The Seattle Torrent are no longer playing for a spot in the 2026 PWHL playoffs after they were officially eliminated Tuesday night following their loss to Vancouver. Instead, the Torrent are now aiming fro draft order points to earn the PWHL's first overall pick.
The Seattle Torrent had a memorable first season, although their inaugural campaign didn't end as hoped. The team regularly brought large crowds to Climate Pledge Arena, securing their place in Seattle's pro sports community.
On the ice however, the Torrent, who entered the PWHL with sky-high expectations given the wealth of talent they plucked from teams across the league in expansion, things did not go as planned.
Tuesday the Seattle Torrent officially became the first team eliminated from PWHL playoff contention following their loss to the Vancouver Goldeneyes.
Through 27 games the Torrent sit last overall in the league standings with only 26 points. Vancouver's win officially eliminated Seattle, while keeping their own slim playoff hopes alive climbing within one point of sixth place New York. Vancouver however, remains six points back of the fourth place Ottawa Charge.
Seattle is 10 points back of Ottawa with only three games remaining. They needed a regulation win to keep their playoff hopes alive. Seattle is a whopping 32 points back of first place Montreal.
Torrent Now Turn To Draft Order Points
While the Seattle Torrent are no longer playing for a playoff spot, it doesn't mean they have nothing to play for. Seattle will now utilize their final three games in hopes of accumulating draft order points. Under the PWHL's Gold Plan, once a team is mathematically eliminated from playoff contention, they begin playing for draft order points. The team who accumulates the most draft order points following their elimination wins the first overall pick.
This season that would provide Seattle the opportunity to select Wisconsin Badgers defender, Patty Kazmaier Award winner, and Olympic MVP Caroline Harvey.