Fans bound for the 2025 Women's Worlds are curious to see if Natalie Mlynkova (#19, right) and her Czech teammates could pull off an upset against Renata Fast (#14) right and the defending champs from Canada.
photo: PHOTO: © INTERNATIONAL ICE HOCKEY FEDERATION / ANDRE RINGUETTE
Spring is all about new beginnings, and there’s reason to believe the 2025 IIHF Ice Hockey Women’s World Championship will offer an exciting, fresh start on many fronts.
The elite 10-team tournament in Czechia (9 to 20 April) comes at a time when women’s hockey is seeing meteoric growth in participation and popularity, but is still only scratching the surface potential-wise. Everyone is raring for that first puck drop in the host city of Ceske Budejovice – including fans who are finalizing their tickets and travel plans.
It’s time to explore 10 reasons to attend the 2025 Women’s Worlds.
1) First time ever in Czechia
In Women’s Worlds history dating back to 1990, there have been seven previous host nations: Canada, China, Denmark, Finland, Sweden, Switzerland and the United States. But now it’s Czechia’s time to take centre stage.
The last three times the Czechs hosted the men’s Worlds (2004, 2015, 2024 in Prague and Ostrava), a new tournament attendance record was set. So it’ll be exciting to see how fans celebrate the international women’s game here in Central Europe.
2) High hopes for host nation
The Czech women’s program has grown by leaps and bounds recently. Historic senior team milestones include making the Olympics for the first time in 2022 and capturing Women’s Worlds bronze medals in 2022 and 2023. The U18 national team has also broken new ground, winning a silver medal at the 2024 IIHF Ice Hockey U18 Women’s World Championship and bronze in 2025.
Most pundits would say “Mission accomplished!” if the Czechs defeat Finland or Switzerland in this year’s bronze medal game. But could the hosts go one step further and shock Canada or the U.S. – the perennial finalists – in the gold medal game? Come see for yourself!
3) Canada-U.S. rivalry heating up
It’s no secret that political tensions have flared lately between these two North American neighbours. How that plays out on the ice in Ceske Budejovice remains to be seen. It’s not as if either the Canadian or American women lack motivation regardless. Passionate hockey awaits.
Youthful and talent-laden, the Americans are hungry to make a statement against Canada, the reigning Olympic champions and winners of three of the last four Women’s Worlds finals (2021, 2022, 2024). And the Canadians – whose home-ice pride was hurt when the U.S. beat them 6-3 in the 2023 final in Brampton – want to show who’s boss ahead of the 2026 Olympics in Milan, Italy.
4) Young stars galore to watch
At the 2024 Women’s Worlds, the U.S.’s Laila Edwards was named MVP, while teammate Caroline Harvey led all blueliners in scoring for the second straight year. Canada’s Danielle Serdachny tallied the 6-5 overtime winner in the 2024 gold medal game. Czechia’s Adela Sapovalivova was named the 2024 SDHL Rookie of the Year with Modo, while Finland’s Elisa Holopainen is the frontrunner to succeed her after tying Lulea’s Petra Nieminen for the 2025 SDHL points lead (45) with Frolunda. These are just a few examples.
What do these anticipated 2025 Women’s Worlds participants have in common? They’re all under age 25, and could all reach new heights this year.
5) PWHL players come in primed
The Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) remains a major success in Season Two. The league’s Takeover Tour – featuring games in potential expansion markets from Vancouver to Raleigh – has helped spur total attendance to well over 400,000, a new record.
More crucially for the Women’s Worlds, having regular high-level games helps PWHL players represent their countries in top form. It is also fun to watch club friends become international foes again. Examples could include the New York Sirens’ dynamic duo of Alex Carpenter (U.S.) and Sarah Fillier (Canada), Boston Fleet captain Hilary Knight (U.S.) and fellow attacker Alina Muller (Switzerland), and Minnesota Frost captain Kendall Coyne Schofield (U.S.) and star defender Claire Thompson (Canada).
6) Women’s Worlds records will be set
U.S. fans coming to Ceske Budejovice can watch Hilary Knight put more distance between herself and the competition. The 35-year-old American legend is poised to increase her all-time lead in Women’s Worlds goals (65) and points (111). Knight could break her own records for most gold medals (nine) and total medals (15).
