Kendall Coyne Schofield To Miss 2026-27 PWHL Season

The Minnesota Frost forward announced she is pregnant and will sit out the upcoming professional hockey season.

Updated on Oct. 29, 2026 in Pregnancy

Kendall Coyne Schofield To Miss 2026-27 PWHL Season

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Should professional sports leagues provide more flexible career support for athletes during pregnancy?

Professional hockey player Kendall Coyne Schofield announced she is pregnant and will sit out the 2026-27 PWHL season. The Minnesota Frost forward, who recently signed a two-year deal, will miss the upcoming campaign starting in December.

Why it matters

Professional athletes frequently navigate the physical demands of high-performance careers alongside the personal considerations of pregnancy. This decision highlights the evolving landscape for professional female athletes balancing family planning with active league rosters.

Coyne Schofield is a two-time Walter Cup champion who recorded 23 points, including 12 goals and 11 assists, during the 2025-26 season. While her career stats include 30 goals, the long-term impact on her professional physical readiness remains unknown.

The players

Kendall Coyne Schofield

A professional ice hockey forward and two-time Walter Cup champion who plays for the Minnesota Frost.

Minnesota Frost

A professional women's ice hockey team competing in the Professional Women's Hockey League.

PWHL

The elite professional women's ice hockey league that oversees top-tier competition across North America.

The details

As a forward for the Minnesota Frost, Coyne Schofield maintains a high-intensity physical profile requiring significant conditioning and on-ice collision tolerance. Pregnancy necessitates a pause from such high-impact professional athletic activity to prioritize maternal and fetal health during gestation. Athletes in professional leagues often coordinate with medical teams to monitor physiological changes throughout pregnancy before gradually reintroducing sport-specific training.

August 2026: Kendall Coyne Schofield signed a two-year contract with the Minnesota Frost.
October 29, 2026: The pregnancy announcement and season withdrawal were made public.
December 5, 2026: The PWHL season is scheduled to begin.

Health Landscape

Professional women's sports have entered a new era of formal support for pregnancy and family life. This development aligns with the maturation of the Professional Women's Hockey League (PWHL) and its evolving standards for player retention and health.

Athletes at all levels should consult with obstetricians and sports medicine specialists to establish safe activity guidelines during pregnancy. Discussing individual physical demands with a physician remains the most effective way to manage performance goals safely.

The takeaway

Maintaining physical activity during pregnancy is a personal journey that requires ongoing professional medical guidance. Always coordinate with your healthcare team to understand which intensity levels and movements are appropriate for your specific stage of gestation.