The Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) announces its first outside investment partners, adding Kilmer Sports Ventures and the Ilitch Companies. The league says the two firms join as partners, marking a change from its earlier ownership structure. According to reporting, the PWHL was established in 2023 and previously operated under a single-entity ownership model in which league ownership was held by Mark Walter, a billionaire owner of the Los Angeles Dodgers, Lakers and Sparks, and his wife, Kimbra.
Kilmer Sports Ventures is led by Larry Tanenbaum, a Toronto-based sports executive associated with bringing the WNBA to Toronto. The Ilitch Companies, based in Detroit, are tied to the Ilitch family, which owns the Detroit Red Wings. One outlet reports that Kilmer’s investment is worth more than US$100 million, citing a source. Other coverage characterizes the move as a step forward for the league as it builds its business and team ecosystem following its third season.
The league provides limited additional details beyond the announcement of the partners and their status as the PWHL’s first outside investors.
