5/20/25

(Seattle, WA) On April 30, the PWHL (Professional Women’s Hockey League) announced its newest expansion team to Seattle, bringing the young league up to eight teams. Vancouver was also announced on April 23 as an expansion team. Seattle’s team is currently referred to as PWHL Seattle, with a name to be finalized at a later date. PWHL Seattle will play their home games at Climate Pledge Arena and practice at the Kraken Community Iceplex. The team will begin play for the 2025-26 season.

The Expansion Draft will be held on June 9 at 5:30 PM. The six inaugural teams will protect three players from selection in both the Exclusive Signing Window and the Expansion Draft. In the Exclusive Signing Window, which is open from June 4 at 6 AM to June 8 at 2 PM, both Vancouver and Seattle can sign any unprotected player or any player on an expiring contract during that time, up to a maximum of five players. During the Expansion Draft, the two teams will select a minimum of seven players each until they are at a 12-player roster.

The PWHL launched on January 1, 2024, with six franchises in Boston, Minnesota, Montréal, New York, Ottawa, and Toronto. On January 5, 12,608 fans packed Climate Pledge Arena in the PWHL Takeover Tour, where the Boston Fleet defeated the Montreal Victoire 3-2 in a shootout.

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