Any die-hard sports fan can probably articulate the heartbreak of the first blockbuster trade the...

Any die-hard sports fan can probably articulate the heartbreak of the first blockbuster trade they remember. Babe Ruth to the Yankees. Wayne Gretzky to the Kings. Luka Doncic to the Lakers. Every generation has its shock moment. And for a new group of fans - the young girls who follow the PWHL - the core memories from that rite of passage were created this week during the league's expansion draft.To help establish competitive franchises in Vancouver and Seattle next season, the league limited each of the original six teams to protecting just three players at the start of the expansion draft process. Once two players were taken from a club, it could protect one more.The result was a major league-wide roster shakeup. Stars like Hilary Knight and Sarah Nurse are relocating. The Montreal Victoire lost four of their top five 2024 draft picks. The Toronto Sceptres lost their first three, all of whom contributed important minutes throughout the season. Of the six first-round draft picks in 2024, five will join expansion teams.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/790184/cropped_GettyImages-2214283568.jpg?ts=1749771054" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/790184/w220xh124_GettyImages-2214283568.jpg?ts=1749771054 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/790184/w320xh180_GettyImages-2214283568.jpg?ts=1749771054 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/790184/w640xh360_GettyImages-2214283568.jpg?ts=1749771054 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/790184/w768xh432_GettyImages-2214283568.jpg?ts=1749771054 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/790184/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2214283568.jpg?ts=1749771054 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Michael Chisholm / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>"There's no scenario where we're happy after that expansion draft," Toronto general manager Gina Kingsbury said on a call with reporters. "There's no scenario where we feel we've dodged a bullet or we're in a better position than we were. Losing those four athletes is a big hit to our roster."In addition to giving up Nurse, Toronto lost rookies Julia Gosling, Izzy Daniel, and Megan Carter."When you think of the three (rookies) we lost, these are athletes that our coaches and our whole organization have invested in in the past year. ... It's disappointing to see them walk away from our market because of the potential they all have and the work we've already done with them, and what they've invested in us as well. It's emotional, it's not something you enjoy going through," Kingsbury said.Despite initially offering some positive takes on a call with reporters, Ottawa Charge GM Mike Hirshfeld conceded to feeling the same way: "We're all disappointed because we invested in those players and got to know those players, and they were part of our organizations for a year. That part is difficult; there's no doubt about that."<figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/790182/cropped_21_Knight__Hilary_-_HOME.jpg?ts=1749770657" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/790182/w220xh124_21_Knight__Hilary_-_HOME.jpg?ts=1749770657 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/790182/w320xh180_21_Knight__Hilary_-_HOME.jpg?ts=1749770657 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/790182/w640xh360_21_Knight__Hilary_-_HOME.jpg?ts=1749770657 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/790182/w768xh432_21_Knight__Hilary_-_HOME.jpg?ts=1749770657 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/790182/w1080xh607_21_Knight__Hilary_-_HOME.jpg?ts=1749770657 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> PWHL</figcaption></figure>Some of the losses extend beyond impacting the on-ice performance, as they cut into the heart of fan connection. Knight was the league's regular-season points leader and captain of the Boston Fleet and Team USA. In a market lacking strong attendance, losing the face of the franchise could make selling tickets a challenge. Three of the Fleet's final five home games at their primary arena in suburban Lowell, Massachusetts, attracted fewer than 4,000 fans, including a lightly attended contest against geographic rivals the New York Sirens that drew 3,252. The team's remaining roster doesn't necessarily feature any household names.In Toronto, Nurse was not only a key contributor on the ice but also a marketable star off it, highly sought after by brands and media for her crossover appeal. "Nurse was a massive hit for us in so many ways. She's a world-class center, a two-way center who brings so much. I don't foresee us being able to replace someone like Sarah Nurse," Kingsbury said.<figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/790178/cropped_GettyImages-2217740552.jpg?ts=1749770360" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/790178/w220xh124_GettyImages-2217740552.jpg?ts=1749770360 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/790178/w320xh180_GettyImages-2217740552.jpg?ts=1749770360 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/790178/w640xh360_GettyImages-2217740552.jpg?ts=1749770360 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/790178/w768xh432_GettyImages-2217740552.jpg?ts=1749770360 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/790178/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2217740552.jpg?ts=1749770360 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Mathew Tsang / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>Expecting fans to immediately embrace these new lineups reveals a disconnect between league leadership and modern fandom. In 2019, the Sports Innovation Lab identified a new, growing cohort of fans - what they call the "fluid fan." This type follows individual players, not teams. Early signs of the trend showed when Cristiano Ronaldo had three times as many followers on social media as his then-club, Juventus, and the entire Serie A combined. That trend has demonstrated real lasting power. Nurse has over 40,000 more Instagram followers than her former team. Asking her fans to stay loyal to the Sceptres without their favourite player on Toronto's roster risks losing them altogether."It is such an honor to play in Toronto, it's where I grew up. … To be able to see all my jerseys in the stands, to be able to see all the signs and messages that have been sent during my time in Toronto and in the last few days have been so bittersweet," Nurse said.<figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/790186/cropped_GettyImages-2195915895.jpg?ts=1749771319" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/790186/w220xh124_GettyImages-2195915895.jpg?ts=1749771319 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/790186/w320xh180_GettyImages-2195915895.jpg?ts=1749771319 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/790186/w640xh360_GettyImages-2195915895.jpg?ts=1749771319 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/790186/w768xh432_GettyImages-2195915895.jpg?ts=1749771319 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/790186/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2195915895.jpg?ts=1749771319 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Michael Chisholm / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>A <a href="https://www.espn.com/nhl/boxscore/_/gameId/401145645">Reddit thread</a> started by the dad of a 9-year-old PWHL fan on the subject of the expansion draft's impact on his daughter's fandom gained almost 100 comments within a day of being posted. "For so many of them, the PWHL was the first time these girls had a favorite female player to point to and is definitely the first time their favorite player is leaving them behind," the original poster wrote.Although such heartbreak has been the domain of team sports since they began, it's part of the growing pains for a new league. The PWHL is aware that many of its fans are new to sports and don't necessarily approach fandom like traditional sports fans.When asked prior to expansion about lower attendance during the playoffs, executive vice president of business operations Amy Scheer said: "The majority of ticketholders are women and maybe not necessarily your traditional season-ticket member base. So there's an education that has to happen on our part of, 'Listen, when you're a fan of a team, sometimes the playoffs come up fast, and you don't always know the dates, and we're asking you sometimes to commit to those dates before we know them and you know them.'"She admitted, "We have work to do, for sure."The question is whether the league is doing that work, especially since both GMs and players acknowledged the expansion draft felt heavy-handed. "I know it's been hard on the original six teams. We feel it too," said Jessie Eldridge, who Seattle picked off New York's roster.To replace the holes in their lineups, free agency opens on June 16, followed by the entry draft on June 24. "We're going to be talking to players who don't have a contract … to possibly come play for Montreal," Victoire GM Daniele Sauvageau said. "We have players who basically didn't have a job in our league last year who have been playing in Europe or elsewhere that we are following." That said, veteran talent comes at a price, and cap space is a consideration. With many of the roster vacancies created by entry-level players, there might be limited flexibility to replace them with higher-priced vets. "Three of those four (players Toronto lost) were coming in on an entry-level salary, which doesn't free up a whole lot of room for us in the signing period that's coming up," Kingsbury said.<figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/790183/cropped_Eldridge.home.jpg?ts=1749770984" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/790183/w220xh124_Eldridge.home.jpg?ts=1749770984 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/790183/w320xh180_Eldridge.home.jpg?ts=1749770984 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/790183/w640xh360_Eldridge.home.jpg?ts=1749770984 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/790183/w768xh432_Eldridge.home.jpg?ts=1749770984 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/790183/w1080xh607_Eldridge.home.jpg?ts=1749770984 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> PWHL</figcaption></figure>The league's broader goal is clear: Build competitive balance and fuel long-term growth by seeding new franchises with talent. But while GMs and league executives can see the strategic upside, the emotional math doesn't always add up the same way for fans.With more expansion rumored for the near future, it's a cost the PWHL might need to take a hard look at. Losing hometown heroes in a league still in its infancy - before some of the younger fans have even had time to outgrow their jerseys - might be a high price to pay. For now, the PWHL can only hope those fans see the upside that some GMs are trying to."I think we all understand the bigger picture here and are all excited for where we're headed," Hirshfeld said.Jolene Latimer is a feature writer at theScore.

TORONTO, ON- JANUARY 25 - Toronto Sceptres forward Sarah Nurse (20) is announced as the game's second star as the Toronto Sceptres beat the New York Sirens 4-2 in what is billed as the Battle on Bay Street in front of 19,102 fans at ScotiaBank Arena in Toronto. January 25, 2025.

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PWHL expansion player movement tests fan loyalty

The 2025 PWHL Expansion Draft will fill out the rosters for Seattle and Vancouver, but each team ...

The 2025 PWHL Expansion Draft will fill out the rosters for Seattle and Vancouver, but each team already has a foundation. The 10 players inked during the league's exclusive signing window are officially the first faces of the new franchises."I'm extremely excited about the opportunity for pro hockey in Seattle," said forward Hilary Knight. "I'd like to think that we do things right when we bet on ourselves. … I think this is another one of those organizations that's going to be extremely successful."Knight is one of five players signed by Seattle, joining Alex Carpenter, Danielle Serdachny, Cayla Barnes, and Corinne Schroeder in setting the tone for a team and city making its PWHL debut.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>New Vancouver players spoke about building both culture and identity from the ground up. "I really see us being a fast, very competitive group who works every single day to push each other to be the best possible players that we can be," said inaugural signee Sarah Nurse."We have a lot of work ethic, a lot of talent, a lot of skill, and a lot of heart in this group already." Nurse joins Jennifer Gardiner, Sophie Jaques, Claire Thompson, and Emerance Maschmeyer as the first names on Vancouver's roster.With the cornerstones in place, attention now turns to who these teams could add next and which unprotected players will become key building blocks.The following are our projected 12-player rosters for each club and what we consider some of the toughest decisions GMs will face when Monday's draft gets underway.<figure class="article-segment--embed"><iframe title="Seattle's mock roster" aria-label="Table" id="datawrapper-chart-uYLLz" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/uYLLz/2/" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" style="width: 0; min-width: 100% !important; border: none;" height="491" data-external="1"></iframe><script type="text/javascript">!function(){"use strict";window.addEventListener("message",(function(a){if(void 0!==a.data["datawrapper-height"]){var e=document.querySelectorAll("iframe");for(var t in a.data["datawrapper-height"])for(var r,i=0;r=e[i];i++)if(r.contentWindow===a.source){var d=a.data["datawrapper-height"][t]+"px";r.style.height=d}}}))}();
</script></figure>Seattle pillaged elite talent in the signing window and already gave itself the option to ice a filthy top line. Carpenter could center Knight, an MVP finalist, and Serdachny, the 2024 second overall pick. On the back end, the smooth Barnes and unflappable Schroeder are budding stars at their positions.Salary cap constraints prevent expansion teams from overloading on high-end big earners, so we expect general manager Meghan Turner to target youth, championship pedigree, and more netminding.Carpenter and Knight could leave as free agents as early as next summer, but scoring forward Hannah Bilka - Boston's top draft choice in 2024 - can be a centerpiece for years. Brooke McQuigge and Grace Zumwinkle brought power and finishing touch to Minnesota's latest Walter Cup team. The right-shooting Ashton Bell played a leading defensive role as Ottawa surged to the final.We think Turner, Boston's former assistant GM, will swipe all four skaters lost by the Fleet. That group includes Daniela Pejsova, whose six years of pro experience in Sweden mask the fact that she's one of the league's youngest players.And we see New York paying the price for declining to protect a goalie. Seattle winds up with Schroeder and backup Kayle Osborne, whose combined save percentage for the Sirens last season was .918.Second-line center is a void to fill in the June 24 entry draft or free agency. - Nick Faris<figure class="article-segment--embed"><iframe title="Vancouver's mock roster" aria-label="Table" id="datawrapper-chart-cRwyD" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/cRwyD/1/" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" style="width: 0; min-width: 100% !important; border: none;" height="491" data-external="1"></iframe><script type="text/javascript">!function(){"use strict";window.addEventListener("message",(function(a){if(void 0!==a.data["datawrapper-height"]){var e=document.querySelectorAll("iframe");for(var t in a.data["datawrapper-height"])for(var r,i=0;r=e[i];i++)if(r.contentWindow===a.source){var d=a.data["datawrapper-height"][t]+"px";r.style.height=d}}}))}();
</script></figure>Vancouver came up big in the signing window, landing a veteran goaltending talent in Maschmeyer and a veritable star and goal-scorer in Nurse, who can hold the team to high standards and use her profile to build a fan base. Similarly, Gardiner hails from Surrey, B.C., and can give the local fans a homegrown talent to root for. Canadian Olympian Emma Maltais could round out Vancouver's top line with her aggressive and relentless approach.Although the PWHLPA voted to make salaries transparent, that move hasn't taken effect. Still, we can be sure that Vancouver's early signees will take up the lion's share of the cap space, which might leave GM Cara Gardner Morey looking for a bargain to fill in the depth and defense.That's where upcoming talent could prove valuable for Vancouver. Former Patty Kazmaier winner Izzy Daniel, coming off an impressive rookie year in Toronto, would have the potential to move up and down the lineup, contributing minutes to the top line when needed or strengthening Vancouver's depth.Defensively, Vancouver already has incredible anchors in Jaques and Thompson, but the club has to properly build around them to avoid squandering such a coup. Toronto's Megan Carter immediately comes to mind as someone who can take care of the puck and pair with either top defender, providing that extra layer of focus.Ottawa's Aneta Tejralova would also be a solid choice for the same reasons. Her versatility allows her to excel in various situations, and she can absorb big minutes. The same goes for Anna Wilgren, who can play a disciplined game while complementing the style of a puck-moving defender.Vancouver can add a No. 2 goalie through free agency or in the entry draft. -Jolene Latimer<figure class="article-segment--embed"><iframe title="Mock expansion fallout" aria-label="Table" id="datawrapper-chart-iaact" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/iaact/1/" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" style="width: 0; min-width: 100% !important; border: none;" height="825" data-external="1"></iframe><script type="text/javascript">!function(){"use strict";window.addEventListener("message",(function(a){if(void 0!==a.data["datawrapper-height"]){var e=document.querySelectorAll("iframe");for(var t in a.data["datawrapper-height"])for(var r,i=0;r=e[i];i++)if(r.contentWindow===a.source){var d=a.data["datawrapper-height"][t]+"px";r.style.height=d}}}))}();
</script></figure>Jolene Latimer and Nick Faris cover the PWHL for theScore.

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Projecting the PWHL expansion draft

The phrase "hockey wife" can still come with built-in assumptions - an unapproachable accessory r...

The phrase "hockey wife" can still come with built-in assumptions - an unapproachable accessory riding shotgun on someone else's dream. But if you're expecting Lauren Kyle McDavid to fulfill that stereotype, you'll probably be disappointed. The 28-year-old, who married Oilers superstar Connor McDavid in a lavish ceremony last July, has been laying the foundation for her own legacy, steadily building a business empire - with five enterprises now underway and no plans to slow down.Her latest venture, Bar Trove, is a small bites restaurant in downtown Edmonton that reflects her style - elegant, intentional, and bold. Its opening this weekend coincides with the Oilers' second straight Stanley Cup Final appearance - a chaotic window, unless you've met her. She's unflappable."She comes up with an idea and she just gets after it," Connor McDavid said. <div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>But it's not just what Kyle's doing that sets her apart - it's how she does it. Each of her projects - which span from interior design to publishing - showcase what the people around her love most about her personality. "She's got a big heart. She cares about people. I think that's why she's gotten into the field that she has," McDavid said. "She enjoys creating these experiences for people that she cares about and for others." <figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/788714/cropped_GettyImages-1502678045.jpg?ts=1748972659" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/788714/w220xh124_GettyImages-1502678045.jpg?ts=1748972659 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/788714/w320xh180_GettyImages-1502678045.jpg?ts=1748972659 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/788714/w640xh360_GettyImages-1502678045.jpg?ts=1748972659 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/788714/w768xh432_GettyImages-1502678045.jpg?ts=1748972659 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/788714/w1080xh607_GettyImages-1502678045.jpg?ts=1748972659 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Bruce Bennett / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>Of course, most newlyweds would say that about their partner. But in Kyle's case, you get the sense it's all genuine. When I stopped by Bar Trove to speak with Kyle, I saw it firsthand. Lenard, the McDavids' Bernadoodle, greeted me first. Then came Kyle, skipping the handshake. "I'm a hugger," she said. It's easy to misread that emotional intelligence as a nicety. But in Kyle's world, feeling is at the core of the product - a strength she's purposefully leveraging to grow her business portfolio."I always want to make people feel good, especially around important dates in their lives. That where it all comes into play," Kyle said.<h3>Proof of concept</h3>Kyle's instinct to organize and create showed up early. Sharon Kyle recalls her daughter cutting up old dance tights, designing a hanging daybed out of a trampoline, and even renovating the guest bathroom for a school project. "She's always been a big thinker," Sharon said. Her parents' favorite story is the anniversary party. At the age of 8, Kyle woke up for school and realized it was her parents' 12th wedding anniversary. She secretly coordinated a surprise party by phone with both grandmothers - all before the morning bell. When her parents arrived home, dinner was ready, and the family was gathered. "We were shocked because she had everybody there," Sharon said. "She had coordinated the whole menu with the grandparents, and she had the decorations up. It was pretty special." <figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/788598/cropped_bryttanni.com-26_websize.jpg?ts=1748903113" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/788598/w220xh124_bryttanni.com-26_websize.jpg?ts=1748903113 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/788598/w320xh180_bryttanni.com-26_websize.jpg?ts=1748903113 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/788598/w640xh360_bryttanni.com-26_websize.jpg?ts=1748903113 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/788598/w768xh432_bryttanni.com-26_websize.jpg?ts=1748903113 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/788598/w1080xh607_bryttanni.com-26_websize.jpg?ts=1748903113 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Bryttanni Laturnus / Bryttanni Photography</figcaption></figure>Kyle comes from a family of business owners. Her father is an orthodontist, his father was a dentist, and Kyle's maternal grandfather owned a menswear shop in Sudbury, Ontario, where the family is from. "She grew up with self-employed people as examples and grabbed on to that. She didn't want to work for anyone else," her dad Paul said."I've always known I wanted to work for myself," Kyle said. "I always had the mindset that I would be some form of entrepreneur." Her ventures now include Kyle &amp; Co. (interior design), Sports Club Atelier (a fashion line), Trove Living (furniture showroom), a cookbook arriving this fall, and now Bar Trove, designed around her favorite textures, tones, and small details."I want people to walk into a space or wear something, and feel something," Kyle said. "That's the throughline." To that point, Bar Trove is designed to feel both elevated and intimate - with just 40 seats. She even manufactured and designed the light fixtures herself to get the right aura. Then there's her cookbook, which skips traditional categories and is organized by vibe: dinner party, girls' weekend, cottage night - each one built around a tablescape and a feeling. (Bar Trove will feature her spicy lobster pasta, a recipe from the book Kyle created herself).<figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/788599/cropped_bryttanni.com-54_websize.jpg?ts=1748902644" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/788599/w220xh124_bryttanni.com-54_websize.jpg?ts=1748902644 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/788599/w320xh180_bryttanni.com-54_websize.jpg?ts=1748902644 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/788599/w640xh360_bryttanni.com-54_websize.jpg?ts=1748902644 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/788599/w768xh432_bryttanni.com-54_websize.jpg?ts=1748902644 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/788599/w1080xh607_bryttanni.com-54_websize.jpg?ts=1748902644 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Bryttanni Laturnus / Bryttanni Photography</figcaption></figure>Her clothing brand began as a response to the lack of stylish fanwear and quickly found a following. "She's got such good style," said PWHL Seattle forward Danielle Serdachny, an Edmonton native who grew up as an Oilers fan. "I would pretty much purchase everything on that website if I could." Kyle's not stopping at designing clothes for Oilers fans; she has plans to roll out a Canadian-branded line before the 2026 Winter Games.<h3>Digging in</h3>Vision is one thing. Kyle's gift is making it come to life. "So many people just don't follow through, and I think that's what separates her," McDavid said. "It's been fun to watch her try something and then follow through and do it." That plays out daily in Kyle's workplace. "She is always doing a thousand things at once but is so driven," said Liv Hall, who is a close friend and began working with Kyle in 2020. "We'll get everything done because she makes things happen. If she wants something to happen, she'll get on the phone, and it'll be immediate. She doesn't wait around."Her parents say it's confidence, and she's had it all along. "She's always approached challenges head on and basically dives in the deep end. She has that determined mindset and confidence," Paul said. Even McDavid admits that Kyle's creativity moves at a pace he can't always keep up with. A few years ago, he gifted her sessions with a business coach for her birthday. "She's a creative type. Her brain works in ways that I don't necessarily understand. Creatives sometimes struggle with the business side of it. I know how hard she works, and I know the time and energy that she puts into it. She got her initial interior design business up and going, and that was amazing. But for her to get it to another level, she needed a little bit of help," he said."It was such a thoughtful gift," Kyle said. "Without my business coach, I definitely wouldn't be able to have this many businesses at one time. It helped with my mindset and to grow as an entrepreneur." <figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/788600/cropped_bryttanni.com-121_websize.jpg?ts=1748902644" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/788600/w220xh124_bryttanni.com-121_websize.jpg?ts=1748902644 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/788600/w320xh180_bryttanni.com-121_websize.jpg?ts=1748902644 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/788600/w640xh360_bryttanni.com-121_websize.jpg?ts=1748902644 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/788600/w768xh432_bryttanni.com-121_websize.jpg?ts=1748902644 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/788600/w1080xh607_bryttanni.com-121_websize.jpg?ts=1748902644 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Bryttanni Laturnus / Bryttanni Photography</figcaption></figure>Kyle's approach fits into a broader shift in what it means to be a sports partner in the public eye. Where the role once stopped at support and sideline smiles, a new generation is building businesses, brands, and identities of their own. From Taylor Swift's bringing her impact to the NFL to Kristin Juszczyk's fashion designs, these women are no longer simply in the frame - they're calling their own shots. Sometimes, they're the ones who put their partners on the map.While the public gaze may sometimes cast Kyle as a stylish accessory to a superstar, that framing isn't necessarily how it looks behind the scenes. "I get a front row seat to everything she's building," McDavid said. "It's amazing what she's been able to build, and she's only getting started." She may be seen as part of a hockey power couple, but Kyle's narrative isn't a subplot. With Bar Trove's opening, Kyle isn't just building a brand but becoming the kind of entrepreneur she once imagined. "For people who actually know me, this is not surprising at all," she said. "It's just a part of my ethos."Jolene Latimer is a feature writer at theScore.

