# PWHL San Jose franchise establishment

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/pwhl-san-jose-franchise-establishment
> Updated: 2026-10-11T03:07:46.000Z. Sources: 4. Developments: 2.

The PWHL San Jose franchise has begun its foundational operations in the Bay Area. The team initially focused on roster building, signing forward Sloane Matthews and goaltender Tia Chan to three-year contracts that extend through the 2028-29 season. These signings brought the team to 16 players under contract.

Following player acquisitions and the commencement of ticket sales, the franchise held a public debut event at the SAP Center. The event, held in collaboration with the Sharks, featured merchandise sales and player engagement. Players reported that the local reception has been “overwhelming and surpassed all of my expectations.”

## Timeline

### 2026-10-11: PWHL San Jose debuts in Bay Area with fan event at SAP Center

PWHL San Jose debuted in the Bay Area with a fan event at the SAP Center, receiving overwhelming local support and enthusiasm from both players and spectators.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/pwhl-san-jose-debuts-in-bay-area-with-fan-event-at-sap-center

### 2026-09-22: PWHL San Jose signs Sloane Matthews and Tia Chan

PWHL San Jose has signed 2026 draft picks Sloane Matthews and Tia Chan to three-year contracts and has officially launched ticket sales for the upcoming season.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/pwhl-san-jose-signs-sloane-matthews-and-tia-chan

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Cite as: PWHL San Jose franchise establishment. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/pwhl-san-jose-franchise-establishment