Historic Partnership Brings First-Ever Nationally Televised Women's Hockey Game to U.S. Audience
In a groundbreaking move for women's sports, Ally Financial and Scripps Sports have announced their collaboration with the Professional Women's Hockey League (PWHL) to deliver its first-ever nationally televised game in the United States. Scheduled for March 28, the game will see the New York Sirens face off against the Montréal Victoire at 1 p.m. ET from Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, marking a major milestone for the league and women's hockey as a whole.
ION, The E.W. Scripps Company’s national sports and entertainment network, will feature this historic game, which will be accessible to over 126 million U.S. households. This expansive reach represents a significant opportunity for the league to connect with new fans and showcase the talent of women's hockey players on a national stage.
The PWHL, in its third season, is experiencing phenomenal growth, boasting close to two million all-time fans and enjoying a 20% year-over-year increase in attendance figures. The surge in popularity for the league is further enhanced by the recent successes of PWHL athletes at the Winter Olympics in Milano Cortina 2026, where 61 players represented their countries, returning home with a remarkable 41 medals. This includes Team USA's thrilling overtime victory over Canada for the gold medal, captivating the attention of sports fans across the nation.
Ally Financial serves as the presenting sponsor for both the broadcast and the PWHL Takeover Tour™, which aims to promote women's sports through various events and initiatives. Ally has long been a pioneer in supporting women's athletics, including their historic commitments to enhance media visibility and equity in the sports industry. Previous highlights from Ally’s investments in women's sports include moving the NWSL Championship to a prime-time slot for the first time and launching the Ally Tipoff, a key early-season women's college basketball tournament.
Scripps Sports has also been a game changer in the broadcast landscape, striving to make women's sports more accessible to fans. Since the start of its initiatives to elevate women's sports, Scripps has introduced dedicated franchise nights for both the WNBA and the NWSL and initiated weekly national doubleheaders for both leagues. Their commitment to showcasing women's sports has led to ION broadcasting more WNBA and NWSL games than any other national network.
Brian Lawlor, president of Scripps Sports, expressed excitement about collaborating with Ally and PWHL, highlighting the unprecedented interest in women's hockey fueled by the Olympics. He stated, "We are thrilled to be teaming with the PWHL and Ally Financial on this milestone event and bring the excitement of this fast-paced league to a national audience for the first time."
Andrea Brimmer, Ally's Chief Marketing and Public Relations Officer, emphasized their belief in tangible action rather than mere words. She mentioned, "When you give women's sports the platform they deserve, fans show up, players show out, and the entire ecosystem benefits." Hailing this historic broadcast as a step towards further elevating world-class female athletes, Brimmer noted that delivering this game from Detroit adds to the significance of the event.
Additionally, Amy Scheer, the Executive Vice President of Business Operations for the PWHL, underscored the importance of expanding the league’s reach to attract new fans and the excitement surrounding this remarkable historical broadcast. She remarked, "This first-ever national broadcast is a truly historic moment for our league and, with partners like Ally Financial and Scripps Sports, we’re inspiring more people to engage with our dynamic and thrilling game."
Both companies involved in this partnership aim to utilize this landmark event as a stepping stone, fostering further growth, investment, and recognition for women's sports as they pave the way for a brighter future in athletics. Fans eager to catch all the action and excitement of this historic matchup can tune into ION on the scheduled date. With significant commitments towards investment and advocacy, these organizations are making waves in women's sports, advocating for the recognition and support they deserve.
ION, The E.W. Scripps Company’s national sports and entertainment network, will feature this historic game, which will be accessible to over 126 million U.S. households. This expansive reach represents a significant opportunity for the league to connect with new fans and showcase the talent of women's hockey players on a national stage.
The PWHL, in its third season, is experiencing phenomenal growth, boasting close to two million all-time fans and enjoying a 20% year-over-year increase in attendance figures. The surge in popularity for the league is further enhanced by the recent successes of PWHL athletes at the Winter Olympics in Milano Cortina 2026, where 61 players represented their countries, returning home with a remarkable 41 medals. This includes Team USA's thrilling overtime victory over Canada for the gold medal, captivating the attention of sports fans across the nation.
Ally Financial serves as the presenting sponsor for both the broadcast and the PWHL Takeover Tour™, which aims to promote women's sports through various events and initiatives. Ally has long been a pioneer in supporting women's athletics, including their historic commitments to enhance media visibility and equity in the sports industry. Previous highlights from Ally’s investments in women's sports include moving the NWSL Championship to a prime-time slot for the first time and launching the Ally Tipoff, a key early-season women's college basketball tournament.
Scripps Sports has also been a game changer in the broadcast landscape, striving to make women's sports more accessible to fans. Since the start of its initiatives to elevate women's sports, Scripps has introduced dedicated franchise nights for both the WNBA and the NWSL and initiated weekly national doubleheaders for both leagues. Their commitment to showcasing women's sports has led to ION broadcasting more WNBA and NWSL games than any other national network.
Brian Lawlor, president of Scripps Sports, expressed excitement about collaborating with Ally and PWHL, highlighting the unprecedented interest in women's hockey fueled by the Olympics. He stated, "We are thrilled to be teaming with the PWHL and Ally Financial on this milestone event and bring the excitement of this fast-paced league to a national audience for the first time."
Andrea Brimmer, Ally's Chief Marketing and Public Relations Officer, emphasized their belief in tangible action rather than mere words. She mentioned, "When you give women's sports the platform they deserve, fans show up, players show out, and the entire ecosystem benefits." Hailing this historic broadcast as a step towards further elevating world-class female athletes, Brimmer noted that delivering this game from Detroit adds to the significance of the event.
Additionally, Amy Scheer, the Executive Vice President of Business Operations for the PWHL, underscored the importance of expanding the league’s reach to attract new fans and the excitement surrounding this remarkable historical broadcast. She remarked, "This first-ever national broadcast is a truly historic moment for our league and, with partners like Ally Financial and Scripps Sports, we’re inspiring more people to engage with our dynamic and thrilling game."
Both companies involved in this partnership aim to utilize this landmark event as a stepping stone, fostering further growth, investment, and recognition for women's sports as they pave the way for a brighter future in athletics. Fans eager to catch all the action and excitement of this historic matchup can tune into ION on the scheduled date. With significant commitments towards investment and advocacy, these organizations are making waves in women's sports, advocating for the recognition and support they deserve.
Topics Entertainment & Media）
【About Using Articles】
You can freely use the title and article content by linking to the page where the article is posted.
※ Images cannot be used.
【About Links】
Links are free to use.