Torrent promote Christine Bumstead to head coach

The Seattle Torrent promoted Christine Bumstead to head coach on Thursday.

Bumstead was an assistant coach during the PWHL club's first season in 2025-26 under Steve O'Rourke, who parted ways with the organization last month following a last-place finish in the eight-team league.

"Season one in Seattle was special, and I am humbled and honored to continue building on it," Bumstead said in a news release. "I believe Seattle is the best city in the world for women's sports. Our fans showed up night in and night out, and it has been a privilege to be on the bench representing them. I am beyond grateful for the trust placed in me to help lead this organization."

Bumstead spent four seasons as an assistant coach at the University of Saskatchewan before joining Seattle. She also worked in player development with the Western Hockey League's Saskatoon Blades, becoming the first female coach in that organization's history.

A new era behind the bench ??

We are proud to announce Christine Bumstead as the head coach of the Seattle Torrent beginning with the 2026-2027 season. Bumstead previously served as an assistant coach during the Torrent's inaugural season.
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— Seattle Torrent (@PWHL__Seattle) June 11, 2026

"Christine brings a valuable combination of hockey expertise, leadership presence, and an unwavering commitment to high standards," general manager Meghan Turner said. "Her unique background in education and diverse coaching resume, combined with a strong natural ability to build trust and meaningful connections, make her well-suited to lead our team. I'm confident that Christine's vision and style will set us on the right path as we build into our second season and strive toward our goal of bringing the Walter Cup home to Seattle."

--Field Level Media