In which year was the first International Ice Hockey Federation Women's World Hockey Championship held?

The first official Women's World Hockey Championships were held in 1990. The Women's World Hockey Championship has become the pre-eminent event in women's hockey, with the exception of the Winter Olympic Games.

On four occasions the tournament was played with nine nations, using three groups of three. Beginning in 2011 the tournament changed its eight team playoff structure to include a quarterfinal round as well. Currently the top four placed nations from the previous championship begin in Group A, where the top two teams go directly to the semi-finals, and the bottom two go to the quarter-finals to face the top two finishers from Group B. The bottom two from Group B then play each other in a best of three to determine relegation.

The standings were the exact same in 1990, 1992, 1994, 1997, 1999, 2000; Canada was awarded gold, the United States was awarded silver, and Finland took the bronze. In 2001, Canada claimed gold, the United States claimed silver, but Russia claimed the bronze.

The 2003 championship was cancelled due to the outbreak of SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome). The tournament does not take place during years when there is a Winter Olympics.

As of 2017, Canada has taken the gold ten times, and the United States has claimed gold eight times.