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Redefining WAG: Lauren Kyle McDavid has her own ambitions

Mattias Ekholm knew the pass was coming. Or maybe he didn't. With Connor McDavid, it's hard to te...

Mattias Ekholm knew the pass was coming. Or maybe he didn't. With Connor McDavid, it's hard to tell.The feed, threaded past five players scrambling to get to the front of the Florida Panthers' net, survived a tip by goalie Sergei Bobrovsky and landed on Ekholm's stick in perfect rhythm. The Edmonton Oilers defenseman sent it home to tie Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final with 13:27 to play.It was McDavid's first of two assists Wednesday night - and one of those moments that shows just how much teammates need to recalibrate in real time to keep up with Edmonton's two superstars.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>"I know from playing with him if he has the puck low, he probably has some defenders locking eyes on him, so I tried to sneak on that backside," Ekholm said. "I don't know if he sees me or not, but great pass - puts it on a platter for me." With a smile on Friday, McDavid would only say this to reporters when asked to clear up the mystery of whether the pass was meant for Ekholm or Evander Kane: "All that matters is it ended up where it needed to be, and we scored."Ekholm acknowledged that sometimes it feels like McDavid has eyes in the back of his head when it comes to finding guys on the ice.<figure class="article-segment--embed"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/lOhA5V4XiwM?si=VfReMcg58M_FMibH&amp;start=407&amp;end=447" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></figure>McDavid and Leon Draisaitl don't just skate faster. They process faster. The game bends to their timing."They're obviously very creative players and they make everyone around them better," Panthers defenseman Seth Jones said. "They like to look for each other … little give-and-gos, things like that."The pressure they apply forces opponents to chase. For teammates, the challenge is more subtle: adjusting their own pace, spacing, and decisions to match players who are already several moves ahead.Kane has spent enough time with McDavid and Draisaitl to know the learning curve is real. Still, he said the key to success might not be chasing them, but trusting they'll meet you halfway."They both play the game very differently," he said. "Specifically, if you talk about Connor, he can really change the pace, whether it's speeding things up or slowing things down. As wingers, it's pretty easy to read off that, and it allows you to get the puck with time and space."With Leo … he's so big and so strong, and he can handle sometimes one or two guys on the defensive side of the puck and create space for his linemates by drawing people to him and then distributing."In terms of changing your attitude, I think you adapt to kind of how they play a little bit. But at the same time, I think what makes you the most successful is when you continue to play your own game because they are smart enough players to understand the people they're playing with and make those adjustments."Jolene Latimer is a feature writer at theScore.

EDMONTON, CANADA - MAY 27: Connor McDavid #97 of the Edmonton Oilers awaits a face-off during Game Four of the Western Conference Finals of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs against the Dallas Stars at Rogers Place on May 27, 2025, in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.

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Don't adjust to McDavid, Draisaitl - just trust they'll find you

Two new teams. Two new GMs. And just days to make some of the biggest decisions of their careers....

Two new teams. Two new GMs. And just days to make some of the biggest decisions of their careers. With the PWHL's expansion signing window now open and the draft looming, newly appointed general managers Meghan Turner (Seattle) and Cara Gardner Morey (Vancouver) are building full rosters from scratch. They're tasked with signing players, evaluating protection lists, and setting the foundation of their franchises. Both were hired after a competitive process that drew more than 200 applicants per market, according to the league.Turner, who was previously the assistant GM of the Boston Fleet, called Seattle's roster build a "puzzle."<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>"There are obviously different roles for different players on the team," Turner said. "As I'm building out this roster, I’m obviously looking to establish a good leadership group but then also making sure that that we're getting people and players to buy into what the organization is all about from a cultural perspective."Vancouver's Gardner Morey is looking for a high-intensity group that can open the season strong: "I envision a team that plays with speed, has a ton of skill, loves the physicality, and, again, is competing right off Day 1," she said. "I am really impressed with the way the expansion draft has been created so that we can have a competitive roster right off the bat."<figure class="article-segment--embed"><iframe title="🏒 Expansion dates" aria-label="Table" id="datawrapper-chart-JtqWv" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/JtqWv/1/" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" style="width: 0; min-width: 100% !important; border: none;" height="400" data-external="1"></iframe><script type="text/javascript">!function(){"use strict";window.addEventListener("message",(function(a){if(void 0!==a.data["datawrapper-height"]){var e=document.querySelectorAll("iframe");for(var t in a.data["datawrapper-height"])for(var r,i=0;r=e[i];i++)if(r.contentWindow===a.source){var d=a.data["datawrapper-height"][t]+"px";r.style.height=d}}}))}();
</script></figure><a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3295195" href="https://thescore.com/news/3295195">Protection lists</a> from the six inaugural franchises are now public, meaning the path to icing a team is clearer, but no less complex. Turner and Gardner Morey have a tight window to evaluate who's available and make their additions count in a league where competitive depth is already razor-thin.From Olympic stars to under-the-radar glue players, there's no shortage of intriguing options. Here are a dozen potential targets who could help define the identities of PWHL Seattle and Vancouver.<h2>Unprotected players</h2><h3>Hilary Knight, Fleet forward</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/788693/cropped_GettyImages-2200619909.jpg?ts=1748969633" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/788693/w220xh124_GettyImages-2200619909.jpg?ts=1748969633 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/788693/w320xh180_GettyImages-2200619909.jpg?ts=1748969633 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/788693/w640xh360_GettyImages-2200619909.jpg?ts=1748969633 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/788693/w768xh432_GettyImages-2200619909.jpg?ts=1748969633 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/788693/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2200619909.jpg?ts=1748969633 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Rich Graessle / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>Note: Knight signed with Seattle. Scooping Knight in the expansion process would be a coup for a team with a win-now mindset. The Fleet and Team USA captain is a finalist in the league's MVP race for good reason. An offensive powerhouse, Knight was Boston's top scorer in 2024-25 and tied rookie Sarah Fillier for the league lead with 29 points. If anyone can navigate the change of being uprooted and provide veteran leadership for a new team, it's Knight.The only drawback is that Knight's already announced the 2026 Olympics will be her last. She'll be 36 years old when the puck drops next season, and a full retirement from hockey seems close.But for a team that's OK with a short but sweet journey with Knight, she'd make a massive impact. Considering Seattle's Turner has Boston in common with Knight after working in the Fleet's front office, it would make sense if Knight ended up in the Emerald City. - Jolene Latimer<h3>Alex Carpenter, Sirens forward</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/788694/cropped_GettyImages-2191790779.jpg?ts=1748969829" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/788694/w220xh124_GettyImages-2191790779.jpg?ts=1748969829 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/788694/w320xh180_GettyImages-2191790779.jpg?ts=1748969829 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/788694/w640xh360_GettyImages-2191790779.jpg?ts=1748969829 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/788694/w768xh432_GettyImages-2191790779.jpg?ts=1748969829 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/788694/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2191790779.jpg?ts=1748969829 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Rich Graessle / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>Note: Carpenter signed with Seattle.Carpenter's offensive prowess made her a near-lock for the Sirens' protected list. Exposing her must have been a difficult choice, but she'll be an easy yes for either Seattle or Vancouver.The 31-year-old was a major contributor on New York's first line with Fillier and Jessie Eldridge, helping Fillier find her footing as a rookie and adding 20 points herself this season despite a jaw injury that required surgery and kept her out of the lineup for weeks.Not only that, but her experience as a two-time Olympic silver medalist for the United States gives her deep experience to draw from in the locker room. The Boston College graduate also has many world championships under her belt and led the 2024 tournament in goals (six) and points (10). - Latimer<h3>Sarah Nurse, Sceptres forward</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/788003/cropped_GettyImages-2191133229.jpg?ts=1748967508" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/788003/w220xh124_GettyImages-2191133229.jpg?ts=1748967508 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/788003/w320xh180_GettyImages-2191133229.jpg?ts=1748967508 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/788003/w640xh360_GettyImages-2191133229.jpg?ts=1748967508 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/788003/w768xh432_GettyImages-2191133229.jpg?ts=1748967508 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/788003/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2191133229.jpg?ts=1748967508 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Michael Chisholm / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>Note: Nurse signed with Vancouver. Nurse is one of the most recognizable faces in women's hockey, known for her speed, scoring touch, and game-breaking ability when at her best. A key figure in Canada's golden run at the 2022 Winter Games, she's been a leader in growing the sport's visibility - both as a cultural ambassador and on the ice.In Toronto's second season, however, Nurse struggled to find that same impact. She was limited by injury and never quite looked herself, finishing with a modest 14 points in 21 games. She wasn't as consistent an offensive presence as fans are used to.Still, her ceiling remains high. When healthy, the 30-year-old can shift momentum in a single rush. Even in a down year, her ability to draw defenders and create chances for others showed flashes. Though she's a Toronto native, Nurse's brand seems intricately linked to Canada. She'd be a strong fit for Vancouver if it wants star power to draw fans. - Latimer <h3>Erin Ambrose, Victoire defender</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/788734/cropped_GettyImages-2188644227.jpg?ts=1748979727" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/788734/w220xh124_GettyImages-2188644227.jpg?ts=1748979727 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/788734/w320xh180_GettyImages-2188644227.jpg?ts=1748979727 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/788734/w640xh360_GettyImages-2188644227.jpg?ts=1748979727 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/788734/w768xh432_GettyImages-2188644227.jpg?ts=1748979727 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/788734/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2188644227.jpg?ts=1748979727 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Troy Parla / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>Note: Montreal retained Ambrose with its fourth protection slot.Ambrose is one of the PWHL's premier two-way defenders, known for her sharp hockey IQ, crisp outlet passes, and leadership on and off the ice. A consistent presence on Canada's national team, Ambrose brings poise under pressure and quarterbacking ability on the power play.In 2024, she earned the league's award for top defender. This past season with Montreal, the 31-year-old logged heavy minutes in all situations and continued to be a steady contributor despite struggling offensively at times. Whether shutting down top lines or starting the breakout, Ambrose plays with the kind of control and confidence that make her a cornerstone for club and country. - Latimer<h3>Sophie Jaques and Claire Thompson, Frost defenders</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/788697/cropped_GettyImages-2216616161.jpg?ts=1748970068" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/788697/w220xh124_GettyImages-2216616161.jpg?ts=1748970068 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/788697/w320xh180_GettyImages-2216616161.jpg?ts=1748970068 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/788697/w640xh360_GettyImages-2216616161.jpg?ts=1748970068 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/788697/w768xh432_GettyImages-2216616161.jpg?ts=1748970068 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/788697/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2216616161.jpg?ts=1748970068 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Adam Bettcher / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>Note: Jaques and Thompson signed with Vancouver.Stacked teams have the most to lose in the expansion process. Minnesota accepted this reality by exposing two of the sport's best young, offensively inclined defenders.Jaques and Thompson combined for 40 points in the regular season, flanked Toronto star Renata Fast at the top of the defender scoring leaderboard, and upped their production during the Frost's second straight championship run. Both are available because teammate Lee Stecklein, a consummate shutdown blue-liner, popped off in the playoffs with a league-high four goals and eight points.Notably, Gardner Morey was Thompson's college coach and gave her the captaincy at Princeton. - Nick Faris<h3>Emerance Maschmeyer, Charge goaltender</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/768598/cropped_CREDIT_PWHL_-_OTT_at_TOR-_FEB_1__2025_01.jpg?ts=1748970632" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/768598/w220xh124_CREDIT_PWHL_-_OTT_at_TOR-_FEB_1__2025_01.jpg?ts=1748970632 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/768598/w320xh180_CREDIT_PWHL_-_OTT_at_TOR-_FEB_1__2025_01.jpg?ts=1748970632 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/768598/w640xh360_CREDIT_PWHL_-_OTT_at_TOR-_FEB_1__2025_01.jpg?ts=1748970632 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/768598/w768xh432_CREDIT_PWHL_-_OTT_at_TOR-_FEB_1__2025_01.jpg?ts=1748970632 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/768598/w1080xh607_CREDIT_PWHL_-_OTT_at_TOR-_FEB_1__2025_01.jpg?ts=1748970632 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Professional Women's Hockey League</figcaption></figure>Note: Maschmeyer signed with Vancouver. Maschmeyer is one of the league's most reliable goaltenders, anchoring Ottawa with calm, composed play. She has a career .914 save percentage and is second in games played among PWHL goalies despite being injured halfway through the 2024-25 season, moments after she received a standing ovation for making her 1,000th career save.Once healthy, she'll be an excellent backstop for either expansion team. Given the 30-year-old's track record as a Canadian Olympian, she may be a better fit in Vancouver. - Latimer<h2>Unrestricted free agents</h2><h3>Hannah Miller, Sceptres forward</h3>Miller, a 29-year-old Vancouver native, perfectly timed her breakout year. She leveled up as an offensive threat and tied for the PWHL lead in power-play points (13) while often centering Toronto's top line.Miller's local roots and ability to shoulder a scoring load make her a logical foundational signing for Gardner Morey. A quirk of her globetrotting professional journey - Miller was a naturalized Olympian for China and played there until 2023 - stopped her from representing Canada at this year's world championships, but she's eligible for the next Olympic roster. - Faris<h3>Michela Cava, Frost forward</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/788699/cropped_GettyImages-2216382843.jpg?ts=1748970351" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/788699/w220xh124_GettyImages-2216382843.jpg?ts=1748970351 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/788699/w320xh180_GettyImages-2216382843.jpg?ts=1748970351 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/788699/w640xh360_GettyImages-2216382843.jpg?ts=1748970351 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/788699/w768xh432_GettyImages-2216382843.jpg?ts=1748970351 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/788699/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2216382843.jpg?ts=1748970351 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Troy Parla / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>Wherever Cava goes, winning follows. The two-time Walter Cup champion previously celebrated league titles in the defunct Premier Hockey Federation in 2023, in the Russian league in 2022, and in Sweden in 2021. Her pro career is dynastic.The feisty 31-year-old from Ontario is an efficient shooter and a great complementary talent.Cava's the leading goal-scorer in PWHL playoff history. She's bagged the most goals in the regular season among players with no international experience. Headlining an expansion lineup would test her unbroken championship streak, but she's earned the opportunity. - Faris<h3>Maddie Rooney, Frost goaltender</h3>Rooney is the most accomplished goalie available. Part of a championship tandem in Minnesota, she made more starts than Nicole Hensley over the past two seasons and was the closest thing to unbeatable in the 2025 Walter Cup triumph.Rock solid in Games 2-4 of the final, Rooney stoned 105 of Ottawa's 108 shots (.972 save percentage) and won three overtime decisions to narrowly outduel Charge rookie Gwyneth Philips, the postseason MVP.On the world stage, Rooney's 11 career starts for the U.S. produced four shutouts and a thrilling Olympic gold-medal victory in 2018. She's squarely in her prime at 27 and dazzles when the lights brighten. - Faris<h3>Tereza Vanisova, Charge forward</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/788701/cropped_GettyImages-2212579683.jpg?ts=1748970527" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/788701/w220xh124_GettyImages-2212579683.jpg?ts=1748970527 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/788701/w320xh180_GettyImages-2212579683.jpg?ts=1748970527 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/788701/w640xh360_GettyImages-2212579683.jpg?ts=1748970527 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/788701/w768xh432_GettyImages-2212579683.jpg?ts=1748970527 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/788701/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2212579683.jpg?ts=1748970527 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Troy Parla / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>Vanisova is an irksome, effective pest and clinical finisher whose 15 goals for the Charge in 2024-25 tied for second in the league.She leads all skaters in career penalty minutes, dropped the gloves in the first PWHL fight, has been fined twice for boarding, and took a costly tripping minor that changed the momentum of the Walter Cup final. She also forced overtime in the series finale by tiptoeing to the slot for a one-timer that busted Rooney's shutout.The 29-year-old Czech winger's offensive attributes counterbalance her bouts of recklessness. - Faris<h3>Kati Tabin, Victoire defender</h3>Tabin's a 28-year-old, physical shot-blocker who can score from the point and elevate a second pair. Exactly a year apart, on May 11, 2024 and 2025, she skated for well over 50 minutes in the PWHL's longest playoff games. Only Ambrose logged more ice time for Montreal in each marathon.Because of the signing window's unique calculus, adding a veteran of Tabin's caliber would benefit her new and former teams. If Tabin and a Montreal teammate sign out west, the Victoire could then use a fourth protection slot to prevent Ambrose or fellow top defender Cayla Barnes from being drafted. - FarisNick Faris and Jolene Latimer cover the PWHL for theScore.

