The PWHL is making plans, detailing its new roster-building process as Detroit, Hamilton, San Jose, and Las Vegas prepare to join the league next season.

Moving away from prior expansion drafts, the process now spans six transaction phases instead of solely relying on strict signing periods or the June 17th college draft to distribute talent.

“Our priorities were clear: to give players a meaningful voice throughout the process while maintaining competitive balance across the league for all 12 teams,” EVP of Hockey Operations Jayna Hefford said in a league statement.

“Expansion is a major milestone for our league, our players, and our fans.”

The expansion period officially opens June 1st. Existing teams able to protect three players via Phase 1’s two-day negotiation window. However, PWHL expansion teams in Detroit, Hamilton, Las Vegas, and San Jose are allowed to sign unprotected players under contract.

If any incoming team can’t complete its roster through the exclusive signing windows, a draft process could be introduced down the line.

PWHL Expansion Process: Key Dates for all Teams  

The PWHL continues to make women’s sports history, as the players association voted to publicly disclose their salaries in an effort to promote transparency.

“This decision reflects our belief that greater salary transparency gives players clearer information and stronger context in individual negotiations, while also supporting a more transparent and credible marketplace for the league overall,” said PWHLPA executive director Malaika Underwood.

Only 10 PWHL players made more than $100,000 last season, led by Ottawa’s Emily Clark at $126,090 and New York’s Sarah Fillier at $125,000.

Reigning Walter Cup winner Montréal averaged just under $58,000 per player, with captain Marie-Philip Poulin and other top-paid stars opting to take pay cuts to maximize team depth.

Many players earned closer to the league low of $37,131.50, with 17 players on minimum contracts while others hovered around $40,000.

The US women’s hockey team is getting a parade, as Las Vegas greenlit rapper Flavor Flav’s SHE Weekend celebrating athletes in women’s sports.

The Las Vegas Strip parade kicks off July 16th, starting at the Bellagio Hotel and ending at Toshiba Plaza, with invites out to some of women’s sport’s biggest names.

“I just want to say thank you for giving me the opportunity,” Flav told Clark County officials. “I am a girl dad and I am a big supporter of women’s sports.”

The idea for the weekend dates to Flav reaching out to Team USA, looking to honor the hockey team’s gold medal win after they declined a White House visit.

“If the USA Women’s Hockey team wants a real celebration and invite,,, I’ll host them in Las Vegas,” he tweeted in February.

“I’m sure I can get a hotel and airline to help me out here and celebrate these women for real for real.”

The Montréal Victoire sealed the deal last night, lifting its first-ever Walter Cup trophy with Wednesday’s 4-0 win over the Ottawa Charge.

The 3-1 series came down to the wire, as Montréal scored three times in Game 4’s final 10 minutes to put the title out of the Charge’s reach.

“I tried to live through every moment,” said Montréal Head Coach Kori Cheverie. 

“There were highs, there were lows, and we were able to kind of get through all of those adversity moments as a team. Whatever team we had on the ice was a team we were able to win with, so it’s been absolutely amazing with this group.” 

Montréal’s Marie-Philip “Captain Clutch” Poulin won Playoff MVP. She racked up a record-tying eight postseason points after falling just short of Olympic gold with Canada earlier this year.

“It’s been a tough year, I’m not going to lie, since February,” she said after the win.

“It was ups and downs, coming back to this group, just fighting through. It hasn’t been easy — injuries, sickness, a lot of things — but we stuck together. We knew it wasn’t going to be easy in this building when we showed up today, but we remained patient with our game.”

The Ottawa Charge kept its championship dreams alive on Monday night, defeating Montréal Victoire 2-1 in Game 3 of the PWHL Walter Cup Finals.

Facing elimination, Ottawa rallied with two late third-period goals to stave off a sweep in the best-of-five championship series. Although Montréal still holds a 2-1 series lead, Ottawa’s dramatic comeback now forces a pivotal Game 4.

