PWHL Expands West: Vancouver Scores First-Ever Women’s Pro Hockey Team

VANCOUVER, BC — The Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) is heading west. In a landmark announcement, league officials have confirmed that Vancouver will become the seventh team in the fast-growing women’s professional league, with play set to begin in the 2025–26 season.

This marks the PWHL’s first expansion since launching in 2024 and highlights the league’s commitment to growing the sport across North America. The Vancouver team will play out of the iconic Pacific Coliseum, a venue rich in hockey history, having previously housed the NHL’s Vancouver Canucks and WHL’s Vancouver Giants.

The team’s official name has not yet been revealed, but the franchise will temporarily operate under the placeholder “PWHL Vancouver.” The team’s colours will be Pacific blue and cream—a nod to the West Coast’s natural beauty and deep-rooted hockey culture.

PWHL Vancouver’s arrival comes on the heels of a wildly successful “Takeover Tour” stop in the city, where over 19,000 fans packed Rogers Arena for a neutral-site game earlier this season. That turnout sent a clear message: Vancouver is ready to support elite women’s hockey.

This expansion brings the league’s team count to seven, joining Boston, Minnesota, Montreal, New York, Ottawa, and Toronto. The PWHL operates under a single-entity model, funded by philanthropist Mark Walter and guided by tennis icon and equality advocate Billie Jean King, who serves on the Board of Directors.

More details about player acquisition—including how Vancouver will participate in the upcoming 2025 PWHL Draft on June 24—will be announced soon. For now, the focus is on building a competitive roster and continuing to engage fans in British Columbia and beyond.

The addition of Vancouver is a milestone not just for the league but for the sport as a whole. It represents a new chapter for women’s hockey, with growing momentum, increasing visibility, and now, a coast-to-coast presence.