The PWHL is growing, as the League is planning on adding two new expansion teams as early as the 2025-26 season, with more to follow.

Given the success of the inaugural PWHL season, and the number of players who will be eligible to play over the next decade, the League will be looking to expand into a number of key markets in the U.S. and Canada over the years.

The PWHL announced that it has targeted more than 20 markets as potential candidates for expansion and currently accepting requests for proposals (RFPs) to determine the best markets to become the seventh and eighth franchises. 

Market size, media reach, fan base and facilities will all factor into the expansion plans.

Let’s take a look at five possible markets that could be home to the next two PWHL teams:

Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh is one of the obvious frontrunners to be included in the PWHL’s first round of expansion.  The city has a proven track record for hosting women’s hockey and owns a strong fanbase. 

PPG Paints Arena played host to Toronto and Montreal in March to a boisterous crowd of 8,850.  One of the loudest ovations of the night came when the arena posted the PWHL acronym on the big screen and added: Pittsburgh Wants Hockey Ladies. 

Chicago

Chicago is one of the largest sports markets in North America, so adding a PWHL team in the first round of expansion makes sense. 

Chicago has a long hockey history and large fanbase to support a new team.  The United Center, which is the current home of the NHL’s Blackhawks and NBA’s Bulls, might not be the primary arena for a future PWHL team, but it could be used for special rivalry games. 

A more likely venue would be the All-State Center in nearby Rosemont, which is the home of the AHL’s Chicago Wolves. 

Chicago would also be a potential geographic rival for the Minnesota Frost and expand the league in the midwest market. 

Detroit

Like Pittsburgh and Chicago, Detroit has a deep love for the game of hockey and is often referred to as Hockeytown USA. 

In March, Ottawa and Boston played in front of a crowd of 13,736 and Little Caesar’s Arena during the PWHL’s Takeover Weekend.  Michigan is hotbed for women’s hockey with successful NCAA programs and a growing number of players from the region playing professionally and collegiately.

Geographically, Detroit is close to the Canadian border and the huge hockey base in Southern Ontario. 

Quebec City

Quebec City has been waiting for the return of professional hockey for years and has the venue to support a team.  Since the Nordiques left town back in the 1990s, the city has been doing everything in its power to bring a professional team back and if the NHL won’t expand there, the PWHL might be a great fit. 

They will have a chance to showcase their love for woman’s hockey as the PWHL will host a game at the 18,000 seat Videotron Centre in January between Ottawa and Montreal.  The Victoire and Charge would be immediate rivals for a new Quebec City team and the neutral site game could show the league that they are ready for their own team.

Calgary

Eventually, the league will have to expand to the western markets and Calgary is one of the natural choices for a franchise. 

Women’s hockey is popular in Calgary, and throughout Alberta, and this is one of the major factors that the league will consider.  Although Calgary would be considered a smaller market in terms of professional North American sports, the Flames in the NHL, and Hitmen of the WHL, have had tremendous success over a long period of time a prove that the city can support more than one hockey franchise. 

Calgary was also home to the Inferno of the Canadian Women’s Hockey League from 2011-2019. 

The PWHL got its start in 2023 when Los Angeles Dodgers owner Mark Walter agreed to finance the league, providing financial stability to the six original teams. All six clubs are centrally operated by the PWHL, with the intent to grow through separate franchise ownership groups. 

If the league continues to grow its attendance and overall popularity, it would be easy to see the league undergo rapid expansion. 

In addition to the cities listed above, Vancouver and Las Vegas are also in the mix, though both markets may not enter the fold for a few more years due to geographic and travel-related retraints. 

The NHL has been a huge hit in Vegas with the Golden Knights and a would be another great market for the PWHL.  In Canada, Vancouver is another natural choice to give the league coast-to-coast representation, and word is the PWHL will host a neutral-site game there this season.