Financial services company Ally Financial and Scripps Sports, the sports division of the US media company, have teamed up with the Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) to broadcast its first-ever game on national linear television in the United States.
The PWHL ‘Takeover Tour’ game between the New York Sirens and the Montréal Victoire will air on ION, Scripps' national sports and entertainment network, on March 28.
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Through ION, which is available free over-the-air, via pay TV, connected TV, and free, ad-supported streaming platforms, the game is expected to reach more than 126 million US households.
Ally will serve as the presenting sponsor of both the broadcast and the game itself. WPP Media helped facilitate and negotiate Ally’s partnership with Scripps and the PWHL.
Amy Scheer, PWHL executive vice president of business operations, said: “We are continuing to fuel this rocket ship that is the PWHL as we expand the reach and exposure of our league to new fans.
“This first‑ever national broadcast is a truly historic moment for our league, and with partners like Ally Financial and Scripps Sports, we’re introducing more people to our fast-paced and exciting game than ever before.”
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By GlobalDataScripps shares domestic rights to the 2025-26 PWHL season with Fox, Paramount, Gray Media, and Tegna under an agreement announced last November.
The broadcasters will all cover the Takeover Tour, in which 16 regular-season games are taken to cities outside the home markets of the competing teams.
Regarding national coverage of the Takeover Tour games in the US, Tegna will air games in Denver, Scripps will cover action in Detroit, and Fox-owned stations will air games in Chicago, Dallas, and Washington, DC.
In addition to these deals with national networks, each of the four US teams in the league – Boston, Minnesota, New York, and Seattle – is covered by regional sports networks, through agreements with NESN, MSG Networks, and FanDuel Sports Network.
The 2025-26 PWHL season features two expansion teams – the Seattle Torrent and the Vancouver Goldeneyes, which became the league’s first two west coast locations, expanding the league markedly beyond its previous market area.
The first-ever national PWHL broadcast comes at a time of significant momentum for women’s ice hockey in the US, boosted by the recent Winter Olympic Games, where 61 PWHL players competed and returned with 41 medals, including Team USA’s dramatic overtime gold medal victory over Canada.
Now in its third season, the PWHL claims it is approaching 2 million fans and is seeing a 20% year-over-year increase in average attendance.
Brian Lawlor, president of Scripps Sports, added: “Fan interest in women's hockey is at an all-time high, buoyed by the amazing success of Team USA in this year's Winter Olympic Games.
“We are thrilled to be teaming with the PWHL and Ally Financial on this milestone event and to bring the excitement of this league to a national audience for the first time.”