Finnish defender Jenni Hiirikoski is in a similar boat longevity-wise. The longtime Suomi captain, who turns 38 on 30 March, can play her record 17th Women’s Worlds and become the first skater ever to surpass the 100-games-played mark.
Odds are good that Hayley Wickenheiser’s all-time tournament assists record (49) will be eclipsed by Kendall Coyne Schofield (47), Knight (46), or Hiirikoski (45) – or perhaps all of them.
Also, with two more wins, Canada’s Ann-Renee Desbiens (20) can surpass the all-time goalie wins record owned by former Swiss star Florence Schelling (21).
7) Possible last hurrahs for veterans
Especially with the deep North American squads, there is always a chance that some well-known names will be left off the Olympic roster after playing one final Women’s Worlds.
We have seen versions of this movie before, from Canada’s Angela James and Nancy Drolet to the U.S.’s Cammi Granato and Annie Pankowski. (Sometimes, of course, players bounce back to play in the Winter Games again, like the U.S.’s Alex Carpenter and Megan Bozek, who were cut before Pyeongchang in 2018 but returned for Beijing in 2022.)
Regardless, it’s worth attending Women’s Worlds just in case some of your favourite veterans are on the bubble.
8) Underdogs hungry to surprise
Two Group B teams face long odds as they quest to crack the 2025 quarter-finals, but they’ll still give it a valiant try. Hungary, which sits 10th in the IIHF Women’s World Rankings, returns to the Women’s Worlds after a one-year absence. Norway, ranked 14th, is an even longer shot. The Polar Bears last competed at this level in 1997. It’ll be intriguing to see if at least one of them can defy the experts and avoid relegation.
9) A beautiful city to discover
Ceske Budejovice (pop. 98,000) offers plenty of diversions when you’re not at the arena cheering on your national team. The capital of South Bohemia – an hour and a half by car from Prague – is noted for its historic beer scene, landmarks like the Black Tower and Samson’s Fountain, and attractions like the Museum of South Bohemia.
10) Last Women’s Worlds before 2026 Olympics
Everyone knows the stakes here. Prior to Milan, this is the last chance in official IIHF competition for general managers to evaluate their rosters, for coaches to refine their systems, and for players to demonstrate that they deserve to go to the Winter Games. Get your Women’s Worlds tickets now to see how it all unfolds in person.
The elite 10-team tournament in Czechia (9 to 20 April) comes at a time when women’s hockey is seeing meteoric growth in participation and popularity, but is still only scratching the surface potential-wise. Everyone is raring for that first puck drop in the host city of Ceske Budejovice – including fans who are finalizing their tickets and travel plans.
It’s time to explore 10 reasons to attend the 2025 Women’s Worlds.
1) First time ever in Czechia
In Women’s Worlds history dating back to 1990, there have been seven previous host nations: Canada, China, Denmark, Finland, Sweden, Switzerland and the United States. But now it’s Czechia’s time to take centre stage.
The last three times the Czechs hosted the men’s Worlds (2004, 2015, 2024 in Prague and Ostrava), a new tournament attendance record was set. So it’ll be exciting to see how fans celebrate the international women’s game here in Central Europe.
2) High hopes for host nation
The Czech women’s program has grown by leaps and bounds recently. Historic senior team milestones include making the Olympics for the first time in 2022 and capturing Women’s Worlds bronze medals in 2022 and 2023. The U18 national team has also broken new ground, winning a silver medal at the 2024 IIHF Ice Hockey U18 Women’s World Championship and bronze in 2025.
Most pundits would say “Mission accomplished!” if the Czechs defeat Finland or Switzerland in this year’s bronze medal game. But could the hosts go one step further and shock Canada or the U.S. – the perennial finalists – in the gold medal game? Come see for yourself!
3) Canada-U.S. rivalry heating up
It’s no secret that political tensions have flared lately between these two North American neighbours. How that plays out on the ice in Ceske Budejovice remains to be seen. It’s not as if either the Canadian or American women lack motivation regardless. Passionate hockey awaits.
