Canada and the U.S. have won every major title in women's hockey. When will that change?

When Kristýna Kaltounková was selected by the New York Sirens at the PWHL Draft this past June, she knew the moment was bigger than herself.

The 23-year-old hard-shooting Czech forward was the first European taken with the first overall draft pick.

That may not seem like a big deal in a league that’s only existed since 2023. But in a women’s hockey ecosystem where Canada and the United States have long reigned supreme, it’s a sign of a shift.

“I think it just breaks that ice, breaks that barrier between North America and Europe a little more,” Kaltounková told CBC Sports last month.

Every four years when the Olympics are on TV, the same narrative emerges, sometimes from people who only tune in to women's hockey during the Olympics: How do we close the gap between Canada, the United States and the rest of the world? No other country has won an Olympic gold medal or world championship.

But that doesn’t tell the full story. Even though Canada and the U.S. continue to win, growth has been happening beyond North America. The PWHL has created one league for the best players across the world to train and play, and a new dream for the best players across Europe.

Earlier this week, 35-year-old Michelle Karvinen, who has played professionally in Europe and on the Finnish national team for many years, shared a picture with her PWHL Vancouver jersey. Karvinen was the team's first-round draft pick back in June.

My first pro hockey jersey