The Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) is adding another team for the 2025-26 season, and Seattle is officially the destination, the league announced in a press release on Wednesday. The Seattle franchise will join Vancouver as one of two teams being added by the PWHL, which was previously made up of six teams. The addition of these two teams marks the league’s first expansion since it launched in fall of 2023 and is an aggressive move toward growing beyond its current mostly regional footprint. Seattle’s team will play its home games at Climate Pledge Arena, home of the Seattle Kraken and will train out of the Kraken Community Iceplex.

There is no doubt the support that the city of Seattle and Climate Pledge Arena showed for two marquee events over the last three years raised Seattle’s profile as a potential expansion city for professional women’s hockey. There was always a belief that Seattle would be a great city for PWHL expansion, but not many expected it to reach the Emerald City this quickly.

The move west is significant for several reasons. Not only does it broaden the geographic footprint of the PWHL, but it also taps into the explosive growth of hockey in the Pacific Northwest. Seattle has seen a rapid rise in youth participation, ticket sales, and grassroots engagement since the Kraken joined the NHL in 2021. Adding a women’s pro team was the next logical step.

“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.”

While official details on the expansion draft and player allocation process will be released in the coming weeks, the timeline is now set. Both Seattle and Vancouver will debut this fall when the puck drops on the 2025–26 PWHL season. Fans can expect more announcements over the summer, including schedules, front office hirings, and coaching staff and player signings.

Climate Pledge Arena hosted the USA vs Canada Rivalry Series game in November, 2022.

Climate Pledge Arena previously hosted a USA vs. Canada Rivalry Series game in November, 2022, drawing a strong turnout and showcasing the region’s enthusiasm for high-level women’s hockey. The PWHL also played a “Takeover Tour” game at Climate Pledge Arena on Jan. 19 between the Montreal Victoire and the Boston Fleet, which drew over 12,000 fans. In the PWHL’s most recent season, each team played 15 home games and averaged between 6,400 and 7,700 fans per game. There is some nuance to those attendance numbers, though, as the Takeover Tour games consistently drew big crowds.

The cross-border rivalry with Vancouver also promises to be an intriguing spin on expansion. For the league, it’s a strategic play to develop regional rivalries and deepen fan investment—both critical to long-term success. “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.

The upcoming season will begin in late fall and run through late spring, with each team once again expected to play 15 home games. Next season will also coincide with the 2026 Winter Olympics, traditionally a major showcase for women’s hockey. Olympic years tend to bring a surge of interest from casual sports fans, providing the PWHL with a golden opportunity to further grow its fanbase and visibility at a national and international level.

While the team name, branding, and expansion draft plans remain under wraps, Seattle is officially part of the PWHL’s future, and the city is ready to make some noise.