INAUGURAL SEASON REFLECTIONS
Game One of Season One began at 12:48 p.m., ET, on Day One of 2024. With 2,537 fans watching at a sold-out Mattamy Athletic Centre in Toronto and 2.8 million viewers tuned in, the PWHL was transformed. A dream became an honest-to-goodness on-ice reality for the players, for the fans, for all who hoped this moment would arrive in their lifetime.
Fast-forward: A year later, after shattered attendance records, exceptional competition and seemingly unimaginable business breakthroughs, the six PWHL teams have names and logos. The Minnesota Frost have a Walter Cup championship to defend. The PWHL Takeover Tour is about to begin and the future is full of endless possibilities. So much has happened in the span of one remarkable year! It’s time to relive and reflect on some of 2024’s most powerful memories, surprising moments and inspiring learnings.
The PWHL 2024 moment I’ll never forget…
The first puck drop with Billie Jean King – the energy and emotion in the building was a moment I will never forget.
Jayna Hefford, PWHL Senior Vice President of Hockey Operations
“Stepping onto the ice for the very first PWHL game. It felt surreal and for me it was the moment where everything became real.” – Blayre Turnbull, Toronto Sceptres
“The inaugural game as a whole…to share that moment with Jayna Hefford, Billie Jean King, and Blayre Turnbull, I felt like I was a part of making history, and I was honoured to be a part of that moment.” – Micah Zandee-Hart, New York Sirens
https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/oR-JmciHhf4?enablejsapi=1&rel=0
“I’ll never forget the feeling in Ottawa’s sold-out home opener, with the crowd singing along with the Canadian national anthem. Seeing that game sell out was the first real indication that we were going to have success with ticket sales.” – Royce Cohen, PWHL Advisory Board Member
“I think that what really sticks out is that first game. For us, it was our home opener. The buildup to the league, the excitement, everything happened so quickly. So, just seeing that we were able to fill that arena, and witnessing all the energy in the building, it made everyone realize that it was so much more than just a hockey game. It was really a moment for our sport, but also all of women’s sports. It was really cool.” – Brianne Jenner, Ottawa Charge
“There have been so many amazing moments in 2024, starting with the very first puck drop. But for me, I have to say it was our game in front of a sold-out arena at the Bell Centre. There were so many emotions, and it felt like all the hard work we put into this league culminated into that moment. 21,000 people cheering us on. To this day when thinking about that day I still get the shivers.“ – Marie-Philip Poulin, Montréal Victoire
“The game at Bell Centre will forever be etched in my memory. When Marie-Philip Poulin was introduced and the crowd of 21,000+ just cheered on and on and on for her, it was such a wonderful sign from the fans of their appreciation — not just for her but for all of our wonderful athletes who make this league possible.” – Amy Scheer, PWHL Senior Vice President of Business Operations
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What surprised me the most during PWHL 2024…
The way the fans supported the PWHL from Day One.
Billie Jean King and Ilana Kloss, PWHL Advisory Board Members
“How quickly things came together.” - Kendall Coyne Schofield, Minnesota Frost
“How quickly we launched, the surging demand and the record-setting attendances.” – Jayna Hefford, PWHL Senior Vice President of Hockey Operations
“What surprised me the most during our inaugural season was how quickly the league came together and how much impact our presence had, both on and off the ice. We all expected challenges, of course, but we were all thrilled with the level of passion and support we saw across the board.” – Hilary Knight, Boston Fleet
“The growth. We didn’t wait until Year Two to grow; it was happening every week. More coverage, more fans, more merchandise. It seemed like every month got bigger and bigger, and then to have some off-site games breaking attendance records, that was incredible in Year One.” – Micah Zandee-Hart, New York Sirens
“I shouldn’t have been surprised, but the enthusiasm of the fans who were ahead of me understanding how physical and fast the game of women’s hockey is. I didn’t know that. That surprised me. Our fans got it, and they were there ahead of me. That really surprised me. I haven’t met anyone who I’ve talked to who finally watched it who doesn’t feel the same.” – Stan Kasten, PWHL Advisory Board Member
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My favorite PWHL fan memory from 2024 was…
“My favorite PWHL fan memories were all the post-game standing ovations, in particular when the home team lost, as fans were still excited and thankful, culminating with the Boston fans sticking around after they lost game five of the PWHL Finals — and, of course, the Taylor Swift sing-a-longs.” – Royce Cohen, PWHL Advisory Board Member
“The Taylor Swift sing-along in Detroit and the Barbie Dance Cam at Scotiabank Arena.” – Jayna Hefford, PWHL Senior Vice President of Hockey Operations
“Every single night that Debbie Harrison showed up at the arena in Toronto, every night is better than the last. She was phenomenal. Every night we saw something creative. We only had the 12 home games, and then we also had a couple of neutral-site games, so I don’t know what happens when we have a full long, big season. Can she keep, you know, bringing the glitz every night? She seems up to it.
