The IIHF Women’s World Championship is returning to Denmark for the second time in four years, as the debut November edition of the tournament sees the reigning Olympic and World champion Americans looking to defend their crownin the 25th edition of the tournament from 06-16 November, with games in Herning and Esbjerg.
Group A, meeting in Esbjerg, sees Team USA separated from their bitter rivals Canada for the first time since 2011, with higher parity meaning that now the Americans will tilt against Switzerland, Czechia, Germany and newly-promoted Austria. The group is the Americans’ to win, although recent success for the Czechs and Swiss will have them present a challenge to the world’s number one squad, while border rivals Germany and Austria will surely be fighting to avoid relegation.
Group B in Herning sees Canada facing off against the Scandinavian trio of Finland, Sweden and hosts Denmark, along with Japan, with the group likely going to the new-look Canadians, fielding a younger roster than in previous years, marked by the absence of captain Marie-Philip Poulin due to injury. Whether the Naisleijonat or Damkronorna can damage Canada’s chances for top of the group, or if the hosts or Japan can play spoiler, will surely lead to an exiting group round.
Click here to see the full World Women’s Championship schedule
From the perspective of the IHLC, a few interesting facts related to this year’s Women’s World Championship:
– Team USA enters as incumbent IHLC champions for the seventh time in tournament history (2001, 2004, 2011, 2013, 2016, 2021) – they are looking to win their twelfth overall Gold medal, and second consecutive for the first time since winning four straight between 2015 and 2019
– this will be the second time Denmark has hosted the tournament, following the 2022 tournament in Herning and Frederikshavn; this will be the eighth tournament held in Scandinavia, with Finland hosting four times (1992, 1999, 2009, 2019) and Sweden hosting twice (2005, 2015)
– this year’s tournament sees the return of Denmark and Austria to the Top Division, with Denmark returning for the first time since 2024, while Austria is debuting at the tournament; they replace relegated Norway and Hungary
– Denmark will look to capture the IHLC for the first time on home ice, becoming just the sixth women’s national team to win the IHLC, and first since Russia in 2009
– six of the eight directorate and All-Star award winners from 2026’s tournament will return to Denmark, including directorate top Goaltender and Defender Aerin Frankel and Caroline Harvey, respectively (United States), along with all-stars Kelly Pannek (United States), Renata Fast (Canada) and Klára Peslarová and Kristýna Kaltounková (both Czechia)
Photo Credit: 2025 Women’s World Championship – IIHF – HHOF – IOC
