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PWHL secures first full-season linear TV contract in US

By Thomson Reuters Sep 9, 2026 | 11:08 AM

By Field Level Media

Sep 09 (Field Level Media) – The Professional Women’s Hockey League and Scripps Sports have agreed to a broadcast rights deal for ​the 2026-27 season, the first full-season linear ‌television contract in the United States.

The two parties announced the pact on Wednesday but did not disclose any contract terms.

Under the agreement, Scripps Sports will air a Saturday game each week ‌on ​ION, the Scripps national sports ⁠and entertainment network. Two ⁠other games also will air each week.

ION reaches more than 128 million households across the nation. Local Scripps stations in Detroit and Las Vegas — cities ​where PWHL teams will expand this fall — also will broadcast games.

“A season-long national television presence in the ⁠U.S. is something we’ve been ⁠working toward and represents a significant step ​in our continued growth as a league,” said Amy ​Scheer, the PWHL executive vice president of business ‌operations. “Scripps continues to be a committed partner in shining a spotlight on women’s sports, and for the first time, our American fans will have the opportunity to ⁠follow the league on national television throughout an entire season, making the PWHL more accessible than ever before.”

PWHL already has ⁠a contract ‌to air games from the growing ⁠12-team league in Canada.

Scripps Sports and the ​PWHL ‌already have a relationship. The PWHL Takeover ​Tour match ⁠between the Montreal Victoire and New York Sirens on March 28 was the first PWHL to air on national linear television in the U.S. ION also had the coverage of the PWHL Walter Cup Finals in ​2026.

(–Field Level Media)