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12 top talents who could boost PWHL expansion teams

EDMONTON - Second chances don't come easy. But they came often for the Oilers this year. From Sta...

EDMONTON - Second chances don't come easy. But they came often for the Oilers this year. From Stan Bowman's controversial return to a roster full of players battling back from injuries, doubts, and mistakes, they're a team built on the messy business of trying again. They're back in the Stanley Cup Final because of it.For the second straight year, the Oilers face the Florida Panthers with hockey's top prize on the line - this time chasing more than a title. After last year's heartbreaking Game 7 loss to Florida, they return with redemption on their minds."I was watching from afar last year," said Bowman to kick off his pre-finals press conference. Now he's at the center of it. Hired in the offseason, Bowman's return to the NHL after resigning in the wake of the Chicago Blackhawks' sexual assault scandal was one of the year's most polarizing moves. But he's helped steer the Oilers back to the final - building around a group of players who, like him, are trying to rewrite the narrative.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Across the lineup, the Oilers are full of players who came to Edmonton trying to reclaim something - health, reputation, confidence, or just the version of themselves they believe is still in there."I'm quite my old self. A little bit older now, too," said John Klingberg, who has struggled for three years to recover from bilateral hip resurfacing surgery. Five years ago, Klingberg was a star for Dallas when it lost the Cup Final to Tampa Bay in the COVID bubble. But in the intervening years, his play declined. It looked like he might be past his prime. He was shuffled from Dallas to Anaheim and then Toronto before finally ending up in Edmonton, where he seems to have found his groove again.<figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/788780/cropped_GettyImages-2217864875.jpg?ts=1749005506" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/788780/w220xh124_GettyImages-2217864875.jpg?ts=1749005506 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/788780/w320xh180_GettyImages-2217864875.jpg?ts=1749005506 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/788780/w640xh360_GettyImages-2217864875.jpg?ts=1749005506 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/788780/w768xh432_GettyImages-2217864875.jpg?ts=1749005506 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/788780/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2217864875.jpg?ts=1749005506 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Steph Chambers / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>"It's a process. It's never going to be fully perfect, but I feel like it's the best I've moved in a long time," he said. While he acknowledged the first step of that process is his body feeling better, he said the second half of it is the locker room in Edmonton. "It's how the team has been preparing and just picking me up, letting me know I'm a big part of this team, finding a role and exceeding in it," he said.Not every comeback starts with an injury. Some begin with owning what went wrong.Corey Perry joined the Oilers in January 2024, just weeks after being released by the Chicago Blackhawks for what the team called "unacceptable conduct." The veteran forward didn't offer specifics when he addressed the situation publicly, but said he was seeking help for struggles with alcohol and taking steps to move forward. In Edmonton, he's found a way to contribute again - on the ice, and inside a room full of players familiar with fresh starts."As soon as I got here, everybody was open arms and excited that I was coming. The situation that happened, it happened. I've dealt with it. I've learned from it. It was unfortunate, but it's something I went through," Perry said. "Being here, it's been exciting. The fans, the players, the training staff, everybody's been pretty open."<figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/788784/cropped_GettyImages-2217855200.jpg?ts=1749005839" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/788784/w220xh124_GettyImages-2217855200.jpg?ts=1749005839 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/788784/w320xh180_GettyImages-2217855200.jpg?ts=1749005839 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/788784/w640xh360_GettyImages-2217855200.jpg?ts=1749005839 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/788784/w768xh432_GettyImages-2217855200.jpg?ts=1749005839 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/788784/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2217855200.jpg?ts=1749005839 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption">Corey Perry with his son during the 2025 Stanley Cup Final media day in Edmonton. Andy Devlin / NHL / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>Like Perry, Evander Kane knows what it's like to go into a room with questions attached. Kane joined the Oilers in 2022 after the San Jose Sharks terminated his contract for violating COVID-19 protocols. Off the ice, Kane was facing a string of personal issues, including a public bankruptcy filing and legal disputes with his ex-wife. He landed in Edmonton looking for a fresh start and has since become a key piece of the team's core.While some athletes might avoid Edmonton because of the scrutiny of the Oilers in an intense media environment, the passion is part of what drew Kane to the city."The importance of hockey in a city like Edmonton is something that went into my decision in wanting to come here," Kane said. "Something seemed to just click right away. The city embraced me, the fans embraced me. As a player, when you feel that, you want to try to perform at your best and give that back to them and show that love back. For me, we got off on a great foot, and it's just been a great ride so far."<figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/788781/cropped_GettyImages-2217864859.jpg?ts=1749005568" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/788781/w220xh124_GettyImages-2217864859.jpg?ts=1749005568 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/788781/w320xh180_GettyImages-2217864859.jpg?ts=1749005568 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/788781/w640xh360_GettyImages-2217864859.jpg?ts=1749005568 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/788781/w768xh432_GettyImages-2217864859.jpg?ts=1749005568 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/788781/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2217864859.jpg?ts=1749005568 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Steph Chambers / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>While Kane brought baggage, Jeff Skinner just brought questions. After 14 NHL seasons without a playoff appearance, Skinner signed with the Oilers in July 2024, weeks after the Buffalo Sabres bought out the final three years of his $72-million contract. The move left Buffalo with six years of dead cap space, but it gave Skinner a shot at a fresh start - and his long-awaited postseason debut, which came after 1,078 regular-season games. While Skinner received limited minutes throughout the regular season and at the start of the playoffs, he stepped in during the Western Conference Final against Dallas when Zach Hyman went down with a shoulder injury.Skinner came up big, with his first playoff goal in a 6-3 win over the Stars. "I'm pretty grateful," said Skinner. "It's hard to get to this point. You have to be on a great team, and even if you’re on a great team, sometimes they don't make it this far. To be able to get here is a good feeling."<figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/788782/cropped_GettyImages-2217729652.jpg?ts=1749005630" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/788782/w220xh124_GettyImages-2217729652.jpg?ts=1749005630 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/788782/w320xh180_GettyImages-2217729652.jpg?ts=1749005630 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/788782/w640xh360_GettyImages-2217729652.jpg?ts=1749005630 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/788782/w768xh432_GettyImages-2217729652.jpg?ts=1749005630 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/788782/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2217729652.jpg?ts=1749005630 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Steph Chambers / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>The total team effort it takes to make it to the final makes Skinner feel like he belongs. "I think people have talked about our depth scoring. Almost everyone's scored a goal. I think just having confidence in yourself and also in each other. You need that in the playoffs. It's not always going to be the same guy stepping up and making a play in the big moment. Any team that gets this far, you need guys to make plays and the more guys you have that are capable of that and have the ability, the better," he said. "For us, it's about leaning on each other in that way."Not everyone will agree on who deserves a second chance - or what it should look like. But the Oilers have become a team built on them. And for all the baggage and backstories, they've also become one of the most exciting teams in hockey. At the center of it all is Connor McDavid - still chasing his own redemption arc after last year's narrow miss."My favorite text I got, from a former pro athlete, was: 'Hey, is No. 97 a Monstar?'" said former Oiler and current TNT analyst Anson Carter, referencing the "Space Jam" aliens who stole NBA players' talent. "You don’t have to be a big hockey fan to know that he's special. He's different.""There are heroes and there are villains. That's part of playoff hockey. That's part of rivalry. It's a big part of the fabric of our game," said Eddie Olczyk, who hosts the NHL on TNT broadcast. "If people want to be entertained, there's not going to be any better reality TV than (the finals)."<figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/788783/cropped_GettyImages-2217855515.jpg?ts=1749005721" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/788783/w220xh124_GettyImages-2217855515.jpg?ts=1749005721 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/788783/w320xh180_GettyImages-2217855515.jpg?ts=1749005721 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/788783/w640xh360_GettyImages-2217855515.jpg?ts=1749005721 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/788783/w768xh432_GettyImages-2217855515.jpg?ts=1749005721 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/788783/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2217855515.jpg?ts=1749005721 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Andy Devlin / NHL / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>For many of the Oilers, the personal comeback journeys mirror the team's quest for redemption. Few players know the pain of coming up short better than Perry, who's reached the final five times in the last six seasons without a win."It gets tougher each and every summer," he said. "But at the same time, it puts that fire inside you and keeps it burning. You have that opportunity again this year to rewrite that script. That's what we're trying to do."Jolene Latimer is a feature writer for theScore.

EDMONTON, CANADA - APRIL 25: Corey Perry #90 of the Edmonton Oilers gets ready for Game Three of the First Round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs against the Los Angeles Kings at Rogers Place on April 25, 2025, in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.

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Redemption arcs power Oilers' Cup return

Each original PWHL franchise is about to lose a couple of cornerstone players because of the leag...

Each original PWHL franchise is about to lose a couple of cornerstone players because of the league's strict expansion rules.Here's how it works: Teams initially get to shield three top talents from being taken by Seattle or Vancouver. Once a club sacrifices two players in the expansion process, it can add a fourth to the protection list. Some marquee names will lead the West Coast entrants into battle and help them be competitive as soon as the puck drops in 2025-26.Expansion will reshape the league in two phases. Both Seattle and Vancouver can sign up to five unprotected players or pending unrestricted free agents during this week's exclusive negotiating window. Then they'll select as many players as needed in a subsequent draft to build 12-women initial rosters. <div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><figure class="article-segment--embed"><iframe title="🏒 Key PWHL dates" aria-label="Table" id="datawrapper-chart-jXQIc" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/jXQIc/1/" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" style="width: 0; min-width: 100% !important; border: none;" height="400" data-external="1"></iframe><script type="text/javascript">!function(){"use strict";window.addEventListener("message",(function(a){if(void 0!==a.data["datawrapper-height"]){var e=document.querySelectorAll("iframe");for(var t in a.data["datawrapper-height"])for(var r,i=0;r=e[i];i++)if(r.contentWindow===a.source){var d=a.data["datawrapper-height"][t]+"px";r.style.height=d}}}))}();
</script></figure>The exercise is going to rattle the six original markets. All have to part with four players from their 2024-25 lineups. General managers face painful dilemmas: Which stars should they protect, and who should they reluctantly risk losing? Some choices are automatic. It'd be unthinkable for the Montreal Victoire to expose Marie-Philip Poulin, a living legend and MVP finalist, or Ann-Renee Desbiens, the world's best goaltender. Offensive dynamos Sarah Fillier and Alex Carpenter are guaranteed to stick with the last-place New York Sirens. All sides have big decisions and impossible choices to make slightly lower down the depth chart. Below, we list each team's top eligible protection candidates and assess their options ahead of Tuesday's deadline, in order of regular-season finish.<h3>Montreal Victoire</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/788048/cropped_GettyImages-2212566219.jpg?ts=1748624019" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/788048/w220xh124_GettyImages-2212566219.jpg?ts=1748624019 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/788048/w320xh180_GettyImages-2212566219.jpg?ts=1748624019 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/788048/w640xh360_GettyImages-2212566219.jpg?ts=1748624019 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/788048/w768xh432_GettyImages-2212566219.jpg?ts=1748624019 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/788048/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2212566219.jpg?ts=1748624019 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Troy Parla / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>Stumbling in the playoffs, the powerhouse Victoire have been upset in two straight opening rounds. Seattle and Vancouver could raid the embarrassment of riches at the top of their lineup. <figure class="article-segment--embed"><iframe title="Montreal Victoire PL" aria-label="Table" id="datawrapper-chart-9ptTP" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/9ptTP/1/" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" style="width: 0; min-width: 100% !important; border: none;" height="400" data-external="1"></iframe><script type="text/javascript">!function(){"use strict";window.addEventListener("message",(function(a){if(void 0!==a.data["datawrapper-height"]){var e=document.querySelectorAll("iframe");for(var t in a.data["datawrapper-height"])for(var r,i=0;r=e[i];i++)if(r.contentWindow===a.source){var d=a.data["datawrapper-height"][t]+"px";r.style.height=d}}}))}();
</script></figure>3 players to protect: Poulin, Cayla Barnes, and Desbiens. Protecting a top center, young No. 1 defender, and lockdown netminder safeguards the spine of a Walter Cup championship contender.Toughest decision: Barnes over Erin Ambrose and Laura Stacey. Barnes is a seasoned Olympian and 2024 first-round draft pick whose puck-moving prowess complements her complete defensive game. At 26 years old, she can anchor a blue line for the next decade. Ambrose was the PWHL's Defender of the Year in the inaugural '24 season. She drives offense, munches major minutes, and shoots right like Barnes, but she's five years older and the twilight of her prime is somewhat foreseeable. It's bold to expose Stacey, the powerful and relentless winger who's married to Poulin and completes the PWHL's premier scoring duo. Stacey's 40 points over two seasons rank fourth in the league's growing history book. But GM Daniele Sauvageau shouldn't put two elite defenders on the block, and the expansion teams may steer clear of Stacey as a one-year rental if they assume she'll promptly return to Montreal.The Victoire will probably lose Jennifer Gardiner, the breakout rookie from the Vancouver area who bagged 18 points this season while riding shotgun with Poulin and Stacey. In their best-case scenario, Gardiner and a depth player leave during the signing window. That would activate Sauvageau's fourth protection slot and let her save Stacey from the draft. - Nick Faris <h3>Toronto Sceptres</h3>Key injuries lowered the Sceptres' ceiling this season. They entered the playoffs on a cold streak, and the collapse of their goaltending and defensive structure stopped a potential championship run. <figure class="article-segment--embed"><iframe title="Toronto Sceptres PL" aria-label="Table" id="datawrapper-chart-qiHFY" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/qiHFY/1/" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" style="width: 0; min-width: 100% !important; border: none;" height="400" data-external="1"></iframe><script type="text/javascript">!function(){"use strict";window.addEventListener("message",(function(a){if(void 0!==a.data["datawrapper-height"]){var e=document.querySelectorAll("iframe");for(var t in a.data["datawrapper-height"])for(var r,i=0;r=e[i];i++)if(r.contentWindow===a.source){var d=a.data["datawrapper-height"][t]+"px";r.style.height=d}}}))}();
</script></figure>3 players to protect: Renata Fast, Emma Maltais, and Daryl Watts. Fast is a sublime all-around defender. Expansion GMs would race to snap up the agitating Maltais or <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3235098" href="https://thescore.com/news/3235098">slick Watts</a>, two forwards with scoring touch in their mid-20s.Toughest decision: Maltais over Julia Gosling, Sarah Nurse, and Blayre Turnbull. These four Team Canada mainstays were Toronto's centers in the playoffs. They're different ages, possess varied skill sets, and are worth protecting for assorted reasons.A two-goal effort from Gosling, the hotshot rookie with significant upside, led the Sceptres to their only postseason win. Maltais skates in all situations and paced the team with four playoff points. The 30-year-old Nurse weathered a quiet, injury-plagued year, but she's a face of the league and supplies offensive flash. Opponents hate facing Turnbull, Toronto's 31-year-old captain and a dogged, intelligent checker. Pending free agent Hannah Miller - Toronto's second-leading scorer after Watts - seems destined to sign in Vancouver, her hometown. GM Gina Kingsbury could ultimately protect Fast and three forwards, or she may shield Kristen Campbell to maintain continuity in net, but Campbell was shelled in the PWHL semifinals, plays at a deep position, and seems relatively expendable. - Faris<h3>Ottawa Charge</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/788049/cropped_GettyImages-2216176744.jpg?ts=1748624239" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/788049/w220xh124_GettyImages-2216176744.jpg?ts=1748624239 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/788049/w320xh180_GettyImages-2216176744.jpg?ts=1748624239 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/788049/w640xh360_GettyImages-2216176744.jpg?ts=1748624239 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/788049/w768xh432_GettyImages-2216176744.jpg?ts=1748624239 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/788049/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2216176744.jpg?ts=1748624239 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Adam Bettcher / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>The Charge put together a gutsy playoff run to cap last season, becoming the first Canadian team to reach the Walter Cup final and pushing every game to overtime before falling to Minnesota in four games. With rookie goaltender Gwyneth Philips earning playoff MVP honors and the core showing true contender mettle, Ottawa's likely looking to retain key pieces and turn its near-miss heartbreak into a championship breakthrough next season.<figure class="article-segment--embed"><iframe title="Ottawa Charge PL" aria-label="Table" id="datawrapper-chart-HbZs0" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/HbZs0/1/" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" style="width: 0; min-width: 100% !important; border: none;" height="400" data-external="1"></iframe><script type="text/javascript">!function(){"use strict";window.addEventListener("message",(function(a){if(void 0!==a.data["datawrapper-height"]){var e=document.querySelectorAll("iframe");for(var t in a.data["datawrapper-height"])for(var r,i=0;r=e[i];i++)if(r.contentWindow===a.source){var d=a.data["datawrapper-height"][t]+"px";r.style.height=d}}}))}();
</script></figure>3 players to protect: Philips, Emily Clark, and Ashton Bell. Philips established herself as a franchise goaltender in her rookie season and the team can lean on her moving forward. Meanwhile, Clark's one of the team's most reliable offensive weapons, with 19 points in the regular season and five in the playoffs. Bell's the Charge's best chance at retaining a defender they can build around.Toughest decision: Exposing goalie Emerance Maschmeyer is a move that would have probably been unthinkable months ago. But when she went down with a lower-body injury in March, Philips took over the crease and proved she's a No. 1 goalie. Her performance caught the attention of the entire league, and Philips was named playoffs MVP despite Ottawa's losing effort.The two are at different stages of their careers. Maschmeyer will be 31 next season, while Philips turns 25 in September and is heading into her sophomore year with plenty of development ahead of her. As emotional as it'll be to let a key piece like Maschmeyer go, it makes sense for the Charge to stick with a young star with lots of runway ahead of her. - Jolene Latimer <h3>Minnesota Frost</h3>The Frost pulled off back-to-back Walter Cup titles with trademark resilience, sneaking into the playoffs as the fourth seed both years and this season winning multiple overtime thrillers to edge Ottawa out of the final. Minnesota heads into the expansion draft looking to preserve its identity and roster while cementing its status as the league's first dynasty.<figure class="article-segment--embed"><iframe title="Minnesota Frost PL" aria-label="Table" id="datawrapper-chart-7Mxac" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/7Mxac/1/" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" style="width: 0; min-width: 100% !important; border: none;" height="400" data-external="1"></iframe><script type="text/javascript">!function(){"use strict";window.addEventListener("message",(function(a){if(void 0!==a.data["datawrapper-height"]){var e=document.querySelectorAll("iframe");for(var t in a.data["datawrapper-height"])for(var r,i=0;r=e[i];i++)if(r.contentWindow===a.source){var d=a.data["datawrapper-height"][t]+"px";r.style.height=d}}}))}();
</script></figure>3 players to protect: Taylor Heise, Sophie Jaques, and Kendall Coyne Schofield. Heise was the PWHL's first overall draft pick in its inaugural draft and has since become an irreplaceable superstar. Jaques is one of the league's leading defenders and the team can build around her if it loses Claire Thompson. Meanwhile, captain Coyne Schofield's a veteran who can steady the team as it adjusts to what will surely be major changes to its championship roster.Toughest decision: Leaving Lee Stecklein exposed seems cold, given her veteran locker-room demeanor and outstanding playoff performance. She's been a cornerstone of the Frost's blue line - steady, smart, and reliable in all situations. She also brings invaluable experience as a two-time Walter Cup champion and an Olympic veteran. Stecklein anchors the team's defensive identity and losing her would mean parting with not just shutdown ability but a calm, offensive-minded defender who can set the tone in big moments.That said, protecting Jaques over Stecklein is a strategic bet on the future. While Stecklein offers steady leadership, Jaques is younger, more dynamic, and represents the kind of high-ceiling talent teams build around in a fast-evolving league.You can argue the PWHL has a league-wide win-now mentality, but I think protecting Jaques allows the Frost to do both: win now and build the future. - Latimer <h3>Boston Fleet</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/788050/cropped_GettyImages-2200040617.jpg?ts=1748624408" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/788050/w220xh124_GettyImages-2200040617.jpg?ts=1748624408 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/788050/w320xh180_GettyImages-2200040617.jpg?ts=1748624408 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/788050/w640xh360_GettyImages-2200040617.jpg?ts=1748624408 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/788050/w768xh432_GettyImages-2200040617.jpg?ts=1748624408 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/788050/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2200040617.jpg?ts=1748624408 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Maddie Meyer / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>The Fleet's season ended in heartbreak: they were blown out 8-1 by Minnesota when all they needed was a single point to clinch a playoff spot. Boston needs more consistency in high-stakes moments and will need to recalibrate its roster without losing the high-end skill and leadership that made it competitive throughout the year.<figure class="article-segment--embed"><iframe title="Boston Fleet PL" aria-label="Table" id="datawrapper-chart-ukW18" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/ukW18/1/" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" style="width: 0; min-width: 100% !important; border: none;" height="400" data-external="1"></iframe><script type="text/javascript">!function(){"use strict";window.addEventListener("message",(function(a){if(void 0!==a.data["datawrapper-height"]){var e=document.querySelectorAll("iframe");for(var t in a.data["datawrapper-height"])for(var r,i=0;r=e[i];i++)if(r.contentWindow===a.source){var d=a.data["datawrapper-height"][t]+"px";r.style.height=d}}}))}();
</script></figure>3 players to protect: Aerin Frankel, Hilary Knight, and Megan Keller. Protecting Frankel is a no-brainer - she's Team USA's starting goalie, virtually unstoppable when she's healthy, and is invaluable with the league relying so heavily on goaltending. Knight provides veteran leadership in addition to being Boston's points leader by a long shot. Keller anchors the blue line; she's a poised, two-way defender who logs big minutes in every situation, and is strong enough to build a defensive core around should other key components be lost.Toughest decision: Protecting Knight over younger top forwards like Hannah Bilka or Alina Muller is a bit of a quandary. Knight is captain of both the Fleet and Team USA, and exposing her would seem drastic. However, Keller's also a strong leader and could flourish with the captaincy, so there wouldn't be a leadership vacuum in Knight's absence.Knight's 35 and already announced the 2026 Winter Olympics will be her last. Strategically, it could be smart to leave her unprotected, and Vancouver and Seattle may pass as she'll likely be a one-season rental.That said, Knight was the league's regular-season scoring leader with 29 points. Her offensive firepower may prove too tempting in the PWHL's win-now environment, and she'd be a significant loss for Boston. It's probably better to protect her and lose one of the younger forwards, while using the fourth spot to protect the second and hope the offensive-minded defenders pitch in on scoring. - Latimer<h3>New York Sirens</h3>The Sirens are the only PWHL franchise to never reach the postseason. They risk being leapfrogged by Seattle and Vancouver as the expansion process depletes a thin roster.<figure class="article-segment--embed"><iframe title="Ottawa Charge PL (Copy)" aria-label="Table" id="datawrapper-chart-DlHu1" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/DlHu1/1/" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" style="width: 0; min-width: 100% !important; border: none;" height="400" data-external="1"></iframe><script type="text/javascript">!function(){"use strict";window.addEventListener("message",(function(a){if(void 0!==a.data["datawrapper-height"]){var e=document.querySelectorAll("iframe");for(var t in a.data["datawrapper-height"])for(var r,i=0;r=e[i];i++)if(r.contentWindow===a.source){var d=a.data["datawrapper-height"][t]+"px";r.style.height=d}}}))}();
</script></figure>3 players to protect: Alex Carpenter, Sarah Fillier, and Ella Shelton. Fillier, the Rookie of the Year lock who tied for the league points lead, is a restricted free agent with the right to leave New York in the summer of 2026. Convincing Fillier to stay and laying the groundwork to contend begins with keeping her and Carpenter linked on the first line.Toughest decision: Shelton over Corinne Schroeder. With a .924 career save percentage against the most shots faced per game (31.1) in league history, Schroeder mitigates the Sirens' defensive shortcomings. But she'd be easier to replace than Shelton, a top defender and prolific scorer who quarterbacks a quality power play, one of New York's strengths.Schroeder's rookie backup, Kayle Osborne, owned a .916 SV% over 10 games and could assume a larger role as part of a balanced tandem. The PWHL goalie carousel brims with proven and unsung talents who could be signed or acquired this summer to plug a hole. Drafting a top college netminder is another option for GM Pascal Daoust. Forward Jessie Eldridge, one of the league's most improved players from Years 1 to 2, will head west unless she rounds out Daoust's protection list. - Faris Nick Faris and Jolene Latimer cover the PWHL for theScore.

