The PWHL’s expansion to Hamilton and Las Vegas recognizes two distinct markets and opportunities for the league. Hamilton boasts one of the largest and most concentrated areas in the world for girls’ hockey participation, with a community that has rallied for a professional hockey team of their own for generations, while Las Vegas is North America’s entertainment mecca and home to a community that has proudly adopted and embraced hockey and women’s sports. 

The two new teams follow Detroit as part of the PWHL’s 2026 expansion class, joining the league’s eight current markets — Boston, Minnesota, Montréal, New York, Ottawa, Seattle, Toronto, and Vancouver. Details about further expansion, a forthcoming expansion roster building process, and how expansion teams will be integrated into the 2026 PWHL Draft will be announced in the coming weeks.

PWHL Hamilton

Fan fervour for professional women’s hockey in Hamilton was on full display when 16,012 fans came out for the PWHL’s visit for the 2026 Takeover Tour™ stop at TD Coliseum on January 3 — the third-largest Takeover Tour crowd of the season and one of the top 20 attendances in league history. Of Hamilton Takeover Tour ticket buyers, more than 70% were purchasing their first PWHL game ticket, underscoring the league’s opportunity to reach a distinct audience, even with the presence of Ontario’s two other PWHL teams. 

The Greater Hamilton Area ranks among the largest cities in Canada and is within commuting distance from other highly populated areas such as the Waterloo Region, St. Catharines-Niagara, and London. The Greater Golden Horseshoe features one of the strongest regions in the world for girls and women’s hockey participation and development, exemplified by more than 15% of PWHL players hailing from the area. PWHL Hamilton’s expansion effort is supported in partnership with Oak View Group, operator of TD Coliseum, and the City of Hamilton.

As part of the announcement, the league also revealed Hamilton’s official team colors: gold, maroon, and cream. Gold is a hat tip to the uniforms worn by the CFL’s Hamilton Tiger-Cats and the former NHL Hamilton Tigers, while maroon pays homage to Steeltown by representing the color of aged steel. The permanent brand identity, including the team’s name and logo, will be announced at a later date. PWHL Hamilton merchandise is available to Canadian fans now at thePWHL.com/shop.

Fans can place a time-stamped deposit here to secure priority access to season tickets for PWHL Hamilton’s historic inaugural season, once ticket packages are released. To learn more and stay up to date, visit HamiltonPWHL.com, subscribe to PWHL Hamilton’s newsletter here, and follow the team on Facebook PWHL Hamilton, Instagram @PWHL_Hamilton, X @PWHL_Hamilton, TikTok @PWHL_Hamilton, YouTube PWHL Hamilton, Threads @PWHL_Hamilton, Bluesky @PWHL-Hamilton, and LinkedIn PWHL Hamilton.

Las Vegas

Las Vegas is one of the fastest-growing sports and entertainment destinations in North America and has proven its appetite to embrace both hockey and women’s sports at the highest level. The PWHL’s arrival in Las Vegas comes with support from the Vegas Golden Knights, whose established hockey infrastructure will help anchor the league’s newest market. Since the Golden Knights’ inaugural NHL season in 2017, youth hockey participation in Nevada has surged, particularly among girls and women with a 600% increase. Las Vegas has also established itself as one of the strongest fan bases for women’s sports, highlighted by the success of the WNBA’s Las Vegas Aces and continued investment in major sporting events across the market.

The PWHL’s expansion to Las Vegas also increases the league’s geographic diversity as its first team in the American Southwest, introducing professional women’s hockey to a new region of fans. Combined with the city’s accessibility, hospitality infrastructure, and world-class facilities, Las Vegas is a strong long-term fit for the PWHL. PWHL Las Vegas will train at America First Center in Henderson, Nevada. In addition to the Golden Knights, expansion efforts were also supported by MGM Resorts International, joint venture owner of T-Mobile Arena.

The announcement also unveils PWHL Las Vegas’ official team colors, inspired by the natural tones of Southern Nevada: green and gold. While Las Vegas is known for The Strip, the area is beloved by the community for its natural surroundings. Green and golden yellow represent the beauty of the desert and mountains that encircle Las Vegas, while gold is a nod to the glamour of what makes Vegas, Vegas, and, of course, the Golden Knights. PWHL Las Vegas merchandise is available to U.S. fans now at thePWHL.com/shop.

