PWHL Announces Expansion to Detroit With Little Caesars Arena Home Games
The Professional Women's Hockey League officially announced on Wednesday that Detroit will become the league's ninth franchise, beginning play in the 2026-27 season at Little Caesars Arena.
Detroit-based Ally Financial has joined as the team's inaugural partner, with team jerseys featuring an exclusive Ally patch on the chest.
Major Event Coming to Detroit in June
The 2026 PWHL Awards Ceremony presented by Ally will take place on Tuesday, June 16. The 2026 PWHL Draft presented by Upper Deck will be held on Wednesday, June 17 at the Fox Theatre as a ticketed event open to fans.
Black, Silver and Red
The league revealed PWHL Detroit's primary colors as 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. The primary colors are intended to evoke Detroit's innovative and industrial spirit, matched with the resilient identity of Metro Detroiters.
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.
Led by Ilitch Sports
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.
Ilitch Companies has a long history of advancing hockey at every level, including the Little Caesars AAA Hockey Club, which has developed generations of players since 1968.
Joining the PWHL Family
PWHL Detroit joins the PWHL's eight current markets as part of the league's single-entity ownership structure. The current markets are Boston, Minnesota, Montreal, New York, Ottawa, Seattle, Toronto, and Vancouver.
The team's practice home will be the BELFOR Training Center, which is part of the arena's complex.
Season Ticket Deposits Now Open
Fans can place a time-stamped deposit to secure priority access to season tickets for Detroit's historic inaugural season. Fans who place an early season ticket deposit will also receive first access and a discount on tickets to the 2026 Draft taking place in Detroit at Fox Theatre on Wednesday, June 17.
Detroit's PWHL History
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.
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. Detroit also saw a Little Caesars Arena women's hockey attendance high of 15,938 at the city's last Takeover Tour game on March 28, 2026.
Quotes from Leadership
Amy Scheer, PWHL Executive Vice President of Business Operations, said Detroit has been part of PWHL history since the beginning. She noted the city and fans have helped lead the way for the future of pro women's hockey.
Jayna Hefford, PWHL Executive Vice President of Hockey Operations, said the Detroit area and the state of Michigan have one of the strongest youth hockey development systems in the world, especially for girls. She added that the city has world-class facilities at Little Caesars Arena.
Chris Ilitch, President and CEO of Ilitch Companies, said Detroit is one of the great hockey cities, shaped by generations of players, teams, and fans who have helped grow the game at every level. He noted this moment reflects their broader vision of using sports as a catalyst for Detroit's continued revitalization.
Ryan Gustafson, President and CEO of Ilitch Sports + Entertainment, said they're excited to welcome the PWHL to Little Caesars Arena. He added that the energy Detroit fans have brought to Takeover Tour games over the past few years has been undeniable.
Detroit Mayor Mary Sheffield said she is thrilled that professional women's hockey is coming to the city. She noted Detroit is home to incredibly passionate hockey fans who already have shown their enthusiasm and support for the PWHL at Little Caesars Arena.
More Information
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