Seattle joins Vancouver, giving PWHL two teams on the West Coast.

(Photo courtesy of Climate Pledge Arena)

Following an official announcement yesterday, Seattle has been named the newest team in the PWHL. With the announcement of a Vancouver franchise in the PWHL last week, many had

to believe that the league wasn’t done adding teams out West. 
Seattle becomes the second expansion team and begins playing in the league’s third season this fall. The PWHL currently has teams in Boston, Minnesota, Montreal, New York, Ottawa, and Toronto.

Seattle is no stranger to professional women’s sports. The city already supports the WNBA’s Seattle Storm and NWSL’s Seattle Reign FC, and PWHL executives see the city as a natural fit.
With Seattle and Vancouver now part of the PWHL, the league is tapping into a historic cross-border rivalry. According to the league, women’s hockey teams from the two cities have competed as far back as 1921.

“Given the proximity of our two newest cities—Vancouver is barely 140 miles away—I can’t wait for the first game in what I’m sure will be one of our fiercest rivalries,” said Jayna Hefford, the PWHL’s executive vice president of hockey operations.

Climate Pledge Arena will be the home venue, while the Kraken Community Iceplex will serve as the practice facility. Both venues are regularly used by the NHL’s Seattle Kraken. As for a team name, it will operate under PWHL Seattle while the league develops its permanent brand identity. 

There is information on colours: the team will adopt emerald green as its primary colour and cream as a secondary, much like Seattle’s professional women's basketball team, the Storm’s signature palette. “Welcome to the family, PWHL Seattle,” Storm guard Skylar Diggins said during Wednesday’s introductory news conference. “Let’s get it.”

As with the six current teams in the PWHL, it may take the league a little while to “get it” done and give Seattle a name and logo.

With two new teams added to the mix, the PWHL will now focus on preparing Seattle and Vancouver for their inaugural seasons. Both expansion franchises are expected to appoint general managers and begin building out hockey operations and business staff in the coming months.

A formal expansion draft is in the final planning stages, with existing teams allowed to protect a limited number of players. The league has said its goal is to make both new teams competitive from the start.

More than 12,600 fans attended a Takeover Tour game between Montreal and Boston at Climate Pledge Arena in January. A 2022 Rivalry Series game between Canada and the U.S. at the same venue drew over 14,500 fans.
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With a thriving sports culture, proven fan interest, and a strong infrastructure, Seattle is poised to become a cornerstone of the PWHL’s future. As the league works toward a national U.S. TV deal and broader recognition, its arrival in the Pacific Northwest signals more than just expansion—it’s a strategic leap forward.





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