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Expansion forces PWHL teams to make excruciating choices

The PWHL wrapped up its second season with full arenas, passionate fans, and a playoff chase that...

The PWHL wrapped up its second season with full arenas, passionate fans, and a playoff chase that's leaving little doubt about the quality of the on-ice product. But even as the league adds expansion teams and builds toward long-term sustainability, one piece of infrastructure remains noticeably absent: a U.S. TV deal."It's certainly important to grow across the country as we look to bring in a national media partner,” Amy Scheer, the PWHL's executive vice president of business operations, said in a call with reporters. "But at the end of the day, it needs to be the right partner that will value our league the right way and want to invest in our league and invest in building our player personalities."Scheer described the pursuit of a U.S. deal as a priority "being worked on feverishly behind the scenes," but added, "we're not quite there yet."<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>The urgency is real and extends far beyond hockey. Media rights are one of the biggest levers for growth in women's sports. As Sports Business Journal reported, the WNBA's recent $2.2-billion, 11-year deal with Disney, Amazon Prime Video, and NBCUniversal marked a sixfold increase over its previous agreement. The NWSL, meanwhile, signed a four-year deal with CBS Sports, ESPN, Prime Video, and Scripps Sports for a reported $240 million. Crucially, both deals include flexibility - shorter terms or mid-deal re-evaluations - allowing the leagues to renegotiate upward as momentum builds.The PWHL is positioning itself to do the same. But before it can talk about multipliers, it needs the deal. "I think it's all about exposure," said Jeff Fellenzer, a professor at the University of Southern California who teaches sports media and business. "It's about creating awareness. And it's about introducing new audiences to new sports experiences. You build up momentum and sustain interest when your product is out there and visible."Fellenzer emphasized that visibility isn't just about gaining new fans, it's about giving them something to return to. "You have a chance to get on somebody's radar and reach their sports consciousness if your sport's available on TV," he said. "That's how you build a lasting connection."<figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/787002/cropped_GettyImages-2216579303.jpg?ts=1748022861" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/787002/w220xh124_GettyImages-2216579303.jpg?ts=1748022861 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/787002/w320xh180_GettyImages-2216579303.jpg?ts=1748022861 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/787002/w640xh360_GettyImages-2216579303.jpg?ts=1748022861 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/787002/w768xh432_GettyImages-2216579303.jpg?ts=1748022861 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/787002/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2216579303.jpg?ts=1748022861 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Troy Parla / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>The PWHL has made games available through regional broadcasts and digital platforms, but those approaches only go so far in building national reach. A national broadcasting deal would get more eyeballs on the game. "I think the first place I would go right now would be to ESPN," said Greg Bouris, a sport management professor at Adelphi University with 35 years of professional experience in pro sports. "They're taking their cable model and just moving it now to a streaming platform ... and you can't find a bigger brand in sports broadcasting than ESPN." Bouris added that the network is looking to consolidate rights across leagues."To survive in this fashion now, if they can own all the rights to all these leagues, then everybody, every sports fan, has to buy the app," he said. "It would stand to reason that they need to double down and now collect all the toys in their toy box. It'll be expensive, and there may be some they don't want to put in a toy box, but they're going to need this content."Bouris applies the same reasoning to his outlook on what may be best to grow the PWHL. "Sometimes it means you may have to take a little less in rights fees, but what you're getting in ancillary value and support through that collaboration with the organization like ESPN, it's probably worth taking a few dollars less,” he said.This type of visibility is key to continued growth in women's sports valuations. Expansion fees in the NWSL and WNBA have skyrocketed, reaching $110 million and $125 million respectively. Michele Kang's purchase of the NWSL's Washington Spirit for $35 million in 2022 was once viewed as revolutionary; it now looks like a bargain compared to Angel City FC's $250-million valuation in a deal led by Disney CEO Bob Iger and Willow Bay.Bouris believes one stroke in the PWHL's favor is the experience of Stan Kasten, a PWHL advisory board member and CEO of the Los Angeles Dodgers. In 2013, the Dodgers signed an MLB-record $8.35-billion local TV deal that's enabled them to have one of baseball's highest bankrolls. "There's no shortage of experience at the top of the PWHL," Bouris said. "I do think they'll navigate their way through this based on that experience, and then they'll come out the other side better for it."<figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/787003/cropped_GettyImages-2216181592.jpg?ts=1748022988" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/787003/w220xh124_GettyImages-2216181592.jpg?ts=1748022988 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/787003/w320xh180_GettyImages-2216181592.jpg?ts=1748022988 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/787003/w640xh360_GettyImages-2216181592.jpg?ts=1748022988 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/787003/w768xh432_GettyImages-2216181592.jpg?ts=1748022988 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/787003/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2216181592.jpg?ts=1748022988 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Troy Parla / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>It's not just about money for the PWHL, but alignment. "When we feel you've got the right partner, then we'll move ahead with that relationship," Scheer said.Fellenzer agrees that it's not only the number that matters, but the level of commitment. "You want a broadcaster that's willing to go all-in on promotion. Not just the games, but the storytelling and the shoulder programming around it," he said.With two new teams entering the fold in 2025-26 - Seattle and Vancouver - the PWHL is expanding its footprint in key North American markets. But for the league to reach new audiences across the U.S., secure long-term sponsor growth, and continue its upward valuation trend, a national broadcast deal isn't just a nice to have - it's the next step."You go into our building, and it's pure joy,” Scheer said. "We're proud of everyone feeling welcome at our games and enjoying the best hockey in the world."For the league to share that joy with millions more, the PWHL knows what must come next.Jolene Latimer is a feature writer at theScore.

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Without a U.S. TV deal, the PWHL risks stalling out 

Before Gwyneth Philips ever stepped into the PWHL spotlight, she learned how to wait - and how to...

Before Gwyneth Philips ever stepped into the PWHL spotlight, she learned how to wait - and how to be ready when the moment came. She spent the majority of her college career at Northeastern behind Aerin Frankel, a Patty Kazmaier Award winner and one of the most dominant goaltenders in NCAA history. Philips stayed, studied, and quietly built a legacy of her own. When she was finally named starter, she carved her name on the NCAA record books.She's doing the same in Ottawa.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Philips opened her rookie season as the backup to veteran and Canadian Olympian Emerance Maschmeyer. But when Maschmeyer went down with a lower-body injury in March, it was Philips who took the net - and she hasn't let go.She's been nearly unbeatable since stepping in. The 24-year-old closed the regular season with a .919 save percentage and has been the backbone of Ottawa's run to the PWHL Finals. In the first round of the playoffs, she led the league with a 0.957 save percentage as Ottawa bullied its way past Montreal in four games."She's been phenomenal. She's been great all year," Ottawa captain Brianne Jenner said. "We kind of knew that, practicing against her, how lucky we are to have the goalies we have in our hockey club. It's great to see her come in and play the way she's been playing and we have so much confidence in front of her."<figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/786738/cropped_Credit_PWHL_-_Game_1_-_OTT_at_MTL_-__May_8__2025_01__1_.jpg?ts=1747853450" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/786738/w220xh124_Credit_PWHL_-_Game_1_-_OTT_at_MTL_-__May_8__2025_01__1_.jpg?ts=1747853450 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/786738/w320xh180_Credit_PWHL_-_Game_1_-_OTT_at_MTL_-__May_8__2025_01__1_.jpg?ts=1747853450 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/786738/w640xh360_Credit_PWHL_-_Game_1_-_OTT_at_MTL_-__May_8__2025_01__1_.jpg?ts=1747853450 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/786738/w768xh432_Credit_PWHL_-_Game_1_-_OTT_at_MTL_-__May_8__2025_01__1_.jpg?ts=1747853450 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/786738/w1080xh607_Credit_PWHL_-_Game_1_-_OTT_at_MTL_-__May_8__2025_01__1_.jpg?ts=1747853450 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> PWHL</figcaption></figure>That confidence is well earned. A two-time All-American and the 2023 National Goaltender of the Year, Philips left Northeastern after five seasons as the NCAA's all-time leader in career save percentage (.958). In her two years as a starter, she managed to also set program records: she holds the top spot for wins (34) and games played (38), which she achieved in her final season."It's at her core," longtime Northeastern coach Dave Flint said. “She's always, like, just steady - her emotions don't get too high, they don't get too low. It's a really good quality to have when you're a goalie. She's not too hard on herself when things aren't going well, and she's very humble when she's playing well."Her choice to stay at Northeastern despite years as a backup says plenty about her mindset. Rather than leave in search of more minutes, she spent most of her college career betting on herself and seeing the opportunity others might have missed."A lot of kids, especially with the transfer portal now, would have just decided to go somewhere else," Flint said. "It just shows the level of maturity that she had at that time. She liked the school. She was an engineering major. She understood the value of her education. She also understood she was going to get her time."When that time finally came - after Frankel graduated - Philips was more than ready. She was determined to set a new standard."She got tired of hearing early on, 'Are you going to be able to live up to what Aerin accomplished?'" Flint said. "She wanted to carve her own path and be her own person. She just doesn't get rattled."That unshakable presence has followed her into the pros. Even in high-pressure moments like a four-overtime marathon loss against Montreal earlier in the playoffs, Philips has remained steady. She apologized to her teammates after that game, saying she needed to be better."You made 54 saves and gave your team a chance to win," Flint said, laughing. "She's always very team first. She'll take the blame, even when she shouldn't."That blend of composure and drive has earned her the trust of Ottawa's coaching staff."She just loves saving the puck," Charge head coach Carla MacLeod said in a call with reporters before the PWHL Finals began. "She's athletic, she enjoys the job that she's got. And obviously she brings a skill set and a mindset to it that's complementary. She's incredibly competitive, enjoys it."<figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/786736/cropped_Credit_PWHL_-_MIN_at_OTT_-_Game_1_-_May_20__202521.jpg?ts=1747853425" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/786736/w220xh124_Credit_PWHL_-_MIN_at_OTT_-_Game_1_-_May_20__202521.jpg?ts=1747853425 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/786736/w320xh180_Credit_PWHL_-_MIN_at_OTT_-_Game_1_-_May_20__202521.jpg?ts=1747853425 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/786736/w640xh360_Credit_PWHL_-_MIN_at_OTT_-_Game_1_-_May_20__202521.jpg?ts=1747853425 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/786736/w768xh432_Credit_PWHL_-_MIN_at_OTT_-_Game_1_-_May_20__202521.jpg?ts=1747853425 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/786736/w1080xh607_Credit_PWHL_-_MIN_at_OTT_-_Game_1_-_May_20__202521.jpg?ts=1747853425 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> PWHL</figcaption></figure>Philips' relentlessness around the crease has become her calling card. "I think it's just her tracking and her fight on every puck, every rebound," MacLeod said. "She doesn't really give up on a play until there's a whistle. I think when she's at her best, she's rising in those moments and really embracing them and enjoying them."Today, Philips is the face of a playoff run that could end with Ottawa hoisting the Walter Cup. The Charge scored in overtime against defending champion Minnesota to open the series, leaving them only two wins away from claiming the league's top prize. Philips' former coach isn't surprised."I think she deserves it. She's an amazing goalie and an even better person," Flint said. "It's nice to see she's getting some recognition."Jolene Latimer is a feature writer at theScore.

https://rich-content.thescore.com/content_cards/31359969/related

From backup to backbone: Gwyneth Philips' breakout year

Britta Curl-Salemme scored Minnesota's first goal of the 2025 playoffs. Less than a minute later,...

