With two new teams and expanded broadcast reach in both Canada and the United States, the PWHL gets back on the ice for its third season starting this Friday, Nov. 21.
The new campaign kicks off with a doubleheader The two-time Walter Cup champion Minnesota Frost host the Toronto Sceptres at the renamed Grand Casino Arena in Saint Paul (7 p.m. ET). That’s followed by the debuts of the league’s first expansion squads, with the Seattle Torrent visiting the Vancouver Goldeneyes at Vancouver’s Pacific Coliseum (10 p.m. ET).
Friday’s games will be broadcast nationally in Canada on TSN. In the U.S. and most of the rest of the world, all games will remain available on YouTube. In Czechia and Slovakia, games will be distributed by Nova Sport.
This year, the league has further expanded its broadcast and streaming partnerships on both sides of the North American border. In the U.S., regional partnerships continue with NESN (Boston Fleet), MSG Networks (New York Sirens) and FanDuel Sports Network (Minnesota Frost). In the Seattle region, all 30 Torrent games will be available over the air, with 24 games on FOX 13+ and six — including the debut on Nov. 21 — on KONG.
More over-the-air options will also be available in other U.S. markets via FOX Television Stations, Paramount, Scripps Sports, Gray Media, and TEGNA. All told, approximately 56 million U.S. homes will have access to over-the-air PWHL broadcasts this season.
In Canada, the expansion of the league’s schedule from 90 to 120 total games has led to Sportsnet joining the list of broadcast partners for Season 3, where all games will once again be available on either linear or digital platforms.
TSN returns with 54 games, including an exclusive window on Wednesdays. Sportsnet will have 30 games, Prime Video returns with 19 games and an exclusive Tuesday window and CBC/CBC Gem will have 17 games running from Friday through Sunday.
All 30 Montreal Victoire games will also be available in French on RDS (17), Radio-Canada on ICI TÉLÉ and ICI TOU.TV (7), and Prime Video (6).
Full details of broadcast availabilities are available on the PWHL website.
While the PWHL has quickly established an important footprint in women’s sports and expanded more rapidly than anyone expected, the league is still very much in startup mode — more focused on growing its brand and strengthening regional relationships that will sustain over the long term than using broadcasts to deliver revenue via rights fees.
“The PWHL’s broadcast strategy isn’t about exclusivity — it’s about accessibility,” said the league’s executive vice president of business operations, Amy Scheer, in a media release on Tuesday. “By working with an incredible mix of broadcast and digital partners across North America, we’re ensuring fans everywhere can experience the speed, skill, and intensity of PWHL hockey. This approach allows us to continue expanding our audience, strengthen local connections, and showcase our world-class athletes on the biggest possible stage.”
Like last year, league executives won’t commit to specifics, but further expansion is definitely in the crosshairs. As such, the 2025-26 Takeover Tour has expanded to 16 games in 11 different cities, predominantly in NHL arenas.
The tour starts on Dec. 17 in Halifax, Nova Scotia, with the Victoire taking on the Toronto Sceptres and will conclude on Apr. 7, 2026 with the Fleet meeting the Goldeneyes at Rogers Place in Edmonton.
Those markets will each host two games, as will Chicago, Denver and Detroit. The tour will also return to Quebec City for one game, and new markets of Calgary, Dallas, Hamilton, Washington, D.C. and Winnipeg will join Chicago and Halifax for the first time this season.
The league will have two international breaks this season: from Dec. 8-15 to accommodate two Rivalry Series games in Edmonton and then from Jan. 29 – Feb. 25 for the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, Italy.
During a media availability on Tuesday, senior vice president of hockey operations Jayna Hefford announced that the 2026 trade deadline will take place on March 30, with a roster freeze effective as of March 31.
After the regular season concludes with all eight teams in action on Saturday, Apr. 25, the format for the 2026 Walter Cup playoffs will remain the same as in previous years: four teams compete in two best-of-five series for the league championship.
After successfully introducing the innovative ‘no escape’ rule with an eye toward increasing scoring, the PWHL is making two smaller rule changes for Season 3. First, all teams will now be required to have three goalies on their roster and if an injury occurs, the third goalie can be dressed and potentially come into a game. Second, the coach’s challenge has been eliminated. All goal calls will now be reviewed by the PWHL’s situation room in Toronto.