Toronto businessman Larry Tanenbaum's company invests $100 million US in PWHL

Toronto businessman Larry Tanenbaum is once again investing in women's sports.

Tanenbaum's Kilmer Sports Ventures and the Detroit-based Ilitch Companies have officially bought into the Professional Women's Hockey League, being named strategic partners on Monday. A source told The Canadian Press that Kilmer invested $100 million US directly into the PWHL and that both companies will be holding advisory rather than operational roles.

They are the PWHL's first outside investors since the league was established in 2023

"Hockey is in our DNA as Canadians, and that passion brought us to the PWHL as its first Canadian investor," said Tanenbaum, Kilmer's chairman. "Building world-class women's sports organizations that inspire the next generation of athletes, fans, and leaders is how you create something that truly lasts."

The foundational support that launched the PWHL three years ago, along with the league's continued funding to date, has been provided by Mark and Kimbra Walter, through the Mark Walter Group.

Mark Walter is also the owner and chairman of Major League Baseball's Los Angeles Dodgers, the National Basketball Association's Los Angeles Lakers, the Women's National Basketball Association's Los Angeles Sparks and other sports properties.

Tanenbaum, through Kilmer, is the founder and owner of the WNBA's Toronto Tempo. He's also a minority owner of Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment, the parent company of the NHL's Maple Leafs and NBA's Raptors, among other Toronto-based sports properties, through Kilmer.

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"We saw that opportunity first with the Tempo, Canada's first WNBA team, and now we're proud to deepen that commitment through this significant