What I’m hearing about PWHL expansion: Why San Jose is a strong candidate to land a team
The New York Times • • sports
Key Points:
- The PWHL has officially announced Detroit as a team location for the 2026-27 season and is planning a four-team expansion, with the exact number of new teams still undecided.
- San Jose is emerging as a strong candidate for expansion due to its growing support for women's sports, including record-breaking attendance in NWSL and WNBA games, and its geographic fit for balancing the league's West Coast presence.
- The SAP Center in San Jose, currently undergoing a $425 million renovation, is the likely venue for a new PWHL team, offering better availability than other California arenas.
- Expansion considerations also include Canadian cities like Calgary, Hamilton, Quebec City, and Halifax, with Hamilton gaining traction due to its proximity to existing teams and potential to draw fans from the Greater Toronto Area and beyond.
- The league aims to address travel challenges experienced by recent expansion teams in Vancouver and Seattle by potentially adding more West Coast teams and balancing conference alignments.
