After continued speculation on where the 2-4 expansion franchises could end up in the Professional Women’s Hockey League, we got our answer on the final team as it was announced today that San Jose will become the home for the final expansion team.
PWHL San Jose will debut in the 2026-27 season with their home games being played at SAP Center.
PWHL’s Press Release
San Jose and the Bay Area represent a compelling next step for the future of the PWHL, featuring a unique combination of established professional and youth hockey culture, record-setting support for women’s sports, continued opportunity for league geographic diversity, and a strong corporate base.
While Northern California is a new market for pro women’s hockey, the San Jose Sharks have helped build a strong local hockey community in the Bay Area, which boasts one of the largest ice facilities in the Western United States, while California ranks sixth in the country in girls’ hockey participation behind five colder-climate regions. Off the ice, after welcoming the NWSL’s Bay FC and the WNBA’s Golden State Valkyries in 2024 and 2025 respectively, fans have propelled both teams to league attendance records. San Jose’s location places four PWHL teams in the Pacific Time Zone, expanding the league’s footprint and offering more balance for scheduling and travel.
Today’s announcement also unveils PWHL San Jose’s official team colors: a bright, bold palette of orange, blue, and white, inspired by the San Jose flag and reflecting the Bay Area’s optimistic energy. Orange is also a nod to the Sharks and the region’s historic orange groves, while blue evokes the beauty of California’s ocean coastline and sky.
San Jose follows Detroit, Hamilton, and Las Vegas as the PWHL’s 2026-27 expansion markets, joining the league’s eight current markets — Boston, Minnesota, Montréal, New York, Ottawa, Seattle, Toronto, and Vancouver. Details about a forthcoming expansion roster building process, and how expansion teams will be integrated into the 2026 PWHL Draft, will be announced in the coming weeks.
Noteworthy Quotes
“Between a deeply rooted hockey culture, rapidly booming women’s sports scene, and a community known for growth and innovation, San Jose offers a dynamic stage for the PWHL to expand its reach and build lasting momentum,” said Amy Scheer, PWHL Executive Vice President, Business Operations. “Thanks to the San Jose Sharks and City of San Jose’s incredible support systems already in place to grow our sport across the Bay Area, and their enthusiasm for embracing the future of women’s hockey, we have the foundation to establish a lasting and impactful new home for the PWHL in San Jose. Together, we’re excited to inspire and excite fans and grow hockey together on the West Coast.”
“We are honored the PWHL has chosen San José as the site of its latest expansion team, joining the NHL’s San Jose Sharks and the AHL’s San Jose Barracuda,” said Jonathan Becher, Sharks Sports & Entertainment President. “From its humble beginnings with an NHL expansion team in 1991, San José is now truly a ‘hockey city.’ Boasting three professional hockey teams and Sharks Ice, a six-sheet public recreational ice facility, San José hosts one of the largest collection of boys, girls, and adult hockey players in the U.S. Personally, I can’t wait until opening night of PWHL San Jose later this year.”
“We are incredibly proud to welcome the PWHL to San Jose and the Bay Area as the league’s fourth expansion team to debut for the 2026-27 season,” said John Poch, Executive Director of the San Jose Sports Authority. “This announcement reflects San Jose’s longstanding commitment to women’s sports and our proven track record of hosting world-class events that inspire athletes, engage fans, and elevate our community. From the NCAA Women’s Final Four and multiple NCAA Women’s College Cups to the NWSL Championship, FIFA Women’s World Cup matches, USA Women’s Hockey, and countless other premier events, the Bay Area has consistently demonstrated that it embraces and supports women’s sports at the highest level. With the tremendous leadership of the San Jose Sharks and Sharks Sports & Entertainment, the support of the City of San Jose, and the passionate fan base throughout our region, we are excited to help build a lasting and impactful home for professional women’s hockey at SAP Center.”
Fans can follow the team on Facebook PWHL San Jose, Instagram @PWHL_SanJose, Twitter @PWHL_SanJose, TikTok @PWHL_SanJose, YouTube PWHL San Jose, Threads @PWHL_SanJose, Bluesky @PWHL-SanJose.
Press Release and Quotes courtesy of PWHL PR.
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