Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) Announces Seattle Team

The Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) is officially coming to Seattle. Announced Tuesday, Seattle will be one of two new expansion teams, joining Vancouver as the league grows from six to eight teams. PWHL Seattle will hit the ice for the 2025-26 season and play home games at Climate Pledge Arena. The team’s colors will be emerald green and cream, with a full brand identity still to come.

The news comes just months after the city hosted a successful “Takeover Tour” game between Boston and Montreal, which drew 12,608 fans. That event helped spotlight Seattle’s appetite for professional women’s hockey.

“Seattle is an incredible sports city, and we’ve seen firsthand the passion for the women’s game,” said Kraken owner Samantha Holloway. “Together we’ll continue to inspire the next generation of hockey players and fans alike.”

The new franchise will be part of the PWHL’s single-entity model, run by The Walter Group. While separate from the NHL’s Kraken, PWHL Seattle will train at the Kraken Community Iceplex and benefit from the city’s growing hockey infrastructure. Kraken CEO Tod Leiweke called the addition “a continuation of what started when people believed in this arena before we even had a name.”

Fans can reserve their spot in line for season tickets starting Wednesday at 11 a.m. PT. Kraken season ticket holders will get first access via email.

PWHL EVP Jayna Hefford hinted at a budding cross-border rivalry: “Given the proximity of our two newest cities, I cannot wait for the first game in what I’m sure will be one of our fiercest rivalries.”

Each PWHL team will play 30 games, and league officials said the schedule will not interfere with other events at the busy Climate Pledge Arena, including any potential NBA team. A doubleheader day with NHL and PWHL games could b on the table.

Seattle’s deep roots in women’s hockey helped make the city a natural pick. Participation in youth girls’ hockey has grown 34% since the Kraken launched, and seven all-girls teams now compete in the area.

“Seattle is the capital of women’s sports,” said PWHL EVP Amy Scheer. “It’s a joy to have PWHL Seattle join the WNBA’s Storm and NWSL’s Reign, both skyscrapers in the city’s towering sports landscape.”

More details on the expansion draft and the 2025 PWHL Draft, set for June 24, are expected in the coming weeks.