The Professional Women's Hockey League (PWHL) is shaking up its expansion strategy, opting for a player-first approach that ditches the traditional expansion draft format. Instead of the standard selection process, the league will roll out multiple signing windows designed to give athletes greater control over their next moves, according to a document obtained by The Athletic.
On Sunday, the PWHL Players’ Association shared a detailed guide with its members outlining the expansion roster-building plan, which assumes the league will add four new teams for the 2026-27 season. The process spans five distinct phases, with the first tentatively slated to begin on May 28. PWHLPA Executive Director Malaika Underwood confirmed in an email to players that the league has indicated it intends to move forward with a four-team expansion, though the league itself has yet to finalize the number of teams or their locations.
"Nothing is finalized at this time," the PWHL said in a statement, adding that expansion plans are being developed in close collaboration with the players' association. "Our approach has been thoughtful and player-focused."
This marks a notable pivot from last year's expansion, which saw the Vancouver Goldeneyes and Seattle Torrent join the league. In that inaugural expansion draft, the original six teams were only allowed to protect three players each, flooding the new franchises with top-tier talent—including U.S. star Hilary Knight and five of six first-round picks from the 2024 draft class. Despite being stacked on paper, both Seattle and Vancouver struggled in their debut seasons, finishing near the bottom of the standings and missing the playoffs.
This time around, the league is prioritizing player autonomy. As Underwood explained in a Friday email, the new system aims "to protect as much player choice as possible throughout the process." The revised approach, she added in a subsequent message, "is a significant change that gives players more opportunities" to shape their careers, making the expansion process as much about empowerment as it is about growth.