Women’s professional hockey is about to make history on Canada’s West Coast. The Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) will launch its third season on Nov. 21, expanding from six to eight teams with the highly anticipated debuts of PWHL Vancouver and PWHL Seattle.
The season opens with a doubleheader: defending champions Minnesota Frost host longtime rivals Toronto Sceptres at 7 p.m. ET, followed by Vancouver’s home opener at Pacific Coliseum against Seattle at 10 p.m. ET. It will be the first time the historic arena has a PWHL team as its anchor tenant.
“Season three will be truly special with the debut of our first expansion teams in Seattle and Vancouver,” said Jayna Hefford, PWHL’s executive vice-president of hockey operations. “We can’t wait for puck drop.”
This year’s schedule grows to 120 games, up from 90 last season. Each team will play 30 games, facing every other team at least four times.
Expansion rosters take shape
Seattle boasts major star power with Hilary Knight and sharpshooter Alex Carpenter leading the way. Vancouver counters with a stacked defensive corps, including Walter Cup winners Sophie Jaques, Claire Thompson, and Mellissa Channell-Watkins, plus local forwards Hannah Miller and Jennifer Gardiner.
“For me, it’s a dream come true to play here,” said Gardiner, a Surrey, B.C. native. “As a little girl, I dreamed of this moment, and seeing the arena filled on game day will make it unforgettable.”
Other teams, including Toronto, Montreal, and New York, will look very different after losing top players to the expansion draft. The New York Sirens especially are undergoing a rebuild, centered on rookie of the year Sarah Fillier and top 2025 picks Kristýna Kaltounková and Casey O’Brien.
Olympic year spotlight
This season will also feature pauses for international play, including the Canada–U.S. Rivalry Series and the 2026 Winter Olympics. With fewer Team Canada games scheduled, the PWHL will play a pivotal role in shaping Olympic rosters.
Canadian home openers:
Vancouver: Nov. 21 vs. Seattle (Pacific Coliseum)
Ottawa: Nov. 22 vs. New York (TD Place)
Montreal: Nov. 25 vs. New York (Place Bell)
Toronto: Nov. 29 vs. Boston (Coca-Cola Coliseum)
With expansion, star power, and Olympic stakes, season three promises to be the most competitive and widely watched PWHL campaign yet.
