IIHF World Women's Championship

For the world men's championships, see Ice Hockey World Championships.

IIHF World Women's Championship
Most recent season or competition:
2024 Women's Ice Hockey World Championships
SportIce hockey
Founded1990; 34 years ago (1990),
1990 IIHF Women's World Championship
No. of teams
  • 10 in Top Division
  • 12 in Division I
  • 12 in Division II
  • 11 in Division III
Most recent
champion(s)		 Canada (13th title)
Most titles Canada (13 titles)
Official websiteIIHF.com

The IIHF World Women's Championship, officially the IIHF Ice Hockey Women's World Championship, is the premier international tournament in women's ice hockey. It is governed by the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF).

The official world competition was first held in 1990, with four more championships held in the 90s.[1] From 1989 to 1996, and in years that there was no world tournament held, there were European Championships and in 1995 and 1996 a Pacific Rim Championship. From the first Olympic Women's Ice Hockey Tournament in 1998 onward, the Olympic tournament was played instead of the IIHF Championships. Afterwards, the IIHF decided to hold Women's Championships in Olympic years, starting in 2014, but not at the top level.[2] In September 2021, it was announced that the top division will also play during Olympic years and in August–September.[3]

Canada and the United States have dominated the Championship since its inception. Canada won gold at the first eight consecutive tournaments and the United States has won gold at ten of the last fifteen tournaments. Both national teams placed either first or second every tournament until Canada's streak was broken at the 2019 Championship. Finland is the third most successful World Championship team, having won fourteen bronze medals and one silver medal – achieved after breaking the Canadian gold-silver streak. Four other teams have medalled at a Women's World Championship: Russia, winning three bronze medals; Czech Republic and Sweden, each winning two; and Switzerland, winning one.

  1. ^ "IIHF World Women's Championships". International Ice Hockey Federation. Archived from the original on 15 October 2012. Retrieved 12 January 2011.
  2. ^ Merk, Martin (17 December 2010). "New era of women's hockey". International Ice Hockey Federation. Archived from the original on 21 September 2013. Retrieved 12 January 2011.
  3. ^ "Women's Worlds in Olympic years". IIHF.com. 22 September 2021. Archived from the original on 5 February 2023. Retrieved 22 September 2021.