PWHL expands to 12 teams with new conferences and playoff format

The Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) has announced a major restructuring for its fourth season, expanding to 12 teams and introducing a conference system. The league will be divided into the Eastern Conference, featuring Boston, Hamilton, Montreal, New York, Ottawa, and Toronto, and the Western Conference, consisting of Detroit, Las Vegas, Minnesota, San Jose, Seattle, and Vancouver.

With the addition of four expansion franchises—Detroit, Las Vegas, San Jose, and Hamilton—the total number of regular-season games will increase from 120 to 180. Each team is scheduled to play 30 games, including 18 within their respective conferences and 12 interconference matchups. The season is set to run from December 5, 2026, through April 18, 2027.

The postseason format is also expanding. The league will move from a four-team playoff to an eight-team format, with the top four teams from each conference qualifying. The new playoffs will include a best-of-three first-round series, followed by best-of-five conference finals and a best-of-five series for the Walter Cup. Additionally, the league will host its first All-Star event on March 7, 2027, at Toronto’s Scotiabank Arena.