Reflecting on the recent PWHL season, officials from the Sirens see significant strides made.
In their 12 home games at Prudential Center, the team drew an average of 4,019 fans—a 45 percent rise compared to the previous season.
Additionally, they celebrated a record-setting sellout crowd of 18,006 at Madison Square Garden last month, marking a new high for women’s professional hockey in the U.S.
The team boasts a promising young roster, featuring back-to-back No. 1 picks, Sarah Fillier and Kristina Kartuunkova, alongside potential Rookie of the Year candidate Casey O’Brien.
Despite these positives, there’s an underlying frustration within the Sirens organization, as they missed the playoffs for the third consecutive year.
Last week, the team held a retirement press conference and was bracing for another offseason filled with questions, coinciding with the beginning of the Walter Cup playoffs.
Instead of discussing offseason strategies with general manager Pascal Daoust, second-year head coach Greg Fargo would have preferred preparing for a semifinal match.
“The bright side is I take pride in how much we’ve grown as a team and an organization this season,” Fargo shared. “But we understand there’s still plenty of room for improvement…a genuine desire to achieve more. We’ll take the necessary steps this offseason to avoid being in this situation again next year.”
As the only original franchise yet to make a playoff appearance, the Sirens have faced the same narrative over the past three seasons. They often begin strong but fade as the season progresses, ultimately missing playoff contention.
“Today feels like ‘Groundhog Day’—we return with a solid start, yet the second half often leads to a disappointing outcome,” Daoust commented.
Despite the issues, both Daoust and Fargo maintain an optimistic outlook for the future of the Sirens.
Following the Olympic break in February, New York found itself in fourth place in the PWHL standings with a record of 7-0-3-6 (W-OTW-OTL-L), but upon resuming, they lost five of their six matches.
Injuries to key players, including Kartonkova and left winger Taylor Girard, also hindered the team’s performance down the stretch.
Finishing in last place the last two seasons, the Sirens and their record of 9 wins, 3 losses, and 3 minutes and 15 seconds kept them from the postseason right until the final day of the regular season.
Even though the end result feels familiar, coach Fargo insists this season had a “completely different feel,” which he believes bodes well for future endeavors.
“We find ourselves in a similar position as last year, which isn’t ideal,” Fargo mentioned. “But it certainly didn’t evoke the same feelings as before. We all aimed for the playoffs and worked toward that goal. Yes, there were moments when things didn’t align for us, but it wasn’t from a lack of effort to find solutions.”
The PWHL is currently finalizing offseason details, including potential expansions of up to four new teams, though that number could decrease. They’re also discussing draft orders featuring promising new talent.
“We’re exploring different scenarios,” Daoust said last week. “However, right now, we’re in a phase where planning is tricky because we’re awaiting further direction.”
With O’Brien’s contract winding down, Daoust emphasized re-signing her as a priority. He and Fargo believe the Sirens are becoming an appealing franchise for players, a notable change from their first year when they lacked a proper home or practice facility in New York.
Yet, despite being a team with potential, they’re still on a quest for playoff success to resonate with their loyal fan base.
“We’re advancing in the right direction,” Daoust concluded. “Aside from the standings, metrics are signaling progress, and we’re committed to the journey. We have great personnel and players, so we’ll keep pushing forward.”
