Watch the PWHL expansion announcement

The Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) is set to make an exciting expansion announcement, with reports indicating that Vancouver will be the newest franchise. The news conference regarding expansion is scheduled for 2 p.m. ET/11 a.m. PT, and fans can tune in to the live stream coverage to catch all the details.

According to a news release from the PWHL, league executives will be available following the announcement to provide further information. While the league has not officially confirmed Vancouver as the expansion team, sources familiar with the decision have indicated that Vancouver will indeed be the first expansion city for the PWHL.

The new team is expected to be based out of the iconic Pacific Coliseum, the former home of the NHL’s Canucks. The PWHL has been evaluating potential expansion markets for the past six months, with Vancouver meeting several key criteria for the league’s growth.

In addition to being a large market, Vancouver has a strong base of girls’ hockey players, as evidenced by a recent sellout crowd of 19,038 at a neutral-site PWHL game in January. This indicates strong support for women’s hockey in the region.

Geography also played a role in selecting Vancouver as the expansion city, as the league aims to broaden its reach across North America. With current teams located in the Northeast and St. Paul, Minnesota, adding a team on the West Coast will further expand the league’s footprint.

The PWHL has been making strides in women’s professional hockey since its founding in June 2023 by Dodgers owner Mark Walter and tennis legend Billie Jean King. The addition of Vancouver as a franchise is sure to bring even more excitement and growth to the league.

Stay tuned for more details on the expansion announcement and the upcoming season of the Professional Women’s Hockey League.