PWHL expands to the Pacific Northwest: Team names revealed
Photo courtesy of U.S. Embassy Seoul/Wikimedia Commons
After the PWHL’s long-awaited Pacific Northwest expansion, veteran star Hilary Knight and the Seattle Torrent are ready to make waves, as they gear up for their inaugural season and a new era of women’s hockey in Seattle.
The Professional Women's Hockey League (PWHL) has been making a name for itself since its inception in 2023. Since then, the league has added two more teams with hopes of broadening reach and continuing to grow the game. The expansion began in April 2024 with the announcement that Seattle and Vancouver would host the league’s newest franchises, marking the PWHL’s move to the Pacific Northwest.
After months of anticipation, the league has officially revealed names, logos, and uniforms for both teams. Each reflects the culture and pride of its respective city, while also connecting to the broader identity of the PWHL. Seattle will take to the ice as the Torrent and Vancouver as the Goldeneyes.
The Torrent name comes from Washington’s rivers and waterways, which have carved much of the state’s natural landscape and are also reflected in its color scheme of emerald green and cream. As for the logo, it is essentially just an “S” with Torrent written across the middle. The PWHL collaborated with creative free agency Flower Ship to help come up with the Torrent’s name and design.
When speaking to ESPN, PWHL Marketing Vice President Kanan Bhatt-Shah said, “the name reflects the water imagery of Seattle's other pro sports teams, such as the WNBA Storm, the NFL's Seahawks, baseball's Mariners and the NHL's Kraken.”
Torrent forward Hilary Knight spoke on the announcement, saying, “I’m so excited for friends, family and fans to learn that we’re officially the Seattle Torrent, and to be a part of it…Whenever you’re looking at the culture of a group, you want it to be a really strong room — and to pair that with an incredible city with a storied sports legacy and a brand-new identity that speaks to all of that, it’s a great recipe for us.”
Moving on to Vancouver—or should I say the Goldeneyes—the league went with a pacific blue and cream color scheme, paired with a namesake inspired by the species of duck native to the northern climates in Vancouver and British Columbia. The Goldeneye logo features the city and team name circling a feathery golden eye, tilting up as a nod to the northwest.
Bhatt-Shah, who led the design and naming processes, said, “The common golden eye has these incredible attributes that feel emblematic of a PWHL hockey team: Strength, speed, fiercely protective… It's got to feel authentic and right and natural.”
Homegrown Vancouver native and forward Jenn Gardiner spoke to Daily Faceoff on the announcement, saying, “This identity is a perfect reflection of who we are, where we come from, and that we will be relentless to play against every single night,” Gardiner said. “When I think of the Goldeneyes, I think of the landscape of British Columbia: the mountains, the ocean, and the grit that comes with growing up here. We want our fans to feel the same pride, and to see themselves as part of the Goldeneyes. This is our identity, our province, and our opportunity to show the rest of the league what hockey in BC is all about.”
Fans will be able to buy PWHL merchandise with the official team names and logos, but the two teams will be playing this upcoming season with just their city name printed across the front in their color schemes. This is because the full branding was not ready in time when the league’s jersey orders were finalized. When the PWHL first launched, many fans expressed frustration with a similar situation, as all six original teams initially only had their city names on their jerseys.
The two teams are set to face off with each other on the opening day of the 2025-26 PWHL season on Nov. 21 in Vancouver. Both teams have some of the best talent in women’s hockey, with Vancouver boasting names like forward Sarah Nurse and defenders Claire Thompson and Sophie Jacques. Meanwhile, Seattle’s roster is just as impressive, featuring standout players like Knight, forwards Alex Carpenter, Hannah Bilka, and Jenna Buglioni.
Beyond the action on the ice this upcoming season, the expansion highlights the PWHL’s growth and commitment to nurturing the game and bringing professional women’s hockey to new markets. As the season inches closer, one thing is clear: the PWHL’s footprint in the Pacific Northwest is just getting started and bigger things are on the horizon.