The PWHL Is Coming to Las Vegas and Hamilton, and Seattle's Already Part of This Boom
The Professional Women's Hockey League just picked its next two expansion cities, and if you've been sleeping on what's happening in women's hockey, this is your wake-up call. Las Vegas and Hamilton, Ontario are officially in. Las Vegas gets the official nod Wednesday, while Hamilton's announcement comes Thursday. This isn't some small move. The PWHL started in January 2024 with six teams, and Seattle joined this season alongside Vancouver. Now the league is doubling down on growth.
The PWHL's Expansion Machine Is Rolling
Detroit was announced last week as the league's addition for the 2026-27 season, and the league has room for as many as three more teams beyond that. With Las Vegas and Hamilton locked in, San Jose is being eyed as the next potential landing spot, per The Athletic. The PWHL isn't messing around. This is a league that showed up in January 2024 and decided to build something real, something fast.
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Las Vegas has become a legitimate pro sports destination. The city had nothing until the NHL's Vegas Golden Knights started play in 2017. Then the WNBA's Aces moved there from San Antonio in 2018. The Raiders came in 2020, and now there's a stadium under construction for MLB's Athletics, who are relocating from Oakland. The A's are expected to arrive in 2028. The NBA is also considering Las Vegas for future expansion. When a city gets one pro team, it builds momentum. Las Vegas has proven it can handle multiple franchises at the highest level.
Hamilton Is Already Showing Up
Hamilton isn't new to PWHL fans. Back in January, the city drew 16,012 fans to TD Coliseum for a matchup between Toronto and Seattle. That's real attendance, real interest. That kind of turnout doesn't happen in markets that don't care. Hamilton wants this, and the PWHL saw it.
For Seattle fans, this is good news. Your Kraken ownership and fanbase helped make women's hockey real in the Pacific Northwest. Now watch the league expand coast to coast, and that market you helped build keeps getting bigger. The next wave is coming.
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This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.