Youthful and talent-laden, the Americans are hungry to make a statement against Canada, the reigning Olympic champions and winners of three of the last four Women’s Worlds finals (2021, 2022, 2024). And the Canadians – whose home-ice pride was hurt when the U.S. beat them 6-3 in the 2023 final in Brampton – want to show who’s boss ahead of the 2026 Olympics in Milan, Italy.
4) Young stars galore to watch
At the 2024 Women’s Worlds, the U.S.’s Laila Edwards was named MVP, while teammate Caroline Harvey led all blueliners in scoring for the second straight year. Canada’s Danielle Serdachny tallied the 6-5 overtime winner in the 2024 gold medal game. Czechia’s Adela Sapovalivova was named the 2024 SDHL Rookie of the Year with Modo, while Finland’s Elisa Holopainen is the frontrunner to succeed her after tying Lulea’s Petra Nieminen for the 2025 SDHL points lead (45) with Frolunda. These are just a few examples.
What do these anticipated 2025 Women’s Worlds participants have in common? They’re all under age 25, and could all reach new heights this year.
5) PWHL players come in primed
The Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) remains a major success in Season Two. The league’s Takeover Tour – featuring games in potential expansion markets from Vancouver to Raleigh – has helped spur total attendance to well over 400,000, a new record.
More crucially for the Women’s Worlds, having regular high-level games helps PWHL players represent their countries in top form. It is also fun to watch club friends become international foes again. Examples could include the New York Sirens’ dynamic duo of Alex Carpenter (U.S.) and Sarah Fillier (Canada), Boston Fleet captain Hilary Knight (U.S.) and fellow attacker Alina Muller (Switzerland), and Minnesota Frost captain Kendall Coyne Schofield (U.S.) and star defender Claire Thompson (Canada).
6) Women’s Worlds records will be set
U.S. fans coming to Ceske Budejovice can watch Hilary Knight put more distance between herself and the competition. The 35-year-old American legend is poised to increase her all-time lead in Women’s Worlds goals (65) and points (111). Knight could break her own records for most gold medals (nine) and total medals (15).
Finnish defender Jenni Hiirikoski is in a similar boat longevity-wise. The longtime Suomi captain, who turns 38 on 30 March, can play her record 17th Women’s Worlds and become the first skater ever to surpass the 100-games-played mark.
Odds are good that Hayley Wickenheiser’s all-time tournament assists record (49) will be eclipsed by Kendall Coyne Schofield (47), Knight (46), or Hiirikoski (45) – or perhaps all of them.
Also, with two more wins, Canada’s Ann-Renee Desbiens (20) can surpass the all-time goalie wins record owned by former Swiss star Florence Schelling (21).
7) Possible last hurrahs for veterans
Especially with the deep North American squads, there is always a chance that some well-known names will be left off the Olympic roster after playing one final Women’s Worlds.
We have seen versions of this movie before, from Canada’s Angela James and Nancy Drolet to the U.S.’s Cammi Granato and Annie Pankowski. (Sometimes, of course, players bounce back to play in the Winter Games again, like the U.S.’s Alex Carpenter and Megan Bozek, who were cut before Pyeongchang in 2018 but returned for Beijing in 2022.)
Regardless, it’s worth attending Women’s Worlds just in case some of your favourite veterans are on the bubble.
8) Underdogs hungry to surprise
Two Group B teams face long odds as they quest to crack the 2025 quarter-finals, but they’ll still give it a valiant try. Hungary, which sits 10th in the IIHF Women’s World Rankings, returns to the Women’s Worlds after a one-year absence. Norway, ranked 14th, is an even longer shot. The Polar Bears last competed at this level in 1997. It’ll be intriguing to see if at least one of them can defy the experts and avoid relegation.
9) A beautiful city to discover
Ceske Budejovice (pop. 98,000) offers plenty of diversions when you’re not at the arena cheering on your national team. The capital of South Bohemia – an hour and a half by car from Prague – is noted for its historic beer scene, landmarks like the Black Tower and Samson’s Fountain, and attractions like the Museum of South Bohemia.
10) Last Women’s Worlds before 2026 Olympics
Everyone knows the stakes here. Prior to Milan, this is the last chance in official IIHF competition for general managers to evaluate their rosters, for coaches to refine their systems, and for players to demonstrate that they deserve to go to the Winter Games. Get your Women’s Worlds tickets now to see how it all unfolds in person.