up the stat sheet.
The PWHL's stars are back on the ice in midweek action. First, the Toronto Sceptres visit the Ottawa Charge on Tuesday at 7 PM ET.
Then, Schroeder will try to add a third shutout to her record-setting goaltending streak when the New York Sirens host the league-leading Minnesota Frost at 7 PM ET on Wednesday.
Both games will stream live on YouTube.
The new-look New York Sirens continue to impress in the early stages of the 2024/25 PWHL season, most recently notching a big 4-2 win over Toronto in the the team home opener on Wednesday.
All four of New York's goals came in the second period — the most in a single period all season — and all were the first goals of the season by each scorer.
Finland international Noora Tulus opened the game's scoring with her first PWHL goal, with teammates Emmy Fecteau, Micah Zandee-Hart, and Jaime Bourbonnais following suit. Both Fecteau's goal and team captain Zandee-Hart's were the first of their PWHL careers.
Sirens rookie Sarah Fillier and teammate Alex Carpenter both assisted on Tulus's game-opening goal, with each booking a point in their fourth straight contest. Fillier remains in the PWHL's lead with two goals and five assists for a total of seven points, while Carpenter is just behind with six points — though her three goals make her the league's scoring leader.
As for the Sceptres, forwards Hannah Miller and former Siren Emma Woods each made a dent in the scoresheet with goals of their own in the third period, but it wasn't quite enough as Toronto failed to complete the comeback.
Last-place Toronto has now allowed their opponents to breach the scoresheet first in each of their 2024/25 matchups, ultimately losing their last three games in regulation.
New York Sirens to face Minnesota Frost in top matchup
New York's shifting fortune highlights the second-season league's rapidly growing parity. With only one loss through their first four games, the Sirens sit in second place to stake an early season claim on "most improved" after finishing last in the PWHL's inaugural season.
Just above New York on the league's table are the Minnesota Frost. The reigning Walter Cup champions are holding strong as the team to beat, but New York has already proved that it's possible after handing Minnesota an overtime 4-3 season-opening loss on December 1st.
The Sirens' will officially take aim at the top of the PWHL table on Sunday, when New York will try to gift Minnesota a second season loss in the league's pre-Christmas closer. This time, the Sirens will have the crowd on their side as the Frost visit New York's home ice.
How to watch New York Sirens vs. Minnesota Frost in PWHL action
The puck is set to drop on New York vs. Minnesota at 12 PM ET on Sunday, with live streaming coverage on YouTube.
On today's episode of The Late Sub, host Claire Watkins dives into basketball. She kicks things off with a look at the first WNBA expansion draft since 2008, when the Golden State Valkyries selected 11 players from around the league to build their inaugural 2025 roster.
Pivoting to the college court, Watson chats through No. 3 South Carolina's winning week, zeroing in on how the defending national champions dominated two Top-10 teams.
Finally, Watkins takes a trip around the sports world, discussing NWSL free agency, NCAA soccer's College Cup, NCAA volleyball, PWHL hockey, and more.
The Late Sub with Claire Watkins brings you the latest news and freshest takes in women’s sports. This is the weekly rundown you’ve been missing, covering the USWNT, NWSL, WNBA, college hoops, and whatever else is popping off in women’s sports each week. Special guest appearances with the biggest names in women’s sports make The Late Sub a must-listen for every fan. Follow Claire on X/Twitter @ScoutRipley and subscribe to the Just Women’s Sports newsletter for more.
Subscribe to The Late Sub to never miss an episode.
On today's episode of The Late Sub, host Claire Watkins takes a break from the soccer beat to catch up on other women's sports action, starting with the state of NCAA basketball, which has already seen big upsets this season, before moving onto look at some recent upheaval in the WNBA.
Later, Watkins chats about PWHL stars and how conference dominance is shaping the 2024 NCAA volleyball tournament.
