PWHL’s “23 Hour Play” Highlights Gender Equality on International Women’s Day

The Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) marked International Women’s Day, March 8, 2026, with a symbolic initiative called “The 23 Hour Play,” addressing the disparity in funding, resources, and opportunities for women in sports. The campaign was inspired by the fact that Daylight Savings Time caused International Women’s Day to be effectively shortened to 23 hours in much of North America.

Symbolic Jersey Swap

Three PWHL players – Natalie Spooner of the Toronto Sceptres, Vanessa Upson of the Minnesota Frost, and Anne Cherkowski of the New York Sirens – wore jersey number 23 instead of their usual number 24 during noon ET matchups. This jersey swap served as a visual representation of the lost hour and the broader issue of women being shortchanged in sports.

Players Involved and Their Backgrounds

• Natalie Spooner (Toronto Sceptres): A two-time Olympic gold medalist and recent Olympic silver medalist, Spooner has three goals and seven points in 19 games this season.
• Vanessa Upson (Minnesota Frost): In her first PWHL season after four years as captain at Mercyhurst University, the 22-year-ancient had yet to record a career point after 14 games.
• Anne Cherkowski (New York Sirens): The 23-year-old has won gold and silver with Canada at the World Women’s U‑18 Championship in 2019 and 2020, and has six points in 16 games in her first PWHL campaign.

Fundraising and Awareness Efforts

The PWHL paired the jersey swap with fundraising and partnership efforts, encouraging fans to donate $23 to the Grindstone Award Foundation in Canada and Strong Girls United in the United States. The league also promoted the initiative using the hashtag #23HourPlay to raise awareness about the challenges faced by girls and women in sports.

Addressing the Drop-Off in Girls’ Sports Participation

The PWHL highlighted research indicating that girls are dropping out of sports at twice the rate of boys by age 14. The league emphasized the importance of representation in professional hockey to inspire and encourage young girls to continue pursuing their athletic dreams. The initiative is part of the PWHL’s broader community work, including a Mentorship Program run in partnership with Strong Girls United and Kyndryl.

The Core Message

“As the world celebrates International Women’s Day (IWD) today, a quirk in the calendar serves as a reminder of the work left to do,” the PWHL stated. “With the coinciding of Daylight Savings, the day dedicated to accelerating gender equality has been cut short to 23 hours.” The league framed the move as a symbolic call to action, asserting that equality means girls and women should never fall short in their access to funding, resources, and opportunity.