FIH Hockey Pro League: New Zealand Women’s Team Withdraws, USA Team Retains Spot, and Future Plans for the Black Sticks

In a surprising move, New Zealand’s women’s hockey team, known as the Black Sticks, will not participate in the upcoming season of the FIH Hockey Pro League. This decision, taken by Hockey New Zealand, comes despite the team having secured their position in the league through their performance in the previous season. However, the governing body assures that the Black Sticks will aim to return to the FIH Hockey Pro League post-2024. To achieve this, they must first secure a victory at the FIH Hockey Nations Cup, the official route for qualifying to the Pro League.

The absence of New Zealand from the upcoming Pro League season saves the USA women’s team from relegation. The USA team, finishing last in the recently concluded season, will now maintain their spot among the participating nations in the upcoming season.

The decision to withdraw from the league was challenging for Hockey New Zealand, according to CEO Anthony Crummy. The choice was deemed necessary to focus on preparation for the Olympic Games, the most crucial event on their calendar. Factors like increased travel costs in the post-pandemic world and the demanding travel schedule aligned with 2024’s busy events made participation in the Pro League unfeasible, while also qualifying and preparing for the Olympics.

The USA Field Hockey team, however, is enthusiastic about their continued participation in the Pro League. As articulated by Executive Director Simon Hoskins, the team sees the upcoming season as an opportunity for their young and improving squad to make a significant impact.

FIH CEO Thierry Weil expressed his disappointment at New Zealand’s withdrawal, especially given the team’s hard-fought campaign to avoid relegation. However, he also remained optimistic about Hockey New Zealand’s commitment to rejoining the Pro League journey and anticipates welcoming the Black Sticks back in the near future.

The USA team, on the other hand, is expected to use the upcoming Pro League season as a springboard towards building a competitive team for the 2028 Olympic Games, which they will host in Los Angeles. The final match schedule for the 2023-2024 FIH Hockey Pro League season will be announced by the FIH soon.