Fans can place a time-stamped deposit here to secure priority access to season tickets for PWHL Las Vegas’ historic inaugural season, once ticket packages are released. To learn more and stay up to date, visit LasVegasPWHL.com, subscribe to PWHL Las Vegas’ newsletter here, and follow the team on Facebook PWHL Las Vegas, Instagram @PWHL_LasVegas, X @PWHL_LasVegas, TikTok @PWHL_LasVegas, YouTube PWHL Las Vegas, Threads @PWHL_LasVegas, Bluesky @PWHL-LasVegas, and LinkedIn PWHL Las Vegas.

The Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) today announced the appointment of Manon Rhéaume as General Manager of PWHL Detroit. A trailblazer and one of the most influential figures in women’s hockey history, Rhéaume joins the team following four seasons with the Los Angeles Kings in Hockey Operations and an impactful 11-year tenure with the Little Caesars AAA (LCAAA) Hockey Club. 

“Manon is a pioneer whose impact on the game extends far beyond the ice,” said Jayna Hefford, PWHL Executive Vice President of Hockey Operations. “She brings an unmatched hockey resume, a championship mindset, and a lifelong commitment to growing the women’s game. Her experience at every level of hockey, combined with her leadership and vision, makes her the perfect person to lead PWHL Detroit into its inaugural season.”

As the long-standing LCAAA Girls’ Division Director, Rhéaume has leveraged her hockey experience to provide unparalleled mentorship, development, and leadership for Detroit’s next generation of elite athletes. Rhéaume continues to be a powerful advocate for community engagement, growing the game, and creating vital accessibility and opportunities for young girls in the sport. 

Rhéaume made history as the first woman to sign a professional hockey contract and to play in an NHL game that redefined opportunities for generations of players to follow. Internationally, she represented Canada at the highest level, winning two gold medals at the IIHF Women’s World Championship and a silver medal at the 1998 Olympic Winter Games in Nagano, Japan. She’s already been a part of PWHL history, performing the ceremonial puck drop at the first-ever PWHL game at Little Caesars Arena on March 16, 2024.

“I’m incredibly honored and excited to join the PWHL and help build something special in Detroit,” said Rhéaume. “This city has such a deep hockey tradition, and the passion for hockey here is truly special. The growth of women’s hockey has been incredible to watch, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to help shape the future of the sport alongside the PWHL. I can’t wait to get started and build a team that Detroit fans will be proud of.”

Rhéaume will lead PWHL Detroit into its inaugural 2026–27 season by assembling a hockey operations staff and with a roster building process highlighted by the 2026 PWHL Draft, to be hosted at Detroit’s Fox Theatre on June 17. All phases of the comprehensive roster building process will be finalized and announced by the league in the coming weeks.

PWHL Detroit was formally introduced on May 6 at Little Caesars Arena, with additional PWHL expansion to Las Vegas and Hamilton, Ontario, announced on May 13 to bring the league’s current total to 11 teams. The third PWHL Walter Cup Finals are currently underway between the Montréal Victoire and Ottawa Charge.

The Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) today announced that 235 eligible players have declared for the 2026 PWHL Draft presented by Upper Deck, representing the largest talent pool of prospective players since the inaugural season.

Included in that draft are Lara Beecher and Victoria Mariano of Buffalo. Beecher played last season for Clarkson University and Mariano played at Northeaster.

Beecher played one year for Monsignor Martin in the WNYGVIH Federation as well as the Buffalo Bisons. She started her collegiate career at University of Vermont before going to Clarkson.

Mariano played for Nichols HIgh School and the Bisons before going to Northeastern.

Kennedy Wilson of Hannawa Falls is also listed and she played for St. Lawrence University.

The draft will take place on Wednesday, June 17 at 5 p.m. ET at the Fox Theatre in Detroit, Michigan, with the Vancouver Goldeneyes holding the first overall pick.

Five U.S. gold medalists headline a list of 23 draft-eligible players who competed at the 2026 Olympic Winter Games, including Tournament MVP and Best Defender Caroline Harvey, who also earned the prestigious Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award before winning a National Collegiate Championship with the University of Wisconsin. She enters the draft alongside fellow Badgers Laila Edwards and Michigan native Kirsten Simms, along with Penn State’s Tessa Janecke and Abbey Murphy from the University of Minnesota. 

