Vancouver is reportedly on the verge of a major sports moment: the PWHL is expected to announce its first-ever expansion franchise in the city next week, according to Postmedia’s Patrik Johnston.
Multiple reports indicate that a press conference is scheduled for Wednesday, featuring officials from the Province of British Columbia, the City of Vancouver, and key stakeholders. All signs point to the return of pro women’s hockey.
It’s not clear where the team would take the ice in Vancouver, though a likely candidate is the iconic Pacific Coliseum, once home to the WHL’s Vancouver Giants. The venue has been without a permanent tenant since 2016, though it regularly hosts events and is a marquee spot in Vancouver.
The move follows a successful PWHL game at Rogers Arena in January, where nearly 19,000 fans packed in to watch Montreal face Toronto – more than any Canucks game this season.
The Vancouver team is expected to begin play in the 2025–26 season. It would be the league’s seventh team, joining the original six: Toronto, Montreal, Ottawa, Boston, New York, and Minnesota. Seattle is also rumoured to be in line for a franchise, which would give the West Coast a proper rivalry and reduce travel costs.
“We’re continuing to finalize decisions related to expansion and look forward to sharing more details soon,” a league spokesperson said in a statement.
The PWHL had already received over 20 formal proposals from cities hoping to land a team. Vancouver’s early enthusiasm, combined with the clear support shown at the Montreal vs. Toronto match, helped push them to the front of the line.
This wouldn’t be the first time Vancouver hosted a women’s hockey team. The Vancouver Griffins played from 2000 to 2003 in what would later become the Premier Hockey Federation, which folded in 2023 as the PWHL took shape. The return of pro women’s hockey – this time under the PWHL banner – feels like a full-circle moment. And now, it looks like it’s officially coming back to the Pacific Northwest.
