The PWHL is set to introduce a new team in San Jose for the upcoming season, expanding the league to 12 teams. San Jose will be joining Detroit, Hamilton, and Las Vegas as the fourth expansion team in the league’s fourth season. This move marks another milestone in the PWHL’s rapid expansion, with a focus on securing a significant U.S. broadcast rights deal.
The City of San Jose and Sharks Sports & Entertainment, the owner of the NHL’s San Jose Sharks, submitted the bid to include the new team. The team will utilize the facilities at SAP Center, also known as “The Shark Tank,” for their games and Sharks Ice at San Jose for training sessions. All 12 teams in the league, including the expansion teams, are under the ownership of The Walter Group, led by billionaire Mark Walter, who also holds majority ownership of the MLB’s Los Angeles Dodgers and the NBA’s Los Angeles Lakers.
Amy Scheer, the PWHL’s executive vice president of business operations, expressed excitement about the expansion into San Jose, highlighting the city’s vibrant hockey culture and growing women’s sports scene. The addition of PWHL San Jose strengthens the league’s presence on the Pacific coast, complementing existing teams in Vancouver and Seattle. The Pacific time zone alignment with Las Vegas is expected to streamline travel and game scheduling for the teams.
The possibility of establishing two separate conferences is under consideration for the upcoming season, as reported by The Associated Press. California, despite never hosting a PWHL game before, has proven to be a supportive environment for women’s hockey, ranking sixth in girls’ hockey participation nationwide. Notable players from California include Cayla Barnes, Brooke Bryant, and Dominique Petrie.
The Bay Area’s enthusiasm for women’s sports teams in various leagues, such as the WNBA’s Golden State Valkyries and the National Women’s Soccer League’s Bay FC, further underscores the potential for PWHL San Jose’s success. The team’s colors of orange, blue, and white draw inspiration from the San Jose flag and the region’s characteristics, paying homage to the Sharks and California’s iconic features.
Jonathan Becher, the president of Sharks Sports & Entertainment, expressed pride in San Jose being chosen for the new PWHL expansion team, emphasizing the city’s evolution into a prominent hockey hub. The team was formally introduced to the community during a press conference in San Jose.
With the addition of San Jose, the PWHL achieves its goal of expanding to 12 teams, a strategic move to enhance interest from corporate sponsors and potential U.S. broadcast partners. This expansion sets the stage for a league-wide roster reset in the upcoming summer, aiming to maintain competitive balance while involving players in the process. The league plans to follow a detailed multi-stage process to fill out the new teams, starting with each existing team protecting three players.
The league’s progression towards a larger footprint aligns with its vision for sustainable growth and enhanced opportunities for players in the evolving landscape of women’s hockey.