PWHL announces expansion to San Jose, will start in 2026-27
Women’s hockey is heading to sunny California.
On Tuesday, the Professional Women’s Hockey League announced it is expanding to San Jose, with the team beginning play in the 2026-27 season.
San Jose is the 12th franchise in league history and the fourth expansion team announced this month. Almost two weeks ago, the league revealed that Detroit will be getting a team next season. Then, Las Vegas and Hamilton were announced last week. The new organization in Northern California fulfills the PWHL’s plan to add four teams in time for its fourth season.
“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,” Amy Scheer, PWHL Executive Vice President, Business Operations, said in a release. “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.”
The new team will play at the SAP Center, sharing with the NHL’s San Jose Sharks.
While Detroit and Hamilton were considered frontrunners for expansion because of the league’s presence in their markets, San Jose kind of came out of nowhere. The city certainly has a love for hockey, as the Sharks have quietly one of the most passionate fanbases in the NHL, but, like Las Vegas, since there were no Takeover Tour games in San Jose, few believed that California was a destination for the PWHL.
San Jose has held some notable women’s hockey games over the years. Back in 1995, it hosted the Women’s Pacific Rim Championship, which ended with Canada beating the United States in the final. Team USA and Canada also played exhibition games in 1998 and 2001 in San Jose, with the National Women’s Team Series and Rivlary Series making stops in the Bay Area in 2017 and 2024.
The franchise doesn’t have long before it can do business. The team will be able to start signing players in the coming weeks in a revamped expansion roster-building format, with the 2026 PWHL Draft taking place in Detroit on June 17.