A New Chapter for Women’s Hockey in the Bay Area
The Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) has taken a decisive step toward mainstream recognition with the addition of a twelfth franchise in San Jose, California. The new team will play its home games at the SAP Center, the same arena that hosts the NHL’s San Jose Sharks, signaling a partnership that could reshape the local sports landscape.
Since its inception in June 2023, the league has more than doubled in size, growing from six inaugural markets — Boston, New York, Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto and Minnesota — to a coast‑to‑coast roster that now includes Detroit, Las Vegas, Hamilton and the Bay Area. Each new city has been selected for its strong hockey heritage and growing youth participation.
The San Jose franchise is the first professional women’s team to establish itself in California, a state that ranks sixth nationally in girls hockey participation. The expansion is financed privately by Los Angeles Dodgers owner Mark Walter and his wife Kimbra, who have pledged capital to ensure the league’s long‑term stability.
Under the leadership of commissioner Amy Scheer and senior executive Jonathan Becher, the PWHL has leveraged the momentum generated by the recent Milan Cortina Olympics and a draft class that includes five collegiate players who captured Olympic gold for the United States, among them Wisconsin defender Caroline Harvey.
A Broadcast Leap Forward
With a 12‑team structure, the PWHL is positioned to secure a national broadcast partner, and early negotiations suggest Scripps Sports will air playoff games on ION, reaching 126 million American households.
The Bay Area’s sports ecosystem already boasts two other major women’s professional franchises: Bay FC of the National Women’s Soccer League, which set a franchise attendance record with 40,091 fans at Oracle Park, and the Golden State Valkyries of the WNBA, who led the league in attendance with over 18,000 spectators per game at Chase Center. The Valkyries, valued at $850 million by Sportico after a $50 million expansion fee in 2023, underscore the region’s appetite for women’s competition.
The yet‑to‑be‑named San Jose team will sport orange, blue and white as its primary colors, a palette chosen to reflect both the city’s vibrant energy and the league’s fresh direction.