A playoff-record crowd of 16,894 fans watched the battle unfold. Both teams played scoreless hockey through the first two periods, as goaltenders Gwyneth Philips and Ann-Renée Desbiens protected their nets.

Montréal broke the ice nearly halfway through the third period as Hayley Scamurra capitalized on a rebound off the back boards to give the Victoire a 1-0 lead. That goal put Montréal just minutes away from capturing the 2026 Walter Cup trophy.

But Ottawa refused to fold under pressure.

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Late Goals Save Ottawa Charge in 2026 Walter Cup Finals Win

With five and a half minutes remaining in regulation, Charge rookie Peyton Hemp scooped up a loose puck. She subsequently slipped it past a sprawling Desbiens to tie the game with her first-ever playoff goal.

That momentum shift spurred Ottawa native Rebecca Leslie to fire a shot through heavy traffic — with just 56 seconds left on the clock.

The puck found the back of the net, triggering chaos in the arena. Officials reviewed the play for a potential hand pass, but the goal stood.

"We're not done yet," Leslie told press. "We've just had a no quit attitude all year, and this group is really special. I'm speechless. It's just such an honor to play for this city. We have the best fans in the league."

Where to Watch Montréal vs Ottawa in PWHL Finals Game 4

The Victoire still lead the PWHL finals series 2-1, meaning the Charge needs another win to keep its quest for the 2026 Walter Cup on track.

Game 4 kicks off on Wednesday at 7 PM ET, live on ION.

Montréal is one win away from its first PWHL title, holding a towering 2-0 lead over Ottawa after this weekend’s best-of-five Walter Cup finals slate.

Games 1 and 2 both went to overtime, with the Victoire taking Thursday’s opener 3-2 off an Abby Roque game-winner, before securing Saturday’s 2-1 victory courtesy of Maggie Flaherty.

“We’ve been a team all year that has defended by committee and as a collective, they did the job in both ends of the rink today,” said head coach Kori Cheverie.

The Walter Cup final series now shifts to Ottawa for Game 3.

“It’s exciting. I think it's going to be great to get back home and get in front of our fans,” said Charge captain Brianne Jenner. “It was amazing last series and we're just looking forward to their energy helping us.”

Report: PWHL to Add San Jose to 2026/27 Expansion Team List

The PWHL also made headlines off the ice, as San Jose will reportedly join Detroit, Hamilton, and Las Vegas in the rapidly expanding league.

With an official announcement expected Tuesday, the California expansion squad will tip the PWHL’s scales firmly south, with seven US-based and five Canadian teams.

Where to Watch Montréal vs Ottawa in the PWHL Walter Cup Finals

Montréal shoots for the sweep tonight at 6 PM ET, live on ION.

The Montreal Victoire pulled off a stunning comeback to defeat the Ottawa Charge in Game 1 of the PWHL Walter Cup Finals on Thursday night.

In a game that seemed destined for an Ottawa victory, Montreal erased a late deficit to silence the crowd of rowdy Charge fans at TD Place. With their thrilling overtime win, the Victoire now hold a 1-0 series lead in their quest for the PWHL championship.

Abby Roque Nets 'Miracle' Overtime Goal

The game reached a fever pitch in the final few seconds of regulation. Trailing by one, Montreal pulled their goaltender for an extra attacker. The gamble ultimately paid off when the Victoire found the back of the net with just 2.1 seconds remaining on the clock.

That down-to-the-wire surge sent the match into a sudden-death overtime period where star forward Abby Roque got a lucky break. As she weaved through the Ottawa defense, an errant pass ricocheted off her helmet and into the back of the net.

"I just saw the puck go right between my eyes and… then it somehow went in," she said after the game. "I was just hoping that's a goal."

Victoire head coach Kori Cheverie summed up the wild on-ice twist by dubbing it " a miracle in Laval."

