Professional Women’s Hockey League Picks Detroit for Its Newest Team

Detroit, Michigan, also known as Hockeytown, USA, is about to see even more hockey action!

The Professional Women's Hockey League (PWHL) announced on Wednesday, May 6, that Detroit will be the home of its newest expansion team.

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When is Professional Women's Hockey Coming to Detroit?

The yet-to-be-named Detroit PWHL team's inaugural season will be the 2026-27 season. But that's not the first time that PWHL events will happen in the city.

READ MORE: A Record-Breaking Crowd in Detroit Proves the City Needs a Women's Hockey Team

According to a release, the PWHL 2026 awards ceremony will be held in Detroit on June 16. The following day, June 17, Detroit's Fox Theatre will host the 2026 PWHL Draft (this will be a ticketed event that will be open to the public).

Why is the PWHL Expanding to Detroit?

With a name like "Hockeytown", it just makes sense, right? But, there are a lot of reasons the PWHL made this decision. Jayna Hefford, PWHL Executive Vice President of Hockey Relations, said in the release,

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. 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.

And it's not just the PWHL or the people of Detroit who are excited to see a professional women's hockey team in Detroit. Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer released a statement after the announcement, saying,

I’m so excited Hockeytown is now home to the newest team in the Professional Women’s Hockey League, as well as the 2026 draft. From selling out stadiums to setting attendance records, our fans show out when women’s hockey shows up. Detroit sports fans are the best in the world. Michiganders already make up so much of the PWHL’s talent, as well as much of the Olympic gold-winning teams, and we’re ready to build on Michigan’s hockey momentum. This will inspire more young girls and women who play hockey in arenas and backyards across our state to follow their dreams right here in Michigan.

What We Know About Detroit's New PWHL Team

We don't know a lot of details about Detroit's PWHL team. The team currently does not have a name, though the PWHL says that the "permanent brand identity, including the team's name and logo, will be announced at another date."

We do know what the team's colors will be - black and silver. Those colors will be complemented by white and red as an accent color.

The Detroit team will become the ninth team in the league, joining the Boston Fleet, the Minnesota Frost, the Montreal Victoire, the New York Sirens, the Ottawa Charge, the Seattle Torrent, the Toronto Sceptres, and the Vancouver Goldeneyes.