Seattle Torrent 2025-26 Season Preview

Seattle’s new PWHL team arrived in dramatic fashion this summer: a fast, focused construction of a roster blending household names with high-caliber rookies, and a front office intent on culture and competitiveness in equal measure.

General manager Meghan Turner, the architect of the team’s early moves, was Seattle’s first key hire, and she used her exclusive signing window to set the tone: veteran leader Hilary Knight was the club’s first official signing, followed by proven pros Alex Carpenter and Cayla Barnes. Turner then locked down elite goaltending in Corinne Schroeder, giving the new club a backbone between the pipes. Those moves signaled the team’s intent: bring experience, bring winners, and build a core that defines the locker room.

“Our guiding principle was to create a good culture,” Turner told us in a recent interview. “We wanted to make sure we had the right leaders in the room and players with complementary personalities and playing styles. We didn’t want just one type of player, we wanted to mix identities in a way that would bring success, not just on the ice but in how the team connects off it.”

Leadership

Turner quickly made veteran Steve O’Rourke the first head coach in Seattle’s PWHL history, and the two seem in lockstep on high-level strategy: build a culture of accountability where veterans set the tone and young players learn the pace of the pro game. Turner’s roster blueprint complements that approach; by prioritizing leaders and dependable two-way players, she’s given O’Rourke the tools to establish structure while allowing skill players to thrive in transition. Expect an early identity built on disciplined defense, structured entries, and quick counters that leverage the speed Turner brought in.

“I want to give Steve the latitude to make this his team,” Turner said. “It’s up to him to set the tone from day one. He and I are really in lockstep when it comes to our approach this year. We both know the end goal only comes if you do the right things along the way.”

“It’s huge for us to stay aligned as the season goes,” she added, “and I feel like we’re off to a really good start.”

Additionally, the Torrent have now confirmed that Knight will be their first-ever captain, and it’s hard for any fanbase to ask for more than that.

Veterans to Watch: A legend and more

If Seattle needed a face for its franchise, Knight fits the bill. One of the most recognizable names in women’s hockey, Knight was the club’s marquee signing and finished last season tied for first in the PWHL in points.

“Someone like Hilary obviously has a lot of accolades that speak for themselves,” said Turner, “but it’s not just about who scores the big goals. It’s about doing the right things every day and setting the tone for a positive culture that allows for growth.”

Beyond Knight, the Torrent’s big veteran names at forward include Carpenter, an elite playmaker and scorer, Hannah Bilka, a lightning-quick skater who notched 11 points in just 16 games as a rookie last year, Jessie Eldridge, who finished tied for second in the league in assists last season with 15 and former Sceptre Julia Gosling, who scored three goals in four playoff games last spring.

On the blueline, the Torrent will be led by Barnes (who has already committed to Seattle for three years), a 2024 NCAA champion at Ohio State who quickly made her mark in the PWHL with Montréal as a rookie, anchoring both special teams and accumulating 13 points while playing all 30 games.

Speaking on this collection of players as a whole, Turner said, “Our group really looks out for each other, they advocate for one another, and they command respect just by how they operate.”

Rookie to Watch: Jenna Buglioni

Seattle’s first-round selection in the 2025 PWHL Draft, Jenna Buglioni, looks built for quick impact. A teammate of Barnes on that 2024 Ohio State national championship team, Buglioni brings an advanced faceoff game, penalty-killing expertise and a knack for the small plays that tilt close games. If she adapts quickly to the pro pace, she will become a real weapon.

“Jenna’s a gritty player,” Turner said. “She’s smaller in stature, but she plays big. We already have a lot of size on our roster, and her playing style will fit perfectly with what we’re building. She’s the kind of player who works hard in the corners, plays a full 200-foot game, and adapts to any role she’s put in.”

Between the Pipes: Corinne Schroeder, Hannah Murphy & Carly (CJ) Jackson

Seattle’s goaltending group could be the deepest in the league. Schroeder has a résumé that includes being the league's all-time leader in shutouts and a .919 save percentage last season.

Behind her, competition is shaping up between Hannah Murphy and Carly (CJ) Jackson. Murphy, the first goaltender off the draft board in June and a Colgate captain in 2024–25, posted a 25-6 record and .942 save percentage before becoming Seattle’s second-round draft choice. Jackson, an experienced pro and respected teammate through two PWHL seasons in Toronto, is known for their athleticism, energy and leadership.

“Depth in the crease is going to be really important,” Turner said. “You’ve seen across the league for the past two years how crucial that’s been, and it’ll be even more so for us as a West Coast team with more travel and time changes.”

“We’ll need to lean on different goaltenders in different scenarios,” she continued, “but also make sure they’re pushing and supporting each other in positive ways. They’ll need that chemistry, especially with the long road trips ahead.”

Season Outlook

Playing at Climate Pledge Arena, the Torrent enter a market already primed for women’s sports enthusiasm and a strong fanbase. Attendance and support could give Seattle an atmosphere other teams envy.

“For us, it’s not just about bringing people to games,” Turner added. “It’s about teaching the sport and creating an experience that feels special. We want fans to feel included and connected to the team.”

Turner summed it up best: “It’s about building something sustainable; a team Seattle can be proud of.”

That philosophy has guided every move so far. If it translates to the ice, the Torrent won’t just compete; they will contend for the Walter Cup.