The list also includes 2026 Olympians from Finland (4), France (1), Germany (5), Italy (3), Japan (1), Sweden (2), and Switzerland (2), including Swiss bronze medalist Andrea Braendli, named Best Goalkeeper in Milan, and top Swedish scorer Thea Johansson. Laura Fortino, who won Olympic gold (2014) and silver (2018) with Canada before representing Italy in 2026, has also declared for the draft, as has four-time Canadian Olympian and three-time gold medalist Meghan Agosta.

The group of 235 players features 129 forwards, 68 defenders, and 38 goaltenders, with more than 50% of draft-eligible players from NCAA programs. All eligible players officially declared for the draft by the May 8 deadline.

The 2026 PWHL Draft presented by Upper Deck will follow on Wednesday, June 17 at Fox Theatre, beginning at 5 p.m. ET, and will be open to ticketed fans. Tickets for the 2026 PWHL Draft presented by Upper Deck are available to the public here on Wednesday, May 13 at 10 a.m. ET.

Montréal scored the game-winner at 3:06 of the third period to lead the Victoire to a 2-1 triumph over the Minnesota Frost in Game 5 of the semifinals Tuesday night at Place Bell, eliminating Minnesota to advance to the team’s first-ever PWHL Walter Cup Finals. Catherine Dubois opened the scoring for Montréal in the first period with a quick shot off a faceoff win by Poulin that deflected off a stick and sailed over Maddie Rooney and into the net at 12:18. Minnesota responded eight minutes into the second period, as Samantha Cogan buried her first goal on a tic-tac-toe sequence, cashing in at the net front off passes from Abby Hustler and Britta Curl-Salemme to tie the game. Poulin came through in the clutch with a top-shelf shot on a wide-angle on the power play, with assists from Erin Ambrose and Nicole Gosling. Rooney did all she could to give her team a chance, turning away 15 of 17 in the loss. The series featured the only two teams to qualify for the playoffs in each of the league’s three seasons. Minnesota had its best regular season in team history with 16 wins and 50 points as the league’s third seed, with first-place Montréal selecting them as their semifinal opponent after a record 22 wins and 62-point campaign. Over the course of three full seasons, Minnesota has played in 107 games, 11 more than Montréal to date. 

With 29 seconds left in the third period, the Ottawa Charge pulled ahead 2-1 and secured a second straight win over the Boston Fleet in front of a PWHL playoff record crowd of 13,112 fans at Canadian Tire Centre on Friday night. Ronja Savolainen was credited with the game winner on an unusual play, taking a shot that went wide of the net but bounced off the boards and deflected off Aerin Frankel who tried to cover the puck in the crease. Gwyneth Philips continued to shine between the pipes for the Charge, stopping 36 of 37 shots to earn the win. The Charge now have a 2-1 lead in the best-of-five semifinal series, one win away from reaching the finals in consecutive seasons. Boston faces an early exit for the first time, previously reaching the finals in their 2024 postseason campaign. Fanuza Kadirova scored first at 13:33 of the first period when she launched a wrist shot down the middle lane, capitalizing just seconds after a power play. Just over five minutes into the second period, Liz Schepers tied the game for the Fleet when she found the back of the net, putting away the rebounded puck on the rush from a Shay Maloney shot on goal. The third period remained an even, scoreless affair through 19 and a half minutes before Ottawa iced the game. Frankel turned away 20 of 22 in the loss. The teams will play Game 4 of the series on Sunday afternoon.

NOTABLES 

Tonight’s attendance of 13,112 set a new PWHL playoff record, surpassing the crowd of 13,104 at

Grand Casino Arena on May 26, 2024, for Game 4 of the inaugural PWHL Walter Cup Finals between Minnesota and Boston. 

Ottawa won for the first time in three games at Canadian Tire Centre, previously losing twice to Montréal, 2-1 on Dec. 6, 2024, and 3-0 on Apr. 3, 2026.

In PWHL playoff history prior to 2026, the team that wins Game 3 of a series tied 1-1 has gone on to win all four series. Last season, Ottawa defeated Montréal, 1-0 in Game 3 of the semifinals before winning Game 4 by a 2-1 score, both at TD Place. Then, after splitting the first two games of the finals with Minnesota, the Frost went on to win the next two games. In the inaugural season finals, Boston fell to Minnesota in Game 3 before ultimately losing in five games.

