Everything you need to know about the 2025 IIHF Women’s World Championship

The GIST: If you thought February’s 4 Nations Face-Off was feisty, buckle up — the 24th IIHF Women’s World Championship begins from Czechia today, with the globe’s 10 best women’s national hockey teams in action in the game’s top tourney.

• So while PWHL teams are on break until the end of the month, some spicy international rivalries are about to take the ice. Pass the milk.

How it works: The tourney features 10 teams split into Groups A and B, with the top five ranked countries in the former and the remaining five in the latter. All members of Group A, which includes world No. 1 and defending champs Canada and No. 2 U.S., earn an automatic berth to the quarter-finals, where they’ll be joined by the top three group play finishers from Group B.

• Due to the skill disparity in international women’s hockey, this format ensures the best squads play competitive games the entire time, though history indicates Canada and the U.S. will almost certainly duke it out in the final.

• They’re the only countries to ever win Worlds, not to mention the only other team that’s even competed for the gold medal is No. 3 Finland in 2019. Okay, dominance.

The rivalry to end all rivalries — Team USA vs. Team Canada: Sure, tempers were high when the North American men threw down in February, but the women’s rivalry is even more intense. The Canadians topped the Americans 6–5 in overtime to reclaim the Women’s World title last year, adding a lucky number 13th gold medal to their collection, compared to USA’s 10.

• Sunday’s 1 p.m. ET group play showdown between the U.S. and Canada will likely end up being a championship preview, but before we get there both teams will face fearsome Finland in their opening games.

• The Americans, anchored by incomparable captain Hilary Knight, take on the Finns today at 9 a.m. ET, while the Red and White, led by the legendary Marie-Philip Poulin, have their chance tomorrow at 1 p.m. ET. Let’s do that hockey.