NHL Asks for Merger Between PWHPA and PHF
The NHL has asked the PHF and the PWHPA to meet and discuss the possibility of the 2 women's leagues merging together. These are the leading professional women's hockey organizations in North America and they have both recently seen tremendous growth towards sustainability.
Earlier this year, the PHF generated an investment of $25 million, with $7.5 million being put toward their 2022-2023 season. This will raise the leagues salary cap 150% from $300,000 to $750,000 and allow players to receive full healthcare benefits, as well as 10% equity in their teams.
The PWHPA also just announced they have a multi-million dollar funding deal that would help them achieve their goal as a league that provides liveable wages to their players. Jeff Marek of Sportsnet reports this deal to be long-term in the range of 8-10 years.
What would a merger mean for these 2 organizations?
The NHL has previously stated they are not going to co-sponsor a women's professional league as long as the 2 entities remain separate. That being said, the PWHPA has made strides in partnering with various NHL teams, hosting competitions at their facilities and utilizing some marketing resources. Most recently was the Rivalry Rematch between Team Canada and Team USA at the Pittsburgh Penguins, PPG Paints Arena. It is speculated that these teams, including the Toronto Maple Leafs, New York Rangers, and Chicago Blackhawks, would be first to take the opportunity to bring a united women's professional league into their mix.
If the 2 organizations are able to agree to a merger and the NHL co-sponsors the league, this would bring women's professional hockey to a new high. We could see an explosion in content through the combined resources of professional marketing teams, as well as support from a larger board of directors that can attract more funding. Players will likely gain access to top-grade training facilities and staff to help them perform at their highest levels. Most importantly, female hockey players will have a legitimate professional league that provides a liveable wage. The necessity to work 2 jobs will no longer be necessary and players can focus on their commitments as a professional athlete.
Our Take
Let's not mistake this story for the NHL being the saving grace of women's hockey. This is the result of decades of women who have put effort into growing their beloved game into what it is now. Both leagues, regardless of their decision on the merger, must be commended for their resiliency and determination to provide a professional level of hockey for women. They have put themselves in a position to achieve sustainability with an NHL partnership, and we are excited to see where the future of women's hockey goes!
~ The WPS Team