On April 30, 2025, Seattle erupted in celebration as it was officially named the eighth franchise in the Professional Women's Hockey League (PWHL). Just days earlier, on April 23, Vancouver had been announced as the league’s seventh team. Now, both cities are preparing for their much-anticipated debut in the 2025–26 season.
Excitement buzzed across the Pacific Northwest as more details emerged about how these two new teams would be built. The expansion process is designed to ensure competitive balance across the league, beginning with protected player lists, followed by an exclusive signing window, an expansion draft in June, and culminating in the 2025 PWHL Entry Draft on June 24 in Ottawa.
For Seattle, the team—temporarily known as PWHL Seattle—is beginning to take shape. The franchise will play a 30-game regular season starting in November 2025, with playoffs scheduled for May 2026. The Kraken Community Iceplex will serve as the team’s official practice facility. Sporting sea green and cream colors, inspired by the region’s natural landscapes and maritime heritage, the team’s official name and logo remain under wraps.
Meanwhile, Vancouver’s team will call the historic Pacific Coliseum home, practicing at the nearby PNE Agrodome. Like Seattle, it is being built from the ground up—strategically and carefully.
The league’s expansion structure requires each of the original six teams—Montreal, Toronto, Minnesota, New York, Ottawa, and Boston—to make four players from their 2024–25 rosters available. These unprotected players can be selected either during the exclusive signing window or in the expansion draft, contributing to the 23-player standard roster size each team must meet.
Key dates and details for the expansion roster process are outlined below, with more information on the signing window and draft order to come.
PLAYER PROTECTION LISTS DUE - June 3rd at Noon ET
Each of the six original PWHL teams can initially protect three players. Once a team loses two players—via the Exclusive Signing Window or Expansion Draft—it may protect a fourth. Protected players must be under contract or have their rights held for the 2025–26 season.
EXCLUSIVE SIGNING WINDOW - Opens June 4th, 9 a.m. ET - Closes June 8th, 5 p.m. ET
After protected lists are submitted, expansion teams get a five-day window to sign up to five players. There’s no minimum, and any unprotected or expiring-contract player is eligible.
2025 EXPANSION DRAFT - June 9th at 8:30 p.m. ET
In the Expansion Draft, Seattle and Vancouver will each select at least seven players to reach 12-player rosters. Teams with fewer pre-signed players will receive extra picks. Players eligible to be selected in the Expansion Draft consist of unprotected players under contract for the 2025–26 season or those whose playing rights are held through the 2025–26 season.
*Draft order and coverage details will be announced later.
2025 PWHL DRAFT - June 24th at 7 p.m. ET
The six-round 2025 PWHL Draft lets all eight teams select from a pool of eligible players, including recent grads and pros. New York picks first under the 'Gold Plan' system. The draft will be held at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, with full order announced later.
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