‘A Long time coming’: PWHL’s expansion to Detroit is finally a reality
Growing up in Michigan, people have unanimously believed that Detroit is often overlooked by the rest of the United States – never taken seriously due to its bewildering history.
That seemed to be the case with the Professional Women’s Hockey League. The area known as Hockeytown was left on the cutting room floor when the league was introduced in 2023, and when the PWHL first expanded last year, Detroit was passed over in favor of Vancouver and Seattle. Instead, passionate fans in the city were left to cry out for a team on either social media or at a record four Takeover games.
That’s no longer the case.
The league officially announced on Wednesday at Little Caesars Arena that Detroit will be its ninth franchise.
During the event’s press conference, executive vice president of hockey operations Jayna Hefford noted that the fans’ passion persuaded the league to expand to the Motor City.
“In year one, we read signs that said ‘We want a team.’ In year two, we read signs that said ‘We deserve a team.’ In year three, we read signs that said ‘We’ve earned a team.’ Well, you were right. This team is now yours…this has been a long time coming.”
Executive vice president of business operations, Amy Scheer, noted how Detroit has been connected to the PWHL since day one, and that the support and bravado the fans have shown whenever the league comes to town made the decision to expand to the Mitten an easy one.
“Across four games in this building,” Scheer said. “The energy, the attendance, the engagement, the passion. You have set the bar for what hockey fans can be and should be. Each visit left us with that same feeling. This market is ready for its own team. The fans told us so. For anyone who’s in this business…the fans are always right, and we listen.”
The CEO of Ilitch Sports & Entertainment, Chris Ilitch, has been credited as a driving force in not only supporting the PWHL during the number of Takeover games, but also driving the interest in bringing a franchise to Detroit.
“To everyone who has been in the stands,” Ilitch explained. “Following this league, waiting for this moment. Thank you. You made this happen. The wait is over. Detroit has a team.”
It isn’t like there have been small turnouts for the neutral-site 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. During the first Takeover game in March 2024, Hefford noted that Detroit was viewed to be one of the original franchises, but chose Boston, New York and Minnesota as the first three American markets.
The PWHL elected to pursue West Coast expansion last year to expand its footprint across the entire continent. That left cities like Detroit and Chicago – another potential Midwestern market – in the dark for at least another year.
Yet, the fans refused to be ignored. Detroit was one of four cities on the Takeover Tour this year to have two games on the schedule, with loud crowds showing that the desire and energy for the PWHL can carry on for more than just one night.
Detroit Mayor Mary Sheffield is confident that not only the franchise in the Motor City will thrive on the ice, but will also make an impact on the city outside of the rink as well.
“Another team to solidify Detroit is a sports town,” Sheffield said. “We continue to lead in that regard, and to have a women’s hockey league here. Detroit is Hockeytown. We have a huge fan base that’s going to support and uplift this league, and so we’re very honored to bring it here. We know the economic activity also that it’s going to bring to the city, but also just a sense of community and pride and the opportunity to cultivate the next generation of young girls is also exciting.”
Scheer, who labled Detroit as the “Mother of the Takeover Tour,” mentioned that the fans who have come to the games have been a “microcosm of the city,” and that fair ticket prices make the experience better for patrons.
“I think the fans have already shown us that it will be successful,” Scheer told the media on Wednesday. “We pride ourselves on building an environment that’s accessible, where everyone’s welcome. We appreciate that it’s affordable, it’s accessible, and our players love engaging with the fans, and we think we’ll have no problem finding a nice place here in Detroit, it’s the best hockey in the world. … So, we have no doubt we’ll find a very comfortable place here in Detroit with our games.”
The team doesn’t have an identity as of now, with Scheer confirming that the team, with colors black and silver, with a red accent, will have ‘Detroit’ going diagonally across the front of the sweaters every team has had in their first years of operation. However, she assured that there’s a team working to create a nickname and logo ahead of its first season.
On top of Detroit receiving a team, the city will get a chance to see the next wave of talent firsthand next month. The league also revealed that the 2026 PWHL Draft will be held at the legendary Fox Theatre on June 17.