The Premier Hockey Federation (PHF) has been acquired by The Mark Walter Group and Billie Jean King Enterprises, according to multiple sources familiar with the matter. As a result, the league will no longer operate, and player contracts will be terminated. However, players will receive severance packages and continued health benefits during this transition period.
This development follows a longstanding division between the PHF and the Professional Women’s Hockey Players Association (PWHPA), which has significantly reshaped the landscape of professional women’s hockey. The acquisition paves the way for a single North American league that can showcase the best talent in the world.
Players from both the PHF and the PWHPA were informed of these changes in separate meetings held on Thursday evening. The PHF, formerly known as the National Women’s Hockey League, was established in 2015 and has been the sole professional women’s hockey option in North America since the closure of the Canadian Women’s Hockey League in March 2019. In May 2019, the PWHPA was founded with a vision of creating a sustainable league.
In a significant development reported by The Athletic in May 2022, the PWHPA entered into a formal business relationship with The Mark Walter Group and Billie Jean King Enterprises to explore the launch of a new league. The group is currently in the process of finalizing a groundbreaking collective bargaining agreement (CBA) before the official league launch.
The Athletic had previously reported that the new professional league is set to debut in the 2023-24 season and will feature six teams with 23-player rosters. Although specific details regarding team locations are yet to be announced, the anticipation for this new league continues to grow among fans and players alike.
This story is still developing, and more updates will be provided as they become available. To stay updated on news like this, readers are encouraged to follow The Athletic’s women’s hockey vertical.
[Photo of Jocelyne Larocque and Kendall Coyne Schofield: Justin Berl / Getty Images]