Six of the seven head-to-head games this season have been decided by one goal, but all three playoff games have been decided in regulation after all four games in the regular-season series required overtime.

Ottawa has limited its opposition to one or fewer goals in six of their last seven games.

Before tonight, Boston had been limited to one goal in only two true road games all season but won both of those contests, including a 2-1 shootout victory in Seattle on Jan. 18 and a 1-0 regulation win in New York on Mar. 5.

Despite leading the league with 23 game-opening goals during the regular season, Boston has yet to score first in the series. Ottawa now has 17 games with the first goal across the entire season after opening scoring in all three games of the semifinal series. The Fleet have now allowed their opponent to score first in 10 games this season, still good for the fewest times in the league. 

Ahead of tonight, Boston (4-2) had twice as many wins in six games as Ottawa (2-3) had in five games where they were tied with their opponent after two periods.

Over the three games of the series, the Fleet outshot the Charge 96-61, including 37-22 tonight. Boston is now 11-8 when outshooting their opponent and Ottawa is 13-6 when outshot. This is the only time in PWHL playoff history that a team has had three straight games with a double-digit shot on goal differential.

Ronja Savolainen added one goal and an assist for points in consecutive games, following her game-opening goal last Saturday. Her three points in three games have tripled her production in Ottawa’s 2025 playoff campaign (1A). The Finnish defender recorded her first multi-point performance of the season for 13 overall points (6G, 7A), one more than her combined output from the 2024-25 season (2G, 10A). 

Fanuza Kadirova recorded her third multi-point game of the season (1G, 1A). She also has goals in back-to-back games, after scoring the Game 2 winner, for her first goal streak since Jan. 24-28. The Russian forward became just the ninth player to score 12 goals across the regular season and playoffs, the most among first-year PWHL players.

Gwyneth Philips’ 36-save performance marked her 13th game with at least 30 saves this season—the most in a single PWHL season—and her second-straight in the semifinal series. Boston’s 37 shots on goal were the most Philips has faced in a playoff game decided in regulation. The 2025 Ilana Kloss Playoff MVP’s 1.34 goals-against average and .958 save percentage are best among playoff goaltenders.

Liz Schepers netted her fourth career postseason goal, and first as a member of the Fleet, recording her first four shots on goal of the series tonight. Of her 11 career goals between the regular season and postseason, five have counted as game winners, including the Walter Cup-clinching goals for Minnesota in 2024 and 2025.

Shay Maloney tallied her first-ever playoff point with a primary assist in her third postseason game. The second-year Fleet forward recorded seven points (3G, 4A) with appearances in all 30 regular-season games. Tonight’s helper made for her sixth point earned away from Boston’s home venues (1G, 5A).

Ella Huber notched a secondary assist for her first point in three career postseason games. The Fleet rookie forward has seven points this season, almost half of which were game-winning goals (3). Six of her points have come in games away from the state of Massachusetts (3G, 3A), including tonight’s helper.

Aerin Frankel made 20 saves for the first time this series, after previously recording at least as many saves in all eight of her starts during the 2024 playoffs. She has allowed two goals in back-to-back games, after allowing one or fewer goals in 19 of her 27 prior starts in 2025-26, including Game 1. The last time she suffered consecutive losses in a playoff series was Games 2 and 3 of the 2024 finals against Minnesota.

Michela Cava notched her first playoff point as a member of the Charge, previously recording 13 (7G, 6A) with Minnesota in back-to-back Walter Cup championships. Her primary assist moved her into sole ownership of the second-most postseason points all-time, with only Taylor Heise holding more (6G, 11A). The third-year forward now has 50 points scored through 105 career games (22G, 28A).

Kateřina Mrázová recorded her first postseason point in nine career games with her fourth assist on a Kadirova goal this season and fourth primary helper overall. The Czech forward has now reached the double-digit points mark during 33 games in 2025-26, after recording two goals and seven assists during the regular season.

Jessie Eldridge led all skaters with seven shots on goal, her highest total as a member of the Fleet, but a number she’s reached on three other occasions. 

