San Jose Joins the PWHL
The Professional Women’s Hockey League announced on Tuesday that it will field its twelfth franchise in San Jose, cementing the city as the league’s fourth expansion team this year.
The franchise will play its home games at the SAP Center, the same venue that hosts the San Jose Sharks, and has already begun accepting season‑ticket deposits from eager fans.
League officials noted that renovations underway at the SAP Center could complicate scheduling, prompting plans to shift games to the Tech CU Arena during the construction period.
Senior Vice President of Business Operations Scheer said the move to San Jose has been in the works for a long time and praised the city’s strong support for women’s sports and its world‑class facilities.
Sharks president Jonathan Becher added that the NHL club will lend its expertise to help the new franchise get off the ground, while emphasizing confidence that double‑header conflicts can be avoided.
With the team name still under consideration, ‘Hammerheads’ has emerged as a popular option, a choice that Mayor Matt Mahan is actively lobbying to adopt.
The franchise is slated to make its debut in December 2026, marking a milestone for professional women’s hockey in the region.