When their final game, and their inaugural campaign, were finished Saturday at Climate Pledge Arena, Torrent players stayed on-ice for hugs and smiles.
Smiles? For a team whose record was 8-1-5-16? Entirely appropriate, because they realized that wins and losses won’t be what defined Season 1. The Torrent helped grow women’s pro hockey far beyond anyone’s reasonable expectations.
“As special as it could be when losing, you know,” said Torrent coach Steve O’Rourke, who understands the big picture as well as any pro coach. “We have a high level of care in that locker room. They come every day and support each other, pick each other up, do many, many things together at home, on the road.”
“We love each other very much and are sad to see our season end,” defense player Cayla Barnes said “We hope that a lot of girls are back next year, because we just had such a great time. We had fun, we laughed. That’s really what’s important in building a team and a culture.”
Torrent general manager Meghan Turner echoed those feelings in an intermission TV interview. “We have a saying, ‘Work hard and have fun.’ We have fun here.”
O’Rourke added, “It’s been a season-long journey of building trust with our players. When you win, that trust can happen quicker. But through failure and tough conversations, you make these connections. When you can look someone in the eye and tell them the truth but support them it goes a long way.”
Plotting The Torrent Off-Season
“It’s going to be a sprint of a next couple of months here,” GM Turner said about building next season’s roster. “A lot of draft prep going into expansion.” The PWHL is rumored to be adding two to four new expansion teams for next season. The league can only hope those clubs come close to the fabulous organizational blueprint laid out by the Torrent.
The league hasn’t yet disclosed the date or location of the 2026 draft, or how expected expansion teams will be slotted. However, said Turner, “The goal stays the same, bringing the Walter Cup to Seattle.”
Captain’s Closing Comments
Speaking of undisclosed, 36-year-old Torrent and Team USA captain Hilary Knight hasn’t officially decided her pro future. Her one-year contract with the Torrent expires this summer. However, on the A Touch More podcast last month, she told Megan Rapinoe, “I want to still play for the Seattle Torrent for at least another two years, bring back a Walter Cup championship here.”
Before exiting the ice for the final time this season, Knight seemed to reinforce that sentiment to the CPA audience. Showing that Torrent resilience one last time, the captain powered through a first mic, then a second, before the third one she was handed finally worked.
“It was truly an honor to play in front of you all,” Knight said while twirling around the ice, then stopping to put an arm around Torrent and Team USA teammate Barnes. “You showed up. The environment was electric. We want to thank you from the bottom of our hearts.”
Knight asked for a round of applause for her teammates, which fans gladly obliged. Defender Lyndie Lobdell listened with her right arm draped over the shoulder of Theresa Schafzahl, and her left arm over the shoulder of Gabrielle David. Not coincidentally, these were the two newest additions to the Torrent roster. After Lobdell blew a kiss through her face mask to both forwards, the trio embraced in a group hug as the crowd roared.
When the cheers subsided, the captain continued. “We’re going to come back bigger, better and stronger for you next year. Thank you all for an amazing start. So special. We love you!”
Earlier Torrent:
— Goldeneyes Edge Torrent For 1st-Overall Pick
Earlier Kraken:
— Glenn’s Gems; Beniers Leadership Emerges
