PWHL seeks to expand from six to eight teams in 2025

Field Level Media|published: Tue 29th October, 18:37 2024

Jan 13, 2024; Montreal, Quebec, CANADA; Boston forward Amanda Pelkey (16) plays the puck against Montreal defender Kati Tabin (9) during overtime in a PWHL ice hockey game at Verdun Auditorium. Mandatory Credit: David Kirouac-Imagn Images

The Professional Women's Hockey League is eyeing an expansion before the 2025-26 season.

PWHL senior vice president of business operations Amy Scheer said at the ESPNW Summit on Tuesday that the league plans to add up to two new franchises next year, which would grow the league from six to eight teams.

Scheer said the PWHL will begin soliciting proposals from potential new markets as soon as next week. It will also accept applications.

"Expansion is the first question we get asked, at every event we're at," Scheer later told Sportico. "It just seems like the right time to look into it. And I think once we have these conversations and understand what the real interest is, we'll understand if this is the right time or not. But it was the right time to put the word out."

The newest women's pro hockey league completed its inaugural campaign last spring and will begin its second season on Nov. 30. Its six franchises are based in Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal, New York, Boston and Minnesota.

Hockey-loving American markets that could be considered for teams are Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, Detroit and Washington. Pittsburgh and Detroit hosted neutral-site games during the 2023-24 PWHL season. In Canada, Quebec City has announced its intention of being considered for an expansion franchise.

--Field Level Media

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