TV screens near the interview room welcome Hilary Knight, a forward acquired to play for PWHL Detroit, as she speaks to the media during a press conference at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit on Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2026.USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect The Professional Women’s Hockey League is betting on free TV to help build a fan base in its first season in Detroit.
The league announced on Wednesday it has reached an agreement with Scripps Sports to air its games. In Detroit, the PWHL will be seen on WMYD-TV (Ch.
20). Scripps Sports is a subsidiary of F.W.
Scripps Co., which also owns WXYZ TV (Ch. 7) in Detroit.
“A season-long national television presence in the U.S. is something we’ve been working toward and represents a significant step in our continued growth as a league,” said PWHL executive vice president of business operations Amy Scheer.
“Scripps continues to be a committed partner in shining a spotlight on women’s sports, and for the first time, our American fans will have the opportunity to follow the league on national television throughout an entire season, making the PWHL more accessible than ever before.” Joining the Pistons on Ch 20 PWHL Detroit joins the Detroit Pistons on free non-network TV.
Except for network broadcasts, Red Wings, Pistons, and Tigers broadcasts have mostly been on cable for more than a decade. In addition to its broadcasts, Scripps Sports will air programming to help promote the league, “Women’s sports is a cornerstone of our mission to create meaningful connections between communities and the sports and teams they love,” said Brian Lawlor, president of Scripps Sports.
“This partnership further demonstrates ION as the premier destination for women’s sports, where athletes can showcase their talents on the biggest stage, and fans can discover their next favorite team.” Scripps broadcast the league’s Walter Cup championship series last season, which it will do next spring. Fans can also stream games on its YouTube channel and at thepwhl.com, making it among the most accessible leagues for fans to watch on TV.
Scripps has been a major television partner in women’s sports, with extensive coverage of the WNBA and NWSL. It is also sponsoring a women’s team golf league and a college basketball showcase this fall.
PWHL Detroit begins its training camp in mid-November,
