The Women�s World Championship is a relatively new event, having staged its first competition in 1990. This tournament, initially held every two years, grew in stature that precipitated not only the need for an annual tournament but also separate tiers to accommodate additional competing nations.

While there have always been eight teams vying for women�s hockey supremacy, every gold medal game has featured the two perennial powerhouse teams of Canada and the United States. Although the venues have changed from year to year, it has been the Canadians who have skated off as champions after the final whistle. In fact, the Canadians have never lost a game in the eight World tournaments.

Each winning team receives and keeps a championship plate to symbolize their victory in women�s hockey at its highest level.