It's an exciting time for women's hockey, and the buzz around Detroit is getting louder by the day. Could Hockeytown soon be home to a Professional Women's Hockey League (PWHL) team? While nothing is official yet, the signs are pointing in a promising direction.
Denise Ilitch, a prominent figure whose family owns the Detroit Red Wings, the Tigers, and Little Caesars Arena, has already voiced her confidence. On her podcast this past March, she shared, "I believe we'll be getting a team in Detroit soon, which really excites me." Ilitch, who also sits on the University of Michigan's Board of Regents, has been a vocal advocate for expanding women's hockey opportunities in the state.
This isn't just local speculation. Major outlets like The New York Times and The Hockey News have reported that Detroit is a strong candidate for the next wave of PWHL expansion. The league, which just added teams in Seattle and Vancouver, is aiming to grow by two to four more franchises by the 2026-27 season.
Detroit's case is bolstered by impressive numbers and a deep talent pool. The PWHL has already made four tour stops in the Motor City over the past three years. During the 2023-24 season, Detroit fans packed the arena, setting a U.S. attendance record for a professional women's hockey game with 13,736 spectators. And the love hasn't faded—a March 2026 game at Little Caesars Arena drew nearly 16,000 fans to watch Montreal take on New York.
Michigan is also home to some of the sport's biggest stars, including Megan Keller, who became a national hero for Team USA at the 2026 Winter Olympics. The PWHL has seen a surge in interest since the Games, and Detroit's passionate hockey community is ready to embrace a full-time team.
If a PWHL franchise does land in Detroit, fans are already dreaming bigger. Many hope it could be the catalyst needed for both the University of Michigan and Michigan State University to finally launch Division I women's hockey programs.
For now, we wait—but the ice is definitely getting warmer in Hockeytown.