The PWHL Expands to Hockeytown
- Alyssa Klauminzer
- 14 minutes ago
- 4 min read
The Professional Women's Hockey League (PWHL) just announced its ninth team, expanding to none other than Hockeytown!
With the turnout on PWHL tour stops and the city's love for hockey, it was a no-brainer that the next PWHL team would go to Detroit. With rumors circling for months that Detroit would be the PWHL's next expansion team, especially Illitch Sports + Entertainment stating they had a 'special announcement' on Tuesday dealing with the PWHL, today it finally became a reality.
"You are Hockeytown, and how could you not have women's hockey as a part of Hockeytown?" said Amy Scheer, PWHL Executive Vice President of Business Operations, in today's announcement at Little Caesars Arena. "Your identity is rooted in sports. The passion, the history, the pride is part of the fabric of this community."
Detroit has supported the PWHL from the very beginning, serving as the league's first neutral-site city in its inaugural season, setting a U.S. women's hockey attendance record, and hosting more games than any other neutral-site location. It will also host the 2026 Awards Ceremony on June 16 and the PWHL Draft on June 17 at the Fox Theater.
"The energy, the attendance, the engagement, the passion. You have set the bar for what hockey fans can be and should be. And each visit, it left us with that same feeling: this market is ready for its own team," Scheer said.
Fans showed up and showed out at every PWHL game in Detroit, proving that their city deserved a PWHL team of its own.
"The PWHL didn't have to guess whether Detroit was ready. Detroit made it obvious," said Chris Ilitch, President and CEO of Ilitch Companies, which led the bid to bring the PWHL to Detroit.
Women's hockey isn't new to Detroit or Michigan, but gaining a professional women's league team of their own is an important advancement and investment for both the city and the league.
"We celebrate a powerful moment in our city's history as we bring the PWHL to Detroit, which will bring a new era of opportunity, visibility, and excellence in women's sports to our community," said Detroit Mayor Mary Sheffield. "It reflects the progress we are making as a city to ensure that women and girls are supported and given the opportunity to shine at the highest level. And today also signals that women's sports belongs on the biggest stages."
The PWHL's expansion to Detroit doesn't just provide opportunities to fans in a new city: it provides opportunities to the city itself, to young Michigan girls playing hockey, and reflects the importance of growing and investing in women's sports.
"What excites me most is the opportunity that comes with PWHL Detroit," said Jayna Hefford, PWHL Executive Vice President of Hockey Operations. "It means more roster spots for lead athletes, more pathways for young players to dream big, more chances for professionals to build careers from the game they love."
"For a lot of girls and young women, there wasn't a professional league to dream about. Now there is, and now they're gonna have a hometown team right here [at Little Caesars Arena]," said Ilitch.
The effects of the PWHL, and now its official expansion to Detroit, are already being felt by young girls in hockey.
"When I've watched some of the PWHL games on TV, especially the Takeover games here in Detroit with the crazy sold-out crowds, it made me realize that little girls were able to grow up, not just watching their dads and brothers, but with other [women] as their models," said Taylor Morrison, a player on the 19U Little Caesars Hockey Team.
"Learning life skills through sports has an empowering effect on young women. The PWHL is opening more doors and providing these young women with more opportunities to chase their dreams," said Brendan Morrison, coach of the 19U Little Caesars Hockey Team.
The announcement of a PWHL team in Detroit comes 10 months after the WNBA announced expansion to the city. PWHL Detroit will join the Red Wings, Pistons, and (in 2029) the new WNBA team in calling Little Caesars Arena home.
"I am proud that Detroit is not just celebrating women's sports, but we are leading in women's sports," said Sheffield.
PWHL Detroit will begin play in the 2026-27 season for the PWHL's fourth official season. While they don't yet have a name, it was revealed that their colors will be black and silver, with white as a secondary color and red as an accent. The name is expected to be revealed before the puck drops for the 2026-27 season, similar to the Seattle Torrent and Vancouver Goldeneyes last year.
"Detroit, you've already played such an important role in our story, and now you get to help shape what comes next," said Scheer.
Despite half the league being focused on the postseason and winning the Walter Cup, all eight teams have taken to social media to welcome the newest member of the PWHL, with PWHL Detroit reaching almost 20,000 followers (and counting) on Instagram in under seven hours of the announcement.
With a crowded Little Caesars Arena packed with youth girls' hockey teams, members of the media, and Detroit sports fans, PWHL Detroit already has the city's support and will be ready to make an impact starting in the fall.
Fans can already place a PWHL Detroit membership deposit and buy merch online to show support for Detroit's newest professional sports team while they wait for opening night.
While the wait is over, the countdown has now begun. Here's to women's hockey coming to Hockeytown!
Written with and edited by: Kelly Cassette