May 6 (Reuters) – The Professional Women’s Hockey League has awarded an expansion franchise to Detroit, the league said on Wednesday, with play set to begin in the 2026-27 season.
The bid was led by Ilitch Sports + Entertainment, the business arm of the NHL’s Detroit Red Wings and MLB’s Detroit Tigers and operators of Little Caesars Arena, where the new PWHL team will play its home games.
Detroit joins original markets New York, Boston, Minnesota, Toronto, Montreal and Ottawa, as well as recent expansions in Seattle and Vancouver which both began play this season.
The city previously hosted the league’s first neutral-site game during its inaugural season in 2024 and has held an additional four games since.
“Detroit has been part of PWHL history since the beginning; from the support shown at our first-ever neutral site game at Little Caesars Arena, the city and fans have helped lead the way for the future of pro women’s hockey,” said Amy Scheer, PWHL executive vice president, business operations, in a statement.
“We are so proud to permanently join Hockeytown with the introduction of PWHL Detroit,” Scheer added.
The league also announced that the 2026 PWHL Draft will be held in Detroit on June 17.
(Reporting by Nicole Fernandes in Toronto, editing by Ed Osmond)