I also liked, also in Toronto, the troop of four ladies who dressed up as spoons. They were a close second, but Debbie brought it every night, and I’ve got to give her the credit. She said she was thrilled to meet me, which is baffling to me; I said, ‘No. No. It’s the other way around: I can’t believe what you’ve done.’” – Stan Kasten, PWHL Advisory Board Member
“My favorite sign was in Toronto and read: ‘If I knew this was possible, I would have tried harder as a kid.’ It just showed me how important this league is – not just for the kids today, who can dream of playing in the PHWL one day, but for all generations this league represents something different but just as equally important.” – Amy Scheer, PWHL Senior Vice President of Business Operations
“A handmade bracelet I received from a young girl at the very first game in Toronto. And I was amazed at the parents and grandparents of young girls who came up to us and thanked us for allowing their kids and grandkids to have the dream of playing professional hockey just like their brothers and sons.” – Billie Jean King and Ilana Kloss, PWHL Advisory Board Members
“Giving our season ticket-holders jerseys at the end of the season was a really nice gesture. Our fans spend their hard-earned dollars on tickets, travel, and merchandise. They deserve to be recognized for that, and it was great to have that moment with them.” – Micah Zandee-Hart, New York Sirens
What I learned from PWHL 2024…
Never underestimate the will of the players to accomplish feats on and off the ice.
Royce Cohen, PWHL Advisory Board Member
https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/YgA5QpM8maM?enablejsapi=1&rel=0
“We learned that there really was a business in providing a professional setting for the world’s foremost women hockey players to play something that they had been denied for far too long. We learned that not only was it the right thing to do but that this could become a successful business and we were very proud of that. It takes some time, but we know it’s there. I know it’s there.” – Stan Kasten, PWHL Advisory Board Members
“We learned there was a void in the sports landscape for a truly professional women’s hockey league. We had an amazing team, on and off the ice, that built a league in just a few months. You can build it, but you can’t make people come – and the fans came in droves, which tells us the best is yet to come.” – Billie Jean King and Ilana Kloss, PWHL Advisory Board Members
“I learned that when you work together for something you believe in, great things will happen. This is what the 2024 PWHL season showed us. People were ready for what we had to offer and I am proud of the product that we have delivered, both the level of hockey but above all, our fight for equality and community.“ – Marie-Philip Poulin, Montréal Victoire
“I learned that there is a market for women’s hockey made up of wonderful fans from all walks of life who appreciate just how great this game and our athletes are.” – Amy Scheer, PWHL Senior Vice President of Business Operations
“As a player, I think I learned a lot. It was fantastic to compete best on best in a league for the first time, but I think what sticks out in this question is just the diversity in our fan base and all the different people that felt comfortable in our rink. We didn’t know what to expect. We thought we’d have lots of young girls teams in there, but there was people from all walks of life and all ages, and that was really cool.”. – Brianne Jenner, Ottawa Charge
“The demand for women’s hockey (and women’s sports) is real, and it’s amazing what can be accomplished by a group of people who care deeply about what they are doing and understand how meaningful it is.” – Jayna Hefford, PWHL Senior Vice President of Hockey Operations
What I’m proudest of about my participation in PWHL 2024…
“Coming back six months after giving birth to my son.” - Kendall Coyne Schofield, Minnesota Frost
“I was most proud of our playoff push after the World’s break. We were able to come together at the right time, rallying around our common goal and creating something really special.” – Hilary Knight, Boston Fleet
