Season 4 is coming together fast — and Erica L. Ayala and Rachel Donner are back together to break it all down.
First up: the expansion team jerseys are here. Las Vegas goes desert camo — sagebrush green with navy accents that reads military fatigue but works on the ice. San Jose gets an A-minus with sherbet orange and ocean blue that’s giving California vibes and wearability. Hamilton brings burgundy and gold with an orangey accent that’s giving golden gopher energy — sharp, but not as sharp as San Jose.
And Detroit? They nailed it. Red and white with a classic hockey look that’ll be the easiest to read on TV all season — and debuting it with Hilary Knight in motion was the right call. Vancouver’s jerseys leaked, and they look great. Seattle’s color scheme still isn’t anyone’s favorite, but the jury’s out until we see it under arena lights.
Then the signings: KK Harvey finally puts pen to paper on a three-year deal with Vancouver — the first contract signed by the Golden Eyes’ new GM. Grace Dwyer goes to Boston on a three-year deal out of Cornell. Las Vegas gets three draft picks done in one day: Lacey Eden on two years, plus Issy Wunder and Josefin Bouveng. Hamilton signs Nelli Laitinen to three years and Jada Iginla to one.
Rachel breaks down the training camp math: 346 camp invites for 312 spots across 12 teams, with San Jose and Hamilton leading in camp invites. Training camps open in November — just two days after Women’s Worlds wrap in Denmark. And the expansion team names? They’ve been circulated internally. A leak is probably coming.
0:00 — Intro: jerseys, signings, training camp rosters, and what’s still coming before puck drop
2:00 — Conference structure revisited: is the expansion-heavy West a competitive fairness issue?
4:30 — Expansion team jersey rankings: Las Vegas, San Jose, Hamilton, and Detroit reviewed
9:30 — Vancouver jersey leak and Seattle’s color scheme — what we know and what we’re waiting on
12:00 — Schedule release breakdown: Takeover Tour dates, alternate venues, and what TBD actually tells us
15:00 — Playoff format debate: is eight of twelve teams making it too many — and could the PWHL go WNBA-style?
18:30 — KK Harvey signs three years with Vancouver, Grace Dwyer to Boston, and Las Vegas gets three done in one day
22:00 — Training camp roster math: 346 invites, 312 spots, and what the breakdown tells us about each team
26:00 — Training camps open in November, Women’s Worlds overlap, and expansion team names incoming
29:00 — What’s next: expansion team previews, games to circle, and the road to Season 4
ABOUT THE SHOW At Even Strength is a PWHL-focused podcast from Black Rosie Media, hosted by Erica L. Ayala and Rachel Donner.
Get your weekly women’s hockey fix with Erica L. Ayala and Rachel Donner. They will cover the top news in the PWHL, NCAA, and international women’s ice hockey.
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What is At Even Strength: A Women's Hockey Podcast?
At Even Strength is your all-access pass to the full spectrum of women’s hockey. From the ice of the PWHL and NCAA to international tournaments and grassroots development, we cover every level of the game with insight, analysis, and conversation that matters.
Each week, we break down the biggest headlines, highlight standout players, and explore the stories shaping the sport—on and off the ice. Whether you’re a longtime fan, a player, or just discovering the women’s game, At Even Strength brings you the smart, honest, and passionate coverage women’s hockey deserves.