• Loading stock data...
Monday, March 31, 2025
Nominations Are Open for Front Office Sports Honors! Submit Now

Dodgers Owner Buys The PHF To Unify Women’s Pro Hockey

  • The PHF and PWHPA had been battling for top status in women’s hockey.
  • A new unified league will launch in January 2024 backed by Dodgers owner Mark Walter.
Syndication: Arizona Republic

Los Angeles Dodgers controlling owner Mark Walter is consolidating the top women’s professional hockey in North America into a new, unified league with substantial support from the NHL.

For the past several years, two entities had been vying for premier status after top players broke away from the Premier Hockey Federation — formally the National Women’s Hockey League — and formed the Professional Women’s Hockey Players Association.

The Mark Walter Group and Billie Jean King Enterprises had been supporting PWHPA efforts that included event collaborations with NHL teams. The PHF boosted teams’ salary cap to $1.5 million this past season, had a media rights deal with ESPN, and also worked with NHL teams.

Now, Walter and his wife Kimbra have acquired the PHF and will shutter that league’s operations, preparing to fund and launch a new unified women’s hockey league in January 2024. Board members will include King, her wife, former tennis star Ilana Kloss, and Dodgers President Stan Kasten.

The NHL told Front Office Sports it congratulates the PWHPA and PHF on their agreement.

“We already have initiated discussions with representatives of this unified group regarding how we can work together to continue to grow the women’s game,” a league spokesperson told FOS. 

NHL commissioner Gary Bettman had long stated his desire for a unified women’s game that the league can support rather than choosing from multiple entities. The development will bring PWHPA stars like Team USA’s Hilary Knight together with PHF standouts including MVP Loren Gabel and many other international players. 

Financial details of the acquisition are not available, but the deal will void current PHF contracts — some in the six figures — and provide a minimum salary of $35,000 through 2031, according to the Associated Press.

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

exclusive

NFL Considers Backers for Pro Flag Football Leagues Ahead of LA28

The 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles are seen as a likely watershed event.

NFL’s QB Market Shake-Up Puts Steelers in Unfamiliar Territory

Conversations are continuing with four-time NFL MVP Aaron Rodgers.

Yankees RSN and Comcast Clash Intensifies As Deadline for Deal Nears

The invective escalates as a contract deadline approaches Monday night.

UFL Kicking Off 2025 Season With Labor Fight Still Simmering

The league’s first game is still on, even without a labor deal in place.

Featured Today

Brehanna Daniels

NASCAR Pit Crew Member Brehanna Daniels Didn’t Know She’d Be a Trailblazer

The first Black female tire changer didn’t know she’d be a trailblazer.
Columbia, SC - February 16, 2025 - Colonial Life Arena: Rebecca Lobo and Ryan Ruocco during a regular season game.
March 30, 2025

Inside Ryan Ruocco’s Rapid Rise to ESPN’s Top Voice of Women’s Hoops

The top voice became “quickly addicted” to calling the women’s game.
Mar 27, 2025; Newark, NJ, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide guard Chris Youngblood (8) and the Alabama Crimson Tide bench celebrate during the second half against the Brigham Young Cougars during an East Regional semifinal of the 2025 NCAA tournament at Prudential Center.
March 29, 2025

How Alabama Became College Basketball’s Newest Juggernaut

The Crimson Tide have found success rivaling their historic football program.
Kendall Coyne Schofield
March 25, 2025

Kendall Coyne Schofield Wants More for the Next Wave of Mom-Athletes

The Walter Cup–winning Frost captain says small changes mean “everything.”
Torpedo bat

Yankees Used the ‘Torpedo’ Bats Last Year

The bats are being widely adopted across baseball.
March 30, 2025

MLB OK With New Yankees ‘Torpedo’ Bats Used in 9-HR Game

The home run barrage tied an MLB record.
March 30, 2025

NFL Owners Face Big Decisions on 18th Game, Streaming, Rules

The league approaches its key offseason gathering with a sense of resurgent growth.
Sponsored

How UBS Crafts Impactful Partnerships Across Sports, Arts, and Culture

As UBS continues to expand its impressive array of sports and entertainment partnerships, the company solidifies its position as a leader in wealth management.
March 28, 2025

Cooper Flagg’s Sweet 16 Performance Fuels NBA Tanking Debate

The Duke star shined as the Blue Devils advanced to the Elite Eight.
March 27, 2025

Adam Silver Says NBA All-Star Game Changes Were ‘A Miss’

The commissioner acknowledged poor reception for this year’s game.
[US, Mexico, & Canada customers only] Jan 23, 2025; Paris, FRANCE; NBA commissioner Adam Silver speaks before the Paris Games 2025 NBA basketball game between the San Antonio Spurs and Indiana Pacers at Accor Arena.
March 27, 2025

Silver: NBA Will ‘Explore’ European League With FIBA

Silver said the board of governors showed “enthusiastic support.”
March 27, 2025

MLB’s Growing Payroll Divide: Rich Teams Soar While Poor Lag Behind

The Dodgers’ 2025 player payroll nearly quintuples the Marlins’ spending.