The Professional Women's Hockey League (PWHL) is experiencing rapid growth just three years after its inception, with the Vancouver Goldeneyes' inaugural season serving as a prime example. The team saw strong fan support, including a sold-out home opener and high average attendance, despite not making the playoffs.
Affordable Access to Professional Hockey
Part of the Goldeneyes' success stems from reasonable ticket pricing. Single-game tickets start at $37, with many lower-bowl seats under $100, making games accessible for families and community members. Season tickets for the 2025-26 season ranged from $27 to $93 per game for the 13-game season.
Broadcasting and Fan Engagement
Broadcasting plays a key role in attracting new fans. Most Goldeneyes games are streamed on TSN, Sportsnet, Prime, and CBC. In the United States, every game is free to watch and live streamed on the league's website and YouTube.
Diverse Representation and Role Models
The PWHL boasts unmatched representation of education, LGBTQ, and Indigenous athletes. Stars like Marie-Philip Poulin and Laura Stacey, both Olympic medalists and married teammates, inspire fans. Abby Roque, a silver medalist and Ojibwe from Wahnapitae First Nation, further exemplifies diversity. In the 2025 PWHL draft, 44 of 48 picks attended NCAA or USports institutions, highlighting the league's commitment to education.
Innovative Draft System: The Gold Plan
The Vancouver Goldeneyes secured the first overall pick in the 2026 PWHL draft through the league's innovative Gold Plan, which awards draft order based on post-playoff elimination points. This system discourages tanking and encourages competitive play throughout the season.
Growth Beyond Hockey
Women's sports are flourishing across Vancouver. The Vancouver Rise, a professional women's soccer team in the Northern Super League, opened its second season with a sellout crowd. Lacey Kindel, at 16 years old, made history as the youngest player to enter an NSL match. In basketball, the WNBA's expansion to Canada with the Toronto Tempo has generated excitement. The Tempo will play two regular-season games in Vancouver in late August.
Economic and Cultural Impact
The rise of women's sports in Vancouver demonstrates strong demand and potential for the city to become a hub for women's athletics. Just over a year ago, neither professional women's hockey nor soccer existed in Vancouver; now, both are thriving, alongside growing interest in basketball.
