San Jose Sea Lions Named as New PWHL Expansion Franchise

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The Professional Women’s Hockey League’s newest expansion franchise officially has a name: the San Jose Sea Lions.

The announcement, made on November 10, 2026, concludes months of speculation regarding the team’s permanent identity as it prepares for its inaugural 2026–27 season.

According to Wikipedia, the league describes the sea lion as a guardian of the rugged Bay Area coastline, noting the animal’s intelligence, agility, and fierce protection of its colonies. The choice also serves as a historical tribute to the San Francisco Sea Lions of the West Coast Negro Baseball Association, which famously featured Toni Stone, the first woman to play baseball regularly in a major men’s professional league.

This branding decision settles a period of transition during which the club operated under the temporary moniker PWHL San Jose. While San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan had previously suggested the name “Hammerheads” to honor former mayor Susan Hammer—who was instrumental in bringing the San Jose Sharks to the city—the Sea Lions name has now been finalized alongside the team’s official logo.

We are the San Jose Sea Lions!

A strategic expansion into the Bay Area

The arrival of the Sea Lions marks the twelfth franchise in the PWHL and the sixth expansion team overall. The league’s decision to plant roots in San Jose follows a successful second round of expansion that includes the Detroit Clutch, the Hamilton Havoc, and the Vegas Vanguards. Despite San Jose not having hosted a PWHL Takeover Tour game previously, the league identified significant market potential in the region.

The expansion capitalizes on several regional factors. The San Jose Sharks have established a deep hockey culture in the area, and California currently ranks sixth in the United States for women’s hockey participation.

The Bay Area has also seen a surge in support for women's professional sports, evidenced by attendance records set by the Golden State Valkyries of the WNBA and Bay FC of the NWSL, as well as the emergence of the Women's Pro Baseball League's San Francisco Firebells.

The Sea Lions will play their home games at the SAP Center, the same arena that hosts the San Jose Sharks. The team’s visual identity features a color palette of orange, blue, and white, inspired by the San Jose city flag. The orange serves as an homage to the Sharks’ secondary colors and the region’s historic orange groves, while the blue represents the Pacific Ocean and the California sky.

Building the inaugural roster

To lead the new franchise, the PWHL appointed Troy Ryan as the inaugural head coach and general manager on May 22, 2026. Ryan, who previously coached the Toronto Sceptres and the Canada women’s national ice hockey team, becomes the first person in the league to hold both roles simultaneously.

San Jose Sea Lions Named as New PWHL Expansion Franchise

The team’s roster is currently composed of various players acquired during the 2026 expansion process. Below is a breakdown of the personnel currently registered with the club as of November 10, 2026:

No. Player Position Age Acquisition Type Birthplace
17 Brooke Bryant Forward 26 R Linden, California
88 Tia Chan Goalie 24 R Hamilton, Ontario
24 Anne Cherkowski Forward 24 R Coldstream, British Columbia
22 Maggie Connors Forward 26 L St John’s, Newfoundland
19 Kristin Della Rovere Forward 25 R Caledon, Ontario
10 Laila Edwards Defense 22 R Cleveland Heights, Ohio
5 Rory Guilday Defense 24 L Chanhassen, Minnesota
78 Hadley Hartmetz Defense 25 R Phoenixville, Pennsylvania
2 Mariah Keopple Defense 26 L Menomonie, Wisconsin
91 Reichen Kirchmair Forward 22 L Oakville, Ontario
39 Abbey Levy Goalie 26 L Congers, New York
20 Sloane Matthews Forward 22 R Wayzata, Minnesota
96 Natálie Mlýnková Forward 25 L Zlin, Czech Republic
43 Kristin O’Neill Forward 28 L Oakville, Ontario
55 Daniela Pejšová Defense 24 L Teplice, Czech Republic
30 Corinne Schroeder Goalie 27 L Elm Creek, Manitoba
12 Lily Shannon Forward 23 R Andover, Massachusetts
76 McKenna Van Gelder Forward 22 L Etobicoke, Ontario
28 Maddi Wheeler Forward 24 L Erinsville, Ontario

The roster features a diverse geographic spread, from local talent like Brooke Bryant of Linden, California, to international players such as Natálie Mlýnková from the Czech Republic. This mix of domestic and international experience is a hallmark of the PWHL’s growing talent pool.

As the 2026–27 season approaches, the focus for the Mark Walter Group, the team’s owner, shifts from administrative expansion to competitive readiness. The Sea Lions must now integrate this roster under Ryan’s dual leadership to establish a presence in the Western Conference.

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