PWHL Expands to the Pacific Northwest with New Roster Building Plan
Seattle, WA — The Premier Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) has officially expanded by introducing new franchises in Seattle and Vancouver, growing the league to eight teams. On June 3, 2025, PWHL executives unveiled a detailed four-phase plan for building the rosters of the new teams via a video announcement.
The roster building will proceed through four phases: Protection, Signing Window, Expansion Draft, and Entry Draft. Initially, the six existing teams will protect three of their players from being selected by the new franchises. Notable players like Hilary Knight and Aerin Frankel are in consideration for this protection.
From June 4 to June 8, Seattle and Vancouver will have the opportunity to sign up to five unprotected players, including those whose contracts expire. Following this, an expansion draft will allow the new teams to select additional players from the six original franchises, ensuring a competitive balance.
Finally, an entry draft scheduled for June 24 in Ottawa will enable all teams, including the newcomers, to further enhance their rosters, with the New York Sirens receiving the first pick. This expansion marks a significant milestone for the PWHL as it aims to increase its footprint, especially ahead of the 2026 Olympics.
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