PWHL Explained: Why the New Professional Women’s Hockey League Is Taking the Sports World by Storm

The Professional Women’s Hockey League is hitting top speed as the 2025 Walter Cup Finals shift back to Saint Paul, where the Minnesota Frost hold a 2-1 edge over the Ottawa Charge and can clinch a second consecutive championship in tonight’s Game 4 at Xcel Energy Center. Electric crowds of more than 16,000 have already packed the arena, and ticket resale prices have doubled since puck drop of Game 1, underscoring the surging demand for women’s pro hockey. National broadcasts on TSN, Sportsnet and ESPN+ have delivered record streaming minutes, while social media impressions on #PWHLFinals jumped 43 percent week-over-week, according to league data released in Tuesday’s notebook. What’s at stake tonight • Minnesota can become the first back-to-back Walter Cup winner. • Ottawa, powered by scoring leader Taylor Heise, must force a decisive Game 5 in Canada on Thursday. • Netminders Maddie Rooney (Frost) and Emerance Maschmeyer (Charge) own identical .934 save percentages, setting up another goaltending duel fans won’t want to miss. Expansion buzz: Seattle & Vancouver officially on the clock While the Finals dominate headlines, front-office executives are already bracing for the PWHL’s first expansion draft on June 18. The league confirmed key rules last week: current clubs can protect nine skaters and one goalie, or seven skaters and two goalies, before Seattle and Vancouver select their inaugural rosters. Why this matters • Both Pacific Northwest teams will debut in 2025-26, bumping total membership to eight franchises. • ESPN reports additional markets—including Chicago and Montreal—are being evaluated as the league eyes momentum from the 2026 Milan-Cortina Olympics. Key offseason dates fans should bookmark • June 18: Expansion Draft (live on ESPN2, TSN). • June 20–23: Unrestricted free-agency window opens. • July 10: 2025 Entry Draft in Buffalo. • September 5: Training camps begin league-wide. How to watch and follow Game 4 • TV: ESPN+ (US), TSN4 (Canada). • Radio: SiriusXM 167, local FM affiliates. • Streaming: PWHL.com provides free real-time stats and multi-angle replay highlights. Insider tip for SEO hunters searching “PWHL tickets” or “Walter Cup live stream”: the secondary ticket market now lists upper-bowl seats for under $40, but prices rise sharply an hour before faceoff. Early refreshes score the best deals. Bottom line The combination of a riveting Finals showdown, historic West-coast expansion and Olympic-cycle visibility positions the Professional Women’s Hockey League for a breakout 2025-26 season. Whether the Frost seal the deal tonight or Ottawa pushes the series the distance, women’s hockey is delivering must-see, search-worthy drama.