National Women's Hockey League Plays Inaugural Games Today

The fledgling National Women’s Hockey League today "will drop the puck on its inaugural season," with all four teams in action. The Connecticut Whale "will host the New York Riveters in Stamford, Conn., while the Boston Pride will visit the Buffalo Beauts." The teams "will play 18 games apiece, all on weekends." The league "has received funding from private sponsors along with the NWHL Foundation, which directly supports the league as well as girls’ youth hockey" (SI.com, 10/10).

Women's hockey has "grown tremendously in the past two decades," and today is "another step" in that growth. Players hope that salaries "can reach a point where the bulk of them can bid adieu to other part- or full-time jobs" (USAHOCKEY.com, 10/8).