Hilary Knight agrees to hitch Seattle PWHL enlargement crew; Vancouver lands Frost duo Thompson, Jaques

Knight, one of many league’s three MVP finalists, agreed to a one-year contract in changing into Seattle’s first participant. The settlement strikes Knight nearer to her offseason residence in Idaho, and offers the crew a right away high-profile presence in a metropolis that already options NWSL and WNBA franchises.

She leaves Boston following a season by which she had 29 factors to tie for the league lead with New York rookie Sarah Fillier. And it comes as Knight, who turns 36 in July, is winding down her worldwide profession upon saying the 2026 Winter Games will likely be her fifth and last representing the United States.

Knight is reuniting with Seattle basic supervisor Meghan Turner, who spent the previous two years because the Fleet’s assistant GM.

“Signing Hilary Knight was an absolute no-brainer. She’s the heartbeat of any team she joins,” Turner mentioned. “Hilary’s not just a game-changer on the ice, she’s the kind of person who defines a culture, and we’re incredibly proud to have her as the first-ever player to join PWHL Seattle.”

Vancouver struck first in opening the five-day signing interval in touchdown two of among the many league’s top-scoring defensemen. Thompson, Jaques and Toronto’s Renata Fast are finalists for the defender of the 12 months honor, and the Minnesota pair represented Canada on the world championships in April.

The two enlargement groups are allowed to enroll to 5 gamers who had been both left unprotected by their present groups or eligible to develop into unrestricted free brokers after which then participate in an enlargement draft on Monday. After that, every crew could have a dozen gamers. Then they’ll fill out their rosters in the course of the PWHL draft on June 24 and in the course of the league’s free company interval.

Thompson was Minnesota’s first-round choose within the PWHL draft final 12 months. She will likely be reunited together with her coach at Princeton, Cara Gardner Morey, who left the Tigers final month to develop into Vancouver’s basic supervisor.

“Having had the privilege of coaching Claire at Princeton, I know how exceptional she is as a player and as a person and couldn’t be prouder to build our foundation with her contributions both on and off the ice,” Gardner Morey mentioned.

Thompson had 18 factors to tie with Toronto’s Jennifer Gardiner for the PWHL lead amongst rookies.

She was a rookie at 27 after forgoing turning professional in 2024 to deal with her medical research at NYU. Still undecided on when she’ll return to medical faculty, Thompson signed a one-year contract with Vancouver whereas making ready to characterize Canada on the Winter Olympics in February.

Jaques, who signed a three-year contract, had seven targets and 22 factors in 25 video games to complete tied with Fast for the league lead amongst defensemen. She accomplished her first full season with the Frost after being concerned within the PWHL’s first commerce, a three-player deal that despatched Susanna Tapani and Abby Cook to Boston in February 2024.

“I’m incredibly honored to sign with PWHL Vancouver and to help lay the foundation for something truly special in this city,” Jaques mentioned. “I want to thank the Minnesota Frost for the opportunity the past two seasons, and I am so proud of the work we did to win two championships.”

After shedding two gamers, the Frost added ahead Britta Curl Salemme to their protected record, which already included captain Kendall Coyne Schofield, ahead Taylor Heise and defenseman Lee Stecklein.

The league’s six present groups will lose 4 gamers every in the course of the enlargement course of.

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