PWHL announces expansion to Seattle, will start in 2025-26
A rivalry is born in the Pacific Northwest.
On Wednesday, the Professional Women’s Hockey League announced the city of Seattle will be granted the league’s eighth franchise.
The team will begin play next season, with its home games being played at Climate Pledge Arena, as well as practicing at the Kraken Community Iceplex, both home to the Seattle Kraken.
“There is so much passion from women’s and girls’ hockey organizations in Seattle, and our players thrived on that energy during their Takeover Tour visit,” executive vice president of hockey operations, Jayna Hefford, said in a release. “I cannot wait for the first game in what I’m sure will be one of our fiercest rivalries [against Vancouver]. We also look forward to making an impact in Seattle off the ice––from grassroots hockey to community initiatives, we’re committed to building meaningful connections throughout our newest home city.”
Seattle has been heavily rumored to be the second market the PWHL is going to expand to. The city was part of this season’s Takeover Tour, which was a massive success. The Takeover kicked off in Seattle on Jan. 5, with the Boston Fleet beating the Montreal Victoire in a shootout. A total of 12,808 were at Climate Pledge Arena, home of the Seattle Kraken. That further proved Seattle is a great market for women’s hockey, especially since the arena holds the record for the largest attendance for a women’s game in the United States – 14,551 attended Team USA’s win against Canada during the Rivalry Series in November 2022.
The bid to bring a team to Washington state was powered by the Oak View Group, the operators of the Kraken and Climate Pledge Arena.
“Seattle is an incredible sports city, and we’ve seen firsthand the passion for the women’s game,” Kraken owner Samantha Holloway said. “We’re also proud to grow the game of hockey at Kraken Community Iceplex, and together, we’ll continue to inspire the next generation of hockey players and fans alike.”
The addition of Seattle automatically generates a regional rivalry between the team’s two newest teams. Last week, the PWHL revealed that Vancouver will be getting its own team, growing the league’s footprint from coast to coast across North America.
With the even broader expansion, more players will be competing in the PWHL next season. During the press conference on Wednesday, Hefford stated that the league will be holding an expansion draft in mid-June, with details expected to be announced in the coming weeks.
The PWHL is wrapping up its regular season this weekend, with the playoffs set to begin in a little over a week.