Crash Course On PWHL Expansion: Cities Line Up To Join Rapidly Growing League
The PWHL has doubled the number of teams since starting as a six-team loop in 2023.
Heading into this season, the PWHL added teams in Seattle and Vancouver. In the midst of the 2026 Walter Cup playoffs, the top women's hockey league has grown again, announcing expansion to Detroit, Hamilton, Las Vegas and San Jose. That brings the league up to 12 teams for the 2026-27 campaign.
Some believe such rapid expansion is risky, but by every metric, whether it's attendance, merchandise sales, sponsorship or broadcasting, the PWHL can barely keep up with the demand for its product.
That demand was the impetus for continued expansion. As PWHL advisory board member and Los Angeles Dodgers' president Stan Kasten said: "there is a line of cities eager to have us…"
When It Comes To Failed Expansion Markets, Don't Blame The PWHL
When it comes to PWHL expansion, only four new markets were successful in winning PWHL teams - Detroit, Hamilton, Las Vegas, and San Jose. For those who failed, they just weren't willing to offer what the PWHL wanted and needed.
Hirings Underway
With the PWHL expected to open its expansion roster-building process on June 2, GMs have little to no time to prepare a list of targets in what is set to be a highly unique expansion process for professional sport.
The focus is on various signing windows and not a traditional expansion draft, although it could revert to that in various phases.
The expansion process isn't the only task for new GMs, as the PWHL draft is slated for June 17 in Detroit. It's likely teams will want coaches and some form of hockey operations staff in place prior to those events.
In Detroit, the league tapped women's hockey legend Manon Rheaume as the team's first GM.
It was a match made in heaven, not only for Rheaume's women's hockey connections but also for her connections to Detroit. Rheaume has lived in Michigan for more than a decade, serving as the longtime girls program co-ordinator for Little Caesars Hockey, whose parent ownership is, of course, Ilitch Sports and Entertainment, the PWHL's partner at Little Caesars Arena.
Las Vegas went another route with CAA Sports agent Dominique DiDia, who was the organization's co-head for women's hockey. She represented many of the game's top stars, such as Olympians Cayla Barnes, Alex Carpenter, Hannah Bilka, Sophie Jaques, Jesse Compher, Aerin Frankel, Brianne Jenner, Hayley Scamurra, Claire Thompson, Natalie Spooner, Blayre Turnbull, Haley Winn and Tessa Janecke. With many of those players as potential expansion targets, DiDia's connections could pay off.
The other two markets, San Jose and Hamilton, reportedly have staff in place, but with the PWHL's Walter Cup finals underway, timing of announcements is being worked around not only expansion news and the final games between the Montreal Victoire and Ottawa Charge.
PWHL Expansion Takes Attention Away From The Walter Cup Playoffs
PWHL expansion has built excitement across North America for the league...but it's also detracted from the excitement of the league's ongoing on-ice product in the heart of the Walter Cup finals.
12 Teams For Now
While the PWHL has no intention of staying as a 12-team league, officials have said the league will pause expansion for a season or two to enable the player pool and fan base to settle.
The issue of future expansion will be exacerbated by the NCAA's recent ruling to add a fifth year of eligibility for players. It means the 2027 PWHL draft could be void of top players. The next wave of incoming talent would then be shifted to 2028, with the 2029 draft setting up to be a standout class, much like the incoming 2026 class.
For now, the PWHL will rest with Boston, Detroit, Hamilton, Las Vegas, Minnesota, Montreal, New York, Ottawa, San Jose, Seattle, Toronto and Vancouver.
It wouldn't, however, be shocking to see the PWHL reach 16 teams before the expiration of their current collective bargaining agreement in 2031.
The 2026-27 PWHL season will begin immediately following the completion of the 2026 World Championship, which is scheduled to take place in November in Denmark.
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This story was originally published May 20, 2026 at 12:48 PM.