Alina Müller led all skaters in faceoff wins for the third straight game of the series, going 13-for-21 at the dot to bring her playoff efficiency to 66.7%.

THREE STARS  

1. Gwyneth Philips (OTT) 36/37 SV  
2. Ronja Savolainen (OTT) 1G, 1A  
3. Liz Schepers (BOS) 1G 

NEXT GAME

Game 4: Sunday, May 10 at Ottawa (Canadian Tire Centre) at 3 p.m. ET 

Sidney Morin scored twice in less than four minutes midway through the third period to tie the game and give the Minnesota Frost a lead they would not relinquish, skating to a 3-1 win over the Montréal Victoire to stave off elimination Friday night at Grand Casino Arena. After two games in two nights in St. Paul, the series will be decided in Game 5 of the best-of-five semifinal on Monday night at Place Bell, with the winner advancing to the PWHL Walter Cup Finals. Scoreless through two periods, Maureen Murphy gave the Victoire the lead early in the third period when she buried a rebound on a Hayley Scamurra wraparound chance at 1:13. Both of Morin’s goals were seeing-eye shots from long range at 8:05 and then on the power play at 12:01, giving the defender a playoff-high four goals in the series. Kelly Pannek iced the game with a nearly 200-foot shot into the empty net at 18:43, her second point of the night to share the playoff lead with four, after leading the regular season with a record 33. Frost defender Mae Batherson also had a two-point game with a pair of helpers, and Maddie Rooney picked up her first career assist to go along with a 29-save victory for the two-time champions. Ann-Renée Desbiens stopped 28 shots in defeat after limiting the Frost to one goal for a stretch of 212:07 in three games as the Victoire are still one win away from their first finals appearance. 

NOTABLES

Minnesota is now 5-0 all-time in the playoffs when facing elimination, previously erasing a 2-0 deficit in the 2024 semifinals against Toronto and winning the decisive Game 5 of the inaugural season finals against Boston. 

Monday will be the third Game 5 in PWHL playoff history with Minnesota winning each of the previous two on the road in 2024 against Toronto and Boston. 

The Frost improved to 8-2 in playoff games at Grand Casino Arena, while the Victoire are 1-4 all-time in playoff road games. 

This was the first game of the series decided by multiple goals. During the regular season, Minnesota ranked third with 11 multi-goal wins, while Montréal suffered just one multi-goal loss in their season opener to Boston. 

Including tonight, the Frost are 14-3-2-1 this season when scoring three or more goals in a game, while the Victoire are 0-1-2-3 when allowing three or more goals. 

The Victoire scored first for the second time in the series and are tied with Boston with 23 total game-opening goals in the entire season. 

Minnesota went 1-for-3 on the power play tonight after 13 scoreless opportunities with the player advantage since midway through Game 1, including a record 0-for-7 in Game 3. 

Sidney Morin’s four goals in four games of the series tied her total across 84 career regular-season games, scoring her pair on a game and season-high six shots on goal. The native of Minnetonka, MN, became the first defender to score four goals in a playoff series, tying the four goals Frost alternate captain Lee Stecklein had in eight postseason games in 2025. It’s also the third two-goal playoff performance by a rearguard, following Stecklein in Game 2 of the 2025 semifinal series against Toronto and Sophie Jaques in Game 2 of the inaugural season finals against Boston. 

Maddie Rooney became the first goaltender in PWHL history to record 10 career playoff wins and the first to record an assist in postseason action. Four of her 10 wins have come when the Frost have been facing elimination, with the previous three earned in the 2024 semifinals against Toronto. Including tonight, she has allowed one or fewer goals in nine of her 14 career playoff starts. 

Kelly Pannek recorded her first goal and second multi-point game of the series after contributing two assists in Game 1. The league’s top regular-season scorer is up to 10 multi-point games across the entire campaign, most in the PWHL, and has surpassed double-digits in career playoff points with 11 (3G, 8A) in 22 games. 

Mae Batherson picked up her first two career playoff points with a pair of assists, including one on the power play for her seventh this season with the player advantage. The second-year defender had three multi-point games during the regular season, including two assists in the Frost’s final game against Vancouver. 

