Breaking: PWHL Expanding To San Jose, Announcement To Come

The rumor that the Professional Women’s Hockey League would expand to San Jose has been confirmed.

Per Ian Kennedy of The Hockey News, the official announcement of the PWHL’s expansion into the San Francisco Bay Area will be on Tuesday, May 19.

San Jose is the fourth team in the 2026 expansion to join the PWHL, bringing the league’s total to 12. The league has announced Hamilton, Ontario, Detroit, and Las Vegas. The PWHL draft will commence on June 17th. The PWHLPA sent out a five-phase plan for player movement and the expansion draft this summer.

“The PWHLPA sent players an email today, obtained by The Hockey News, regarding the updated and finalized expansion process.

“The dates for each phase in the expansion roster-building process have now been confirmed by the league,” wrote PWHLPA executive director Malaika Underwood, adding that players can now forward the information to their agents.

Phase 1, originally scheduled as a three-day window beginning May 28, has been shortened to June 2-3. Negotiations between teams, players, and agents can begin at noon on June 1. Phase 2 will now run from June 5-8 instead of June 1-4. Players selected to a team’s Exclusive Negotiation Target List (ENTL) will be notified by 5 p.m. on June 4. The third has also been shortened, moving from four days to three, and will take place June 10-12 instead of June 6-9. Phase 4 is scheduled for June 14-15. Phase 5 will run from June 16-18, with the memo confirming that draft picks can be traded during that period.

The PWHL’s expansion into California showcases just how much the league is growing and the strength of the market. While San Jose already houses the San Jose Sharks in the NHL, it also carries their minor league AHL affiliate, the San Jose Barracuda. This means San Jose is the only city in the USA with a PWHL, AHL, and NHL franchise. Toronto is the only other PWHL franchise with the same three leagues in one city.

There is no name for the PWHL San Jose franchise, but expect more info for the newest Bay Area women’s sports team to come at the announcement on Tuesday. The team is expected to play out of the SAP Center, sharing the building with the Sharks.