PWHL Seattle
| PWHL Seattle | |
|---|---|
 | |
| City | Seattle, Washington |
| League | PWHL |
| Founded | 2025 |
| Home arena | Climate Pledge Arena |
| Colors | Emerald green, cream |
| Owner(s) | Mark Walter Group |
| General manager | Meghan Turner |
| Head coach | Steve O'Rourke |
| Captain | TBD |
| Website | www |
| Championships | |
| Regular season titles | 0 |
| Walter Cups | 0 |
PWHL Seattle is the working name for an upcoming professional ice hockey team based in Seattle, Washington, United States, that will compete in the Professional Women's Hockey League (PWHL). They are the league's second expansion franchise and will join in the 2025–26 season alongside PWHL Vancouver. The team will play home games at the Climate Pledge Arena, which is also home to the Seattle Kraken of the National Hockey League.
History
[edit]Seattle had been considered for a potential PWHL expansion team and hosted a league game during the Takeover Tour in January 2025. The Boston Fleet played the Montreal Victoire at Seattle's Climate Pledge Arena and drew a crowd of 12,608. Seattle also holds the record for the most attended women's hockey game in the United States, having drawn 14,551 for a Rivalry Series game between the United States and Canada women's national teams in 2022.[1]
The PWHL announced their expansion to Seattle on April 30, 2025. The Seattle team is the eighth franchise in the league and second expansion team, part of the league's first round of expansions alongside PWHL Vancouver. The team will begin play in the 2025–26 season. They will play their home games at Climate Pledge Arena, shared with the Seattle Kraken of the National Hockey League and Seattle Storm of the WNBA. The team's colors, emerald green and cream, are described as similar to the Storm's.[2] The Kraken, who were part of the bidding group alongside arena operator Oak View Group, will assist the PWHL team in marketing and business operations.[3] On June 20, 2025, former Oshawa Generals head coach, Steve O'Rourke, was named the team's inaugural coach.[4]
Team identity
[edit]As part of the expansion announcement, the team's colors were revealed to be emerald green and cream. Like the original six teams of the PWHL did during the 2023–24 PWHL season, the team will temporarily operate as PWHL Seattle until a permanent team identity is decided.[2] Given their close proximity to one another, the team is expected to have a rivalry with PWHL Vancouver.[5][2]
Arena
[edit]The team will play at Climate Pledge Arena, which it shares with the Seattle Kraken of the National Hockey League and Seattle Storm of the WNBA. It has a seating capacity of 17,151, making it the second-largest arena in the PWHL by capacity.[2] The team's training facility will be the Kraken Community Iceplex in the Northgate neighborhood of Seattle, which it will share with the Kraken.[5]
Players and personnel
[edit]Head coaches
[edit]- Steve O'Rourke, 2025–present
First-round draft picks
[edit]- 2025: Jenna Buglioni (8th overall)
References
[edit]- ^ Shefte, Kate (January 5, 2025). "As PWHL takes over CPA, crowd makes it clear 'Seattle wants its own team'". The Seattle Times. Retrieved April 30, 2025.
- ^ a b c d Shefte, Kate (April 30, 2025). "PWHL expanding to Seattle. Here's what we know". The Seattle Times. Retrieved April 30, 2025.
- ^ Salvian, Hailey (April 30, 2025). "PWHL expanding to Seattle for 2025-26 season, Kraken to play supporting role". The Athletic. Retrieved May 4, 2025.
- ^ "PWHL Seattle names Steve O'Rourke as first-ever head coach". thepwhl.com. June 20, 2025. Retrieved June 20, 2025.
- ^ a b Donkin, Karissa (April 30, 2025). "PWHL continues West Coast expansion, adding franchise in Seattle". CBC Sports. Retrieved April 30, 2025.
