PWHL officially announces expansion franchise for Vancouver

Professional women’s hockey is coming to British Columbia.

It’s been expected for weeks, but the Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) made it official today.

Vancouver has been awarded a PWHL franchise and will begin play as the league’s seventh team during the 2025-26 season.

We’re expanding to Vancouver! 🗣️​@PWHL__Vancouver will begin playing in the 2025-26 season and call the Pacific Coliseum home. ​
📰 EN: https://t.co/b8ws18ZB4f
📰 FR: https://t.co/YKoXEkxTUC pic.twitter.com/fYvY3tMZCJ

— PWHL (@thepwhlofficial) April 23, 2025

"Expanding to Vancouver reflects the growing momentum behind the league and the incredible passion of our fanbase since launching in January 2024,” said Amy Scheer, the PWHL’s executive vice president of business operations.

“We’re proud to bring the PWHL to the West Coast and provide more fans with the opportunity to experience live the best women’s hockey players in the world.”

Although the team will operate as PWHL Vancouver until a permanent brand identity is announced, fans did get a look at the expansion franchise’s colours today.

Vancouver’s primary colour will be Pacific Blue and its secondary colour will be Cream.

Vancouver, we’re coming to you! 🗣️ pic.twitter.com/IRzhyXKPDz

— PWHL Vancouver (@PWHL__Vancouver) April 23, 2025

The club will play out of the Pacific Coliseum, the former home of the NHL’s Vancouver Canucks from 1970-95 and the WHL’s Vancouver Giants from 2001-16.

A statement from the PWHL said the Pacific Coliseum will “undergo comprehensive upgrades” ahead of the team’s debut this fall, as will the nearby PNE Agrodome which will serve as the team’s practice facility.

The bid to bring the PWHL to Vancouver was led by the PNE and its president and CEO, Shelley Frost, called this a “grey day for women’s sport in Vancouver.”

“We are honoured to have worked with the PWHL to be chosen host venue for this expansion franchise,” she noted.

“We are thrilled to support driving professional women’s sport in this city and at the Pacific Coliseum, a beloved venue continuing to deliver memorable player and guest experiences.”

Vancouver was one of several stops on the recent PWHL Takeover Tour and the game at Rogers Arena on Jan. 8, 2025, saw a tour-high sold-out crowd of 19,038.

Details about an expansion draft for PWHL Vancouver, and how the franchise will be integrated into the 2025 league draft on June 24, will be announced in the coming weeks.

The PWHL’s six founding clubs are the Montreal Victoire, Ottawa Charge, Toronto Sceptres, Boston Fleet, Minnesota Frost and New York Sirens.

Minnesota won the inaugural Walter Cup in 2024. The 2024-25 regular season is still underway and will wrap up on May 3 with the playoffs to follow.