PROFESSIONAL WOMEN’S HOCKEY LEAGUE (PWHL) SURPASSES ONE MILLION FANS ALL-TIME

Mar 16, 2025, 08:49 PM (ET)

LEAGUE ACHIEVES MILESTONE DURING TAKEOVER TOUR™ DETROIT PRESENTED BY ALLY FEATURING THE MINNESOTA FROST AND NEW YORK SIRENS

LEAGUE BREAKS U.S. ATTENDANCE RECORD FOR PROFESSIONAL WOMEN’S HOCKEY

NEW YORK AND TORONTO (March 16, 2025) - The PWHL today announced a historic milestone, surpassing one million fans in attendance since its launch. The PWHL achieved the one millionth fan with a crowd of 14,288 during the Takeover Tour™ Detroit Presented by Ally featuring the Minnesota Frost and New York Sirens at Little Caesars Arena on Sunday, Mar. 16. The game also set a new U.S. attendance record for professional women’s hockey—the fourth time a PWHL game has broken the record. The achievement underscores the PWHL’s rapid growth and the increasing popularity of professional women’s hockey, showcasing the passion and support of fans across the league.

The league celebrated the one million fans milestone during a special timeout in the first period at Little Caesars Arena, with all players from both teams stepping onto the ice to throw signed “PWHL One Million Fans” commemorative pucks into the stands, creating an unforgettable moment for fans.

To date, the PWHL’s total league attendance currently stands at 1,001,648 fans in just over 14 months since the league’s launch on Jan. 1, 2024. The PWHL, now in its second season, has already exceeded last season’s total attendance mark of 483,530 fans (72 regular-season games and 13 playoff games), with 518,118 fans attending 70 games to date this regular season. The league set the global attendance record for a women’s hockey game with 21,105 fans at the Bell Centre on April 20, 2024 when Montréal hosted Toronto.

“Reaching one million fans is a huge milestone for our league,” said Jayna Hefford, PWHL Executive Vice President of Hockey Operations. “To see the league grow so rapidly is a reflection of the dedication of our players, who demonstrate their world-class talent every day, as well as the countless individuals behind the scenes who work relentlessly to ensure the league's success. The passion and support from our fans has been incredible, and this is only the beginning.”

“This is truly a 'pinch me' moment,” said Amy Scheer, PWHL Executive Vice President of Business Operations. “The overwhelming support from fans, the energy in the arenas, and the league’s rapid growth all highlight how much people are connecting with the PWHL. Today is a moment we’ll always remember, and we’re grateful to the fans of Detroit for celebrating it with us in such a big way.”

The PWHL regular season concludes on Saturday, May 3 with the playoffs beginning the week of May 5.

Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL)
The Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) is a professional ice hockey league in North America comprised of six teams in Boston, Minnesota, Montréal, New York, Ottawa, and Toronto, each with rosters featuring the best women’s hockey players in the world. Launched on Jan. 1, 2024, the PWHL has broken multiple attendance records and holds the worldwide all-time record for a women’s hockey game. In 2024, the PWHL was recognized by Sports Business Journal as the Sports Breakthrough of the Year and received the top position in the first-ever Canadian edition of the Harris Poll, which ranks companies’ reputations. Visit thepwhl.com to purchase tickets and merchandise, and subscribe to the PWHL e-newsletter to receive the latest league updates. Follow the league on all social media platforms @thepwhlofficial.