PWHL Expanding to Seattle

Seattle is the newest team to join the Professional Women’s Hockey League as the league announced expansion to the Washington destination with the new team set to begin play in the 2025—2026 season.

Seattle joins Vancouver, which was announced last week, as 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 to the Pacific Northwest ahead of its third season.

“Women’s teams from Seattle and Vancouver played against each other as early as 1921 and, given the proximity of our two newest cities – Vancouver is barely 140 miles away – I cannot wait for the first game in what I’m sure will be one of our fiercest rivalries,” said Jayna Hefford, PWHL Executive Vice President of Hockey Operations. “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.”

The team will play its home games at Climate Pledge Arena and train at the Kraken Community Iceplex. Details regarding an Expansion Draft and how Seattle and Vancouver will be integrated into the 2025 PWHL Draft on June 24, will be announced in the coming weeks.

The PWHL said in a release “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 was one of the hosts of the PWHL Takeover Tour, drawing a crowd of 12,608 at Climate Pledge Arena on January 5. The city is also a supporter of women’s sports overall with the PWHL team joining the WNBA’s Seattle Storm, NWSL’s Seattle Reign in the area.

“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. ,” said Amy Scheer, PWHL Executive Vice President of Business Operations. “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.”