The Late Sub with Claire Watkins brings you the latest news and freshest takes in women’s sports. This is the weekly rundown you’ve been missing, covering the USWNT, NWSL, WNBA, college hoops, and whatever else is popping off in women’s sports each week. Special guest appearances with the biggest names in women’s sports make The Late Sub a must-listen for every fan. Follow Claire on X/Twitter @ScoutRipley and subscribe to the Just Women’s Sports newsletter for more.
Subscribe to The Late Sub to never miss an episode.
This weekend saw the PWHL's second season hit the ground running with new rules, overtime upsets, and a bevy of goals punctuating opening-day wins for Toronto, Montreal, and New York.
With an elongated 2024/25 schedule including a Takeover Tour hitting nine non-market cities, the second-year league aims to harness and build on last season's momentum while eyeing 2025/26 expansion.
New PWHL 'No Escape' rule means more goals
Part of capitalizing on last year's success is an effort to increase excitement via more goals on this season's ice. To do so, the league debuted its "No Escape Rule" over the weekend, which bars players from being subbed off in the first penalty-kill face-off.
By keeping defensive specialists on the bench during early power-play moments, the PWHL is addressing the fact that defense ruled the day last season.
Though too early to properly assess, the weekend's trio of opening matchups served six power-play goals on 19 attempts, fully doubling last season’s efficiency rate.
Sceptres start second PWHL season with Boston beatdown
Toronto and Boston kicked off 2024/25 play, with Fleet captain Hilary Knight registering the league's first goal of the season three minutes into the Saturday afternoon game. Unfortunately, that would be Boston's only tally, as last season's regular-season champs took control to best the Fleet 3-1.
The Sceptres did so without the league's leading scorer, 2023/24 Billie Jean King MVP winner Natalie Spooner, who is still working back from knee surgery following her postseason injury last May.
In her stead, Sarah Nurse notched Toronto's equalizer, with Emma Maltais sending in the eventual game-winner late in the first period. Hannah Miller's power-play goal in the game's waning minutes cushioned the Sceptres' offense-heavy victory.
Overtime takes center ice to open PWHL season
The weekend's other two games needed additional time to decide a winner, with Saturday night's tilt culminating in Montreal captain Marie-Philip Poulin registering the game-winner in a shootout victory over the Ottawa Charge.
Still locked in a 3-3 tie following a scoreless overtime, Poulin's fifth-round penalty goal broke the stalemate to give the Victoire its first-ever shootout win in franchise history.
"To get that first win, it feels good to be at home, getting to have that shootout win," the 33-year-old star known as "Captain Clutch" noted after the game. "We just gotta keep going and don't take it for granted."
Notably, Ottawa goalie Emerance Maschmeyer made a massive season-opening statement in the loss, saving 42 of the 45 shots she faced to put the league's offensive lines on notice.
The biggest upset of the weekend went to New York, who defeated inaugural champions Minnesota 4-3 in overtime on Sunday. After conceding a bullet from Frost forward and 2023/24 Rookie of the Year Grace Zumwinkle 21 seconds into the game — the fastest goal in PWHL history — the Sirens kept answering to end regulation in a 3-3 tie.
With their own blink-or-you'll-miss-it moment, New York clinched the win 19 seconds into overtime, when rookie Sarah Fillier, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 PWHL Draft, found veteran star Alex Carpenter, who buried the game-winning goal.
How to watch the PWHL this week
The PWHL will be all over the ice this week prior to their mid-December international break for the Euro Hockey Tour.
In the three midweek bouts, Toronto will take aim at hosts Ottawa at 7 PM ET on Tuesday, with live coverage on the PWHL's YouTube channel.
The puck will also drop on both of Wednesday's matchups at 7 PM ET, when Minnesota will visit Boston as each battles for a season-first win while overtime victors New York and Montreal face-off to remain undefeated. Both games will stream live on YouTube, with additional regional coverage for their respective matchups on NESN in Boston and MSG Network in New York.
On the heels of last season’s successful "Takeover Weekends" in Detroit and Pittsburgh, the PWHL announced Monday that the league will embark on a nine-city Takeover Tour spanning nine new markets across the US and Canada this winter.
