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PWHL Announces First Expansion Team in Vancouver

Originally posted on The Hockey Writers | By Jess Amato | Last updated Apr 24, 2025 11:38 AM ET

On April 23, the Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) announced their first expansion team in the league at a press conference in Vancouver. The PWHL currently consists of six teams: the New York Sirens, Boston Fleet, Minnesota Frost, Montreal Victoire, Ottawa Charge, and Toronto Sceptres. The PWHL’s seventh franchise will be located in Vancouver. With a league currently centralized on the East Coast, this is their first West Coast team.

We’re expanding to Vancouver! @PWHL__Vancouver will begin playing in the 2025-26 season and call the Pacific Coliseum home.
EN: https://t.co/b8ws18ZB4f
FR: https://t.co/YKoXEkxTUC pic.twitter.com/fYvY3tMZCJ
— PWHL (@thepwhlofficial) April 23, 2025

The Vancouver franchise will be set to play in the 2025-26 season, the third season of the PWHL. The team will play in the Pacific Coliseum, and their practice facility will be located in the PNE Agrodome. Both buildings will receive updates to prepare for the team’s launch.

The league unveiled the team colours, Pacific Blue and Cream, but there is no official name yet. The team will operate under the name PWHL Vancouver until one is announced, similar to how the original six teams operated in the first season.

The PWHL is set to have their 2025 Draft in Ottawa on June 24, but Vancouver will have an expansion draft prior to the 2025 Draft. Information on this will be announced in the next few weeks.

Women’s hockey is certainly growing, and the PWHL is proving this with an expansion team out west.