NHL 25 to Add PWHL Teams in December Update: A Historic Step for Women’s Hockey
EA Sports is set to make hockey history with the addition of the Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) to NHL 25 in a free update launching December 5. This long-awaited integration marks a significant milestone for representation in sports gaming, bringing the six PWHL teams and their inaugural season into the virtual rink. Here's what fans can expect from this groundbreaking update.
A Historic First for Women’s Hockey in NHL 25
The PWHL, established in 2023 and having completed its first season in 2024, is a landmark league for women’s hockey. Although NHL 25 launched without the PWHL, EA Sports has worked behind the scenes to ensure a faithful representation of the league, complete with authentic team names, uniforms, and schedules.
The update will feature all six PWHL teams:
- Boston Fleet
- Minnesota Frost
- Montréal Victoire
- New York Sirens
- Ottawa Charge
- Toronto Sceptres
Players can experience a full season with these teams, culminating in the Walter Cup finals, the PWHL’s equivalent of the Stanley Cup.
Representation and Authenticity
EA Sports has prioritized authenticity for the PWHL integration. Though not all players will have their likenesses scanned at launch, EA has utilized high-quality photos to ensure accurate depictions. Senior Design Director Mike Inglehart explained that player scans will be conducted soon, enhancing the realism further.
Minnesota Frost forward Taylor Heise, the inaugural playoff MVP, emphasized the importance of this inclusion:
“This sort of representation in hockey culture really matters. It makes me all the more optimistic about the future of our sport, thinking about all the young girls who might give hockey a shot after seeing other women represented in such a popular video game.”
Unique Rules and Gameplay
The PWHL brings its own set of rules, adding a fresh twist to the NHL 25 experience. Unlike the NHL’s point system, the PWHL awards:
- 3 points for a regulation win
- 2 points for an overtime win
- 1 point for an overtime loss
Additionally, the PWHL’s penalty system differs significantly. For instance, a team on a penalty kill can end the penalty early by scoring a short-handed goal—a feature not present in NHL rules.
These differences highlight the distinct identity of the PWHL and promise a fresh, strategic experience for players.
Future Potential and Expanding the Audience
For now, the PWHL will be available as a standalone single-season mode in NHL 25. However, EA Sports is open to expanding the league’s presence in other modes as the PWHL grows and evolves.
Inglehart sees the addition as an opportunity to diversify the player base:
“Hockey is bigger than a one-gender sport. Hopefully we can invite more people into NHL, to play our game, because we’re providing a new outlet, a new connection to a part of the sport that should be celebrated.”
A Celebration of Inclusion
The integration of the PWHL into NHL 25 is more than just a feature update—it’s a celebration of inclusivity and progress in the world of hockey. With the league’s second season starting this month, the timing couldn’t be better to bring women’s professional hockey to the forefront of sports gaming
source via Polygon