(KRON) - San Jose's newest professional sports team is almost ready to hit the ice, and now it has a name to go with it. The San Jose Sea Lions, one of four expansion teams joining the Professional Women's Hockey League (PWHL), celebrated their new name and logo Tuesday outside San Jose City Hall. Mayor Matt Mahan was there to welcome the team ahead of their first home game at SAP Center on Dec. 5. "I don't know what it is about San Jose and naming our hockey teams after sea creatures," Mahan joked. "We are 15 miles from the bay, but apparently we're building an aquarium down at SAP" The Sea Lions were announced as a PWHL expansion team in May, joining a league that began in January 2024. The team's new logo features a sea lion, along with a setting sun and ocean waves. The orange and blue colors are meant to reflect the California coastline and represent the energy the team hopes to bring to San Jose. Goaltender Tia Chan said the players are looking forward to representing the Bay Area under their new identity. "We can't wait to take the ice in the orange and blue as the San Jose Sea Lions and give you something to cheer for," Chan said. For Mahan, the arrival of women's professional hockey in the South Bay is another sign of the growing popularity of women's sports in the Bay Area. Mahan pointed to the success of the Golden State Valkyries, large crowds attending women's soccer and the recent launch of Northern California's first professional women's volleyball team. Mayor Mahan also spoke about what having more women's professional sports teams means to him as a father. "She's growing up in a world where women are filling arenas, breaking records, and becoming household names," Mahan said of his daughter. "They've always had the talent, but now the world is finally paying attention." San Jose Councilmember Michael Mulcahy, whose district includes SAP Center, said the team could bring more visitors and business to downtown San Jose. The Sea Lions will be one of 12 teams competing in the PWHL this season. Chan said she hopes the team can inspire a new generation of hockey players, especially young girls who haven't always had professional women's hockey players to look up to. "It would have been amazing to have a professional women's team when I was growing up," Chan said. "I'm grateful that I can be that player for little girls and little boys around us too" The Sea Lions will play their first home game at SAP Center on Dec. 5. ...read more read less