PWHL Expands: Two New Teams Coming in 2025-26 Season

The Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) is gearing up for major growth, announcing plans to add two new franchises for the 2025-26 season. This exciting expansion will bring the total number of teams to eight, further solidifying the league’s commitment to growing women’s hockey.

Expansion Process Begins

Amy Scheer, the PWHL’s senior vice president of business operations, revealed the expansion plans during her speech at the ESPNW Summit in New York. Starting next week, the league will begin sending out requests for proposals (RFPs) to prospective markets and will also accept direct applications.

“We’re looking for the right market size, right fan base, right facilities, right economic opportunity — so a lot of research to be done over the next couple of months,” Scheer explained. “But yeah, looking to continue to build the league and grow the number of teams.”

Potential Expansion Cities

While the league hasn’t publicly disclosed specific target markets, several cities are considered strong contenders. Detroit and Pittsburgh, which hosted PWHL neutral site games during the inaugural season last year, are front-runners. Washington, D.C., and Philadelphia, both previously considered for original franchises, also remain possibilities. Denver and Seattle are seen as additional potential expansion cities.

Global Expansion Plans

Beyond expanding within North America, the PWHL is also exploring opportunities to take women’s hockey international. Scheer confirmed the league is working on staging games in Europe, although a specific timeline hasn’t been announced.

Exciting Developments for Season Two

The PWHL’s second season is set to kick off on November 30th. Fans can look forward to an expanded schedule with each team playing 30 games, up from 24 in the inaugural season. The league is planning nine neutral site games across North America and is even considering an outdoor game, adding another layer of excitement to the upcoming season.

Quebec City has already secured a neutral site game on January 19th, marking a significant step towards potentially landing an expansion team. The PWHL game will feature Ottawa facing off against Montreal at the Videotron Centre, further demonstrating the league’s growing presence in Canada.

Stay Tuned for More News

The PWHL’s expansion plans are sure to generate even more excitement for the future of women’s hockey. Keep checking back for updates on expansion cities, neutral site game locations, and the latest news from the league.