PWHL confirms Vancouver as first expansion team

The Professional Women's Hockey League officially announced Wednesday that Vancouver will join as the league's seventh franchise, and that the expansion club will debut in the 2025-26 season.

Vancouver's primary color will be "pacific blue," with its secondary color being cream. Details about an expansion draft and how Vancouver will be integrated into the 2025 PWHL Draft on June 24 will be announced in the coming weeks.

The team will play its home games at the Pacific Coliseum, which is located on the property of the Pacific National Exhibition, and the practice facility will be located at the PNE Agrodome. The league said both facilities will undergo "comprehensive upgrades" to the locker rooms and training facilities.

The PWHL launched in 2024 with six clubs, and Vancouver's addition represents the start of westward expansion. The charter teams are the Boston Fleet, Minnesota Frost, Montreal Victoire, New York Sirens, Ottawa Charge and Toronto Sceptres.

The PWHL held what it called a Takeover Tour, with games being played in nine non-league cities throughout North America. The highest turnout came in January when the league hosted a game in Vancouver with nearly 19,000 fans on hand. A stop in Seattle attracted more than 12,000 people -- a positive sign should the PWHL desire to place two teams in the Pacific Northwest.

"This is a historic day for our league, our fans, our athletes, and our sport," Amy Scheer, PWHL Executive Vice President of Business Operations, said in a statement. "Vancouver is a vibrant city with a deep love for the game -- as we saw firsthand during the PWHL Takeover Tour earlier this season.

"Expanding to Vancouver reflects the growing momentum behind the league and the incredible passion of our fanbase since launching in January 2024. We're proud to bring the PWHL to the West Coast and provide more fans with the opportunity to experience live the best women's hockey players in the world."

The PWHL is owned by Mark Walter, owner of the Los Angeles Dodgers, and his wife, Kimbra.

--Field Level Media