Everyone in Vancouver was talking about Whitecaps win streaks, Messi in Van, Soccer in general and of course the women soccer league – Northern Super League was the highlight on the month. But wait a minute, let’s talk about Hockey! Here’s something big happening for hockey fans in Metro Vancouver — and no, it’s not the Canucks this time. The Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) just announced that Vancouver is getting its own team. This will be the league’s first-ever expansion franchise, and they’ll be hitting the ice for the 2025–26 season.

The team doesn’t have an official name yet, but for now, they’re calling it PWHL Vancouver. They will be playing their home games at the Pacific Coliseum — a pretty iconic building that’s seen a lot of history, from the old Canucks days to the 2010 Olympics. The team colours? Pacific blue and cream. Pretty fitting for this city.

This news didn’t just come out of nowhere. Back in January, the PWHL ran a “Takeover Tour” game here at Rogers Arena — and nearly 19,000 fans showed up. It was the biggest crowd on the tour, and it sent a clear message: Vancouver is ready for this.

At the time of this writing, the league has six teams — Boston Fleet, Minnesota Frost, Montréal Victoire, New York Sirens, Ottawa Charge, and Toronto Sceptres. Vancouver joins as team number seven, and just a week later, they announced Seattle as team eight. Which means: we’ve got ourselves a West Coast rivalry in the making. That’s going to be fun.

The Professional Women’s Hockey League only started in 2023, but it’s built differently. All the teams are part of one organization, which means no messy ownership drama. It’s backed by big names like Mark and Kimbra Walter, with Billie Jean King also involved at the top level. This league is built to grow and shine!

Vancouver’s team will announce its head coach, general manager, and full roster in the next few months. There is a draft coming up this summer too, so expect news soon.

If you’ve ever said “women’s sports deserve more,” now’s the time to show up. PWHL Vancouver is new, but this already feels like something special. I’ll be watching — and maybe I’ll be able to say, I was a fan before they blew up. See you at the Pacific Coliseum! 

For more information, you can visit the official PWHL website: www.thepwhl.com.