Olympic Victory Puts Women’s Hockey in the Spotlight
Kendall Coyne Schofield handles the puck during the Minnesota vs. Ottawa game on March 5, 2024, at Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, Minnesota. Photo credit: John McClellan.
Written By Ella Rose Licata
The Olympic success of Team USA in women’s hockey has sparked a surge in attention and popularity surrounding the sport.
As the 2025–26 season continues, interest in the Professional Women’s Hockey League has swelled. This growing curiosity has opened the door to new opportunities for women’s sports and amplified players’ voices.
Recent performances have brought a substantial 17% increase in game attendance compared to the 2024–25 season. That number is expected to climb even higher as excitement from the 2026 Milano Cortina Games continues to dominate public awareness.
Olympian and gold medalist Hayley Scamurra of the Montréal Victoire spoke on the matter in an interview with Monumental Sports Network following the games.
“I’m sure we’re going to have some new fans in the stands after the Olympics… I’m beyond excited to, kind of, show everyone what women's hockey is all about with all of this momentum that we have behind us,” Scamurra commented.
Team USA secured gold in the final against Canada on Feb. 19. It was Megan Keller, captain of the Boston Fleet, who scored the overtime goal to clinch the 2–1 victory.
The triumph marks just the third time in women’s hockey history that the United States has taken home the gold medal since the sport’s inclusion in the Olympic tournament in 1998.
The PWHL had 61 players compete in the Winter Olympics, and they returned with a combined 41 medals. All eight of the league’s teams were represented on the podium, with the Minnesota Frost leading the way with six gold medals.
Established in 2023, the PWHL has rapidly gained support among North American audiences. As these professional athletes step onto a larger global stage, there is renewed emphasis on encouraging young female players to pursue professional careers.
Advisory board member and tennis icon Billie Jean King discussed the growth of the PWHL with Minnesota Frost captain Kendall Coyne Schofield on TODAY on Feb. 17.
During the interview, King reflected on her involvement in women’s hockey and the early formation of the league. She credited Schofield as a significant influence in its establishment, emphasizing the importance of building a professional and inclusive future for the sport.
“Girls are taught not to ask for what they want or need” said King “we have to have a proper pro hockey league for the future generations,”.
With an anticipated surge in viewership alongside the influx of public interest, the PWHL intends to use its momentum wisely.
This widespread recognition will help advance the careers of women’s hockey players while inspiring and supporting the next generation of female athletes.
As the 2025–26 season continues, all eight teams are poised for an energetic and competitive second half. The intensity is heightened by new viewers tuning into broadcasts and growing crowds filling arenas, clear signs that women’s hockey is not just gaining momentum, but sustaining it.
