Home / Sports / PWHL Expands: Seattle, Vancouver Join League's 3rd Season
PWHL Expands: Seattle, Vancouver Join League's 3rd Season
21 Nov
Summary
- The PWHL now features eight teams with expansion to Seattle and Vancouver.
- New expansion rules aimed to make new teams competitive from day one.
- Season 3 includes a lengthy break for the 2026 Milan-Cortina Olympics.
The Professional Women's Hockey League (PWHL) is launching its third season with an expanded league of eight franchises, including newly added teams in Seattle and Vancouver. These expansion teams, the Seattle Torrent and Vancouver Goldeneyes, were strategically built with generous rules to ensure immediate competitiveness. The league's third season officially commenced with opening games on Friday, featuring established teams and the inaugural matchups for the new franchises.
The expansion involved existing teams protecting only three players, leading to a significant movement of skilled talent. Seattle acquired stars like Hilary Knight and Alex Carpenter, while Vancouver bolstered its roster with elite defenders and forwards. Both new franchises will play in renovated arenas, with the Torrent at Climate Pledge Arena and the Goldeneyes at the Pacific Coliseum.
Season 3 will feature 120 games, an increase from the previous season, running from November 21 to April 25, with a nearly month-long pause for the 2026 Milan-Cortina Olympics. Rule changes for the upcoming season include requiring each team to carry three goalies and eliminating coaches' challenges for video reviews. Broadcast rights in Canada are split among major networks, while U.S. viewers can access games regionally and via international streams on YouTube.
