San Jose Sea Lions unveiled as name for new PWHL hockey team

The Bay Area's new franchise in the Professional Women's Hockey League (PWHL) has been named the San Jose Sea Lions, CBS News Bay Area reported. The team will play its home games at the SAP Center in San Jose, with their debut game scheduled for December 5 against the Minnesota Frost.

The Sea Lions' colors include "sunset" orange, "coastal" blue, "tidal navy" blue, and "sea mist" white. Team officials explained that the name reflects the sea lion's role as a guardian of the Bay Area coastline and its connection to the Pacific waters and local communities.

The name also honors the legacy of the San Francisco Sea Lions baseball team from the West Coast Negro Baseball Association, which included Toni Stone, the first woman to regularly play in a men's professional baseball league.

Amy Scheer, the league's executive president of business operations, said the team brand was designed to resonate across San Jose and the broader Bay Area, highlighting the region's passionate hockey community and support for women's sports.

The Sea Lions are part of a growing wave of women's sports success in the Bay Area, joining teams like the WNBA champion Golden State Valkyries and the Bay FC soccer team, both of which have drawn significant local support.

The PWHL announced four expansion teams in May, with the Sea Lions joining the Detroit Clutch, Hamilton Havoc, and Vegas Vanguards. The Sea Lions will begin their inaugural season with a home game at the SAP Center on December 5.