Britta Curl-Salemme scored Minnesota's first goal of the 2025 playoffs. Less than a minute later, she became the first player ejected from them. In the second period of Game 1 against Toronto, Curl-Salemme was assessed a five-minute major for a hit to the head of Toronto defender Renata Fast, resulting in a game misconduct and ultimately, a one-game suspension. It came 41 seconds after she had scored on a power play. It was the third suspension of her rookie season. <div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>The hit reignited a season-long conversation about Curl-Salemme's edge - and where it crosses the line. When it comes to physicality, her adjustment to the professional game has been steep. She played five seasons at the University of Wisconsin, where she won three national championships and captained the Badgers in back-to-back years. She left school as the program's all-time leader in games played with 181, and she is eighth all time in points with 179."She's a great player, great person, she plays extremely hard, and she's an asset to our team as she would be to any team," Minnesota coach Ken Klee said during a media availability. But NCAA hockey doesn't allow full contact the way the PWHL does. That shift, Klee noted, is a key part of adapting to the top pro league."Players coming out of college have never been allowed full contact, if that's what you want to call it," he said. "It is a learning curve." <figure class="article-segment--embed"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/_fkMiALkaK4?si=DWT0HDHZXmQwYtnj" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></figure>The PWHL numbers reflect her impact and her edge. As a rookie, the 25-year-old from Bismarck, North Dakota, scored nine goals (tied for second on the team) and added six assists in 28 regular-season games. She registered 24 penalty minutes, one minute less than fellow Frost rookie Brooke McQuigge, who led the team. Both finished in the top 10 in the league.It's not the volume of Curl-Salemme's penalty minutes that has drawn the most scrutiny, it's the severity of the calls against her. She served two regular-season one-game suspensions: the first for high-sticking in a Jan. 2 game against Boston and the second for an illegal check to the head March 9 in Toronto.<figure class="article-segment--embed"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/VaZsTxp-01I?si=3zttUt7V73RfD2FE" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></figure>Curl-Salemme's presence in the league has drawn criticism beyond her on-ice play. After she was selected ninth overall by Minnesota in the 2024 draft, fans reacted to transphobic and racist <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/womens/pwhl/britta-curl-apologizes-to-pwhl-fans-and-community">social media activity</a>. Curl-Salemme addressed the backlash in a video posted to X, saying, "I specifically recognize that my social media activity has resulted in hurt being felt across communities including LGBTQ+ and BIPOC individuals. I just want to apologize and take ownership of that." She added: "To those of you who may still have reservations, I hope you can extend me the grace to prove to you who I really am."Clashes among women's pro sports athletes over trans inclusion are not unprecedented. The U.S. Women's National Team faced a similar situation around midfielder Korbin Albert's social media activity. Albert had shared and liked posts that were considered anti-LGBTQ+, including one that mocked teammate Megan Rapinoe's injury. The incident prompted public apologies from Albert and statements from team veterans such as Alex Morgan and Lindsey Heaps (nee Horan), who emphasized the team's commitment to inclusivity. The USWNT Players Association also issued a statement reaffirming support for LGBTQIA+ rights, similar to how the PWHL handled Curl-Salemme's controversy.For a player who publicly asked fans for grace, Curl-Salemme hasn't exactly played it safe on the ice. Her physical style has pushed the limits all season, testing not just the rulebook but the patience of opponents and officials. "I just know we're trying to get those high hits or any contact to the head out of the game," Toronto head coach Troy Ryan said in a call with reporters. "So I'm just glad (the referees) were able to watch it on video and kept it as a major."<figure class="article-segment--embed"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/d-BlI_3sG28?si=v6o3W7bJPrJKFP2H" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></figure>Klee has consistently defended her intent. "Britta's a hard player," Klee said. "There are other players in the league who play hard as well. Other players have had multiple incidents. Poulin is one of the top players in the league, she's had multiple incidents. So, players who play hard and play aggressive - sometimes it's tough. It's happening in a split second." He added that Curl-Salemme had just been cross-checked before delivering the hit on Fast. "So, plays happen," Klee said. "For me, it's one of those hockey plays. It's nothing malicious. Obviously, it's a stiff penalty she received, and it was tough, but I think she's trying to learn from it and keep knowing where that line is." It's a line the PWHL is still defining. Curl-Salemme will likely also be looking to define that line as the Frost head into the Walter Cup Finals for the second consecutive year, after beating Toronto 3-1 in the semifinal series."I think everyone's trying to learn and adjust to the rule book - players, officials, staff, whoever it is," Minnesota forward Kelly Pannek said. "I think they've been trying to make the rules clearer for players as to what is allowed and what isn't. That's something the league has emphasized - we don't want the physicality to take over. We want it to be an added element. How that looks, I think will continue to evolve." Jolene Latimer is a feature writer at theScore.

LAVAL, CANADA - JANUARY 17: Britta Curl-Salemme #77 of the Minnesota Frost smiles at the direction of goaltender Ann-Renée Desbiens #35 of the Montreal Victoire during the third period at Place Bell on January 17, 2025 in Laval, Quebec, Canada. The Montreal Victoire defeated the Minnesota Frost 4-2.

https://rich-content.thescore.com/content_cards/31316511/related

PWHL's most suspended player: Can Curl-Salemme cool it in the final?

They were five hours in. Muscles seizing. Legs spent. On the Ottawa bench, a strange sight: musta...

They were five hours in. Muscles seizing. Legs spent. On the Ottawa bench, a strange sight: mustard packets, taped in rows like emergency rations.The now-viral image captured by reporter Kelly Greig showed what it took to survive the longest game in PWHL history - a five-hour, 34-minute epic clash between Ottawa and Montreal that stretched into quadruple overtime and pushed players to their absolute limits. Montreal's win evened the best-of-five series at one apiece.The goal on the bench: Delay muscle cramps as long as possible to retain a competitive edge.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>"There are two things that have been rooted in evidence-based practice, and it's pickle juice and mustard," Ottawa head athletic therapist Amanda Deluca said. She usually packs both for team road trips, but this time she didn't. When it became apparent the game was going long, she texted a shopping list to the Charge's front office, who scoured Place Bell for the goods.Soon enough, they were delivered to the Charge locker room. They weren't allowed to have pickle juice on the bench, but the mustard packets were OK. To start, Ottawa's athletic therapists kept them in their pockets. It was the equipment manager who realized it'd be easier for the players to tape them to the glass.<figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
The <a href="https://twitter.com/PWHL_Ottawa?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@PWHL_Ottawa</a> trainers have started taping packs of mustard to the bench. Apparently eating mustard can prevent cramping after playing for this long. <a href="https://t.co/Wk8PKjwvaS">pic.twitter.com/Wk8PKjwvaS</a>— Kelly Greig (@KellyGreig) <a href="https://twitter.com/KellyGreig/status/1921709030294090020?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 11, 2025</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure>"It was a true team effort because not only did we have all of that going, we also had our strength coach and our massage therapist also working behind the scenes, making peanut butter and Nutella or peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for fast, easy, digestible carbs to just keep their energy levels up," Deluca said. She picked up these tricks in her five years as an athletic therapist in the CFL, which included a trip to the Grey Cup in 2022 with the Toronto Argonauts.Gatorade is usually her first line of defense. "The sugar and the salt and the carbs in Gatorade are going to delay muscle cramps and going to give you the energy you need to keep going. It wasn't until they were almost tired of drinking Gatorade, or we needed something extra, that I switched to the mustard," Deluca said.<figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/785314/cropped_Credit_PWHL_-_Game_2_-_OTT_at_MTL_-__May_11__20252.jpg?ts=1747086872" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/785314/w220xh124_Credit_PWHL_-_Game_2_-_OTT_at_MTL_-__May_11__20252.jpg?ts=1747086872 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/785314/w320xh180_Credit_PWHL_-_Game_2_-_OTT_at_MTL_-__May_11__20252.jpg?ts=1747086872 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/785314/w640xh360_Credit_PWHL_-_Game_2_-_OTT_at_MTL_-__May_11__20252.jpg?ts=1747086872 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/785314/w768xh432_Credit_PWHL_-_Game_2_-_OTT_at_MTL_-__May_11__20252.jpg?ts=1747086872 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/785314/w1080xh607_Credit_PWHL_-_Game_2_-_OTT_at_MTL_-__May_11__20252.jpg?ts=1747086872 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> PWHL</figcaption></figure>Both mustard and pickle juice disrupt the transient receptor potential channels to delay cramps by interrupting the body's communication system. "Anything with a strong taste, like wasabi, could do the same," Deluca said. "It just delays the onset of exertional muscle cramps."Montreal also jumped on the pickle juice remedy. "We were just trying to fuel and hydrate as much as possible," said Montreal forward Kristin O'Neill, who opened the scoring early in the first period and assisted on Catherine Dubois' game-winning goal. "Pickle juice was definitely out there. That was kind of a unique one … I definitely tried it to avoid muscle cramps."Events like the one that unfolded at Place Bell on Sunday aren't just a war of attrition on the day, they become a test of how fast you can recover when you've essentially played two full games and have less than 48 hours before the puck drops for Game 3 on Tuesday.The Charge drove back to Ottawa after Sunday's game, and Deluca and her staff spent more than 12 hours administering treatments at the team facility. "They've all been put on a good nutrition regime - they're all individually looked after with our team nutritionist to help decrease the amount of inflammation in their body," Deluca said. "(Monday) is just strictly a recovery day."The Victoire also used Monday for recovery and travel. "There's nothing too special that I wouldn't be doing after a game anyways," O'Neill said. "With the tight turnaround, just getting as much rest and sleep as possible is super important. And using Normatec, massage therapists, and ice baths."<figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/785315/cropped_Credit_PWHL_-_Game_2_-_OTT_at_MTL_-__May_11__202514.jpg?ts=1747086883" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/785315/w220xh124_Credit_PWHL_-_Game_2_-_OTT_at_MTL_-__May_11__202514.jpg?ts=1747086883 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/785315/w320xh180_Credit_PWHL_-_Game_2_-_OTT_at_MTL_-__May_11__202514.jpg?ts=1747086883 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/785315/w640xh360_Credit_PWHL_-_Game_2_-_OTT_at_MTL_-__May_11__202514.jpg?ts=1747086883 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/785315/w768xh432_Credit_PWHL_-_Game_2_-_OTT_at_MTL_-__May_11__202514.jpg?ts=1747086883 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/785315/w1080xh607_Credit_PWHL_-_Game_2_-_OTT_at_MTL_-__May_11__202514.jpg?ts=1747086883 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> PWHL</figcaption></figure>Montreal head coach Kori Cheverie said the team was given the day off - only players who did not skate in Game 2 attended practice. "We want the players to be rested, physically, emotionally, mentally, and ready to go for (Game 3). So you know, less hockey talk, and more recovery for them," she said.Cheverie felt her team got stronger as the overtimes wore on. "We started to narrow our focus. We started to talk less about all the X's and O's and more about a mindset," she said. "By the time we got going into that fourth overtime, we certainly had narrowed and just wanted to allow them to rest and recover as much as they possibly could. And the same for our staff … In order for us to be sharp on the bench, it was important for us to refuel and energize ourselves."For Montreal, the ending was also a kind of redemption. Exactly 365 days earlier, they were on the losing side of the longest game in league history - a triple-overtime heartbreaker against Boston."We're one more year experienced as a team, one more year experienced as a coaching staff," Cheverie said. "We've worked really hard on the mental preparation side of what this could look like."Even though that game stretched into the history books, it's unlikely players from either side will dwell on it for long. "Especially in this playoff world where games are so close together, I think it's important to celebrate after the game, but soon after we have to move on and be focused for the next," O'Neill said.Jolene Latimer is a feature writer at theScore.

https://rich-content.thescore.com/content_cards/31276165/related

Mustard, pickle juice, and 334 minutes of PWHL history

There will be signs. That much is guaranteed at any PWHL playoff game. They're pressed against th...

There will be signs. That much is guaranteed at any PWHL playoff game. They're pressed against the glass during warmups and waved for the arena video board during the game. Some are carefully stenciled, while others are scribbled in permanent marker minutes before puck drop. But they all say the same thing: This matters to me, personally.Fans show up to PWHL games not just to watch, but to participate - and signs are a big part of how they do it. In a league still building its fan culture, those handmade signs are starting to represent something more than just supportive slogans. "The signs thing - we can talk about it for a long time," Montreal's Marie-Philip Poulin told reporters on a pre-playoff conference call. "For us, jumping on the ice during warmup, you take that time during that 15-minute warmup and just take a look around. There are so many signs. There are a lot of clever ones that make you giggle."<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Signs have become one of the most visible traditions in a league that’s still new enough for every fan action to matter immensely. The posters, like the people holding them, don’t all look the same. That’s the point. The act of making a sign - of bringing it to the rink and holding it up - becomes a way to be part of the group while still saying something personal and connecting with the players. "I think the sign culture is probably the funnest thing," Amy Scheer, PWHL senior vice president of business operations, said via conference call. "Seeing how creative the kids are with their signs - whether they're simple from, 'I want a team, and 'I want to be a PWHL player,' to really creative signs addressing our players - it's been wonderful to see our fans bring a culture to life. And it's not just with signs, but now, as we introduce team names and big brand identities, how they've gone about incorporating those into the signs and into the way they come to the games dressed."<figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/784369/cropped_GettyImages-2205501557.jpg?ts=1746563440" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/784369/w220xh124_GettyImages-2205501557.jpg?ts=1746563440 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/784369/w320xh180_GettyImages-2205501557.jpg?ts=1746563440 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/784369/w640xh360_GettyImages-2205501557.jpg?ts=1746563440 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/784369/w768xh432_GettyImages-2205501557.jpg?ts=1746563440 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/784369/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2205501557.jpg?ts=1746563440 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Informa Plus Photo Agency / LightRocket / Getty Images</figcaption></figure><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/784374/cropped_GettyImages-2008854267.jpg?ts=1746563846" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/784374/w220xh124_GettyImages-2008854267.jpg?ts=1746563846 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/784374/w320xh180_GettyImages-2008854267.jpg?ts=1746563846 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/784374/w640xh360_GettyImages-2008854267.jpg?ts=1746563846 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/784374/w768xh432_GettyImages-2008854267.jpg?ts=1746563846 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/784374/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2008854267.jpg?ts=1746563846 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Mark Blinch / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>Sign culture is prevalent in the NHL, too, but the PWHL is embracing it. The league is providing pregame sign-making materials for fans, including pre-cut poster boards and markers, at the three Canadian arenas with assistance from Canadian Tire. Some locations even have full sign-making stations set up, which have become fixtures of the gameday flow.Sceptres fan Jackie Vandinther, who has been attending games regularly since the team's inception, used the station for the first time last month during the team's Pride Night. It wasn’t just the supplies - it was the vibe. “We finished making our sign and the volunteers at the sign station were appreciative and thanking us for making it,” she said. Vandinther said that moment stuck with her - not just the encouragement, but the underlying message. "There's certainly a connection that I feel when I walk into a PWHL game that I haven't felt at a men's sporting event, and I don't know if that's because there are more women in the room - there are actually visibly more women - or, I don't know, if there seems to be visibly more queer people as well, especially on Pride Night," she said. "I think it's the representation and the visibility. I'm not saying that you can't see those things at men's sporting games, but they just seem to be way more visible and out in the open, loud and proud, at PWHL games."She added that the sign station, like the tickets themselves, reinforced what drew her to the league in the first place - that it feels open. "It just seemed really accessible. … You couldn’t beat it," she said. Vandinther also supports Toronto teams like the Maple Leafs and Raptors but said the cost of attending those games has been prohibitive in recent years. That's what initially got her out to a PWHL game. "Two tickets for under $100 and three or four hours of fun," she said. The atmosphere means she'll want to come back.<figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/784370/cropped_GettyImages-2205501448.jpg?ts=1746563467" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/784370/w220xh124_GettyImages-2205501448.jpg?ts=1746563467 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/784370/w320xh180_GettyImages-2205501448.jpg?ts=1746563467 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/784370/w640xh360_GettyImages-2205501448.jpg?ts=1746563467 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/784370/w768xh432_GettyImages-2205501448.jpg?ts=1746563467 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/784370/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2205501448.jpg?ts=1746563467 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Informa Plus Photo Agency / LightRocket / Getty Images</figcaption></figure><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/784371/cropped_GettyImages-2205285403.jpg?ts=1746563530" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/784371/w220xh124_GettyImages-2205285403.jpg?ts=1746563530 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/784371/w320xh180_GettyImages-2205285403.jpg?ts=1746563530 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/784371/w640xh360_GettyImages-2205285403.jpg?ts=1746563530 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/784371/w768xh432_GettyImages-2205285403.jpg?ts=1746563530 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/784371/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2205285403.jpg?ts=1746563530 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Icon Sportswire / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>That sense of encouragement and shared happiness is part of what league leadership sees as a defining feature of the PWHL gameday experience. "We're really proud of the culture and the atmosphere of our games. And I think one of the words that we use when we talk about the in-game experience is pure joy," Scheer said. "You go into our buildings, and it's pure joy. We're proud of that. We're proud of everyone feeling welcome at our games and feeling that they could come and express themselves and enjoy the best hockey in the world." Players have started to anticipate the signs as part of their pregame routines. "Yeah, definitely early in warmup I'll take a peek around, and some of them will give you a good laugh," Ottawa captain Brianne Jenner said. "It's fun to see all the young hockey players, too, holding up their signs. They're pretty proud of being at the game and sharing their signs." Some of the posters even carry enough weight to shift the energy in the building. "At TD Place, our screen is so big that if a good one makes it up there, the crowd goes nuts," Jenner said. "That's a really cool part of the atmosphere, and something I think is pretty unique to our league." <figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/784372/cropped_GettyImages-2205287041.jpg?ts=1746563714" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/784372/w220xh124_GettyImages-2205287041.jpg?ts=1746563714 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/784372/w320xh180_GettyImages-2205287041.jpg?ts=1746563714 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/784372/w640xh360_GettyImages-2205287041.jpg?ts=1746563714 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/784372/w768xh432_GettyImages-2205287041.jpg?ts=1746563714 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/784372/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2205287041.jpg?ts=1746563714 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Icon Sportswire / Getty Images</figcaption></figure><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/784375/cropped_GettyImages-2204922026.jpg?ts=1746563885" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/784375/w220xh124_GettyImages-2204922026.jpg?ts=1746563885 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/784375/w320xh180_GettyImages-2204922026.jpg?ts=1746563885 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/784375/w640xh360_GettyImages-2204922026.jpg?ts=1746563885 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/784375/w768xh432_GettyImages-2204922026.jpg?ts=1746563885 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/784375/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2204922026.jpg?ts=1746563885 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Rich Graessle / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>More than anything, the signs represent a feedback loop between players and fans - a relationship that feels closer than it does in many other pro sports environments."To see the participation, to see the fans getting involved, game in and game out in different markets, it's been unbelievable," Poulin said. "And honestly, when you take a look around, when I'm stretching in the warmup, it just reminds me why we're doing it. It's pretty awesome to see. ... Really thankful to have all the fans across the league."Jolene Latimer is a feature writer at theScore.

https://rich-content.thescore.com/content_cards/31218231/related

PWHL's sign culture drives connections with fans

The PWHL playoffs are here, and after a full regular season, there are no secrets. Every team's t...

