PWHL announces Seattle for 2nd expansion franchise, plans to add 2 more by 2026-27, AP source says

The PWHL is expanding to eight teams next season by adding Seattle as its second new franchise alongside Vancouver, and The Associated Press has learned that plans already are in the works to add two more in a year's time.

Seattle's addition, announced Wednesday, gives the PWHL a strong foothold in the Pacific Northwest and comes a week after the unveiling of the new team in Vancouver for the 2025-26 season. The westward move broadens the league's reach across North America, pairs two markets separated by a three-hour drive and captures Seattle's history of supporting women's sports.

Seattle will now be home to three women's pro sports leagues, with the PWHL team joining the WNBA's Storm and NWSL's Reign. And it was fitting for Storm star Skylar Diggins to open the news conference and formally welcome women's hockey.

''This city takes incredible pride in its women's sports teams. We show up for one another. We support each other and we help build this community together,'' Diggins said. ''I know Seattle fans will embrace you guys with the same passion and pride as they've done for us. So welcome to the family, PWHL. Let's get it.''

Amy Scheer, the PWHL's executive vice president of business operations, referred to Seattle as the ''capital of women's sports,'' and recognized the numerous female owners and executives of the Storm, Reign and NHL's Kraken in attendance.

''We're here because of you, and you've made this possible for us, so thank you for paving the way,'' Scheer said.

As for pairing Seattle and Vancouver, Scheer told the AP earlier that the geography ''made a ton of sense,'' and the league hoped the two would establish a natural rivalry. ''But most importantly is they met all the criteria in terms of what we were looking for,'' she added.

The PWHL plans to grow to 10 teams for its 2026-27 season, a person with knowledge of discussions told the AP, speaking on condition of anonymity because the talks were to remain private. The person said the league is accelerating its plans based on the strength of responses and feedback received during its eight-month expansion search in which the PWHL considered more than 20 markets.

Scheer didn't entirely dispute the plan, without providing an exact timetable.

''I think we've been pretty clear from the outset that this is the first year of a multiyear process,'' Scheer said as the PWHL closes the final week of the regular season. ''It could come in Year 4. It could come Year 5. I think that those conversations are still being had.''

Neutral-site stops this season in Denver, Detroit, Quebec City and Edmonton each topped 14,000 fans.

The new team initially will go by PWHL Seattle and its colors will be emerald green and cream. The team will play in the Kraken's Climate Pledge Arena and practice at the Kraken Community Iceplex.

Oak View has longtime ties to women's hockey and expressed interest in landing an original six franchise when the league was established in June 2023 by Los Angeles Dodgers owner Mark Walter, his wife, Kimbra, and tennis icon Billie Jean King.

Seattle features a growing youth hockey program and previously showed support for women's hockey. In November 2022, Seattle drew a U.S.-Canada Rivalry Series record crowd of 14,551. In January, the PWHL drew a crowd of 12,608 in Seattle when kicking off its nine-game Takeover Tour of neutral-site games.

''Seattle is an incredible sports city and we've seen firsthand the passion for the women's game,'' Kraken owner Samantha Holloway said. ''We're also proud to grow the game of hockey ... and together we'll continue to inspire the next generation of hockey players and fans alike.''

Jayna Hefford, the PWHL's executive vice president of hockey operations, noted women's hockey in the region dates to 1921, when the Seattle Vamps and Vancouver Amazons competed in what's believed to be women's hockey's first international tournament.

''A new chapter of this Pacific Northwest rivalry begins now,'' Hefford said. ''We're not just honoring that history. We are reigniting it.''

The PWHL's accelerated expansion plans coincide with a deep pool of college talent anticipated to enter the league over the next two years. The league's growth also is expected to lure more Europeans to North America.

''Upon launch, you've got six teams and maybe if you're not North American, you don't know really what to expect,'' Hefford said. ''Now I think these players are seeing that this league is here, it's thriving, it's growing, and they are going to want to be a part of it.''

Scheer was impressed by the response when overseeing the expansion search.

''I feel more encouraged than ever about what our business looks like and what our business can be,'' she said. ''As we look to expand and move beyond Year 3, we'll have plenty of suitors along the way as we look to grow.''

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