The Professional Women's Hockey League is a professional women's ice hockey league in North America. The PWHL was founded to create a sustainable, full-time professional hockey league for women. It features six teams in cities like New York, Toronto, and Boston. The league plays a regular season and a postseason tournament to compete for the Walter Cup. Games are broadcast in Canada on CBC, TSN, and Sportsnet, and globally on YouTube.
The league was created after the Canadian Women's Hockey League folded in 2019. The Professional Women’s Hockey Players Association (PWHPA) pushed for a more professional league, leading to the formation of the PWHL with support from the Mark Walter Group and Billie Jean King Enterprises. The first draft was held in 2023, and the inaugural season began in January 2024.
PWHL Teams
According to the NYTimes, the PWHL consists of six teams: Minnesota Frost, based in Saint Paul and the 2024 Walter Cup champions; New York Sirens, based in the New York metropolitan area; Toronto Fierce, based in Toronto; Montreal Force, based in Montreal; Boston Fleet, based in Lowell, Massachusetts; and Ottawa Red Stars, based in Ottawa. The names were chosen to connect with fans and the cities they represent.
Boston Fleet
The Boston Fleet are a professional ice hockey team based in Lowell, Massachusetts, and one of the founding teams of the Professional Women's Hockey League (PWHL). They play home games at the Tsongas Center.
The team was announced on August 29, 2023, to continue professional women’s hockey in Boston after the Boston Pride folded. Danielle Marmer was appointed as the general manager, and Courtney Kessel became the head coach. The Fleet signed top players like Hilary Knight, Aerin Frankel, and Megan Keller. They also selected Swiss forward Alina Müller in the 2023 PWHL Draft.
The team's colors are green, gray, and white. They played their first game on January 3, 2024, against Minnesota, with Theresa Schafzahl scoring the first-ever goal. Boston secured its first win in overtime against Montreal. The team finished third in the standings and advanced to the playoffs, eventually losing to Minnesota in the championship series.
Minnesota Frost
The Minnesota Frost is a professional ice hockey team based in Saint Paul, Minnesota, and one of the founding teams of the Professional Women's Hockey League (PWHL). They play home games at the Xcel Energy Center. In 2024, the Frost won the inaugural PWHL Walter Cup championship.
The team was announced on August 29, 2023, to replace the Minnesota Whitecaps, with Natalie Darwitz named general manager. Former U.S. national team coach Ken Klee replaced Charlie Burggraf as head coach. The Frost’s first signings included Kendall Coyne Schofield, Kelly Pannek, and Lee Stecklein. They selected Taylor Heise first overall in the 2023 PWHL Draft.
The team's colors are purple, black, and white. They played their first game in January 2024, defeating Boston 3–2. Minnesota later won a record 3–0 home debut against Montreal. The team finished fourth in the playoffs, defeating Toronto in the semifinals and Boston in the finals to claim the Walter Cup.
Montréal Victoire
The Montreal Victoire is a professional women's ice hockey team based in Montreal, Quebec, and one of the six founding teams of the Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL). The team plays its home games at Place Bell in Laval. Montreal's franchise was announced on August 29, 2023, and Daniele Sauvageau was named the general manager, with Kori Cheverie as head coach. Star players Marie-Philip Poulin, Laura Stacey, and Ann-Renee Desbiens were the first to sign with the team.
In their inaugural season, the Victoire played their first game on January 2, 2024, defeating PWHL Ottawa in overtime. They set multiple attendance records throughout the season, including a sell-out at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto and a historic crowd of 21,105 at the Bell Centre. Although Montreal was eliminated in the first round of the playoffs, Erin Ambrose was named the league’s top defender.
The team’s colors are burgundy, sand, and storm, and its logo features the initials “MV” with a fleur-de-lis. The name "Victoire" celebrates Montreal's rich hockey legacy and history of success.
New York Sirens
The New York Sirens are a professional ice hockey team based in the New York metropolitan area and one of the six charter franchises of the Professional Women's Hockey League (PWHL). They play home games at the Prudential Center in Newark.
The team was announced on August 29, 2023, with Pascal Daoust as general manager and Howie Draper as head coach. The Sirens signed Alex Carpenter, Abby Roque, and Micah Zandee-Hart as their first players. Their first draft pick, Ella Shelton, was selected fourth overall.
The team's colors are turquoise, navy blue, white, and orange. They played their inaugural game on January 1, 2024, defeating Toronto 4–0, with Shelton scoring the first goal in league history. New York was eliminated from playoff contention in April 2024 but secured the first overall pick in the 2024 draft, selecting Sarah Fillier.
Ottawa Charge
The Ottawa Charge is a professional women’s ice hockey team based in Ottawa, Ontario, and one of the six founding franchises of the Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL). They play their home games at TD Place Arena. The team was announced on August 29, 2023, with Michael Hirshfeld as general manager and Carla MacLeod as head coach. In the 2023 PWHL Draft, Ottawa selected 15 players, including American national team member Savannah Harmon, as their top pick.
Ottawa played its first game on January 2, 2024, against Montreal, setting a professional women’s hockey attendance record with 8,318 fans. Although they lost 3–2 in overtime, the team secured its first victory on January 13 with a 5–1 win over Toronto. Despite missing the playoffs, Ottawa led the league in attendance during its inaugural season.
In September 2024, the team was officially named the Charge, reflecting Ottawa's motto, "Advance—Ottawa—En Avant." The logo features an unfinished circle symbolizing motion and the initials "OC." The team’s colors include red, dark blue, white, and yellow, representing its bold identity.
Toronto Sceptres
The Toronto Sceptres are a professional ice hockey team based in Toronto, Ontario, and one of the six founding franchises of the Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL). They play home games at Coca-Cola Coliseum and finished first in the league’s inaugural regular season.
The Sceptres began play at the Mattamy Athletic Centre in January 2024. They set attendance records at major venues like Scotiabank Arena and the Bell Centre and became the first team to secure a playoff spot. Despite strong performances, including Natalie Spooner leading the league in scoring, Minnesota eliminated them in the playoffs. Spooner later won the league’s first MVP award.
Initially called PWHL Toronto, the team adopted the name Sceptres in September 2024, referencing Toronto’s "Queen City" nickname. Their new logo features “TS” initials, with yellow added to their blue-and-black colors.
FAQs on PWHL Teams
A. Billie Jean King, Ilana Kloss, Stan Kasten, and Royce Cohen are the ruling and governing body of the PWHL.
A. Each PWHL team includes 23 active roster spots.
A. The PWHL and all six of its teams are owned by the Mark Walter Group.
A. The Walter Cup is named in honor of Mark and Kimbra Walter, recognizing their support in enabling the creation of the PWHL.
A. The PWHL is fully funded by Mark Walter, co-owner of the Los Angeles Dodgers, and his wife, Kimbra Walter.
