What is the PWHL?
The Professional Women's Hockey League is the premier women's hockey league in the world — founded in 2023, first played in 2024, uniting the sport's top players in one league for the first time. The Montréal Victoire won the 2026 Walter Cup over the Ottawa Charge, the first Canadian champion after Minnesota's back-to-back titles.[1] [2]
| Season | Pool / Format | Host cities |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Montréal Victoire | Walter Cup: 3–1 series vs Ottawa Charge — first Canadian champion |
| 2025 | Minnesota Frost | Walter Cup: back-to-back — 3–1 series vs Ottawa Charge |
| 2024 | Minnesota (Frost) | Walter Cup: 3–2 series vs Boston — the inaugural champion |
Walter Cup champions — all three seasons of the league.
How does it work?
Eight franchises — expansion brought Vancouver and Seattle for 2025–26 — play a winter season into the Walter Cup playoffs, with a college draft each summer feeding rosters straight from NCAA hockey. Nearly every Olympic medalist from the U.S. and Canadian national teams plays in the league.[1] [3]
Why does it matter?
A PWHL roster spot or draft selection is the defining professional credential of women's hockey — the league ended decades of fragmented predecessors, sets attendance records across North America, and anchors the women's game between Olympics.[1] [2]
References
- PWHL — official site. Accessed August 2026.
- NHL.com — Montréal Victoire wins 2026 PWHL Walter Cup. Accessed August 2026.
- PWHL — The Walter Cup. Accessed August 2026.