The takeaway: The PWHL kicked off its inaugural season on New Year’s Day and is already seeing early success thanks to the support of fans, sponsors, and media partners.
The collaborations: Canadians are at the forefront of the PWHL excitement, with both fans and high-profile brands from Canada showing strong support. Air Canada made a significant move by becoming the league’s premier partner and official airline for all six PWHL teams, setting a high standard in comparison to the WNBA’s current travel challenges.
The media partnerships: With a new league comes new media opportunities, as several established NHL networks have committed to showcasing PWHL games. TSN, Sportsnet, CBC, NESN, and MSG Networks in the U.S. have all signed broadcasting deals to air all 72 games on linear platforms, with Bally Sports North recently announcing that it will broadcast 24 regular season PWHL Minnesota games starting with tonight’s matchup against PWHL Boston.
Big picture: While other professional women’s leagues took years to secure major sponsors and media partners, the PWHL is breaking the mold with early investor support and immediate results. The league’s growing popularity and strong partnerships signal a new era in women’s sports where stakeholders are fully embracing the PWHL’s offerings. Game on.
