The PWHL officially announced expansion to Detroit as the Motor City joins the PWHL as the league's ninth franchise.
DETROIT-- The PWHL is officially expanding to Detroit. PWHL Detroit expansion was announced Wednesday morning at Little Caesars Arena alongside Ilitch Sports and Entertainment and representatives from the City of Detroit.
Founded as a six team league in 2023-24, the PWHL expanded by two teams this season adding the Vancouver Goldeneyes and Seattle Torrent.
Now, the league continues to grow its footprint by bringing professional women's hockey to Detroit and Michigan.
Detroit made themselves frontrunners through the support of the Ilitch Companies, Little Caesars Arena, and the massive support from fans.
In the PWHL's three seasons, Detroit has hosted four PWHL Takeover Tour games. During the league's inaugural season, Detroit set a new American professional women's hockey attendance record drawing 13,736 fans to Little Caesars Arena.
A year later to the date, Detroit set another American record, this time drawing 14,288 fans. This season, Detroit opened with their lowest attendance, bringing in 9,624 fans in January, before drawing the market's largest mark to date of 15,938 on March 28.
Detroit was also recently awarded a WNBA team, which will begin play at Little Caesars Arena in 2029, showing the growing interest for professional women's sports in the market.
Detroit is conveniently located for Canadian PWHL fans in Southwestern Ontario, and helps the league continue to build bridges toward the west and into American broadcast deals.
More to come.