Discover and National Women’s Hockey League Announce Landmark Partnership

January 29, 2021 – Discover Financial Services (NYSE: DFS) and the National Women’s Hockey League today announced a partnership, the largest in NWHL history, that includes Discover becoming the Official Credit Card of the NWHL.

“The partnership between Discover and the National Women’s Hockey League is an important moment in our league’s history,” said NWHL Commissioner Tyler Tumminia. "This will be a collaboration to push for progress and we look forward to working with our new partner as the NWHL continues to grow."

Discover has on-ice advertising during the NWHL’s regular season and 2021 Isobel Cup Playoffs taking place Jan. 23 - Feb. 5 at the 1980 Rink-Herb Brooks Arena in Lake Placid, New York. The brand is also the presenting sponsor of the Isobel Cup, signifying the first time a professional women’s hockey league will be broadcast on a major U.S. cable channel.

The NWHL’s Isobel Cup Semifinals (Feb. 4) and Isobel Cup Final (Feb. 5) will be broadcast live by NBC Sports on NBCSN. The partnership with Discover is a significant step for the NWHL, which designates 50 percent of league sponsorship revenue to help increase player salaries.

"Discover has long been a sponsor of hockey at all levels, and we are honored to become the Official Credit Card of the National Women’s Hockey League,” said Kate Manfred, Senior Vice President, and Chief Marketing Officer at Discover. “We look forward to presenting this year’s Isobel Cup and supporting the continued growth of the NWHL, and the sport of hockey overall.”

This landmark sponsorship was facilitated by the NWHL and Twitch, the leading interactive live streaming service, with help from Discover’s agency, Spark Foundry. As the streaming partner of the NWHL, Twitch helps brands secure sponsorships to authentically engage with passionate hockey fans and promote the NWHL's commitment to equal pay.

“We appreciate working with our streaming partners, such as the NWHL, to build mission-driven initiatives that enable brands like Discover to not only connect with consumers but also pursue projects that align with their corporate values,” said Lou Garate, Global Head of Sponsorship Sales at Twitch. “Discover supports hockey at all levels, and this partnership helps promote women’s professional hockey in the drive for wage parity in sports. We’re looking forward to more brands following their lead in supporting this important cause.”

About Discover

Discover Financial Services (NYSE: DFS) is a digital banking and payment services company with one of the most recognized brands in U.S. financial services. Since its inception in 1986, the company has become one of the largest card issuers in the United States. The company issues the Discover card, America's cash rewards pioneer, and offers private student loans, personal loans, home loans, checking and savings accounts, and certificates of deposit through its banking business. It operates the Discover Global Network comprised of Discover Network, with millions of merchant and cash access locations; PULSE, one of the nation's leading ATM/debit networks; and Diners Club International, a global payments network with acceptance around the world. For more information, visit www.discover.com/company.

About the National Women’s Hockey League (NWHL)

Established in 2015, the NWHL was the first professional women’s hockey league in North America to pay its players. The mission of the league is to fuel the continued growth of the sport and brand of pro women’s hockey. The league is made up of the Boston Pride, Buffalo Beauts, Connecticut Whale, Metropolitan Riveters, Minnesota Whitecaps, and the Toronto Six. Visit NWHL.zone and follow on Twitter and Facebook @NWHL and Instagram @NWHL.zone