Maureen Murphy snapped a seven-game goalless drought with her first point of the series and now has goals in three straight playoffs. Her last playoff goal came in Montréal’s 2-1 loss in Game 4 of last season’s semifinal series against Ottawa. The Victoire forward now has six career playoff points, including four goals in 11 games. 

Hayley Scamurra has points in consecutive contests with an assist tonight following her goal and an assist in Game 3, marking her fifth point streak as a member of the Victoire. Her three playoff points in four games with Montréal triples the lone assist she recorded in four playoff games last season with Toronto. 

Ann-Renée Desbiens surrendered two goals against the Frost for the first time in four games this season at Grand Casino Arena. Despite the loss, tonight’s .933 save percentage was still her sixth best in 11 career playoff starts and one of 27 games in 29 total starts in 2025-26 where she limited the opposition to no more than two goals. 

Britta Curl-Salemme chipped in her first point of the series and first career playoff assist after setting a PWHL single-season record with 18 helpers in 30 games. The second-year forward had three goals in seven playoff games for the Frost in 2025. 

Samantha Cogan recorded her first point in 10 games as a member of the Frost, signing with the team in March ahead of the roster freeze. This was also her first career playoff point in nine appearances after playing in all five games of the inaugural season semifinals for Toronto against Minnesota, and first PWHL point since scoring a goal with Toronto on May 5, 2024. 

Taylor Heise, Laura Stacey and Grace Zumwinkle all had four shots on goal tonight and are tied for the playoff lead with Boston’s Alina Müller with 16. Victoire rookie Nicole Gosling also had four to bring her playoff total to 12, three behind Morin’s 15 for most by a defender. 

Natalie Buchbinder was left off the Frost lineup for a fourth straight game, listed as day-to-day with a lower-body injury. 

THREE STARS

1. Sidney Morin (MIN) 2G 
2. Maddie Rooney (MIN) 29/30 SV 
3. Maureen Murphy (MTL) 1G 

NEXT GAME

Game 5: Monday, May 11 at Montréal at 7 p.m. ET 

A Poulin goal ended the fourth longest game in PWHL history at 104:02 and evened the series 1-1, in what was just the second playoff victory in Montréal’s team history. Both goaltenders were exceptional, trading saves through three periods of regulation and three periods of extra time. Ann-Renée Desbiens secured her first career playoff shutout and eighth in 27 total games this season with a 38-save performance. Maddie Rooney did all she could despite the loss, stopping a career-high 51 of 52 shots on net. Momentum swung throughout regulation with shots even at 27 apiece through 60 minutes, then the Victoire took a commanding lead in overtime, outshooting the Frost 25-11. Poulin called game by drifting from one knee to hammer home the winner on a play set up by a cross-ice feed from Abby Roque, following a pass from Laura Stacey. 

Minnesota will host Game 3 of the series at Grand Casino Arena on Thursday night, followed quickly with Game 4 on Friday. 

After announcing on May 6 that Detroit will be the Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL)’s newest expansion city and host of the 2026 Draft and Awards, the PWHL is sharing additional details surrounding the events, which will celebrate elite performances across the league from the 2025-26 season and usher in the next generation of PWHL talent.

The 2026 PWHL Awards presented by Ally Financial will take place on Tuesday, June 16. Attendance is limited to invited guests and accredited media. In addition to the awards, Detroit-based Ally — home to the nation’s largest all-digital bank and a leading brand in women’s sports sponsorship — was also introduced as the inaugural partner and Official Bank of PWHL Detroit.

The 2026 PWHL Draft presented by Upper Deck will follow on Wednesday, June 17 at Fox Theatre, beginning at 5 p.m. ET, and will be open to ticketed fans. Ticket presales for the draft open Tuesday, May 12, at 10 a.m. ET for fans who make an early deposit for PWHL Detroit ticket packages, with the public on sale beginning at 10 a.m. ET on Wednesday, May 13. Additional ticketing information is provided below.

PWHL Awards Finalists — Schedule of Announcements:

Tuesday, May 19: Forward of the Year

Awarded to the forward who showcases the most outstanding ability at the position throughout the regular season.

Wednesday, May 20: Defender of the Year

Awarded to the defender who showcases the most outstanding ability at the position throughout the regular season.

Thursday, May 21: Goaltender of the Year presented by Rogers

Awarded to the goaltender who showcases the most outstanding ability at the position throughout the regular season.

