The Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) is considering expansion, with plans to potentially add up to two new franchises for the 2025-26 season. League executives are open to exploring a wide range of North American markets, without any limitations on where to grow the league.
Jayna Hefford, the senior vice president of hockey operations, expressed optimism about the timing, stating, “This is a good opportunity for us to learn and continue to explore. Everything’s on the table right now.” The commitment to expansion aligns with the positive momentum generated in the league’s inaugural season, which began on January 1, 2023.
The league aims to build on its initial success as it prepares for its second season, which kicks off on November 30, 2023. During its first year, the PWHL averaged nearly 5,500 fans across 72 regular-season games and set a record for women’s professional hockey attendance, with 21,105 spectators at a game between Toronto and Montreal held at the NHL’s Bell Centre.
To facilitate the expansion process, the PWHL will issue requests for proposals (RFPs) to more than 20 markets by next week. Amy Scheer, senior VP for business operations, emphasized the openness of their search, saying, “We want to be an open book, and we want to consider new possibilities.” She added that the initial timeline aims for RFPs to be submitted by the end of December.
While the league currently has teams in locations such as Boston; Newark; St. Paul; Toronto; Montreal; and Ottawa, Scheer stated that geographic location or affiliation with NHL teams will not limit their search. Instead, they will prioritize market size, access to facilities, economic partnerships, and fan base potential as key factors in evaluating new markets.
Potential markets under consideration include Southern California, Seattle, Detroit, and Pittsburgh, which previously hosted neutral-site games for the PWHL. Other candidates in the U.S. could be Washington, D.C., Philadelphia, Chicago, and Denver. In Canada, Quebec City has already expressed interest in becoming a candidate, while Calgary could also be a possibility given its history with the Canadian Women’s Hockey League.
Expansion is anticipated to help create additional roster spots, addressing the increased demand for players, including European athletes looking to compete in North America and U.S. college graduates. Hefford noted that 167 players from 19 countries declared eligibility for the recent draft, yet only 42 were selected, highlighting the need for more teams to accommodate this growing talent pool.
The PWHL operates under a centrally controlled model, which provides long-term stability with substantial financial backing from owners like Mark Walter. The current collective bargaining agreement, effective through July 2031, supports the players while fostering a solid foundation for the league’s growth.
This season will see each team play an expanded schedule of 30 games, compared to 24 last year. Looking ahead, Scheer mentioned potential plans for outdoor games and international matches in Europe. The league is committed to a thoughtful and measured approach to expansion, emphasizing the importance of making decisions based on hockey growth and financial viability.
“Nobody here is making rash decisions,” Scheer assured, while Hefford acknowledged that the league is open to future expansion rounds, although she refrained from specifying an ideal number of teams. “We know we want to grow,” Hefford stated, indicating the league’s vision for the future.
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AP Women’s Hockey: https://apnews.com/hub/womens-hockey