The PWHL playoffs are here, and after a full regular season, there are no secrets. Every team's tendencies, vulnerabilities, and clutch performers are out in the open, and the first-round, best-of-five matchups are loaded with contrast.Montreal topped the regular-season standings, powered by a relentless possession game and led by the sport's most iconic Canadian player, Marie-Philip Poulin. Toronto enters as the No. 2 seed, deeper and more balanced than they were a year ago and riding the momentum of a dominant second half in which they won 10 of 14 contests since the start of February (7-3-1-3).Ottawa's a gritty, resilient group that's already taken down every other playoff team at least once. Then there's Minnesota, a team that surged late to claw its way into the playoffs on the last day with an 8-1 statement win over Boston - a reminder of how dangerous the defending champions' offense can be when the ice opens up.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Each team has a clear identity. Each matchup brings a clash of styles. In a best-of-five format, small tidal shifts - whether in goaltending, line matchups, or power plays - can swing everything. Here are our predictions for the Walter Cup semifinal series.<h3>Montreal vs. Ottawa </h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/784209/cropped_GettyImages-2212571450.jpg?ts=1746480923" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/784209/w220xh124_GettyImages-2212571450.jpg?ts=1746480923 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/784209/w320xh180_GettyImages-2212571450.jpg?ts=1746480923 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/784209/w640xh360_GettyImages-2212571450.jpg?ts=1746480923 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/784209/w768xh432_GettyImages-2212571450.jpg?ts=1746480923 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/784209/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2212571450.jpg?ts=1746480923 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption">Laura Stacey reaches for the puck during an April matchup between the Charge and Victoire. Troy Parla / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>Montreal, as the top seed, used its ability to select its opponent by choosing No. 3 seed Ottawa for the semifinals. "Proximity came into play," Montreal coach Kori Cheverie said of the choice, admitting the league's parity made every opponent difficult. This is a matchup between control and chaos, and that's part of what makes it so interesting. Montreal plays with structure. The Victoire want to own the puck, dictate the tempo, and trust their systems to create scoring chances. That style has worked against Ottawa, and Montreal has won four of their six matchups this season. The Victoire outshot the Charge in most of them and found consistent offense from Poulin, Jennifer Gardiner, and Erin Ambrose. In goal, Ann-Renee Desbiens led all qualified goalies in wins (15), goals-against average (1.86), and save percentage (.932).Still, they're not expecting an easy shot to the Final. "It's going to be hard, it's going to be whoever is ready to go for 60 minutes - being that consistent team, that relentless, gritty team that's going to be there day in and day out," Poulin said. <figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/784212/cropped_GettyImages-2212581029.jpg?ts=1746482275" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/784212/w220xh124_GettyImages-2212581029.jpg?ts=1746482275 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/784212/w320xh180_GettyImages-2212581029.jpg?ts=1746482275 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/784212/w640xh360_GettyImages-2212581029.jpg?ts=1746482275 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/784212/w768xh432_GettyImages-2212581029.jpg?ts=1746482275 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/784212/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2212581029.jpg?ts=1746482275 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption">Marie-Philip Poulin skates under pressure from Ottawa's Ronja Savolainen. Troy Parla / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>Ottawa, on the other hand, is at its best when the game gets unpredictable. The Charge thrive on momentum swings and opportunistic goals from players like Tereza Vanisova, who tied for second in the league with 15 goals, Emily Clark, and Shiann Darkangelo. If rookie goaltender Gwyneth Philips can hold down the fort in place of injured Emerance Maschmeyer, and Ottawa can score first, it can be dangerous. But when the Charge are pinned in their own zone, they struggle to generate sustained pressure."There's a speed component, there's physicality, there's a puck movement piece that, when we know we're on, we can feel it," Ottawa coach Carla MacLeod said. In a short series, control usually wins out. Unless Ottawa can tilt the ice early and disrupt Montreal's rhythm, the edge goes to the Victoire.Prediction: Montreal in four <h3>Toronto vs. Minnesota </h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/784210/cropped_GettyImages-2204198679.jpg?ts=1746481182" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/784210/w220xh124_GettyImages-2204198679.jpg?ts=1746481182 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/784210/w320xh180_GettyImages-2204198679.jpg?ts=1746481182 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/784210/w640xh360_GettyImages-2204198679.jpg?ts=1746481182 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/784210/w768xh432_GettyImages-2204198679.jpg?ts=1746481182 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/784210/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2204198679.jpg?ts=1746481182 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption">Daryl Watts of Toronto Sceptres skates with the puck against Lee Stecklein of Minnesota Frost. Michael Chisholm / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>This is a rematch from last season's semifinal when Minnesota fell behind 2-0 in the series but reeled off three straight wins to eliminate Toronto in five contests to claim the inaugural Walter Cup. A year later, both teams return more seasoned and with more distinctive identities. Toronto and Minnesota don't just play differently. They win differently, too.Toronto also thrives on control. The Sceptres drive plays, accumulate high shot totals, and capitalize on their power play - which was the best in the league during the regular season at 25.8% efficiency despite being 0-for-19 over the final eight contests. (Minnesota owns the league's worst penalty kill, at 78.4%.) Now, finally healthy, the Sceptres spread their offense across multiple lines. They're stacked with goal scorers: Hannah Miller, Daryl Watts, and Jesse Compher all finished in the top 20 in league scoring. And, while goalie Kristen Campbell had a shaky start to the year, she found her form midseason and has been delivering strong late-game performances since.Toronto hasn't forgotten its postseason defeat at the hands of the Frost last year. "There's definitely a sour taste in my mouth from last year, so (I) want to do better this year for sure," Sceptres defender Allie Munroe said.<figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/784213/cropped_GettyImages-2200931520.jpg?ts=1746482521" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/784213/w220xh124_GettyImages-2200931520.jpg?ts=1746482521 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/784213/w320xh180_GettyImages-2200931520.jpg?ts=1746482521 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/784213/w640xh360_GettyImages-2200931520.jpg?ts=1746482521 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/784213/w768xh432_GettyImages-2200931520.jpg?ts=1746482521 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/784213/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2200931520.jpg?ts=1746482521 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption">Minnesota's Dominique Petrie battles with Toronto's Rylind MacKinnon. Icon Sportswire / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>Minnesota, by contrast, led the league with 85 goals and excels at even strength. The Frost had a league-leading 67 goals at even strength, proving they aren't dependent on the power play to win. Taylor Heise, Kendall Coyne Schofield, and Grace Zumwinkle lead Minnesota's arsenal, which pushes pace and punishes mistakes. The Frost are also confident they can tackle some of the deficiencies in their regular-season penalty kill."I think a big strength for us last year was our penalty kill really got dialed in come playoff time, and we had an unbelievable run," Coyne Schofield said. "We need to have that same mindset - when they get their opportunities, we need to do the best we can to shut them down, help our goalies, keep them to the outside, not giving them clean looks."Prediction: Toronto in five Jolene Latimer is a feature writer at theScore.

https://rich-content.thescore.com/content_cards/31207935/related

Predictions for the PWHL semifinal matchups

When you think of 1990s sports memorabilia, there's probably one image burned deep into your subc...

When you think of 1990s sports memorabilia, there's probably one image burned deep into your subconscious: the Starter jacket. Think a little longer and you'll probably remember a snapback with a splash logo or maybe even a ceramic mug stamped with a faded team crest. There's a reason why so many symbols of '90s sports marketing are easily identifiable - the era was iconic.For some people, memorabilia from the '90s is about more than looking in a time capsule - it's a pay day. The hunt for these relics is part nostalgia trip, part treasure hunt, and all the proof you need that the loud, logo-heavy style of '90s sportswear and accessories has stood the test of time."I go out hunting for stuff, or I'll look online and I strike out a lot of time. But when I actually, finally, turn over a box, or dig through a pile of stuff and find something, there's no better feeling in the world," said collector Casey Pitocchelli, who owns <a href="https://www.rarevntg.com/">Rare Vntg</a>, an online store devoted to nostalgic sportswear.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>While not everything from the era holds value - Beanie Babies are a prime example of a huge fad that flopped - the '90s were a turning point for apparel like the '80s were for shoes. It's the era when sports merchandising became something more than just fan gear, and fans are still willing to pay big dollars for a piece of it. <figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/782037/cropped_GettyImages-2185905557.jpg?ts=1745439659" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/782037/w220xh124_GettyImages-2185905557.jpg?ts=1745439659 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/782037/w320xh180_GettyImages-2185905557.jpg?ts=1745439659 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/782037/w640xh360_GettyImages-2185905557.jpg?ts=1745439659 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/782037/w768xh432_GettyImages-2185905557.jpg?ts=1745439659 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/782037/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2185905557.jpg?ts=1745439659 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption">Michael Jordan attends a 1992 press conference dressed in typical 1990s fashion. Bongarts / Getty Images</figcaption></figure><h3>The era that changed everything</h3>Part of what makes '90s sports merchandise sought after is the tipping point the decade marked - it's when leagues opened the floodgates to licensing. "Between '88 and '93 - that was considered the boom. That's when the market exploded," said sports memorabilia appraiser Todd Sawatzky. "A lot of people had licensing. It opened up more revenue streams." Starter jackets entered the chat and brands like Mitchell &amp; Ness and Logo Athletic became popular for apparel with massive team logos, bold colors, and oversized fits. Suddenly, a jersey or splash hat wasn't just something to wear to a game - it was part of an identity."The stuff from the mid-to-late '80s through to 1999 let's say - they'll never go away," Pitocchelli said. "That's just because so many teams established their identities then, and some of the pieces they made are just special." This was the decade where even smaller markets felt massive. Teams like the NBA's Charlotte Hornets or the NHL's San Jose Sharks got the full branding treatment - and so did minor-league teams, whose branding later became iconic. For kids who grew up on that, the designs never truly left them."The Hershey Bears - a minor-league team - a hat of theirs sold for more than $700. Sometimes it's the short prints from small areas where people want that super niche design and team," Pitocchelli said. The quality from that era is part of the modern appeal, too. "They're made well," Pitocchelli said of '90s oversized sweatshirts. "They're made so much better than anything you can buy right now." <figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/782040/GettyImages-584258924.jpg?ts=1745440504" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/782040/GettyImages-584258924.jpg?ts=1745440504 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/782040/GettyImages-584258924.jpg?ts=1745440504 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/782040/GettyImages-584258924.jpg?ts=1745440504 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/782040/GettyImages-584258924.jpg?ts=1745440504 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/782040/GettyImages-584258924.jpg?ts=1745440504 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption">San Jose Sharks fans in team gear outside the arena in 1994. John Biever / Sports Illustrated / Getty Images</figcaption></figure><h3>What's actually valuable?</h3>Starter jackets - especially those tied to cult-favorite teams like the Hornets or Raiders - are the crown jewel. They can fetch anywhere from $150 to more than $500 depending on the condition, team, and style. "It's always been the Starter jacket - the pullover one with the poncho, and late '80s, early '90s satin version that all the old hip-hop artists used to wear," Pitocchelli said.Snapback hats from the '90s are also valuable - especially rare ones tied to defunct teams or minor-league clubs. Styles like the splash, D cut, and sharktooth are collector gold. "I just saw a hat sell for $1,600. It was an old Philadelphia Phantoms minor-league hockey team. There was a Logo Athletic design. It's really popular," Pitocchelli said. Vintage T-shirts and sweatshirts - especially all-over prints with big, loud graphics - also do well in the resale market. And don't overlook the quirky stuff. The '90s were a weird and wonderful time for licensing, and that extended far beyond clothing. "There's ceramic mugs, and the heavier, German-style steins that can fetch in $50 to $60," Sawatzky said. Licensed glassware and barware can still sell, especially if tied to popular teams.While sports cards from the '90s were largely overproduced and have minimal value today, there are still a few gems - if you know what to look for. "Every now and then, there was something like a really super-short print," Sawatzky said. "In hockey, in the first year of Pro Set, there was a Stanley Cup hologram card. That retails in the several hundred. They were also prone to doing a lot of error cards, and corrections. In hockey, there's a Paul Gillis card - the very first run showed him with a bloody nose. That card has a pretty good resale on it."Still, Sawatzky warned that many '90s cards are unlikely to bring in big money unless they're from rare sets or have a specific story behind them. Beanie Babies, too, are largely a bust - unless you've got one of the few that survived the bubble with some value intact. "There are sport Beanie Babies - I have one with Gretzky's number. They did all sorts of different players - hockey, baseball, basketball," Sawatzky said. "But the big one is still the Princess Diana Beanie Baby."<figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/782035/cropped_GettyImages-237348.jpg?ts=1745438803" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/782035/w220xh124_GettyImages-237348.jpg?ts=1745438803 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/782035/w320xh180_GettyImages-237348.jpg?ts=1745438803 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/782035/w640xh360_GettyImages-237348.jpg?ts=1745438803 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/782035/w768xh432_GettyImages-237348.jpg?ts=1745438803 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/782035/w1080xh607_GettyImages-237348.jpg?ts=1745438803 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption">Merchandise from the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta draws strong interest from fans and collectors. Matthew Stockman / Getty Images</figcaption></figure><h3>Not always about the money</h3>Justin Higgs grew up in Northern California in the '90s surrounded by 49ers jerseys and Joe Montana posters, but he only had eyes for the Buffalo Bills. The team went to four straight Super Bowls from 1990-93, and even from across the country, he was hooked."I was always hunting and trying to get my parents to buy me Bills clothing," he said. "But as you can imagine, before the internet it wasn't plentiful in Northern California."It was about more than just repping a team. It was about being an individual. Higgs runs a popular '90s memorabilia Instagram account showcasing vintage finds and his individualism still shows up in the way he collects today. "For me, it's always defunct teams that catch my attention. It's teams that no longer exist, that just aren't around anymore. The Montreal Expos, the Quebec Nordiques, the Seattle SuperSonics, the Houston Oilers - teams like that. That stuff is just timeless. The demand for that never goes away. It's more than regional. People have an affinity for stuff that no longer exists," Higgs said.<figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/782034/cropped_GettyImages-1144218640.jpg?ts=1745438583" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/782034/w220xh124_GettyImages-1144218640.jpg?ts=1745438583 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/782034/w320xh180_GettyImages-1144218640.jpg?ts=1745438583 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/782034/w640xh360_GettyImages-1144218640.jpg?ts=1745438583 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/782034/w768xh432_GettyImages-1144218640.jpg?ts=1745438583 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/782034/w1080xh607_GettyImages-1144218640.jpg?ts=1745438583 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption">Vendors prepare merchandise during the 1996 NBA Finals between the Seattle SuperSonics and the Chicago Bulls. Randy Belice / NBA / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>The same logic applies to the win-loss columns of '90s era teams. Squads that had major championship runs in the '90s typically have more merch that survived, but teams that weren't good in that era produced less, making their merchandise more treasured now. Finding the jersey of an obscure player is even more coveted. "I love to find the more obscure players. If you're wearing that jersey to a game, you don't really care about 20 people coming up to you and saying it's an awesome jersey. You're just looking for that one person to come up to you and say, 'Oh my God, that jersey. I loved that player for the one year he played.'"For Higgs, finding a niche piece of sportswear from his past is about more than the potential resale value - it's about the special connection to his childhood memories. That same emotional pull is what most interests Pitocchelli, too. Prior to the Philadelphia Eagles' 2023 Super Bowl appearance, he was browsing Facebook Marketplace for something unique to wear when something caught his eye: a vintage Eagles jersey, cut short the way his dad used to modify his jerseys to play rec. football. Upon closer examination, he realized it was his dad's old jersey."I told the seller I'd pay whatever she wanted for it. It's priceless to me," Pitocchelli said. His grandmother tailored it. The jersey traveled through strangers' hands only to find its way back to their family. "I gave it to my sister and it was pretty emotional," Pitocchelli said.<h3>Global craze</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/782051/GettyImages-105580346.jpg?ts=1745442404" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/782051/GettyImages-105580346.jpg?ts=1745442404 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/782051/GettyImages-105580346.jpg?ts=1745442404 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/782051/GettyImages-105580346.jpg?ts=1745442404 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/782051/GettyImages-105580346.jpg?ts=1745442404 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/782051/GettyImages-105580346.jpg?ts=1745442404 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption">Wayne Gretzky sports a ball cap in 1995, showcasing design elements that are emblematic of the era. </figcaption></figure>The demand for '90s sports gear isn't just a North American phenomenon. In some cases, the interest overseas is even more intense than on home soil. "Hats are big internationally," Pitocchelli said. "In the Philippines, Australia, there's a lot in New Zealand, too. They love corduroy hats there for some reason." In those regions, as well as Colombia and some Middle Eastern countries, hats have become a form of cultural currency. Rare styles - especially those with bold designs or team-specific quirks - have developed almost cult-like followings abroad."They just became cult iconic," Sawatzky said. "Some of the stuff is fun, it's cool, or people just like the style." Globally, team apparel isn't always about allegiance to one particular team. It's about the style itself - the bold, bright, '90s-centric designs that never made a second run. That appeal translates everywhere. <h3>You found a jacket, now what?</h3>Forgotten treasure troves in basements, garages, and storage units mean old sports gear from the 1990s keeps resurfacing. Starter jackets, snapbacks, and oversized sweatshirts are now being pulled out of storage again, this time with resale value in mind.But it isn't just about what these items are worth, it's about what they represent: a specific moment in sports culture when team merchandise became mass-produced, culturally significant, and instantly recognizable.The first step in determining its value is to find comparables online. If that isn't helpful, local vintage shops or collectors can help determine an item's worth. "If you're not 100% sure what you have, I always recommend building relationships with shops because that can help a lot," Sawatzky said. From there, it's a matter of deciding whether to keep it, sell it, or pass it down. "I tell that to a lot of people, especially with the Eagles stuff now because I'm from Philadelphia. You go to a game and it's at least 60% retro or vintage. So, you might want to keep what you have," Pitocchelli said. If you don't find any '90s vintage in your searches, don't fear - another wave of nostalgia is cresting. "Y2K stuff is popular," Pitocchelli said. "Ed Hardy and JNCO jeans - it's kind of bizarre." If Ed Hardy and JNCO jeans can make a comeback, maybe there's hope for that old box of Beanie Babies after all.Jolene Latimer is a feature writer at theScore.

https://rich-content.thescore.com/content_cards/31118306/related

Buried treasure: The lasting value of '90s sports apparel

Gerry McNamara, who was general manager of the Toronto Maple Leafs for seven seasons in the 1980s...

https://rich-content.thescore.com/content_cards/30946833/related

Gerry McNamara finds his place again in Maple Leafs lore

An unknowing bystander watching players skating victory laps in the empty Oakland Coliseum Arena ...

