The PWHL officially confirmed expansion to Las Vegas and Hamilton, Ontario on Tuesday, as the league adds its 10th and 11th teams ahead of the 2026/27 season.
PWHL Las Vegas will play home games at T-Mobile Arena with support from the Vegas Golden Knights. PWHL Hamilton will call TD Coliseum home, in partnership with Oak View Group and the City of Hamilton.
The two markets follow Detroit as part of the 2026 expansion class. The teams join eight existing franchises in Boston, Minnesota, Montreal, New York, Ottawa, Seattle, Toronto, and Vancouver.
Hamilton showcased its hockey appetite when 16,012 fans attended a PWHL Takeover Tour game January 3rd. The crowd marked the third-largest Takeover Tour attendance, with more than 70% of the audience attending their first PWHL event. The turnout demonstrated the league can reach new audiences despite the Canadian province's two existing teams.
The Hamilton region additionally produces more than 15% of current PWHL players. This ranks among the world's strongest areas for women's hockey.
“Hamilton is proud to welcome women’s professional hockey to our city,” said Hamilton mayor Andrea Horwath. “Bringing a PWHL team to Hamilton will inspire young women and girls, bring new energy to our downtown, and create incredible experiences for fans and families across our community.”
Las Vegas has seen a 600% surge in girls and women's hockey participation since the Golden Knights' 2017 arrival. The league also cited the Las Vegas Aces' overwhelming WNBA success, indicating strong support for pro women's sports.
“While professional women’s hockey may be new to the market, we know Las Vegas is ready to welcome and champion a PWHL team of its own,” said PWHL EVP of Business Operations Amy Scheer.
“This new team will be Las Vegas Valley-born and reflect the identity of its bold, welcoming, and resilient community, with athletes ready to put on a show and build a passionate following across the region.”
Hamilton will wear gold, maroon and cream — paying tribute to the Tiger-Cats and the area's steel-producing past. Las Vegas chose green and gold, inspired by southern Nevada's desert landscape.
