Sports
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.
Sports
PWHL Opening Weekend Scheduled For December 5-6
The Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) today announced that the 2026-27 regular season will open the weekend of Dec. 5-6 with six games and all 12 teams in action, featuring historic debuts of the league’s four expansion teams. As part of season-opening puck drop, PWHL fans will be introduced to national broadcast platforms, including CBC’s Hockey Night in Canada and the ION Game of the Week, delivering comprehensive live TV coverage to fans across Canada and the United States.
Season 4 of the PWHL officially begins on Saturday, Dec. 5 at 3 p.m. ET when the Vancouver Goldeneyes and Seattle Torrent renew their pacific northwest rivalry at the Pacific Coliseum, marking the second straight year the league’s first West Coast teams go head-to-head to open the season.
Then, at 7 p.m. ET, the first women’s hockey game to be featured on CBC’s Hockey Night in Canada will be between the reigning Walter Cup champion Montréal Victoire and PWHL Hamilton at Place Bell. The return of the 90th consecutive season of the iconic Saturday night broadcast, the longest-running sports program in the world, was announced today by Canada’s national public broadcaster and is part of CBC/Radio-Canada’s expanded commitment to Canadian sports coverage. Additionally, Radio-Canada’s new radio broadcast rights will provide exclusive live audio coverage for all Montréal Victoire games in French to fans in Canada.
Also at 7 p.m. ET, PWHL San Jose will be the first new expansion team to play on home ice as they welcome the Minnesota Frost to SAP Center, airing in the U.S. on ION, Scripps’ national sports and entertainment network. The Saturday Game of the Week is the first in a landmark partnership between the PWHL and Scripps Sports, announced on Sept. 9, representing the league’s first season-long national television package in the U.S.
Opening weekend action continues on Sunday, Dec. 6, at 2 p.m. ET with a provincial clash between Ontario rivals the Ottawa Charge and Toronto Sceptres at Canadian Tire Centre, followed by another Inaugural Six showdown with the New York Sirens hosting the Boston Fleet at Prudential Center at 3 p.m. ET. At 8 p.m. ET, the season’s first all-expansion matchup takes place at T-Mobile Arena where PWHL Las Vegas hosts PWHL Detroit. Additional PWHL National broadcast details will be announced as part of the full 2026-27 schedule release this Friday, Oct. 2.
Tickets are on sale beginning at 11 a.m. ET for all 12 PWHL home openers listed below. Fans interested in multiple games can purchase Season Ticket Memberships and Half Packs where available, offering the best value and benefits. Flex packs will also be made available in all PWHL markets with the full schedule release. For more information, visit thepwhl.com/tickets. Fans can also stay up to date on detailed ticketing information for their preferred team by signing up for team-specific email lists by visiting team pages on thepwhl.com.
PWHL HOME OPENERS BY DATE
VANCOUVER GOLDENEYES – Saturday, Dec. 5 at 3 p.m. ET vs. Seattle Torrent at Pacific Coliseum
MONTRÉAL VICTOIRE – Saturday, Dec. 5 at 7 p.m. ET vs. PWHL Hamilton at Place Bell
PWHL SAN JOSE – Saturday, Dec. 5 at 7 p.m. ET vs. Minnesota Frost at SAP Center
OTTAWA CHARGE – Sunday, Dec. 6 at 2 p.m. ET vs. Toronto Sceptres at Canadian Tire Centre
NEW YORK SIRENS – Sunday, Dec. 6 at 3 p.m. ET vs. Boston Fleet at Prudential Center
PWHL LAS VEGAS – Sunday, Dec. 6 at 8 p.m. ET vs. PWHL Detroit at T-Mobile Arena
TORONTO SCEPTRES – Tuesday, Dec. 8 at 7 p.m. ET vs. PWHL Hamilton at Coca-Cola Coliseum
BOSTON FLEET – Wednesday, Dec. 9 at 7 p.m. ET vs. Ottawa Charge at Agganis Arena
PWHL DETROIT – Saturday, Dec. 12 at 12 p.m. ET vs. New York Sirens at Little Caesars Arena
PWHL HAMILTON – Sunday, Dec. 13 at 2 p.m. ET vs. Ottawa Charge at TD Coliseum
MINNESOTA FROST – Sunday, Dec. 13 at 2 p.m. ET vs. Seattle Torrent at Grand Casino Arena
SEATTLE TORRENT – Sunday, Dec. 20 at 7 p.m. ET vs. PWHL Las Vegas at Climate Pledge Arena
Sports
Vancouver Rise FC part ways with head coach Anja Heiner-Møller
Vancouver Rise FC announced on Monday that the club has parted ways with head coach Anja Heiner-Møller. Rise FC will be led on the field for the remainder of the 2026 season by the continuing coaching staff of Iain Darbyshire, Katie Collar, and Erin McNulty. Darbyshire will take on the role of interim head coach.
Heiner-Møller, the first head coach in Rise FC history, departs the club with an 18W-18L-8D record in the Northern Super League (NSL) regular season, as well as a memorable playoff run in the inaugural season that ended with a first ever NSL championship.
“We are grateful to Anja for her many contributions to the club, making history as an important part of Rise FC winning the inaugural Diana B. Matheson Cup,” said Robyn Gayle, Rise FC chief soccer officer. “This was a difficult decision and we wish Anja the very best. We have built high expectations, and it’s on all of us, staff and players, to continue raising the standards to meet them. We are focused on moving forward and making a strong push to finish the season successfully.”
Darbyshire joined Rise FC as an assistant coach prior to the start of the 2026 season after serving as Cardiff City FC head of women’s & girls football since July 2020. Under his leadership, Cardiff City FC Women enjoyed a period of unprecedented success, winning eight trophies in six years.
Collar has been with Rise FC since the team started in 2025, after previously leading the Rise FC Academy (formerly Whitecaps FC Girls Elite). Under Collar, the academy won the League1 BC (now BCPL) title in three straight seasons, as well as two straight League1 Canada Inter-Provincial Championships, and the 2023 FIFA/Blue Stars Youth Cup.
McNulty, a UEFA A licensed goalkeeper coach, serves as assistant coach and goalkeeper coach. Following a playing career in Canada, the United States, and Europe, McNulty moved into coaching, including prolonged success with the Rise FC Academy alongside Collar.
Both Collar and McNulty have also spent time coaching with Canada’s national team programs.
Rise FC return to play this coming Sunday, September 13 in a crucial home match against Ottawa Rapid FC at Swangard Stadium. Kickoff will be at 1 p.m. PT.
Message from Anja Heiner-Møller:
“To the fans of Vancouver Rise FC,
My time as head coach has come to an end.
I am proud of what we have built and accomplished, and most importantly from my end, I have done it being true to my values as a coach and human being. I feel that we have shared those values and the passion for this city, Rise FC and sports in general.
I want nothing else than success for Vancouver Rise FC, and I am grateful for the time I had leading this team from the very start of the inaugural season of 2025, the journey to winning the Championship of 2025 and to the tight battle of making the playoffs in the season of 2026.
I am very aware that fans of Vancouver Rise FC are special and you are a big part of this club. We appreciate you and all the things you do for the team. You are supportive, kind, enthusiastic and dedicated, and we have felt your support from the beginning.
Thank you for your support and all the best in the future!
Anja”