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NHL sees significant growth in female viewership for Stanley Cup Final

Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Jun 26, 2026, 10:30 PM

Last updated Jun 26, 2026

NHL sees significant growth in female viewership for Stanley Cup Final

Summary

The NHL reported a substantial increase in female viewers during the 2026 Stanley Cup Final, averaging 2 million women, a rise of 148% from 2025. Viewership among women aged 18 to 34 also grew by 84%. ESPN enhanced its broadcasts with new technology to engage this demographic. The successful series 'Heated Rivalry' has drawn interest from women who previously did not watch hockey, prompting discussions about how the league might continue to attract this audience. Future broadcasts may face challenges with fewer accessible channels, as the upcoming finals will air exclusively on cable.

Source Links

Yahoo Sports

By the Numbers

•2 million women watched the 2026 Stanley Cup Final, a 148% increase.
•Viewership among women aged 18 to 34 rose to 839,000, up 84%.
•ESPN's new technology included sky cams and cameras on officials.
•'Heated Rivalry' has attracted new women viewers to hockey.
•Upcoming broadcasts will be exclusively on TNT Sports.

Latest Updates

10:30 PMYahoo Sports — Can the NHL keep its new female viewers?

What they're saying

"
The NHL is coming off a strong Stanley Cup Final viewership, and a new report suggests that growth in women’s viewership may be part of the reason. New data reported by Richard Deitsch in Sports Business Journal found that the 2026 Stanley Cup Final averaged 2 million women viewers, up 148% from 807,000 in 2025.…
— Yahoo Sports

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