It’s official… a new excitement has been brought to the rainy, gloomy, and grey city of Seattle. The Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) is coming to Seattle for the 2025-2026 season this November. Seattle already has a hockey team,  the National Hockey League (NHL)’sKraken;  the significance is more related to the fact that the Seattle Torrents make up the 8th team in the PWHL. The other teams are in Boston, Montreal, Minnesota, New York, Ottawa, Toronto, and  Vancouver.. 

PWHL only started up in 2023. There were many women’s hockey leagues before them that were unstable, ununified , and competitive. Fortunately, the PWHL is establishing a stable and prosperous league that has a lot of hope for a future. The PWHL plans to be a permanent league that will expand as far as the NHL.

Part of the PWHL’s plan to be a permanent league is the 8-year collective bargaining agreement (CBA) they have with their players. This is a financial agreement that lasts until July 2031. The CBA includes a salary from 35,000 to 80,000 per season, with 3% increase annually. This is a very little salary; however, the agreement also includes benefits like health and life insurance, parental leave, housing stipends, and retirement plans. The CBS establishes a strong foundation for the PWHL and its players. The league can focus on expansion and growth, while players can secure stable careers.

Unfortunately, the salary gap between the NHL and the PWHL is extreme: the average NHL salary is around 3.5 million dollars per year, with PWHL salaries at a meager $58,000. Of course, the NHL gets far more revenue than the PWHL, so the PWHL is actively working on branching out. They eventually want to pay their players enough money, so they don’t have to work a second job. However, the most important goal of the PWHL is to expand the league. Seattle is just the next step in expanding women’s hockey throughout North America.

The PWHL is nothing short of remarkable. They are creating new opportunities for women in North America to chase a dream of being a part of the national team. While the PWHL is relatively small right now, considering they only have 8 teams, the league has a very bright future.

As for the Seattle Torrent, not only does the team represent the expansion of the PWHL to the Pacific Northwest (PNW), but they also represent Seattle’s identity. Seattle is a unique urban area surrounded by some of the most beautiful nature in the country. The name “Torrent” symbolizes the rain, the ocean, the rivers, and the Puget Sound. “Torrent” embodies the most significant part of the PNW, the waterways and the environment. The name also reflects the players themselves. “Torrent” represents the team’s resilience, strength, and determination. The Torrent represents the future of women’s hockey. More importantly, the Seattle Torrent represents the expansion of women’s hockey throughout the nation. Let’s go Seattle Torrent!