The Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) announced [on April 4, 2024] its championship trophy, The Walter Cup. The Walter family is a leader in philanthropy and business, and it provided the foundational support that launched the PWHL. The Walter Cup was created in partnership with global luxury jeweler, Tiffany & Co.
The naming of the Walter Cup was proposed by sports icon and PWHL Advisory Board Member Billie Jean King.
“The Walter Cup is the greatest prize a PWHL team can win and the finest gift the players can give their fans,” said King. “The Walter Cup marks a monumental milestone in women’s hockey and for all women’s sports. It recognizes the historic commitment by Mark and Kimbra Walter to make this dream come true for the PWHL players of today and tomorrow.” Continue reading from PWHL
The Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) is a new league established as a unified league across North America with a split of teams from the USA and Canada. The League was only announced in August 2023 meaning a tight turnaround before the opening game on the 1st January 2024. Fortunately, the league began as planned with a new hope for women’s hockey and only minor teething problems.
The league is of course not the first of its kind. North America has seen two women’s hockey leagues in recent years: the National Women’s Hockey League (NWHL) and the Canadian Women’s Hockey League (CWHL). The League’s faced difficulties as sponsorships and talent split between the two leagues. Despite attempts to sustain the league with external investment, the CWHL disbanded in 2019 leaving a single league. Unfortunately, the NWHL was controversial amongst players with over 200 announcing the format was unsustainable and they would not take part. While negotiations did bring some success and the rebranding of the league to the Premier Hockey Federation, it became clear a long-term change was needed. Bring in the PWHL. Continue reading from Sporting Her
