A Beginner’s Guide to the PWHL: Where to Watch Women’s Hockey After the Olympics
- Elizabeth MacBey
- 3 days ago
- 4 min read
If the Olympics got you hooked on women’s hockey, the rivalries, the skill, the edge-of-your-seat overtime, you don’t have to wait another four years for more.
The Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) is where those stars play year-round, and in 2025-26, the league is bigger, more competitive, and officially coast-to-coast.
What Is the PWHL?
The PWHL launched in 2024 to unify top-level women’s professional hockey under one sustainable league structure, bringing together elite international talent in a single competition.
Its mission, build a long-term professional home for the world’s best players — not just during Olympic cycles.
Now an Eight-Team League: Meet the New Era
The biggest change for 2025-26 is expansion.
Seattle and Vancouver joined the league as its first West Coast franchises, bringing total membership to eight teams.
The additions create a natural Pacific Northwest rivalry and mark a major geographic shift from the league’s original eastern footprint.
This expansion reflects surging demand and growing fan support for women’s hockey across North America.
The Teams (2025-26 Season)
The league now features:
Original Six (Founding Teams):
Toronto Sceptres
Montréal Victoire
Ottawa Charge
Boston Fleet
New York Sirens
Minnesota Frost
Expansion Teams (2025-26):
Vancouver Goldeneyes
Seattle Torrent
Seattle plays at Climate Pledge Arena, while Vancouver’s home base is the Pacific Coliseum.
How the Season Works
The 2025-26 campaign is the league’s third season and its largest yet.
The season began on November 21, 2025.
Each team plays 30 regular-season games.
The schedule expanded to 120 total games, up from earlier seasons.
Teams face each other at least four times, home and away.
The season paused in February to accommodate the 2026 Winter Olympics.
Opening weekend even featured the first-ever matchup between the new Seattle and Vancouver franchises, an instant rivalry to launch the league’s West Coast presence.
The Championship: The Walter Cup
Like the Stanley Cup, the PWHL playoffs culminate in a single championship trophy, the Walter Cup, contested after the regular season concludes in late April.
Minnesota entered the 2025-26 season as the defending champion, highlighting the continuity of elite competition year to year.
Why Expansion Matters (Even If You’re a Casual Fan)
Adding Seattle and Vancouver wasn’t just about geography; it was about growth.
Expansion brings more roster spots for elite players graduating from NCAA and international programs.
It introduces new regional fanbases and creates cross-country travel and rivalries that make the league feel more like other major pro sports.
The Pacific Northwest already showed strong support for women’s hockey events, helping justify the move west.
In short, this is the phase where the PWHL shifts from “new league” to “established pro league.”
Players You’ll Recognize From International Competition
Olympic stars don’t disappear after the Games; they anchor PWHL rosters. The league was designed specifically to give those athletes a full professional season rather than scattered exhibition schedules.
That continuity is why the intensity you saw internationally carries directly into league play.
Teams to Bandwagon (Based on Your Personality)
Not sure who to cheer for yet? No problem. Here’s a completely unofficial, but highly accurate, guide to finding your PWHL home.
If You Love Intensity, Rivalries, and Olympic-Level Drama
Bandwagon: Montréal Victoire
This is the team for fans who live for Canada-USA gold medal energy. Montréal brings skill, speed, and the kind of atmosphere that feels like every game matters. If you like passion and a little chaos, start here.
If You’re a “Hockey Purist” Who Appreciates Systems and Structure
Bandwagon: Minnesota Frost
Defending champions, detail-oriented, and relentlessly consistent. Minnesota is for the fans who love smart hockey, depth scoring, and teams that feel built to win in May, not just look flashy in January.
If You Want Big-City Energy and Star Power
Bandwagon: Toronto Sceptres
Fast, skilled, and always in the spotlight. Toronto plays with pace and confidence, making them an easy entry point for new fans who want excitement and storylines every night.
If You Love an Underdog With Grit
Bandwagon: Ottawa Charge
Hard-working, physical, and proud of it. Ottawa is the team that makes you earn every inch of ice. Perfect if you gravitate toward teams that outwork opponents rather than outshine them.
If You Like Personality, Swagger, and a Little Flash
Bandwagon: New York Sirens
Creative offense, confident style, and a market that embraces big moments. If you enjoy players with flair and games that feel entertaining as well as competitive, New York is your pick.
If You Appreciate Defense, Goaltending, and “Playoff Hockey”
Bandwagon: Boston Fleet
Structured, tough, and incredibly hard to play against. Boston is for fans who love tight games, physical battles, and teams that make opponents miserable in the best way.
If You’re a New Fan Who Wants to Grow With a Team From Day One
Bandwagon: Vancouver Goldeneyes
Expansion energy is real. Vancouver gives you the chance to build loyalty from the ground up as the West Coast writes its first chapter in league history.
If You Love the Pacific Northwest Vibe (and Instant Rivalries)
Bandwagon: Seattle Torrent
Hockey culture meets West Coast enthusiasm. Seattle is already developing a natural rivalry with Vancouver, making it perfect if you want to jump into something new, loud, and growing fast.
Still can’t decide? Follow your favourite Olympic player. That’s how most fans came into the league, and it’s exactly how the PWHL hoped this would work.
The Big Picture
The PWHL’s first two seasons proved there was demand. The 2025-26 expansion proves there’s staying power.
With eight teams, a 120-game schedule, and a footprint stretching from Montréal to the Pacific Northwest, the league has taken a major step toward becoming a permanent fixture in the global hockey landscape.
Edited by: Megan Livengood
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