Exactly one week after the PWHL officially announced their expansion to Vancouver for the 2025-26 season, the league made the long-expected announcement this morning that Seattle will also be joining the fold.
“We are looking forward to returning the love, energy and excitement the Seattle sports community shared with us during the PWHL Takeover Tour,” Amy Scheer, PWHL Executive Vice President of Business Operations, said in a press release. “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.”
The team will play at Climate Pledge Arena, home of the NHL’s Seattle Kraken and WNBA’s Seattle Storm, which holds 17,151 fans for hockey, and practice at the Kraken Community Iceplex.
“On behalf of the Seattle Kraken and Climate Pledge Arena, I am proud to welcome the Professional Women’s Hockey League to Seattle,” said Samantha Holloway, Kraken owner. “Seattle is an incredible sports city and we’ve seen firsthand the passion for the women’s game – at both the US v Canada Rivalry game and the PWHL Takeover Tour. 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 team’s colors will be Emerald Green and cream. Like Vancouver, the team will operate as PWHL Seattle until they settle on a permanent brand identity.
Seattle was the first stop on this season’s PWHL Takeover Tour, drawing the third-most fans among American cities with 12,608. The city officially joins the PWHL following an extensive Request for Proposal (RFP) process. The Oak View Group, which owns and operates Climate Pledge Arena, and the Seattle Kraken led the charge to bring a team to Seattle.
Per the press release, Seattle’s “best-in-class facilities, a growing youth hockey community, and passionate women’s sports fanbase” were among the many reasons it was chosen as an expansion city. The league also views it as a way to expand its reach and create another regional rivalry, given how close Seattle and Vancouver are to each other. The immediate partnership with the Kraken was also a big draw, and the PWHL plans to solidify itself as a major player in the community while continuing to grow the sport through camps, clinics, and community events across the Seattle area.
There is a long history of women’s hockey in Seattle, and interestingly, a long history between Seattle and Vancouver. The first known organized women’s team in Seattle was the Seattle Hockeyettes, formed by the wives of the Pacific Coast Hockey Association’s Seattle Metropolitans in 1917. The Seattle Vamps are better known after they played a series against the Vancouver Amazons in 1920, which were perhaps the first international hockey games in North America. The teams then met again in the first international tournament in 1921.
“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,” Jayna Hefford, PWHL Executive Vice President of Hockey Operations, said in a press release. “Women’s teams from Seattle and Vancouver played against each other as early as 1921 [sic] 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. 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.”
There will be an expansion draft this summer, with details to be announced in the coming weeks. Information on how the teams will be integrated into the 2025 entry draft will also be released around that time.