An unknowing bystander watching players skating victory laps in the empty Oakland Coliseum Arena on March 28, 1975, might have assumed they had just set a record. The NHLers, who were in various stages of undress following a 5-3 win over the California Golden Seals, were taking turns hoisting an old, green garbage bin overhead and ceremoniously presenting it to one another after each lap. Closer examination of the makeshift trophy would have revealed it was signed by each of them.The skaters: Doug Mohns, Tommy Williams, Yvon Labre, Ron Lalonde, and the rest of the Washington Capitals' inaugural roster. Indeed, they had just capped a record - one that stood for nearly two decades. Washington's ragtag expansion team had just ended an NHL-worst 17-game losing streak that wasn't broken until 2004. The winless run helped them to an 8-67-5 record that still stands as the worst in NHL history.But that moment was about love of the game. <div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>"They'd already turned all the lights off in the arena, but we still had our skates on, and we went back out," Lalonde recalls. "That was our Stanley Cup." Fifty years before Capitals captain Alexander Ovechkin would become immortalized as the NHL's all-time leading scorer, and long before the organization's players lifted the real Stanley Cup for the first time in 2018, small but monumental wins created the framework for hockey to flourish in Washington. <figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/779505/cropped_GettyImages-696711332.jpg?ts=1744134706" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/779505/w220xh124_GettyImages-696711332.jpg?ts=1744134706 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/779505/w320xh180_GettyImages-696711332.jpg?ts=1744134706 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/779505/w640xh360_GettyImages-696711332.jpg?ts=1744134706 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/779505/w768xh432_GettyImages-696711332.jpg?ts=1744134706 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/779505/w1080xh607_GettyImages-696711332.jpg?ts=1744134706 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption">Yvon Labre takes down Charlie Simmer of the California Golden Seals while securing the 5-3 Capitals win that snapped their 17-game losing streak. Bettmann / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>"We were getting clobbered most nights," Lalonde says. "But you knew that at some point this franchise was going to turn around. The fans were great. They just wanted to see players hustle and give it their best. They weren't expecting us to win every night, and they showed up." Numerous factors worked against the Capitals that first season. "Expansion in 1974 wasn't the same as expansion when Las Vegas came in," Lalonde says. More generous expansion draft rules allowed the Golden Knights and Seattle Kraken to ice competitive teams right away. But in 1974 the talent pool had been diluted by the World Hockey Association, and NHL teams had not yet begun to sign European imports.<figure class="article-segment--embed"><iframe title="Worst NHL seasons" aria-label="Table" id="datawrapper-chart-AlggM" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/AlggM/1/" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" style="width: 0; min-width: 100% !important; border: none;" height="511" data-external="1"></iframe><script type="text/javascript">!function(){"use strict";window.addEventListener("message",(function(a){if(void 0!==a.data["datawrapper-height"]){var e=document.querySelectorAll("iframe");for(var t in a.data["datawrapper-height"])for(var r,i=0;r=e[i];i++)if(r.contentWindow===a.source){var d=a.data["datawrapper-height"][t]+"px";r.style.height=d}}}))}();</script></figure>Complicating matters, the Capitals were on the tail end of a 1970s expansion boom that impacted how the league ran its expansion draft. In 1970, the NHL expanded to 14 teams by adding the Buffalo Sabres and Vancouver Canucks; in 1972, the New York Islanders and Atlanta Flames joined; and in 1974, the Capitals were added alongside the Kansas City Scouts (later New Jersey Devils). Because of previous expansion drafts, the existing owners in 1974 convinced the league to allow them to protect 15 players from their roster. For every player that was picked, teams could add one more to the protected list. In later years, the Capitals and Scouts would be forgiven more than half of their $6-million expansion fee because of the debacle."We got the 18th- or 19th-best player on each team in the expansion draft," Lalonde says. "And unfortunately for Washington, they took a number of older players."<figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/779537/Lalonde-1974.jpg?ts=1744139986" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/779537/Lalonde-1974.jpg?ts=1744139986 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/779537/Lalonde-1974.jpg?ts=1744139986 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/779537/Lalonde-1974.jpg?ts=1744139986 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/779537/Lalonde-1974.jpg?ts=1744139986 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/779537/Lalonde-1974.jpg?ts=1744139986 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption">Ron Lalonde skated in 397 NHL games for the Penguins and Capitals. Steve Babineau / NHL / Getty Images </figcaption></figure>Not every player arrived in Washington with the positive mindset Lalonde came with after being traded from the Penguins that December. "There were other players who were angry they weren't on the teams that had let them go and never really cared about putting out an effort," says hockey writer and historian Glenn Dreyfuss, who documented the team's early days in his 2020 book, "<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/53398696-the-legends-of-landover">The Legends of Landover</a>.""There's a story about one of the first-season Capitals, Dave Kryskow," Dreyfuss told theScore. "He had a pregame conversation with Larry Robinson of the Canadiens. He said to Larry, 'What's the over-under on this game?' Robinson said 10. Guess what? The Canadiens won the game 10-0." Starting goalie Ron Low let in nine of those goals, followed by Michel Belhumeur who played the third period. Belhumeur still holds the league record for most games played without a win. (He was 0-24-3 in 35 games in 1974-75.)<figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/779538/cropped_GettyImages-82721527.jpg?ts=1744140343" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/779538/w220xh124_GettyImages-82721527.jpg?ts=1744140343 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/779538/w320xh180_GettyImages-82721527.jpg?ts=1744140343 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/779538/w640xh360_GettyImages-82721527.jpg?ts=1744140343 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/779538/w768xh432_GettyImages-82721527.jpg?ts=1744140343 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/779538/w1080xh607_GettyImages-82721527.jpg?ts=1744140343 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption">Michel Belhumeur clears a puck behind his net. After going 0-24-3 in 1974-75, he was 0-5-1 in seven games the next season. Bruce Bennett / Bennett Collection / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>The team also endured turmoil on the bench that first season, going through three head coaches: Jim Anderson, Red Sullivan, and Milt Schmidt. "It was a long year for the coaches," Lalonde says. He particularly remembers Sullivan, the Capitals scout turned coach, who announced at his introductory press conference he intended to be the coach of the Capitals for 10 years. Sullivan quit after 18 games, 16 of which were losses."Poor Red. I mean, he was a fiery, competitive, driven, individual player. He just couldn't take it behind the bench. He wanted to get out there and drill somebody when we were down a goal," Lalonde says.Within this context of failure, players were expected to be part of creating a fan base. "Playing in the National Hockey League for an expansion team, it was our job to try and sell hockey in those early days," Lalonde says. "Nobody would know who we were, and hockey was sort of a strange thing. I remember one mall appearance that we had, they thought we were air hockey players."Still, their efforts had an effect on at least one young fan in the stands. Dreyfuss was 14 years old when he asked for hockey tickets for his birthday in the Capitals' first season. He still remembers going with his dad - the tickets were third row from the glass and $8.50 each. "The Capitals won eight games that season. Out of 80. They happened to win that game. It was the first shutout," Dreyfuss says of the 3-0 victory over the fellow expansion team from Kansas City. Somehow, Dreyfuss found himself hooked on the Capitals, much like the rest of the small but devoted fan base that had begun showing up to games."They became like the New York Mets of the NHL. They were the lovable losers," Dreyfuss says. "In the 18,000-seat Capital Center, the 10,000 people who would show up would sound like 18,000. They didn't all know what they were watching, but they loved their team. There really was a love affair. That's most of the reason that the franchise survived." <figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/779507/cropped_GettyImages-2177295774.jpg?ts=1744135037" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/779507/w220xh124_GettyImages-2177295774.jpg?ts=1744135037 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/779507/w320xh180_GettyImages-2177295774.jpg?ts=1744135037 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/779507/w640xh360_GettyImages-2177295774.jpg?ts=1744135037 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/779507/w768xh432_GettyImages-2177295774.jpg?ts=1744135037 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/779507/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2177295774.jpg?ts=1744135037 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption">Yvon Labre, left, talks with Capitals team owner Ted Leonsis during celebrations of the 50th anniversary of the hockey team. The Washington Post / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>The players who were able to see the season as an opportunity became legends. Just two days after skating that garbage can trophy around the ice, Lalonde etched his name in the record books by becoming the first player to record a hat trick in a Capitals jersey."That record is still there, that's one that Ovechkin can't break, no matter how much he does," Lalonde jokes.Now, when he goes to Capitals games, he's amazed at the way the fan base has embraced the team. "I couldn't believe every fan coming to the game was dressed in a red Cap sweater - usually with the No. 8 on the back. That wasn't the case when we played."Far from being embarrassed about the losing record in those early days, Lalonde is proud of the franchise's longevity. "When I see the fans now and how enthusiastic they are ... we must have done something right despite how poor our record was," he says.Jolene Latimer is a feature writer at theScore.

https://rich-content.thescore.com/content_cards/30941033/related

How it started: 50 years ago, the Capitals were expansion jesters

During Women's History Month in March, theScore is publishing stories that illustrate how women i...

During Women's History Month in March, theScore is publishing stories that illustrate how women in sports lead, inspire change, and navigate their careers.In the game of inches, even the smallest edge can decide everything. That's why Denver Broncos linebacker Alex Singleton has developed a reputation among the organization's strength coaches for being the "guinea pig" when it comes to new workouts. He'll take any opportunity to find an advantage. "Anything that you can do to take your game to the next level, I'm willing to try," Singleton said. <div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Four years ago, it was hot yoga. "Some guys on the team were like, 'Dude, you go to hot yoga? That's the lamest thing I've ever heard,'" Singleton remembers. He's also tried Pilates and almost any strength training ideas his coaches can offer. But through the years, none of them had the impact he'd hoped for."In the weight room, it's only strength," Singleton said. "Then a lot of coaches will say the best thing you can do is stretch for two to three hours a day on your own - but no one ever does that." Singleton has spent six seasons in the NFL. He played for the Eagles from 2019-21 and the Broncos since 2022. Before that, he had a three-season CFL stint with the Calgary Stampeders from 2016-18. He wanted something that would offer both strength and mobility training. Last offseason, he found it. He was introduced to a workout method called True Movement by a strength coach for the Broncos, and he's been hooked ever since.He credits it with helping him become the strongest he's ever been and speeding up his recovery from ACL surgery after a Week 3 injury last season. He's even helped his wife use the platform in postpartum recovery after the birth of their first child six weeks ago.The Broncos are so impressed with the results that they've become the first NFL team to partner with True Movement to bring its founder to their team facility one week a month, starting in April and running until the end of next season.<figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/777736/cropped_GettyImages-2167602729.jpg?ts=1743185542" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/777736/w220xh124_GettyImages-2167602729.jpg?ts=1743185542 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/777736/w320xh180_GettyImages-2167602729.jpg?ts=1743185542 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/777736/w640xh360_GettyImages-2167602729.jpg?ts=1743185542 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/777736/w768xh432_GettyImages-2167602729.jpg?ts=1743185542 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/777736/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2167602729.jpg?ts=1743185542 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Perry Knotts / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>"People believe in Pilates, they believe in yoga, they believe in strength training - but they've never done it together. And not in male-dominated sports," Singleton said. "Your hips and your lower abs, groin, glutes - those are ready to work together. The second you can turn that switch on, which True Movement does, it instantly fires at a whole new level." Though it doesn't have a lot of public recognition, True Movement has been steadily building a devout following of professional hockey and football players. Its next phase of growth could propel it into a household name.True Movement, which was founded in Edmonton in 2012, has mostly grown like many of the best things do - through word of mouth. The company has quietly been developing a reputation as one of the best-kept secrets of hockey players who spend their offseason in the area, as well as football players on the CFL's Edmonton Elks. That's how Singleton first heard of it - the strength coach who used him as a test subject was Korey Jones, a former Edmonton Elk who used the platform locally before moving to Denver.The method involves a proprietary machine with a triple spring load and split carriage that allows athletes to build strength while holding positions that are impossible in a squat rack. That translates to training that more closely simulates game-day scenarios. <figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/777720/cropped_IMG_6865.jpg?ts=1743179315" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/777720/w220xh124_IMG_6865.jpg?ts=1743179315 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/777720/w320xh180_IMG_6865.jpg?ts=1743179315 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/777720/w640xh360_IMG_6865.jpg?ts=1743179315 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/777720/w768xh432_IMG_6865.jpg?ts=1743179315 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/777720/w1080xh607_IMG_6865.jpg?ts=1743179315 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption">True Movement's proprietary machine allows athletes to improve mobility and strength at the same time. Supplied</figcaption></figure>"The game of football is so unpredictable with your movement, you're moving out of every different direction," Singleton said. "With the platform, I'm able to train in all these different planes. Whether its single leg, double leg, feet elevated, foot rotated out, butt rotated in, hip rotated out, hip rotated in, all these different planes that you'll have to play in. So, you're not just training in just a bilateral squat, you're able to get a full range of movement." For most of its existence, the company operated out of leftover space at the back of a local law firm near Edmonton's downtown. "We actually got evicted because too many hockey players were using the parking lot, and they didn't care when they would get parking tickets," founder Erin Baker said. That eviction didn't bother her too much - after taking on an equity partner, she's built a state-of-the-art facility while pivoting to a franchise business model that will launch this fall with the debut of the company's first American location in Chicago.The $20,000 platform is also quietly being introduced across the continent in pro locker rooms and training facilities - like Prentiss Human Performance in Stamford, Connecticut. "When athletes go back to their teams after the summer, they miss having access to the platform, so some of them have bought their own or have worked with their team to get one," Baker said.That's similar to Singleton's case. After his surgery, he moved his True Movement platform from his home into the team facility. The players and staff have been so impressed with it that they're partnering with Baker to train the rest of the team on the device and program workouts during her monthly visits next season.The steady growth, with relatively little attention paid to marketing the product so far, has Baker dreaming big. She envisions the platform eventually becoming as ubiquitous as a squat rack. "In the beginning, it was almost like no one wanted to be first to try it, and now it seems like no one wants to be last," she said.<figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/777721/cropped_IMG_2907.jpg?ts=1743179105" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/777721/w220xh124_IMG_2907.jpg?ts=1743179105 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/777721/w320xh180_IMG_2907.jpg?ts=1743179105 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/777721/w640xh360_IMG_2907.jpg?ts=1743179105 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/777721/w768xh432_IMG_2907.jpg?ts=1743179105 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/777721/w1080xh607_IMG_2907.jpg?ts=1743179105 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption">Erin Baker founded True Movement in 2012. Supplied</figcaption></figure>"Everybody's looking for the Holy Grail, but this is actually the answer," said longtime hockey agent Gerry Johannson, CEO of The Sports Corporation. "You're talking about trying to keep your pro athletes healthy - there's no downside to this. And when you think about the investment people are making in their athletes, this is completely worth it." Johannson has been sending his clients to Baker for years, but became especially convinced of the platform's merits after Baker worked with Golden Knights goalie Adin Hill to help him build strength in his groin and hips after years of repeated injuries. After integrating True Movement workouts into his offseason plan last summer and continuing with a platform at the team facility in Vegas throughout the year, Hill has been able to make it through this season without injury and signed a six-year contract extension with the team in March."I've been in hockey for probably 40 years now. I've watched every training evolution - from roller blades to running stairs. This is the most important development in training I've seen in my lifetime," Johannson said. "Think about the money in sports. Think about how much athletes make and how much they're worth. What does it cost to keep them healthy? This is a no-brainer for a team or an athlete to invest in."The platform's success is in addressing one of the biggest challenges for elite athletes: overuse injuries. "These athletes are always in the same position," Johannson explained. "It can start to be a little bit of a maze to figure out what's going on. That's what happened with Adin. We had many doctors look at him and try to figure out what it was. Nothing ever seemed to work." <figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/768841/cropped_GettyImages-2098079927.jpg?ts=1743185620" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/768841/w220xh124_GettyImages-2098079927.jpg?ts=1743185620 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/768841/w320xh180_GettyImages-2098079927.jpg?ts=1743185620 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/768841/w640xh360_GettyImages-2098079927.jpg?ts=1743185620 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/768841/w768xh432_GettyImages-2098079927.jpg?ts=1743185620 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/768841/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2098079927.jpg?ts=1743185620 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Zak Krill / NHL / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>Goalies are ripe for overuse injuries because they hold the same position for so long, but Baker explains that the platform also helps skaters in all positions. Hockey players are typically thought of as having big glute muscles that power their strides. "They might have somewhat bigger glutes, but they also have lordotic pelvises," Baker said, referring to a posture where the pelvis tilts forward. "When we go in and train them, we find their glutes don't fire properly because of that. Plus, when they're strength training, they're typically pushing weight up and down, which doesn't necessarily correlate to firing forward on the ice."In those cases, Baker programs athletes' workouts to activate their glutes by pushing and pulling weight horizontally. "It teaches you, even though you're going forward on the ice, you still have to think about keeping the back ribs wide. For a lot of these players, if they don't do that, they're going so fast when they hit the ice that there's a tendency to just let their ribs lead the way, or their chin. As soon as you do that, you slip into a lordotic tilt, because you have to offset."Some of the shifts in movement patterns are subtle, but they have a major impact. "The magic is in the details," Baker said. "Even shifting a quarter of an inch changes whether your glutes help you or your quads. Your body is working more efficiently, and you're not using the wrong muscles to get there."For athletes like Singleton, one of the upsides of the platform is how quickly the results begin to show. "That was the most shocking thing to me," he said. "It's not one of those things where you need six-to-eight weeks. Give me two weeks and you'll completely notice a difference."<figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/777719/cropped_P1216629.jpg?ts=1743179068" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/777719/w220xh124_P1216629.jpg?ts=1743179068 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/777719/w320xh180_P1216629.jpg?ts=1743179068 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/777719/w640xh360_P1216629.jpg?ts=1743179068 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/777719/w768xh432_P1216629.jpg?ts=1743179068 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/777719/w1080xh607_P1216629.jpg?ts=1743179068 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption">True Movement's public classes are scalable for all ability levels. Supplied</figcaption></figure>While True Movement has been a hit with professional athletes, Baker intends to expand its reach to users of all abilities. Her flagship facility in Alberta is open to the public for daily full-body conditioning classes, and her franchise plans would eventually expand the company to include 1,000 locations across the continent."We work with everyone from 11-year-olds to elite athletes to 85-year-olds with hip replacements," she said. "The sports side is actually a small part of it; most of our classes are for the everyday person who doesn't want to live with pain and wants to stay strong without putting more compression on their joints."Baker believes the approach works for anyone because of the very design of the platform itself. "We were very aware when we launched the brand that we didn't want it to be a cookie-cutter way to train," she said. "We're not Pilates or yoga or CrossFit. We train movement. We help restore posture and increase mobility, which leads to performance."Jolene Latimer is a feature writer at theScore.

