PWHL Expands to Seattle, Vancouver

The Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) announced it will expand to Seattle, Washington and Vancouver, British Columbia, with the newest teams set to begin play with the 2025-26 season. Seattle and Vancouver are the PWHL’s first two expansion teams alongside the inaugural six markets (Boston, Minnesota, Montréal, New York, Ottawa, and Toronto), extending the league’s footprint ahead of its third season.

PWHL Seattle:

PWHL Seattle will play its home games at Climate Pledge Arena and train at the Kraken Community Iceplex.

The team revealed its primary color will be Emerald Green and its secondary color will be Cream. The team will operate as PWHL Seattle until the permanent brand identity is announced.  

The new team will join the league’s single-entity ownership structure under The Walter Group. The decision to expand to Seattle follows an extensive Request for Proposal (RFP) process and reflects the initial stages of the league’s long-term vision for strategic growth. Seattle’s bid was led by Oak View Group, the developers and operators of Climate Pledge Arena, alongside the Seattle Kraken.

Seattle emerged as a natural fit for PWHL expansion for several reasons, including its best-in-class facilities, a growing youth hockey community, and passionate women’s sports fanbase. The city delivered an enthusiastic response to the launch of the PWHL Takeover Tour, drawing a crowd of 12,608 at Climate Pledge Arena on January 5.

Growing its presence in the Pacific Northwest not only broadens the league’s national reach, but also strengthens regional rivalries, with Seattle’s proximity to Vancouver creating natural competitive energy. Partnering with the NHL’s Seattle Kraken further solidifies a strong foundation for success in this vibrant sports market. The PWHL will build on this momentum by extending grassroots efforts across the Seattle area through camps, clinics, and community events designed to grow the game and foster deep local connections.

“We are looking forward to returning the love, energy and excitement the Seattle sports community shared with us during the PWHL Takeover Tour,” said Amy Scheer, PWHL Executive Vice President of Business Operations. “The opportunity to start a new chapter of women’s hockey in the Pacific Northwest, combined with calling the world-class Climate Pledge Arena home has so much meaning for our league. The Kraken already have been unbelievably supportive, and it’s a joy to have PWHL Seattle join the WNBA’s Storm and the NWSL’s Reign, who are skyscrapers in the city’s towering sports landscape.”

PWHL Vancouver:

The historic Pacific Coliseum, located on the property of the PNE, will serve as the Vancouver team’s home venue with the practice facility just steps away at PNE Agrodome. Ahead of the team’s debut, the Coliseum and Agrodome will undergo comprehensive upgrades to locker rooms and training facilities. The Coliseum will also receive enhanced technology and broadcast capabilities, all while preserving the venue’s charm and renowned hockey sightlines.

The team also revealed its primary color, Pacific Blue, and secondary color, Cream. The team will operate as PWHL Vancouver until the permanent brand identity is announced.  

The Vancouver team will join the league’s single-entity ownership structure under The Walter Group. The decision to expand to Vancouver follows an extensive Request for Proposal (RFP) process and reflects the league’s long-term vision for strategic growth.

Vancouver’s bid was led by PNE, with the city’s strong and flourishing hockey culture, the opportunity to create fully integrated facilities while serving as the PNE’s primary team tenant, and the enthusiastic response to the PWHL Takeover Tour, including a tour-high, sold-out crowd of 19,038 at Rogers Arena on January 8, 2025, reinforcing Vancouver as a natural fit for expansion. The PWHL will extend its grassroots efforts into the Vancouver community by hosting camps, clinics, and other events that grow the game and foster meaningful connections between the team and local fans.

“This is a historic day for our league, our fans, our athletes, and our sport,” said Scheer. “Vancouver is a vibrant city with a deep love for the game, as we saw firsthand during the PWHL Takeover Tour earlier this season. Expanding to Vancouver reflects the growing momentum behind the league and the incredible passion of our fanbase since launching in January 2024. We’re proud to bring the PWHL to the West Coast and provide more fans with the opportunity to experience live the best women’s hockey players in the world.”