“It was an honour to play in the inaugural season. It is a league that many of us have waited a long time for, so to be able to participate in Year 1 and see everything come to fruition was amazing to be a part of. I’m extremely grateful to everyone involved behind the scenes that turned our dream into a reality.” – Blayre Turnbull, Toronto Sceptres
“I’m really proud to have had the privilege to work with Liz Knox, Hilary Knight, Kendall Coyne-Schofield and Sarah Nurse to have a CBA that helps this league move along. I have learned so much from those players and the dedication they have shown. Also, I was just really proud to be a part of that first ever Ottawa team and to be a part of the Ottawa community now.” – Brianne Jenner, Ottawa Charge
“Well, as the captain of the Montréal team (now La Victoire), I have to say that I am proud of my team and how our market responded. On a more general level, I am proud of how well we did collectively as a league, and each market worked hard to make our presence known.” – Marie-Philip Poulin, Montréal Victoire
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The first time I saw the Walter Cup, I thought…
Iconic.
Kendall Coyne Schofield, Minnesota Frost
“Wow. It’s a beautiful trophy. And wow – it sure is heavy! It was crazy to see the design come to life from the original drawings and conversations about what we wanted the trophy to represent.” – Amy Scheer, PWHL Senior Vice President of Business Operations
https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/tGT5n_WH7sU?enablejsapi=1&rel=0
“This trophy is amazing and incorporates so many elements of the founding of the PWHL, including the original number of teams, breaking a glass ceiling — and it’s heavier than the Stanley Cup!” – Billie Jean King and Ilana Kloss, PWHL Advisory Board Members
“The first time I saw the Walter Cup, I immediately wanted to bring it to Boston. The intentionality in the details of the design showcase how special the Walter Cup is and our goal to bring it home.” – Hilary Knight, Boston Fleet
“Wow, that is a beautiful trophy. And …. I want to hoist it one day.” – Blayre Turnbull, Toronto Sceptres
“When I saw the cup, I knew we had Tiffany, and I’d seen the designs; I knew it was gonna be good, but man it really struck me as, ‘We are big time. That’s the trophy everyone’s going to be proud to be associated with – proud to have earned.’ And from talking to some of the players, they now call him personally. They call him (the trophy) Walter, as in ‘Walter has been here’ or ‘Walter has been there.’ Walter’s had some rough going; we’re not quite as finicky about it as they are with the Stanley Cup, so Walter’s had some bumps and bruises along the way, but he apparently had some fun!” – Stan Kasten, PWHL Advisory Board Member
What PWHL 2024 most inspired me to do in 2025 and beyond…
“Evolve and innovate how the game is presented to fans.” – Jayna Hefford, PWHL Senior Vice President of Hockey Operations
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“To always do what I love and make sure I have an impact on the community in my life beyond hockey.” – Blayre Turnbull, Toronto Sceptres
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“Train, prepare, and take care of my body, knowing we have a 30-game season, as opposed to a 24-game regular season.” - Kendall Coyne Schofield, Minnesota Frost
“Fulfill the manifest destiny of this league, and I am thinking 2025 and beyond. We will have more teams eventually – I hope it could be as soon as next season – but eventually we will have women’s hockey all across two countries and probably even into Europe. So I know that’s far into the future, but we are very optimistic when we think about our future.” – Stan Kasten, PWHL Advisory Board Member
“What the inaugural season inspired me to do in 2025 and beyond is to keep pushing the boundaries of what’s possible, both for myself and for the future of women’s hockey. Seeing how far we’ve come in such a short time has continued to fuel my belief that…
…we’re just getting started.”
Hilary Knight, Boston Fleet
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