PWHL Brings Expansion Team and 2026 Draft to Detroit
The PWHL held its 2026 draft at Detroit’s Fox Theatre Wednesday, as the city’s still-unnamed expansion team — already boasting ten signed players — prepares for its first season.
DETROIT, MICHIGAN — The Professional Women’s Hockey League chose Detroit for its 2026 draft, held Wednesday night at the historic Fox Theatre in downtown Detroit. The city also welcomes a new PWHL expansion franchise set to begin play in the league’s fourth season this fall.
Detroit was announced as the PWHL’s first of four planned expansion teams in early May, becoming the ninth of an eventual 12 teams in the league. The announcement that Detroit would host the 2026 draft coincided with the expansion reveal.
Ten Players Signed Before Draft Night
The still-unnamed Detroit team entered draft night with ten players already signed during the expansion process. Team leadership, league executives, and players have expressed enthusiasm about bringing professional women’s hockey to a city celebrated for its hockey culture.
Forward Jesse Compher, one of the players who signed with Detroit’s PWHL franchise during the expansion process, spoke about the city’s passionate fanbase during a virtual press conference. “I’ve been in that building a bunch of times, Little Caesars Arena, and I’ve seen how passionate the fans are,” Compher said. “You can see how passionate the fans are. They want a playoff team, and I think that here in the PWHL, we’re going to be able to bring that to them with our signings and what we’re building.”
Little Caesars Arena, which hosted two PWHL “Takeover Tour” games during the 2025-26 season on January 3, 2026, is expected to serve as the home venue for the new Detroit franchise.
Ilitch Sports and Entertainment Behind the Expansion
Ryan Gustafson, CEO of Ilitch Sports and Entertainment, said the PWHL expansion aligns with the organization’s broader mission for Detroit’s sports district. Ilitch Sports and Entertainment owns the NHL’s Detroit Red Wings, Major League Baseball’s Detroit Tigers, and Little Caesars Arena itself.
Gustafson said bringing a PWHL team to Detroit fulfills the organization’s vision of building a world-class sports and entertainment district in downtown Detroit, explicitly including women’s sports.
‘Hockeytown’ Roots Run Deep
Detroit earned the nickname “Hockeytown” in the 1990s, a designation tied to the city’s long-standing NHL franchise and its devoted fanbase. That identity has been a significant draw for the PWHL as the league eyes growth into new markets.
The Fox Theatre, a landmark venue in downtown Detroit, served as the backdrop for Wednesday’s draft, giving the event a high-profile setting befitting the league’s expansion ambitions. The PWHL will now have a Detroit presence at both the amateur and professional levels as the organization works to build the roster ahead of its inaugural season in the city.