Friday, May 22: Coach of the Year

Awarded to the head coach whose contributions most impacted their team’s on-ice success throughout the regular season.

Tuesday, May 26: Rookie of the Year presented by Ally Financial

Awarded to the player who showcases the most outstanding ability throughout their first regular season of professional play. Players eligible must be competing in their first season of professional hockey in North America and begin the season in their 25th birth year or younger. For Season Three, 2000-born players are eligible for the Rookie of the Year Award.

Wednesday, May 27: Billie Jean King MVP Award

Awarded to the player considered most valuable to their team’s success throughout the regular season.

PWHL Awards Selection Committee:

The awards selection committee features a cross-section of representatives and a weighted model for tabulating votes:

• 50% of voting points from media across North America, including all PWHL markets

• 25% from PWHL General Managers and Head Coaches

• 15% from PWHL broadcast talent

• 10% from the PWHL Players Association (PWHLPA)

Ballots were submitted following the conclusion of the regular season and prior to the start of the playoffs. Voters ranked their top three selections for each award, with five points awarded for a first-place vote, three points for a second-place vote, and one point for a third-place vote. Media ballots were developed in consultation with the Women’s Chapter of the Professional Hockey Writers Association.

Additional Awards:

• In addition to the six major awards, the selection committee also voted on the league’s First and Second All-Star Teams, which will be announced at the ceremony, and an All-Rookie Team, which will be announced prior to the event and recognized during the ceremony on June 16.

• The Ilana Kloss Playoff MVP Award will be presented at the conclusion of the PWHL Walter Cup Finals to the player deemed most valuable to their team’s success in the postseason.

• The league’s Top Goal Scorer Awardand Points Leader Award — both won by Kelly Pannek (MIN) — will also be recognized during the ceremony.

• The PWHL’s “Hockey for All” Award presented by Scotiabank, recognizes the player who has made the greatest impact in their community during the 2025-26 regular season. The annual recipient is selected by PWHL executives based on nominations from all eight teams. Scotiabank will donate $10,000 to a Canadian charity of the winner’s choice that supports youth or grassroots hockey, with a focus on accessibility, diversity, and inclusion.

• The Intact Impact Awardrecognizes players who make a meaningful impact through their leadership, support of others, and overall positive influence on team culture. Nominations are evaluated based on excellence, leadership, and integrity. Intact Insurance donates $5,000 on behalf of each of the four winners to a Canadian charity of their choice. The 2025-26 recipients, previously announced throughout the season and will be honored at the ceremony, are Ashton Bell (VAN) – HEROS Hockey (Hockey Education Reaching Out Society); Marlène Boissonnault (MIN) – Hockey 4 Youth Foundation; Shiann Darkangelo (MTL) – LS7; and Emma Woods (TOR) – Grindstone Award Foundation.

Fans can stay up to date on all 2026 PWHL Draft and Awards announcements at thepwhl.com and by following @thepwhlofficial across all social media platforms.

2026 PWHL Draft Ticket Information:

Ticket presales for the 2026 PWHL Draft presented by Upper Deck begin Tuesday, May 12 at 10 a.m. ET, with the public on sale starting Wednesday, May 13 at 10 a.m. ET.

A limited-time presale offering 20% off will be available to current Season Ticket Members across the PWHL’s eight teams, as well as PWHL Detroit Season Ticket Member depositors who purchase by Monday, May 11, ahead of the presale window. Deposits for PWHL Detroit season tickets can be made here.

Fans can also purchase a limited-availability “Early Access Experience Package,” which includes:

• Early entry with advanced premium Red Carpet access

• Exclusive photo opportunities on the Draft stage and with the Walter Cup

• Autographed Official Draft Collectibles

The Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) today announced expansion to Detroit, Michigan, with the newest team to begin play for the 2026-27 season with home games to be played at Little Caesars Arena. PWHL Detroit is joined by Ally Financial as the team’s inaugural partner, with team jerseys to feature an exclusive Ally patch on the chest. In celebration of the PWHL’s newest market, Detroit will host the 2026 PWHL Awards Ceremony presented by Ally on Tuesday, June 16, and the 2026 PWHL Draft presented by Upper Deck on Wednesday, June 17, with the Draft taking place at Fox Theatre as a ticketed event open to fans. 

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.