The Professional Women's Hockey League (PWHL) is making a major power play by bringing the game to the Bay Area. According to two sources with direct knowledge of the discussions, San Jose, California, has been selected as the league's fourth and final expansion market. The news, first reported by The Hockey News, marks a pivotal moment for women's hockey on the West Coast.
This expansion is a game-changer in more ways than one. With San Jose joining the roster, the PWHL will grow to 12 teams—doubling its size since its inaugural season in 2024. The move not only broadens the league's geographical footprint but also strengthens its presence in the West, where it now has four teams: San Jose, Las Vegas, Seattle, and Vancouver.
The choice of San Jose is a natural fit. As the home of the NHL's Sharks, the city boasts a passionate hockey community and a ready-made venue in the SAP Center. This gives the PWHL a solid foothold in a market that's already buzzing with hockey energy. The league has been on an expansion blitz, adding franchises in Detroit and Hamilton, Ontario, over the past two weeks alone, showing its commitment to growing the game from coast to coast.
Behind the scenes, the PWHL is thinking strategically. Amy Scheer, the league's executive vice president of business operations, previously shared with the AP that geographic diversity and reducing travel time between markets are top priorities. She also hinted at the possibility of splitting into two conferences or divisions—a move that would make scheduling more efficient and rivalries even more intense.
For fans, this expansion means more hockey, more stars, and more opportunities to see the world's best women's players up close. The original six franchises—Boston, New York, Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto, and Minnesota—set a strong foundation, but the addition of San Jose and other new markets signals that the PWHL is skating full speed ahead. Whether you're a die-hard fan or new to the sport, this is a thrilling time to be part of the women's hockey community.