PWHL announces expansion to Detroit, will start in 2026-27
Hockeytown isn’t just for the boys anymore.
On Wednesday, the Professional Women’s Hockey League announced it will expand to Detroit for the 2026-27 season.
Detroit becomes the ninth franchise in a league that is in the midst of its third season. According to the PWHL’s brass, the Motor City was considered to be one of the league’s original members, but decided to go with Boston, Minnesota, Montreal, New York, Ottawa and Toronto instead.
However, Detroit has been as much of a part of the PWHL as the original six. Starting with the first-ever Takeover game in the 2024 season, the city has hosted a league-high four neutral-site games, including two this past season, with excellent turnouts each and every time. The first two games in Motown during the 2024 and 2024-25 campaigns set U.S. attendance records for women’s pro hockey. Even while neither of the two events broke that record again this year, interest in the league was still high, with 15,938 fans showing up to Little Caesars Arena to see the Montreal Victoire take on the New York Sirens last month.
Across the four games, the home of the Detroit Red Wings has seen an average of 13,307 fans come to see some of the best women’s hockey players in the world compete.
The decision to add a team in Michigan is seemingly a no-brainer for the PWHL. Along with the state having a love for the sport in general, a number of stars, both present and future, have come from the Mitten. Megan Keller, Shiann Darkangelo and Abby Roque all grew up in the state, cheering for the Red Wings, and now will get the chance to consistently play in one of the biggest markets in the country. Not to mention 2026 draft prospect Kirsten Simms, of Plymouth, is set to step into the spotlight on the pro stage.
Detroit isn’t going to be the only new team entering the PWHL next season. The league has made it clear that it’s hoping to have 3-4 new franchises for the 2025-26 campaign.