A wave of anticipation rippled through San José this week as the Professional Women’s Hockey League unveiled its newest franchise, a team that will call the city home without yet having settled on a name.
The reveal, staged at the SAP Center on May 19, 2026, showcased a blue‑and‑orange color scheme that pays homage to the city’s vibrant identity while deliberately steering clear of the teal associated with the NHL’s Sharks.
Organizers announced that season‑ticket deposits have already outpaced early forecasts, signaling a strong appetite among fans for a women’s professional team in the heart of Silicon Valley.
When the league’s schedule is released later this year, the exact date of the franchise’s first home game will become clear, but the excitement is already palpable.
Trailblazers at the Podium
Olympic gold medalists Brandi Chastain and Kristi Yamaguchi joined league executives on stage, framing the expansion as the latest chapter in a decades‑long push for visibility and investment in women’s sport.
Chastain, who has championed gender equity in athletics for more than half a century, described the moment as part of a broader narrative about the trajectory of women’s sports, while Yamaguchi highlighted the league’s growing roster of Olympians and the surge in viewership that suggests a tipping point is near.
Amy Scheer, PWHL executive vice president of business operations, added historical context, recalling a 1916 game by the Bay Area’s Oakland Minervas that drew 1,200 spectators and sparked a brief boom before the sport faded.
Scheer emphasized that the league intends to remain rooted in communities like San José, building on that legacy while expanding opportunities for female athletes and leaders.
Both Chastain and Yamaguchi voiced a shared ambition to see women break barriers not only on the ice but also in executive suites, with Chastain specifically targeting the appointment of female head coaches across major professional leagues in the Bay Area.