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The PWHL’s 2026–27 season will bring two six-team conferences and an eight-team Walter Cup playoff. The top four teams in each conference will qualify; the first round will be best-of-three, while the conference finals and Walter Cup Final will be best-of-five. Each conference’s first-place team can choose to face its third- or fourth-place team in the opening round.
What changes in the 2026–27 PWHL season?
Announced by the PWHL on October 2, 2026, the changes take effect in the league’s fourth season. The playoffs grow from four teams across two rounds—the format used in each of the first three postseasons—to eight teams across three rounds.
The regular season is scheduled to run from December 5, 2026, through April 18, 2027. The league’s announcement sets out 180 games, with each team scheduled to play 30: 18 against conference opponents and 12 against teams in the other conference. See the PWHL’s 2026–27 schedule announcement.
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The PWHL has assigned all 12 teams to two conferences of six. The playoff places are drawn from within those groups: the top four finishers in each conference qualify.
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Eastern Conference
- Boston Fleet
- PWHL Hamilton
- Montréal Victoire
- New York Sirens
- Ottawa Charge
- Toronto Sceptres
Western Conference
- PWHL Detroit
- PWHL Las Vegas
- Minnesota Frost
- PWHL San Jose
- Seattle Torrent
- Vancouver Goldeneyes
How will the eight-team playoffs work?
Each conference supplies four teams, making eight playoff qualifiers in all. The first round consists of four best-of-three series. The winners advance to best-of-five conference finals, and the conference champions meet in a best-of-five Walter Cup Final.
The first-place team in each conference gets an opponent-selection privilege: it chooses between that conference’s third- and fourth-place teams for the opening round. This choice does not change the qualification rule or allow a team from the other conference to be selected.
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How does the new format compare with the old one?
| Feature | First three PWHL postseasons | 2026–27 season |
|---|---|---|
| Playoff field | Four teams | Eight teams: the top four in each conference |
| Rounds | Two | Three |
| Opening round | Not stated in the October 2, 2026 announcement | Four best-of-three series |
| Conference finals | Not stated in the October 2, 2026 announcement | Best-of-five |
| Walter Cup Final | Not stated in the October 2, 2026 announcement | Best-of-five |
Where can fans watch the 2026–27 season?
In its October 2, 2026 announcement, the PWHL said Canadian coverage would be on TSN, Sportsnet and Prime Video, and that U.S. Saturday broadcasts would air on ION. It also said all 180 regular-season games would be available on the PWHL’s YouTube channel and at the league website. These are season-specific details; check the league and broadcasters for current availability closer to game time.
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What the announcement does—and does not—establish
The PWHL’s announcement sets out the planned schedule and playoff rules. It does not establish which teams will benefit, how conferences will affect competitive balance, or what results the expanded playoff format will produce. Those outcomes will depend on play during the season.
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