Investors Back the Future of Women’s Hockey
The Professional Women’s Hockey League announced this week that it has closed its first round of major investment, welcoming Detroit‑based Ilitch Companies and Toronto‑based Kilmer Sports Ventures as strategic partners.
The infusion of capital comes as the league, which expanded from a handful of franchises to a ten‑team circuit earlier this year, rides the wave of heightened visibility generated by the U.S. women’s national team’s gold‑medal performance at the Milan‑Cortina Games.
New franchises have been added in Detroit, Las Vegas, San Jose and Hamilton, Ontario, broadening the league’s geographic footprint and deepening its corporate network.
While the financial backing is a clear signal of confidence, league officials stress that player compensation will not see an immediate bump; salaries remain a work in progress as the circuit works toward profitability.
Attendance figures have already responded to the momentum, with the average crowd swelling to 9,304 fans per game — a 28 percent increase over the previous season — and last year ten of 194 players earned six‑figure salaries, the minimum hovering just above $37,000.
The league is now turning its attention to securing a national broadcast partner in the United States, a move that could further amplify its reach; early discussions have already involved ION, a major television network looking to expand its sports portfolio.
Executives from the newly onboarded investors highlighted the long‑term vision, emphasizing that the partnership is about more than balance sheets and is aimed at building a sustainable platform for the sport.