Story perspectives

Women's Hockey League Adds San Jose Expansion Team

5/20/2026

Summary

San Jose Joins

The Women’s Hockey League announced May 19, 2026 that a San Jose franchise will join 2026-27 season.
Team will play at SAP Center and practice at Sharks Ice, owned by Sharks Sports & Entertainment.
Franchise colors—orange, blue and white—draw from San Jose city flag and reflect area’s energy.
San Jose becomes the league’s 12th team and fourth expansion market, expanding the West Coast footprint to Seattle, Vancouver, San Jose.

Summary

League Announces West

The league will announce its West Coast addition at 12:45 p.m. PT on Tuesday in the SAP Center, the San Jose Sharks arena.
The Bay Area’s growth includes the Golden State Valkyries joining the WNBA in 2025 and Bay FC entering the NWSL in 2024.
The Professional Women’s Hockey League, launched in 2023 with six clubs, added Vancouver’s Goldeneyes and Seattle’s Torrent in 2025 and will double to twelve teams for 2026-27.

Summary

PWHL Valued

Sportico valued the PWHL’s franchise portfolio at $850 million after a $50 million 2023 fee.
Mark Walter and his wife Kimbra privately finance the league and own all twelve clubs.
Scripps Sports will air PWHL playoff games on ION, reaching 126 million U.S. households.
The 235-player draft class includes five U.S. Olympians led by defender Caroline Harvey.
Stan Kasten said expanding to 12 teams aims to attract sponsors and a national broadcast partner.

History

Historical Context

When the Women’s National Basketball Association launched in 1996, the NBA-backed league began with eight teams and secured a television contract. The inaugural season featured the Houston Comets, who posted a 27-2 record and generated $12 million in league revenue. Similarly, the Professional Women’s Hockey League’s 2026 expansion adds a San Jose franchise, echoing the 1990s drive to broaden women’s pro sports on the West Coast. That earlier growth secured corporate sponsors like Scripps Sports and national broadcaster ION, helping the PWHL achieve an $850 million valuation and nationwide exposure.

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San Jose Joins

The Women’s Hockey League announced May 19, 2026 that a San Jose franchise will join 2026-27 season.
Team will play at SAP Center and practice at Sharks Ice, owned by Sharks Sports & Entertainment.
Franchise colors—orange, blue and white—draw from San Jose city flag and reflect area’s energy.
San Jose becomes the league’s 12th team and fourth expansion market, expanding the West Coast footprint to Seattle, Vancouver, San Jose.

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