The Professional Women’s Hockey League announced that San Jose will become the 12th North American city to host a team, set to enter the league for the 2026‑27 season. The franchise will wear orange, blue and white – colors that echo the city’s flag and reflect the legacy of the NHL’s Sharks, the historic orange groves of the region, and the Pacific coastline.
Home games are slated for the SAP Center, with practices to be held at Sharks Ice, the same training facility used by the men’s team. Over the coming weeks the front office, coaching staff and roster will be finalized, marking a rapid build‑out for the new club.
A Hockey‑Rich Community
San Jose boasts one of the largest concentrations of youth, adult and women’s hockey players in the United States, a fact that league executives say makes the city a natural fit for the PWHL’s growth.
Jonathan Becher, president of Sharks Sports & Entertainment, noted the city’s evolution from an NHL expansion team in 1991 to a true “hockey city,” underscoring the community’s long‑standing support for the sport.
Amy Scheer, PWHL Executive Vice President of Business Operations, praised the region’s vibrant women’s‑sports ecosystem during a press conference at the SAP Center, highlighting the excitement surrounding the franchise’s debut.
The expansion marks the third professional league to bring a team to the Bay Area this decade, following the arrival of Bay FC in the National Women’s Soccer League and the Golden State Valkyries in the Women’s National Basketball Association.
While the league currently schedules 30 games per team across its eight clubs, the addition of Detroit, Las Vegas and Hamilton, Ontario brings the total to 12 franchises. Plans for a potential increase in the regular‑season slate or a divisional realignment remain undecided.