{"id":652662,"date":"2026-05-19T16:16:08","date_gmt":"2026-05-19T16:16:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/652662\/"},"modified":"2026-05-19T16:16:08","modified_gmt":"2026-05-19T16:16:08","slug":"professional-womens-hockey-league-expands-to-san-jose-california-for-2026-27-season-pwhl","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/652662\/","title":{"rendered":"PROFESSIONAL WOMEN\u2019S HOCKEY LEAGUE EXPANDS TO SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA FOR 2026-27 SEASON | PWHL"},"content":{"rendered":"

Fans can tune in to the live streamed press conference today at 12:45 p.m. PT \/ 3:45 p.m. ET on the PWHL’s homepage
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NEW YORK AND TORONTO \u2014 The Professional Women\u2019s Hockey League (PWHL) today announced expansion to San Jose, California, rounding out the league\u2019s four-team expansion class set to debut for the 2026-27 season. PWHL San Jose will play its home games at SAP Center and train at Sharks Ice at San Jose, following an expansion bid led by Sharks Sports & Entertainment and the City of San Jose.<\/p>\n

San Jose and the Bay Area represent a compelling next step for the future of the PWHL, featuring a unique combination of established professional and youth hockey culture, record-setting support for women\u2019s sports, continued opportunity for league geographic diversity, and a strong corporate base. <\/p>\n

While Northern California is a new market for pro women\u2019s hockey, the San Jose Sharks have helped build a strong local hockey community in the Bay Area, which boasts one of the largest ice facilities in the Western United States, while California ranks sixth in the country in girls\u2019 hockey participation behind five colder-climate regions. Off the ice, after welcoming the NWSL\u2019s Bay FC and the WNBA\u2019s Golden State Valkyries in 2024 and 2025 respectively, fans have propelled both teams to league attendance records. San Jose\u2019s location places four PWHL teams in the Pacific Time Zone, expanding the league\u2019s footprint and offering more balance for scheduling and travel. <\/p>\n

Today\u2019s announcement also unveils PWHL San Jose\u2019s official team colors: a bright, bold palette of orange, blue, and white, inspired by the San Jose flag and reflecting the Bay Area\u2019s optimistic energy. Orange is also a nod to the Sharks and the region\u2019s historic orange groves, while blue evokes the beauty of California\u2019s ocean coastline and sky. PWHL San Jose merchandise is available to U.S. fans now at thePWHL.com\/shop
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San Jose follows Detroit, Hamilton, and Las Vegas as the PWHL\u2019s 2026-27 expansion markets, joining the league\u2019s eight\u00a0current\u00a0markets\u00a0\u2014\u00a0Boston, Minnesota, Montr\u00e9al, New York, Ottawa, Seattle, Toronto, and Vancouver. Details about a forthcoming expansion roster building process, and how expansion teams will be integrated into the 2026 PWHL Draft, will be announced in the coming weeks. <\/p>\n

Fans can place a time-stamped deposit\u00a0here
\n, opens in a new tab<\/a> to secure priority access to season tickets for PWHL San Jose\u2019s historic inaugural season, once ticket packages are released. To learn more and stay up to date, visit PWHLSanJose.com<\/a>, subscribe to PWHL San Jose\u2019s newsletter here
\n, opens in a new tab<\/a>, and follow the team on Facebook PWHL San Jose
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Supporting Quotes<\/p>\n

\u201cBetween a deeply rooted hockey culture, rapidly booming women\u2019s sports scene, and a community known for growth and innovation, San Jose offers a dynamic stage for the PWHL to expand its reach and build lasting momentum,\u201d said Amy Scheer, PWHL Executive Vice President, Business Operations. \u201cThanks to the San Jose Sharks and City of San Jose\u2019s incredible support systems already in place to grow our sport across the Bay Area, and their enthusiasm for embracing the future of women\u2019s hockey, we have the foundation to establish a lasting and impactful new home for the PWHL in San Jose. Together, we\u2019re excited to inspire and excite fans and grow hockey together on the West Coast.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are honored the PWHL has chosen San Jos\u00e9 as the site of its latest expansion team, joining the NHL\u2019s San Jose Sharks and the AHL\u2019s San Jose Barracuda,\u201d said Jonathan Becher, Sharks Sports & Entertainment President. \u201cFrom its humble beginnings with an NHL expansion team in 1991, San Jos\u00e9 is now truly a \u2018hockey city.\u2019 Boasting three professional hockey teams and Sharks Ice, a six-sheet public recreational ice facility, San Jos\u00e9 hosts one of the largest collection of boys, girls, and adult hockey players in the U.S. Personally, I can\u2019t wait until opening night of PWHL San Jose later this year.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSan Jos\u00e9 is cementing its reputation as the premier destination for women\u2019s sports in our region \u2014 and today\u2019s announcement is another major win for our city,\u201d said San Jos\u00e9 Mayor Matt Mahan. \u201cFrom cheering on Bay FC at PayPal Park, to hosting the Golden State Valkyries during their championship game, and now PWHL San Jos\u00e9, our community has shown up again and again to support women athletes at the highest level. We\u2019re thrilled to welcome the Professional Women\u2019s Hockey League to San Jos\u00e9 and look forward to helping grow the game for fans and young athletes across our city.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are incredibly proud to welcome the PWHL to San Jose and the Bay Area as the league\u2019s fourth expansion team to debut for the 2026-27 season,\u201d said John Poch, Executive Director of the San Jose Sports Authority. \u201cThis announcement reflects San Jose\u2019s longstanding commitment to women\u2019s sports and our proven track record of hosting world-class events that inspire athletes, engage fans, and elevate our community. From the NCAA Women\u2019s Final Four and multiple NCAA Women\u2019s College Cups to the NWSL Championship, FIFA Women\u2019s World Cup matches, USA Women\u2019s Hockey, and countless other premier events, the Bay Area has consistently demonstrated that it embraces and supports women\u2019s sports at the highest level. With the tremendous leadership of the San Jose Sharks and Sharks Sports & Entertainment, the support of the City of San Jose, and the passionate fan base throughout our region, we are excited to help build a lasting and impactful home for professional women\u2019s hockey at SAP Center.\u201d<\/p>\n

ABOUT THE PROFESSIONAL WOMEN\u2019S HOCKEY LEAGUE (PWHL) <\/p>\n

The Professional Women\u2019s Hockey League (PWHL) is a professional ice hockey league in North America that features the best women\u2019s players in the world. As of the 2025-26 season, it is comprised of eight teams \u2014 Boston, Minnesota, Montr\u00e9al, New York, Ottawa, Seattle, Toronto, and Vancouver \u2014 with Detroit, Hamilton, Las Vegas, and San Jose added as the 9th, 10th, 11th, and 12th teams ahead of the 2026-27 season. Launched on January 1, 2024, the PWHL has broken multiple attendance records and holds the worldwide all-time record for a women\u2019s hockey game. The league was recognized by Sports Business Journal as the Sports Breakthrough of the Year, and ranked No. 1 in Canada for corporate reputation in both 2024 and 2025, according to the Harris Poll. Visit thepwhl.com to purchase tickets and merchandise, and subscribe to the PWHL e-newsletter for the latest updates. Follow the league on social media @thepwhlofficial.<\/p>\n

PWHL, the PWHL Logo, and PWHL team names and logos are trademarks of the PWHL. \u00a9 PWHL 2026. All Rights Reserved.<\/p>\n