After much speculation on where the 2-4 expansion franchises could end up in the Professional Women’s Hockey League, we got our answer on one of them as it was announced today that Detroit will become the home for the first expansion team.
PWHL Detroit will debut in the 2026-27 season with their home games being played at Little Caesars Arena. It was also announced that the 2026 Awards Ceremony and Draft will also take place in Detroit on June 16th and 17th respectively.
PWHL’s Press Release
Bringing professional women’s hockey to Hockeytown is an undeniable next step for the PWHL and the storied hockey market. Detroit has welcomed the PWHL from the very beginning, starting with hosting the league’s first-ever neutral-site game at Little Caesars Arena during the league’s inaugural season in 2024, drawing 13,736 fans. Since then, local support has only grown, with Detroit hosting four PWHL games over three seasons — the most of any neutral-site city. Among those games were crowds of 14,288 fans, setting a then-U.S. arena attendance record for women’s hockey on March 16, 2025, and a Little Caesars Arena women’s hockey attendance high of 15,938 at the city’s last Takeover Tour™ game on March 28, 2026, cementing Detroit fans’ demand for a PWHL team to call their own.As part of today’s team announcement, the league revealed PWHL Detroit’s primary colors — black and silver — complemented by white as a secondary color and red as an accent. The palette is distinct from any other team in the league, with the primary colors intended to evoke Detroit’s innovative and industrial spirit, matched with the resilient identity of Metro Detroiters. Meanwhile, the red accent is a nod to the city’s celebrated sports history, in particular, the Red Wings’ and Hockeytown’s hockey stewardship in the United States for more than 100 years. The permanent brand identity, including the team’s name and logo, will be announced at a later date. Visit DetroitPWHL.com to learn more; PWHL Detroit merchandise is available now at thePWHL.com/shop for both U.S. and Canadian fans.The decision to expand to Detroit reflects the league’s long-term vision for strategic growth. Detroit’s bid was led by Ilitch Sports + Entertainment, the business arm of the Detroit Red Wings, Detroit Tigers, and operators of Little Caesars Arena. Started through an initial investment by Mike and Marian Ilitch and strengthened by Ilitch Companies’ long-standing commitment to the sport — including the Little Caesars AAA Hockey Club, which has developed generations of players since 1968 — the Detroit-based global organization has a long history of advancing hockey at every level. This commitment includes expanding opportunities for women and girls while building a strong foundation for the sport’s continued growth.PWHL Detroit joins the PWHL’s eight current markets —Boston, Minnesota, Montréal, New York, Ottawa, Seattle, Toronto, and Vancouver. The team’s practice home will be BELFOR Training Center, which is part of the arena’s complex. Details about further expansion, a forthcoming expansion roster building process, and how Detroit will be integrated into the 2026 PWHL Draft will be announced in the coming weeks. Detroit-based Ally Financial — home to the nation’s largest all-digital bank and a leading brand in women’s sports sponsorship — will serve as the Official Bank of PWHL Detroit. This marks a continuation of the collaboration between Ally and the PWHL, as Ally was a presenting sponsor of PWHL Takeover Tour games in Detroit and Raleigh and partnered with the league and Scripps Sports to deliver a historic, first-ever national telecast of a PWHL game in the United States this past March.
Noteworthy Quotes
“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. “Led by our incredible partner Ilitch Sports + Entertainment, Detroit proved time and time again they are ready for a team of their own. We are so proud to permanently join Hockeytown with the introduction of PWHL Detroit.”
“The Detroit area and the state of Michigan have one of the strongest youth hockey development systems in the world, especially for girls, which is further exemplified by world-class facilities at Little Caesars Arena and a deep commitment from Ilitch Sports + Entertainment to advancing our sport,” said Jayna Hefford, PWHL Executive Vice President, Hockey Operations. “We are honored to bring the PWHL to a sports community where women and girls have already put hockey on the map, and advance that incredible culture by offering young athletes a professional league they can strive for.”
“Detroit is one of the great hockey cities, shaped by generations of players, teams, and fans who have helped grow the game at every level. Bringing a PWHL team to Little Caesars Arena is an exciting next step for our city and for the continued momentum of women’s hockey,” said Chris Ilitch, President and CEO, Ilitch Companies. “This moment also reflects our broader vision of using sports as a catalyst for Detroit’s continued revitalization — strengthening community engagement, supporting economic growth, and contributing to the city’s long-term development. We’re proud to support the PWHL’s growth, welcome these athletes to our city, and inspire the next generation of women and girls to pursue the game at the highest level.”
Fans can follow the team on Facebook PWHL Detroit, Instagram @PWHL__Detroit, X @PWHL__Detroit, TikTok @PWHL__Detroit,
Press Release and Quotes courtesy of PWHL PR.
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