The PWHL trophy is headed to Canada, but the US is winning the women’s hockey moment

The young league will enter next season with four new US expansion teams, shifting the balance of franchises and reflecting a swell of interest in the sport

For the first time in the short history of the Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL), the Walter Cup is leaving the United States. The Montreal Victoire beat the Ottawa Charge in an all-Canadian final that wrapped up Wednesday night in four games. While Canada can claim the champion, it’s the US that continues to win in the growth of women’s hockey.

The day before Montreal won the Walter Cup, the PWHL announced the league is expanding to San Jose for next season. It was the fourth such expansion announcement in the three weeks. With Detroit, Las Vegas and Hamilton, Ontario, receiving the other three expansion franchises, the young league will head into the 2026/27 season with an imbalance in franchises between Canada and the US for the first time.