The Walter Cup (French: La coupe Walter) is the championship trophy awarded annually to the Professional Women's Hockey League (PWHL) playoff champion.
| Sport | Ice hockey |
|---|---|
| Competition | Walter Cup playoffs |
| Awarded for | Playoff champion of the Professional Women's Hockey League (PWHL) |
| History | |
| First award | 2024 |
| First winner | PWHL Minnesota |
| Most wins | PWHL Minnesota (1) |
| Most recent | PWHL Minnesota |
History
Origins
On April 4, 2024, the Professional Women's Hockey League announced in a press release the name of the trophy awarded to the league's playoff champion team, the Walter Cup.[1]
The name Walter Cup was proposed by Billie Jean King, one of the two instigators of the Professional Women's Hockey League and member of the league's advisory board. It is named in honor of Mark and Kimbra Walter to recognize their commitment to enabling the creation of the PWHL, an important milestone in the history of women's hockey.
Winners
| Season | Winning team | Series | Losing team | Ilana Kloss Playoff MVP | Winning head coach |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023–24 | PWHL Minnesota | 3–2 | PWHL Boston | Taylor Heise | Ken Klee |
Description
The sterling silver trophy is created in partnership with jeweler Tiffany and manufactured in their workshop in Cumberland, Rhode Island. The cup weighs approximately 35 pounds, measures 24 inches in height and over 13 inches in width. It rests on a ring around which we find six 'W's, symbol of the PWHL, and rays of light representing the dawn of a new era in women's hockey. It is located at the top of angled rods, identifying the playing ice marked with skating marks, on which we recognize hockey sticks. The rods rest on a removable base, representing a puck, on which the name of the winning team each year will be written.[2]