Accordingly, the tour will shift nine 2024/25 regular-season games to neutral locations, with stars hitting the ice primarily in NHL arenas.
All six teams — the Boston Fleet, Minnesota Frost, Montréal Victoire, New York Sirens, Ottawa Charge, and Toronto Sceptres — will play a minimum of two tour matches. Ottawa and Montréal lead all teams with four off-site games on the docket.
According to PWHL SVP of business operations Amy Scheer, "When exploring potential locations for a PWHL game, the enthusiasm from cities eager to engage with our League was incredibly encouraging."
Ultimately, after kicking off in Seattle on January 5th, the second-year league's tour will visit Vancouver, Denver, Québec City, Buffalo, Raleigh, and Detroit before wrapping up in St. Louis on March 29th. One final city, set to host Toronto and Ottawa on February 16th, will be announced in the coming weeks.
Audience growth and league expansion fuel PWHL tour
With two teams set to join the PWHL before the puck drops on the 2025/26 season, the Takeover Tour allows the league to test potential expansion markets while simultaneously growing fan interest across North America.
"Bringing PWHL games to fans across both countries is a natural next step as we continue building our audience," noted Scheer in the league's statement.
"The PWHL Takeover Tour lets us showcase our game and exceptional athletes across a wider North American footprint — an exciting moment for our players and an important move for our business as we consider expansion."
WE’RE TAKING OVER! 🗣️
— PWHL (@thepwhlofficial) November 18, 2024
PWHL Takeover Tour will feature games across North America, with stops as far west as Seattle and as far east as Québec City.
📰 https://t.co/Iu8AdqUf0T pic.twitter.com/usQJpZi0Lp
How to attend the PWHL's 2025 Takeover Tour
Tickets for January 19th's bout between the Ottawa Charge and Montréal Victoire in Québec City are available online now. Pre-sales for all other Tour stops begin on Thursday.
Additionally, all 2024/25 tickets will be available on Friday at 10 AM in each game's local market.
The PWHL unveiled all-new uniforms for its six founding teams on Thursday, after a long process that saw players competing under generic names and logos for the duration of the league's inaugural season.
Bauer — the PWHL's exclusive game and replica home jersey provider — is the sportswear company behind the uniforms. The league also worked closely with creative agency Flower Shop to refine each team's jersey design and branding.
Bauer Hockey takes the lead in PWHL jersey production
"We're proud to be the official game and replica jersey partner for the PWHL, as a next step in our long-standing commitment to girls and women’s hockey," said Mary-Kay Messier, Bauer Hockey's VP of global marketing, in Thursday's PWHL press release. "We are honored to celebrate the players, outfitting them with authentic on-ice jerseys. We are equally excited to celebrate the fans, providing premium-crafted replica jerseys so they can show their passion and support for their favorite PWHL team."
Each team's jersey incorporates elements unique to the club's regional and brand identity. Accordingly, the Minnesota Frost's uniform "embraces the chill" with a deep purple and white motif, "capturing the sharpness of the frozen landscape." Meanwhile, the Boston Fleet's jersey draws on alternating colored stripes, resulting in a "wave-like pattern that evokes a strong connection to the sea."
"Working alongside the team at Bauer, we put thought behind every color, every stitch, every fabric choice — every element— to ensure these uniforms are of the highest quality," added Jayna Hefford, PWHL SVP of hockey operations. "From the design process to final production, we aimed to create uniforms that not only reflect the spirit of each team but also deliver top-tier performance and comfort for our athletes."
PWHL brings home replica jerseys to fans
"Players and fans alike have been waiting for this moment and we couldn't be happier with the six unique looks each team will don moving forward," said PWHL SVP of business operations Amy Scheer. "These jerseys mark the latest evolution in our league's history, and we can't wait to see them showcased both on the ice and in the stands."
Fans can now purchase home replica jerseys online at the Official PWHL Shop, with key retailers following on November 14th. Replica jerseys will also be available at all home games when the season kicks off on November 30th.