PWHL Celebrates Black History Month with Artist Sophia Yeshi

League commissions Brooklyn-based artist to design vibrant visuals honoring Black culture and community

Published on Feb. 11, 2026

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The Professional Women's Hockey League (PWHL) has commissioned Brooklyn-based artist Sophia Yeshi to design its Black History Celebration visuals for 2024, embedding a powerful tribute to Black culture, history, and community visibility. This collaboration highlights an intentional partnership focused on authentic storytelling through art that resonates across the league and its audience.

Why it matters

The PWHL's creative approach to this celebration signals a commitment to inclusion, visibility, and respect for Black culture and histories within women's hockey. By entrusting an artist deeply connected to the culture, the league is setting a precedent for authentic representation in professional sports.

The details

Sophia Yeshi, a renowned illustrator and designer known for her bold and dynamic style that centers identity, culture, and representation, was selected for her storytelling ability and culturally grounded aesthetic. Yeshi's vibrant artwork is featured across the PWHL and its teams' Black History Month celebrations, including on a special commemorative jersey available for purchase. The PWHL took a distinctive approach by giving Yeshi full creative freedom, rooted in trust and respect for the creative process.

  • The collaboration was initiated early in 2024.
  • Yeshi's artwork was unveiled in January 2024.
  • Sophia Yeshi will attend the New York Sirens Black History Celebration Game on February 26, 2024.

The players

Sophia Yeshi

A Brooklyn-based illustrator and designer renowned for her bold and dynamic style that centers identity, culture, and representation.

Saroya Tinker

PWHL Manager of Culture and Impact, a Black woman and former hockey player who worked closely with Yeshi on the project.

Professional Women's Hockey League (PWHL)

A professional women's hockey league that commissioned Sophia Yeshi to design its Black History Celebration visuals for 2024.

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What they’re saying

“Sophia was selected intentionally for her storytelling ability, visual style, and focus on creating work that feels thoughtful and culturally grounded. Her approach is very artist‑led and avoids a templated aesthetic, which aligned strongly with what we wanted for our Black History Celebration.”

— Saroya Tinker, PWHL Manager of Culture and Impact

“I was really excited to work with the PWHL because I feel like the league gave me a lot of ownership in this project. They came to me and it was also nice that it was a Black woman that I was working with who was a former hockey player [Tinker]....This was something that she was really excited about and in turn, that meant it's not just for the optics, it was actually really intentional.”

— Sophia Yeshi

What’s next

Sophia Yeshi will attend the New York Sirens Black History Celebration Game on February 26, 2024, where she will perform the ceremonial puck drop.

The takeaway

This collaboration between the PWHL and artist Sophia Yeshi sets a precedent for authentic representation and cultural celebration in professional sports. By entrusting an artist deeply connected to the culture, the league is demonstrating its commitment to inclusion, visibility, and respect for Black histories and communities within women's hockey.