The PWHL Expands To Seattle… But What About Detroit!

The Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) is making significant strides in its expansion efforts, recently announcing Seattle as its latest franchise addition for the 2025–26 season. This move brings the league to eight teams, joining the original six and the previously announced Vancouver expansion. Seattle’s inclusion is particularly noteworthy given the city’s robust support for women’s sports and its existing infrastructure that includes the NHL’s Seattle Kraken and the WNBA’s Seattle Storm.

The new Seattle team, temporarily named PWHL Seattle, will don emerald green and cream colors and play home games at Climate Pledge Arena. The arena, shared with the Kraken and Storm, boasts a seating capacity of 17,151, making it the second-largest in the PWHL. The team’s training facility will be the Kraken Community Iceplex in Seattle’s Northgate neighborhood.

Seattle’s selection follows a successful PWHL Takeover Tour event in January, where a crowd of 12,608 fans demonstrated the city’s enthusiasm for women’s hockey. Amy Scheer, PWHL executive vice president of business operations, hailed Seattle as “the capital of women’s sports” during the official announcement.   

While Seattle celebrates its new team, Detroit is fervently campaigning for its own PWHL franchise. In March, Detroit hosted a PWHL game at Little Caesars Arena, drawing a record-breaking crowd of 14,288 fans—the highest attendance for a professional women’s hockey game in the United States. Fans held signs reading “PWHL DETROIT NEEDS A TEAM,” showcasing the city’s passion and readiness for a franchise.

Detroit’s efforts are part of the PWHL’s broader evaluation of potential expansion cities, which includes Denver, Vancouver, and Quebec. The league is considering factors such as market support, local business partnerships, and opportunities for community engagement. PWHL executive Amy Scheer emphasized that geography isn’t a limiting factor, stating that the league is open to expanding wherever there’s strong support and infrastructure.   

As the PWHL continues to grow and gain popularity, cities like Detroit remain hopeful for inclusion in future expansions. The league’s commitment to engaging with communities and fostering grassroots hockey programs suggests that passionate fan bases, like Detroit’s, have a compelling case for consideration.