USA Hockey Magazine

O F F THE D R AW Sleepless In Seattle No More PWHL 12 // NOV/DEC 2025 USAHOCKEYMAGAZINE.COM PHOTO BY Getty Images H ILARY KNIGHT ILARY KNIGHT has already put on quite the show has already put on quite the show inside Climate Pledge Arena long before the PWHL was inside Climate Pledge Arena long before the PWHL was in existence. in existence. Knight scored two goals in front of a record-setting Knight scored two goals in front of a record-setting and raucous 14,551 fans as the U.S. Women's National Team defeat- and raucous 14,551 fans as the U.S. Women's National Team defeat- ed Canada, 3-0, in a 2022 Rivalry Series game. ed Canada, 3-0, in a 2022 Rivalry Series game. It didn't take a stranger to realize the Emerald City had quite the It didn't take a stranger to realize the Emerald City had quite the love for women's hockey. love for women's hockey. Knight is returning to Seattle to help build the foundation of Knight is returning to Seattle to help build the foundation of professional women's hockey on the West Coast, after she signed professional women's hockey on the West Coast, after she signed a one-year contract with the PWHL expansion franchise this sum- a one-year contract with the PWHL expansion franchise this sum- mer following two seasons with the Boston Fleet. mer following two seasons with the Boston Fleet. "I'm super excited," Knight said during a training camp with the "I'm super excited," Knight said during a training camp with the U.S. Women's National Team in September. "There's been hockey U.S. Women's National Team in September. "There's been hockey history there, longer than people may realize. There are good junior history there, longer than people may realize. There are good junior and girls and youth programming that's been there for many years. and girls and youth programming that's been there for many years. "Now, women's pro hockey—it's significant and really exciting." "Now, women's pro hockey—it's significant and really exciting." Knight got a firsthand experience of being in the stands with the Knight got a firsthand experience of being in the stands with the Seattle faithful when she attended a Seattle Storm WNBA game, Seattle faithful when she attended a Seattle Storm WNBA game, as well as a Seattle Kraken game. The four-time Olympian has as well as a Seattle Kraken game. The four-time Olympian has long been aware of the Storm and considers Sue Bird — a four-time long been aware of the Storm and considers Sue Bird — a four-time WNBA champion, Seattle icon and five-time gold medalist—an idol. WNBA champion, Seattle icon and five-time gold medalist—an idol. "It was a ton of fun, and it was pretty incredible," Knight said. "It was a ton of fun, and it was pretty incredible," Knight said. "You can just tell how Seattle feels about the team." "You can just tell how Seattle feels about the team." Knight was one of the PWHL Seattle players, as well as Cayla Knight was one of the PWHL Seattle players, as well as Cayla Barnes, who helped unveil the team's jerseys in October. Barnes, who helped unveil the team's jerseys in October. Each sweater features 'Seattle' stitched diagonally across the front, Each sweater features 'Seattle' stitched diagonally across the front, paying homage to the designs worn by the PWHL's inaugural six teams paying homage to the designs worn by the PWHL's inaugural six teams in the league's first season. PWHL Seattle and Vancouver, the league's in the league's first season. PWHL Seattle and Vancouver, the league's other expansion team this year, will officially reveal their identities— other expansion team this year, will officially reveal their identities— including name and logo—prior to the season beginning, which will be including name and logo—prior to the season beginning, which will be incorporated into on-ice uniforms for the 2026-27 season. incorporated into on-ice uniforms for the 2026-27 season. Seattle will play its debut season with home and away jersey sets Seattle will play its debut season with home and away jersey sets that feature color palettes inspired by the city's natural surround- that feature color palettes inspired by the city's natural surround- ings. PWHL Seattle's jerseys feature deep slate green and cream ings. PWHL Seattle's jerseys feature deep slate green and cream with a river blue accent. with a river blue accent. "It's important to go to a place where you know that you're going "It's important to go to a place where you know that you're going to be appreciated, loved and feel the love," Barnes said. "I was in a to be appreciated, loved and feel the love," Barnes said. "I was in a market (Montreal) that really loved our team, so to be able to go market (Montreal) that really loved our team, so to be able to go to another market that is going to share the love and show up and to another market that is going to share the love and show up and show out for us each and every night is going to be super exciting." show out for us each and every night is going to be super exciting." Barnes, an Eastvale, California, native, hasn't lost sight of the Barnes, an Eastvale, California, native, hasn't lost sight of the importance of taking the PWHL to a new part of the country either. importance of taking the PWHL to a new part of the country either. "Bringing women's hockey to the West Coast is just a monumental "Bringing women's hockey to the West Coast is just a monumental moment," Barnes said. "And being a West Coast kid myself, I never had moment," Barnes said. "And being a West Coast kid myself, I never had this growing up, so now it's an opportunity for young kids to be able this growing up, so now it's an opportunity for young kids to be able to see women's hockey. To bring it to the West Coast is just amazing." to see women's hockey. To bring it to the West Coast is just amazing." "You can just tell how Seattle feels about the team." -HILARY KNIGHT PWHL UNVEILS EXPANSION TEAM IDENTITIES: SEATTLE TORRENT AND VANCOUVER GOLDENEYES PWHL Seattle Bringing Star Power To The West Coast /// By Justin Felisko CAYLA BARNES HILARY KNIGHT

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