The Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) is coming to San Jose for the 2026-27 season.
The PWHL announced its fourth and final expansion team for the 2026-2027 season on Tuesday, May 19.
In the past two weeks, the league introduced new teams in Detroit, Hamilton, and Las Vegas. The announcement expands the league to 12 teams, which include the original six, the Toronto Sceptres, Montreal Victoire, Ottawa Charge, Minnesota Frost, Boston Fleet, New York Sirens, and last year’s expansion teams: the Vancouver Goldeneyes and Seattle Torrent.
San José Mayor Matt Mahan expressed excitement about welcoming a PWHL team to the city.
“San José is cementing its reputation as the premier destination for women’s sports in our region — and today’s announcement is another major win for our city,” he said.
San Jose will play its home games in the SAP Centre and practice at the Sharks Ice. The bid for this team was led by Sharks Sports & Entertainment and the City of San Jose.
The team colours will be a “bright, bold palette of orange, blue, and white, inspired by the San Jose flag and reflecting the Bay Area’s optimistic energy,” reads a PWHL news release Tuesday (May 19).
San Jose will be the fourth PWHL team to play in the West, joining Seattle and Vancouver and newly annouced Las Vegas. This will expand “the league’s footprint and offer more balance for schedule and travel,” said the PWHL release.
Northern California is a news market for professional women’s hockey, but due to the San Jose Sharks’ hard work, they 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.”
The area is no stranger to professional women’s sports, as the NWSL Bay FC and WNBA’s Golden State Valkyries moved in 2024 and 2025, respectively. Fans broke league attendance records for both teams.
Amy Scheer, PWHL Executive Vice President, Business Operations, said, “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.”
The PWHL ownership structure differs from other leagues, with all teams owned and operated by The Walter Group.
PWHL hockey is here, California! pic.twitter.com/dl1YYx134y
— PWHL San Jose (@PWHL_SanJose) May 19, 2026