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
Toronto Tempo Could Make WNBA Attendance History in Montreal
The Toronto Tempo are on the verge of making WNBA history when they bring their Cross-Canada Series to Montreal next month.
The Tempo will face the Atlanta Dream at the Bell Centre on July 10, with the possibility of setting a new attendance record for a WNBA game. If the game sells out, more than 22,000 fans would fill the arena, surpassing the current WNBA regular-season attendance record of 20,711 set by the Washington Mystics at Capital One Arena in 2024.
A packed Bell Centre would also eclipse the WNBA playoff attendance record of 22,076, which was established during Game 3 of the 2003 WNBA Finals between the Detroit Shock and Los Angeles Sparks before being matched in Game 5 of the 2007 WNBA Finals between the Phoenix Mercury and Detroit Shock. It would mark the largest crowd ever for a professional women’s basketball regular-season game, breaking the previous record of 21,490 set during an Unrivaled game in Philadelphia earlier this year.
The potential milestone comes during the Tempo‘s inaugural WNBA season and would add another chapter to the continued growth of women’s basketball in Canada.
“Playing two games in Montreal this summer is a huge moment for the Tempo and for basketball in Canada,” said Tempo President Teresa Resch. “From the beginning, we’ve said we want to be Canada’s team, and bringing the WNBA to Montreal is an important part of that vision. There is such a strong and passionate basketball community in Quebec, and we’re excited to connect with fans there in a meaningful way. We can’t wait to experience the energy inside the Bell Centre and continue growing the game across the country together.”
The Cross-Canada Series will offer more than basketball. Throughout the weekend, the Tempo will host community events, youth programs and fan experiences aimed at growing the sport across Quebec.
The team is partnering with Ball Her Way and the Mathurin Family Foundation to increase access to basketball for young athletes, including a girls’ 3-on-3 tournament presented by Canadian Tire featuring teams from Montreal and Quebec City. The Tempo say more community investments and programming in the Montreal area will be announced in the coming months.
Fans can take part in Tempo Live at the Bell Centre on July 11. The free event will include interactive basketball activities, community clinics, exclusive merchandise and family-friendly entertainment.
The weekend concludes on July 12, when the Tempo host the defending WNBA champion New York Liberty at the Bell Centre at 3 p.m. ET as part of the Cross-Canada Series.
Tickets for both Montreal games are available through Ticketmaster.
Sports
Toronto Tempo Unveil Bold “Rebel” Uniform Ahead of Inaugural Home Opener
The Toronto Tempo have revealed their new “Rebel” edition uniform, giving fans a first look at the alternate jersey the team will wear during its inaugural WNBA season.
The unveiling comes just ahead of the Tempo’s first-ever home opener and marks another milestone for the league’s newest franchise as it continues to establish its identity on and off the court.
The Rebel uniform is part of the WNBA’s league-wide alternate jersey program, which encourages each franchise to create a design that reflects its values, community, and culture. For the Tempo, that vision extends beyond Toronto.
The front of the jersey features “Tempo” across the chest, reinforcing the organization’s message that, while the club calls Toronto home, it represents basketball fans across Canada. The design is centered around the team’s secondary “T” logo, with speed lines extending outward to symbolize movement, pace, and the style of play the Tempo hope to bring to the court.
The uniform is finished in Borealis Blue, offering a cool contrast to the team’s signature Tempo Bordeaux colour. Flowing lines throughout the shorts are meant to capture the rhythm and motion of basketball, creating a look that emphasizes speed and constant movement.
The jersey also highlights two of the franchise’s founding partners. Beauty retailer Sephora appears on the shoulder, while CIBC’s logo is featured on the front of the jersey.
“The Rebel uniform is where we push boundaries and fully express who we are as the Toronto Tempo,” said Whitney Bell, the team’s Chief Marketing Officer, in a statement. “It’s bold, unapologetic, and rooted in the energy of our city. Every detail is designed to celebrate individuality, creativity, and the next generation of athletes and fans redefining the game. This jersey isn’t just something you wear—it’s a statement about where we’re going.”
Fans won’t have to wait long to get their own. The Toronto Tempo’s Rebel jersey is available now through the team’s online store (shop.torontotempo.com) as excitement continues to build for the franchise’s first season in the WNBA.