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Laura Stacey Injury Update

The biggest question for Montreal Victoire fans heading into Saturday is the status of alternate captain Laura Stacey. During the final minute of regulation in Game 1, Stacey took a heavy hit into the boards from Ottawa's Gabbie Hughes.

The star winger appeared to be in extreme pain and had to be helped off the ice by Marie-Philip Poulin, sparking immediate fears of a season-ending leg injury. But Stacey provided a massive emotional lift by returning for the start of overtime.

Not only did she play through the discomfort, but she also recorded the primary assist on Roque’s game-winning goal. Stacey finished the night with 21:54 of ice time, proving her essential role in the Victoire lineup. While there is no official word yet on her status, Stacey's ability to finish Game 1 is a positive sign for her availability during the tournament.

PWHL Walter Cup Finals: What’s Next for Montreal vs. Ottawa

The heartbreaking Game 1 loss is a tough pill to swallow for the Ottawa Charge, who controlled the pace for the first two periods at Place Bell. Still, the best-of-five series format gives them a quick chance to rebound.

The quest for the PWHL 2026 championship continues with a high-stakes schedule:

Fans can stream the tournament on the PWHL YouTube channel.

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.

The 2026 Walter Cup is headed North, after Canadian titans Montréal and Ottawa won their PWHL semifinals in dramatic fashion.

The Victoire knocked off two-time reigning champions Minnesota on Tuesday to reach its first-ever finals, with captain Marie-Philip Poulin’s game-winner sealing the deal.

“It’s our biggest win in organization history,” said Montréal head coach Kori Cheverie. “We had to fight tooth and nail against a team like Minnesota. It wasn’t easy.”

“We're not done yet,” Poulin added. “We want to get to work here, and we're excited to get going on the 14th.”

The Victoire faces a Charge team with ample Walter Cup experience, after Ottawa fell just short of the Frost to finish as 2024/25 runner-up.

The Charge ousted Boston in Sunday’s double-overtime thriller, with final goal-scorer Michela Cava sending the Fleet packing.

“That was a big one,” said midseason Ottawa addition Cava. “I have been so close so many times and it feels really good just to get this one for the girls.”

Where to Watch the 2026 PWHL Walter Cup Finals

The 2026 Walter Cup Finals kick off Thursday at 7 PM ET, live on ION.

The road to the Walter Cup Finals hit a sudden detour on Monday night. The PWHL postponed the winner-take-all Game 5 between the Montreal Victoire and the Minnesota Frost due to "player safety concerns related to illness." Originally, the league slated the high-stakes matchup for Monday evening but has now rescheduled the game for Tuesday night.

The decision to pause the Walter Cup playoffs came less than three hours before puck drop. Women's hockey league officials confirmed the move followed consultation with medical staff to prioritize the health of players and fans.

Notably, while the PWHL didn't disclose the nature of the illness, they did clarify that symptoms aren't consistent with hantavirus. That mention likely stems from heightened public interest following a rare cruise-ship outbreak of the respiratory disease.

Montreal Victoire Illness Update: Minnesota Frost Roster Cleared for Game 5

Inside sources confirm that the outbreak remains contained within the Montreal Victoire locker room. Meanwhile, the Minnesota Frost reported no illnesses among their roster as of Monday. After monitoring the situation throughout the day, the league opted for a delay as the number of symptomatic players in Montreal increased.

This move marks a rare instance of a postseason game shifting for health reasons outside of the pandemic era. The league confirmed that a Tuesday match-up would ensure both teams can compete closer to full strength.

Montreal Victoire vs. Minnesota Frost: Winner Advances to Walter Cup Finals

Tonight’s winner at Place Bell advances to the Walter Cup Finals to face the Ottawa Charge. Ottawa secured their spot after sweeping the Boston Fleet on Sunday. The league will honor all tickets from the original Monday date.

The rescheduled puck drop takes place Tuesday, May 12, at 7 PM ET. US fans can watch the match on Scripps Sports.