As the playoffs rage on in the 3rd season of the Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL), fans have seen the league continue to grow.

This season is the inaugural season for the Seattle Torrent, captained by five-time Olympic gold medalist Hillary Knight and the attendance records just won’t stop breaking.

While Seattle didn’t make it into the playoffs, they have made an incredible first impression as a team. Seattle’s very first home game broke the PWHL attendance record at the time and since, they have been a part of breaking the record three more times (2 of these being at home). 

After asking Seattle Torrent player Marah Wagner about the community she has seen come from the PWHL she said, “…it’s brought people together in a really powerful way, creating a space where fans can show up, feel connected, and celebrate women’s hockey at the highest level.”

The excitement that the community exudes makes you feel just how important the league is to its fans. Not only that, but the league has provided a space for young girls to feel included in hockey. 

Wagner explains, “…there weren’t many opportunities for girls’ hockey where I grew up in Seattle, so I knew early on that if I wanted to take it seriously, I would have to make some tough decisions.” 

Just like many young girls who play hockey, Wagner played on a boys’ team until she was a teenager.  Marah describes that when she was a kid “the idea of going pro didn’t feel as tangible as it does now.”

The PWHL is a huge part of that. As the league expands, more and more young girls are able to see that their dreams of going pro could actually happen. 

The impact that the PWHL has had both on the fans and young players has been expansive and, with 15k+ fans showing up to watch each and every playoff game livestream and stadiums being filled to the brim, the PWHL will continue to have a lasting impact.