PWHL releases 2025-26 schedule: Important dates you need to know
Puck drop on the women’s hockey season is around the corner.
On Wednesday, the Professional Women’s Hockey League released the schedule for the 2025-26 season. As previously reported by Daily Faceoff, the regular season will begin on November 21. Like last year, each franchise will play 30 games, with every team playing each other four times.
The first day of the season will feature a doubleheader, with the Minnesota Frost hosting the Toronto Sceptres in a rematch of the past two semifinals at Grand Casino Arena (formerly known as the Xcel Energy Center). The nightcap will be the first game in the history of both Seattle and Vancouver, with the two teams facing off at the renovated Pacific Coliseum.
There are plenty of exciting matchups early on in the season. A rematch of last year’s PWHL Final between the Minnesota Frost and Ottawa Charge is set for Dec. 2 in Ottawa. It’ll be the first time the two teams will meet since the Frost defeated the Charge in a thrilling four-game series.
With the numerous big names being taken by Seattle and Vancouver in the expansion process, many eyes are on Dec. 21 and Jan. 7. That’s when the Boston Fleet will take on Seattle, with former Fleet captain Hilary Knight going against her former team for the first time.
Speaking of the Fleet, they will be traveling a little bit more within their own area. As of now, eight of their 15 home games are scheduled to take place at the Tsongas Center in Lowell, which has been the team’s main home since its inception. However, there are also four games set to be played at Boston University’s Agganis Arena, which the Fleet played at twice last season, garnering praise from fans and critics alike.
The final day of the regular season is set for April 25, when all eight teams will be in action. It’s similar to last year’s schedule, when the final playoff spots were determined on the last day of the season.
As expected, there will be a break for the 2026 Winter Olympics. The last game before the pause will be when every team is in action on Jan. 28. The PWHL’s first game after the break will be on Feb. 26, when the Montreal Victoire faces the New York Sirens. There is also a break from Dec. 8-15 for players to play in international competition and training overseas.
One notable difference between the 2025-26 calendar and the PWHL’s first two seasons is the absence of an international break in April, a period that has traditionally coincided with the IIHF Women’s World Championship. However, with the PWHL in full swing, there have been active discussions about moving the tournament, with some rumblings that the Women’s Worlds might be moved to after the IIHF Men’s World Championship, in order to avoid conflict with the PWHL Playoffs.
The league has yet to announce the dates for this year’s Takeover Tour. However, 20 games are listed without venues, for now. Among those arena-less matchups are Vancouver taking on the Sceptres on Jan. 17, the Victoire taking on the Sirens on Jan. 18, and Seattle hosting Vancouver on Jan. 25. Now, that doesn’t necessarily mean they will be Takeover Tour dates, as games could simply be played at different arenas within their markets. However, there are numerous options for more neutral site contests.