The PWHL added a second expansion team that will hit the ice for the 2025-26 season, announcing a Seattle team on Tuesday. The announcement was made at Climate Pledge Arena, home of the NHL’s Seattle Kraken and the press release said the bid for a team was led by Oak View Group, the developers and operators of Climate Pledge Arena, alongside the Kraken.

The unnamed PWHL Seattle team will play at Climate Pledge and train at the Kraken Community Iceplex. They become the eighth team in the league, joining nearby Vancouver, who were announced on April 24 as the seventh team, as well as Toronto, Montreal, Ottawa, Boston, New York and Minnesota. As with all other teams in the league, the Seattle team will join the league’s single-entity ownership structure under The Walter Group.

“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,” said Samantha Holloway, Kraken owner.

Per the league’s press release, Seattle team primary color will be emerald green, with cream as its secondary color. As with Vancouver, no further details were provided on branding, name or an expansion draft. The league again said details regarding an expansion draft, and how the new teams will take part in the 2025 Draft, will be announced in the coming weeks. That draft is scheduled to take place June 24 at 7 p.m. ET at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Ottawa.

With an already strong foundation of supporting women's sports in the area, Seattle's bid was also bolstered by a commitment from the Kraken, the newest NHL expansion franchise, to assist with marketing, ticket sales and partnerships.

“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 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.”

Seattle has emerged as a massive hockey town first with the Kraken and then with a Rivalry Series tour stop in December 2022 that set a US Women's National Team attendance record on home soil with 14,551 fans. The PWHL Takeover Tour game in Seattle drew more than 12,000 fans.

“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,” said Jayna Hefford, PWHL Executive Vice President of Hockey Operations.

With the two team announcements, the PWHL has expanded their footprint from coast to coast in North America and the two teams now have a natural geographical rival.

“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 Hefford.

Additionally, according to the Associated Press, the league has accelerated plans for further expansion and the expectation is that two more teams will join for the 2026-27 season. That decision stems from the number and strength of bids that were submitted for this initial expansion round.

(Photos: PWHL)