The Professional Women's Hockey League is making history with its first national U.S. television broadcast. On March 28, ION will air the neutral-site game between the New York Sirens and Montreal Victoire from Detroit, reaching 126 million American households through a partnership with Scripps Sports. This marks a significant expansion for the three-year-old league, which has previously been limited to local affiliates in its four U.S. markets.

Scripps Sports, already a rights-holder for WNBA and NWSL games, sees this as an opportunity to capitalize on the current surge in women's hockey popularity. The timing aligns perfectly with the sport's momentum following the U.S. team's gold medal victory at the Milan Cortina Games. Scripps Sports president Brian Lawlor compared the current interest to the WNBA's surge with stars like Caitlyn Clark, Angel Reese, and Cameron Brink in 2024.

The broadcast deal comes amid unprecedented growth for the PWHL, with sold-out games following the Olympic break, including a U.S. pro women's hockey attendance record of 17,335 in Seattle. League executives view this as a potential stepping stone toward a long-term national broadcasting partnership, especially as the league plans to expand by up to four teams next season.