https://rich-content.thescore.com/content_cards/30792127/related

The workout hack taking over pro sports

During Women's History Month in March, theScore is publishing stories that illustrate how women in sports lead, inspire change, and navigate their careers.Kristin Della Rovere never imagined her hockey journey would take her to the Italian Alps, especially after she was part of the PWHL's history-making inaugural season.The Italian stands aren't packed like they are in North America, and there's no roaring crowd like her former team, the Ottawa Charge, drew at TD Place arena. Women's hockey looks different in Europe, but Della Rovere's chasing a different dream now. With the Milan Winter Games under a year away, the 24-year-old from Caledon, Ontario, is using her family's Italian heritage to earn a spot on the Olympic team. But to be considered, she must first play in Italy for a full season. And while she's doing that with the Bozen Eagles in Bolzano, she's come to appreciate there's something about being there that makes her feel connected. Not just to the game but to a deeper part of herself.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>It wasn't an easy choice to leave the PWHL as it was finding its stride, but Della Rovere saw an opportunity to aim for the world's biggest stage. She knows now she made the right call. "The PWHL will hopefully be there forever," she said. "This opportunity was now or never."Della Rovere leaned on the support of family and friends to make the decision, weighing the kind of choice that could alter her career's trajectory. The PWHL is the pinnacle of women's hockey in North America, an undeniable stage for the best in the world. But Italy offered something different: an opportunity to expand her game, embrace her heritage, and play a leadership role in a growing hockey culture."My brother was the one who said, 'Just because you're making one decision doesn't mean you're closing the door on something else,'" she said.<figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/776259/cropped_GettyImages-1978647809.jpg?ts=1742507378" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/776259/w220xh124_GettyImages-1978647809.jpg?ts=1742507378 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/776259/w320xh180_GettyImages-1978647809.jpg?ts=1742507378 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/776259/w640xh360_GettyImages-1978647809.jpg?ts=1742507378 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/776259/w768xh432_GettyImages-1978647809.jpg?ts=1742507378 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/776259/w1080xh607_GettyImages-1978647809.jpg?ts=1742507378 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption">Della Rovere celebrates with teammates after her line scored a goal during the PWHL's inaugural season. Icon Sportswire / Getty</figcaption></figure>Her new team plays both in the 11-team European Women's Hockey League (<a href="https://www.eliteprospects.com/league/ewhl-w">EWHL</a>) and the eight-team Italian domestic league. She led the EWHL in scoring with 22 goals and 48 points in 20 regular-season games as Bozen finished third and lost in the playoff semifinals. But her primary goal is clear: "Right now, the hope is just to crack the (Olympic) roster and earn that honor." While she does that, she's raising the bar for the athletes around her. "She came in with the professionalism and high standards that come from North American hockey," said teammate Jacquie Pierri, a 34-year-old from New Jersey who, like Della Rovere, played college hockey in the Ivy League (at Brown)."When I heard Kristin was going to play with us, I was surprised, but obviously very excited to be able to coach such a high-level player," her coach Stefano Dapra said via email.That surprise wasn't unwarranted. Della Rovere established herself in North America. She was captain at Harvard, where she played for five years, before moving to Ottawa for the PWHL's first season with her childhood best friend <a href="https://www.thescore.com/pwhl/news/2818900">Zoe Boyd</a>. Despite a season-ending injury last year, Della Rovere developed a reputation for contributing grit to Ottawa's depth. She was a player expected to thrive in North America's growing professional women's hockey ecosystem.In Italy, she plays a different role. "In my opinion, she can make Italian women's hockey grow a lot," Dapra said. "Not only for those who play on the same team, but also for the other players who see the level that can be reached - not only with talent but with sacrifice and great work ethic." While Della Rovere mainly centered Ottawa's fourth line during her PWHL season, in Italy she's on the top line. "Della adapted immediately to the new technical reality, showing great commitment and seriousness despite coming from a top technical background like the PWHL," Dapra said. "Playing in the EWHL allowed her to keep a good level and make a decisive impact on the team results and her personal performance."Her line alone accounted for over 120 points in 20 games. Her vision, her ability to create opportunities, and her relentless work ethic haven't just been lifting her own game - they're transforming those around her."It's not just about skill; it's the way she approaches every practice, every shift, every interaction with her teammates," Pierri says. "She brings a lot of offensive prowess that the team really needs. And experience and poise."<figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/776257/cropped_Screenshot_2025-03-20_at_3.29.43_PM.jpg?ts=1742569142" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/776257/w220xh124_Screenshot_2025-03-20_at_3.29.43_PM.jpg?ts=1742569142 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/776257/w320xh180_Screenshot_2025-03-20_at_3.29.43_PM.jpg?ts=1742569142 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/776257/w640xh360_Screenshot_2025-03-20_at_3.29.43_PM.jpg?ts=1742569142 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/776257/w768xh432_Screenshot_2025-03-20_at_3.29.43_PM.jpg?ts=1742569142 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/776257/w1080xh607_Screenshot_2025-03-20_at_3.29.43_PM.jpg?ts=1742569142 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption">Della Rovere's Italian teammates. From left to right: Pierri, Kristen Guerriero, Della Rovere, and Justine Reyes. Supplied</figcaption></figure>While Della Rovere's contributing to Italian hockey, the country's giving something back to her. Her dad's family is from Italy's south and many extended family members are still there. But it wasn't until she moved to Italy that she truly felt that heritage and understood how the culture fits into her own childhood memories and the person she's becoming."It's really cute seeing all the nonnas (Italian grandmothers) over here. There are a lot of things I've realized from this culture and living here that are things my nonna brought into our household growing up," Della Rovere said. "She lived with us and spoke broken English and one thing she would always do is keep tissues in her sleeve. It's not something I see a lot of people in North America doing. But here, I notice it all the time. It's those little things that remind me of her." Della Rovere's immediate family has also taken the opportunity to revisit its roots. "My family's been able to visit, and we share those moments together sometimes," she said. "I can connect with my roots and my nonna and my dad on a different level now."<figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/776744/cropped_GettyImages-1978914373.jpg?ts=1742726313" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/776744/w220xh124_GettyImages-1978914373.jpg?ts=1742726313 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/776744/w320xh180_GettyImages-1978914373.jpg?ts=1742726313 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/776744/w640xh360_GettyImages-1978914373.jpg?ts=1742726313 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/776744/w768xh432_GettyImages-1978914373.jpg?ts=1742726313 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/776744/w1080xh607_GettyImages-1978914373.jpg?ts=1742726313 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / Getty</figcaption></figure>In her travels playing in the EWHL, Della Rovere meets female athletes from across Europe and a lot of them want to know: what's the PWHL like?"They see the fans, the lights, the skill - I always get questions about the level of hockey and how hard it is," she said. "And some of the girls went to train in North America over the summer so they always ask me if I got to play against (Marie-Philip) Poulin." For Della Rovere, those questions allow her to see the bigger picture of the growth in women's hockey. "In the moment last year, there were a lot of hard moments. Being here and hearing the excitement from other people, I know that not only is the game growing in North America, but it's growing in the world." Della Rovere's part of that growth, but the true test for her chances with the senior Italian team will come at the Division I (Group B) world championship in Scotland in April - her official debut for Italy in an IIHF tournament. Italy's been in Division I since 2012 but hasn't been able to rise to the top division with Canada and the United States."I think she's really going to crush it," Pierri said. After that, the Olympics loom. And while Italy isn't yet a powerhouse in the women's game, there's still national pride on the line, especially as host nation. The last time Italy hosted in 2006, the women's team scored only one goal (vs. Russia) in its three pool-play games and was trounced 16-0 by Canada, registering only five shots on goal in the defeat. "For the national team, with the Olympics on the horizon, it's very important to have six or seven players of Kristin's level," Dapra said. "Certainly, Della will be one of the strengths of our team at the Olympics. Her experience and skills will allow her to be an important reference point for her teammates and a leader on the ice."Jolene Latimer is a feature writer at theScore.

https://rich-content.thescore.com/content_cards/30710703/related

Forza Italia: One player's bold Olympic hockey move

During Women's History Month in March, theScore is publishing stories that illustrate how women in sports lead, inspire change, and navigate their careers. The Toronto Tempo are months away from building a roster for their debut WNBA season, but the organization is already assembling a stacked team around president Teresa Resch. Most recently, the franchise announced Serena Williams as part owner, joining Kilmer Sports Ventures chairman Larry Tanenbaum."Anytime you get to associate with such greatness, it is incredible," Resch said via email in a follow-up to our conversation for this month's sports leadership Q&amp;A. "We feel very lucky to have the GOAT in our court."<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>For Resch, working with Williams has also been an opportunity to learn. "Serena brings incredible insights into how to be a champion and compete at the highest level year after year. Even just as our relationship is getting started, I'm really excited to be able to tap into that knowledge to help build the Tempo into the championship team I know it will be," she said.Part of that is because Williams and Resch's Tempo have aligned values. "Serena exemplifies the very best of what the Tempo stands for, having earned every bit of her incredible success with hard work, tenacity and determination in the face of countless challenges," Resch said. "She’s set the bar for women in sport, business and the world - and her commitment to using that success to create opportunities for other women is inspiring."<figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/774852/cropped_GettyImages-2198617600.jpg?ts=1741800596" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/774852/w220xh124_GettyImages-2198617600.jpg?ts=1741800596 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/774852/w320xh180_GettyImages-2198617600.jpg?ts=1741800596 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/774852/w640xh360_GettyImages-2198617600.jpg?ts=1741800596 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/774852/w768xh432_GettyImages-2198617600.jpg?ts=1741800596 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/774852/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2198617600.jpg?ts=1741800596 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Kevin Mazur / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>Resch knows a thing or two about competing at the highest level. For 11 seasons she worked in a senior position within the NBA's Toronto Raptors. Her accomplishments include leading the completion of the Raptors' training facility and launching their G League affiliate. Prior to joining the Raptors, Resch worked at the NBA league office to establish international basketball camps as part of the league's efforts to grow worldwide.Those experiences have shaped her management style, one that Resch is unafraid to examine. After being asked to describe her leadership style, she went a step further and did an informal poll of her team for adjectives that describe the way she leads. "In a short survey, the people that work with me described my leadership style as direct, forthcoming, inclusive, and ambitious," Resch wrote.Because of her forward-thinking leadership, we've selected Resch for this installment of our Leaders Q&amp;A - a list of personality questions posed to leaders across sport.This interview has been edited for length and clarity.theScore: When were you most fulfilled?Resch: I'm an operations person at heart, so seeing something tangible and finished is very, very rewarding and fulfilling. Building the Raptors' practice facility or starting Raptors 905, seeing that first tip - super fulfilling. I think as I've advanced in my career, you have less and less of those types of projects that you get a chance to work on.Recently, I went back to a Raptors game and met with someone that I had been managing. While I was there I'd pushed them to make a change that they didn't want to do. It was really, really difficult at the time. But now he came back to me and said, it's the best thing that I ever did. So, that's really fulfilling to know that you've pushed someone to a place they didn't feel comfortable, and it was painful in the moment, but ultimately, it was really great to see them grow and take on something new that they're good at. To succinctly answer your question: seeing those people around you grow. theScore: Describe your mindset currently.Resch: It is definitely like I'm using my GSD degree - get shit done. It's very focused on moving the needle. But the other thing that's on my mind often as we're building this is, how are we building a foundation that can be scalable, that can operationalize for years to come? How are we making sure that we're getting off on the right foot?<figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/774847/cropped_GettyImages-2200036359.jpg?ts=1741799187" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/774847/w220xh124_GettyImages-2200036359.jpg?ts=1741799187 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/774847/w320xh180_GettyImages-2200036359.jpg?ts=1741799187 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/774847/w640xh360_GettyImages-2200036359.jpg?ts=1741799187 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/774847/w768xh432_GettyImages-2200036359.jpg?ts=1741799187 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/774847/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2200036359.jpg?ts=1741799187 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption">Resch has been responsible for key hires within the Tempo, including its first general manager. R.J. Johnston / Toronto Star / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>theScore: What's the biggest intellectual challenge you've encountered in your career?Resch: Working in sports, you're in the business of people, and people are so wonderful to work with but also the variables that you have to deal with are way different than if you made widgets or are trying to sell widgets. Inherently, that we're dealing with people comes along with so many considerations and so many variables. Just because something worked in one situation doesn't mean it's going to work the same in the next. You constantly have to be taking in all the different information and knowledge that you have of the people, of the culture, of the place, of the time, and be trying to understand how that's going to impact decision making.I think it's the part of your brain that's empathy, putting yourself in someone else's shoes, trying to gain perspective of an experience that you've never been in yourself. There's no operations manual for that, right? There is no one way to do things. It's always something that you have to contemplate. theScore: What's the biggest risk you've taken in your career? Would you say this role is your biggest risk?Resch: It's probably the biggest risk, but it's also the one that I feel most prepared for. When I left grad school, I moved to New York City to work for the NBA league office. I'd never lived in New York City before. I had no idea how the sports industry worked. That was a risk, but it wasn't as big of a risk because there wasn't as much at stake. I think my lack of information and lack of knowledge going into it probably was the most risky part of it.This last move from the Raptors, from a very established organization, into a place where we weren't even awarded a team, and we weren't guaranteed anything, was a very big risk because there was so much at stake. But I had a much better understanding of the industry, the marketplace that I was in, and the trajectory of women's sports. My knowledge base was so much more robust in order to make that decision. theScore: Who do you respect most in the sports business?Resch: There's those people that I know really, really well and respect them because I know exactly how they work, and I spent countless days and a lot of energy with them. Like Masai (Ujiri) and Bobby (Webster) and Dan (Tolzman) at the Raptors and even people at MLSE. ... I respect those people a lot because I've seen firsthand what they're capable of and how they think.But then there's those people that you don't know at all but you see some of the moves that they make, and you're really intrigued by how they think. It also helps you continue to be curious. I look at a lot of the venture groups and how they're investing in different areas and how they're seeing what the future is and getting on board before it happens. <figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/774849/cropped_GettyImages-2153723009.jpg?ts=1741800740" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/774849/w220xh124_GettyImages-2153723009.jpg?ts=1741800740 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/774849/w320xh180_GettyImages-2153723009.jpg?ts=1741800740 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/774849/w640xh360_GettyImages-2153723009.jpg?ts=1741800740 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/774849/w768xh432_GettyImages-2153723009.jpg?ts=1741800740 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/774849/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2153723009.jpg?ts=1741800740 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption">Teresa Resch talks to reporters at the Toronto WNBA expansion news conference in May. Vaughn Ridley / NBA / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>theScore: What's something you recently learned from someone below you in your organization?Resch: This sounds so old, but anything to do with technology. Today, I was like, just need to figure out this Excel sheet. But I think it's also embracing some of the AI like ChatGPT and Copilot and finding efficiencies. It's quite incredible the resources we have available. Those are things that I've learned from the people that are working below me because they're using it every single day, and I'm not utilizing some of those things that didn't exist when I was at that stage.theScore: What do you think is the most underrated quality in WNBA players today?Resch: In the W, you only have 12 roster spots. A lot of teams only carry 11. So, the stars and the ones that carry the team - you want to make sure you have one of those, but then the fit of those other players is so important. So, I think underrated is maybe understanding the skill set and having the self-awareness to understand their role in a team. That is probably really, really valuable.Then just physically, the game is getting bigger and stronger. It's incredible to see the people who are running the point. They're so tall and so strong. It's pretty incredible to see what they're capable of. The athleticism within - I would say that's not really underrated because it's well known, but just to see that continued evolution of the game has been incredible.theScore: What do you think makes a team iconic?Resch: First and foremost, winning. I think that teams become iconic because they win, and they consistently perform at a high level. There's also something to be said about traditions and different things - whether in the fandom or the team itself. You buy into part of their ethos and their identity. I think that there are always iconic teams that stand for something that's bigger than themselves. They transcend sport. That's what iconic teams really do.theScore: You mentioned tradition. With a brand-new team, is that something that you guys are going to be trying to focus on - how to create those traditions and touchpoints?Resch: Yeah, absolutely. It will be interesting because, as everyone can see, you can't necessarily predict what's going to catch on and become those traditions. But you can build an environment where those things are welcomed and encouraged. That's what we're going to try to do - build an environment on and off the court, within fandom, within communities, within our marketplace, where it's really encouraging people to start their own traditions and see what sticks and what resonates with everyone.theScore: How do you do that? How do you encourage that? Is it the messaging, or is it activations, or something else?Resch: It's not really one thing. We don't have it figured out yet either. We're going to be trying a lot of different things, but I guarantee it's not one magic bullet. It's a culmination of a lot of things coming together at one time to kind of capture lightning in a bottle. And what we need to do is just be, like I said, open to it. It's reading the signs, being open to things that are maybe outside of your purview.theScore: What would you consider the most important aspect of a winning team?Resch: You can't win without talent. That's just baseline. You have to have enough talent in order to compete at that level. But how you get that talent to achieve a championship - it's a very clear and unified vision, direction, and plan. And maybe one more thing - extreme focus. The ability to shut off all distractions because you can't eliminate them. They're always going to be there, but just be able to be laser-focused on what that vision, direction, and plan is.<figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/774853/cropped_GettyImages-2181011807.jpg?ts=1741801174" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/774853/w220xh124_GettyImages-2181011807.jpg?ts=1741801174 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/774853/w320xh180_GettyImages-2181011807.jpg?ts=1741801174 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/774853/w640xh360_GettyImages-2181011807.jpg?ts=1741801174 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/774853/w768xh432_GettyImages-2181011807.jpg?ts=1741801174 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/774853/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2181011807.jpg?ts=1741801174 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption">Sabrina Ionescu and Jonquel Jones celebrate after the New York Liberty won the WNBA championship in 2024. Elsa / Getty Images</figcaption></figure>theScore: What about off the court? What about on your front-office team?Resch: I don't think it differs that much. You have to have the talent, right? You can't get to the mountaintop with underperformers. And then you have to have a great alignment and focus on those things that are going to get you to the mountaintop. Make sure there's an identification of what the things that we need to be sending our time and energy on are - versus those things that are not as valuable. There are so many things that we can be doing now. There are not enough hours in a day guaranteed. So, how are we making sure that we're focusing on the things that need our attention the most that can get us to our ultimate goals?theScore: How would you describe your leadership style?Resch: I'll say collaborative leadership. I like to talk things through. I like to think about all the different angles and all the different sides. I'm not one to make a direct decision in the moment without processing it or thinking through it.Also, I don't know the right word for this, but I like to push people outside their comfort zone. Somebody will bring me an idea or something they want to do and I'm going to ask a thousand questions about it for my own curiosity, but then also to hopefully push you in a way that you haven't thought about yet. I also like to think I'm a joyful leader. I try to have fun. There are a lot of serious points and big decisions that we have to make. But if you're not finding joy in it, then it's not worth doing.theScore: What's the last good book you read?Resch: I've been reading more fiction lately, just as an escape. It's been a while since I read it, but "Shantaram" (by Gregory David Roberts) is one that I thought was really, really good. And there's another one called "I Am Pilgrim," (by Terry Hayes). It's been a couple years since I read those, but they really stick in my head as incredible stories.theScore: What is your motto?Resch: I don't really have a motto. I would say one thing I definitely believe in - there's no such thing as luck. Luck is just when preparation meets opportunity. I think everybody is seeing that saying everywhere but it's very true. You make your own luck by being prepared and seeking out opportunities.Jolene Latimer is a feature writer at theScore.