The 2026 PWHL Draft took place on June 17 in Detroit, marking the first draft for the four expansion teams the league announced in May.
The new teams are located in Detroit, Hamilton, Las Vegas and San Jose. Going into the league's fourth season, it will now have 12 teams. Its size has doubled since debuting with the inaugural six teams in 2023.
This rapid expansion is a remarkable reflection of the PWHL's success in growing both hockey and women's sports. However, it also highlights several major internal issues that the league should resolve before considering additional expansion in the coming years.
With two back-to-back expansions, some teams have lost many players for two consecutive seasons. These losses hinder teams from forming a cohesive on-ice identity and chemistry. They also deliver disappointment to fans of the existing teams yet again in the league's short history. How can new fans connect to teams that have never been consistent from their inception?
Teams cannot grow into being strong and unified if they must rebuild every season. The league should invest more in the teams it already has rather than focusing on forming new ones.
The new teams are located in Detroit, Hamilton, Las Vegas and San Jose. Going into the league's fourth season, it will now have 12 teams. Its size has doubled since debuting with the inaugural six teams in 2023.
This rapid expansion is a remarkable reflection of the PWHL's success in growing both hockey and women's sports. However, it also highlights several major internal issues that the league should resolve before considering additional expansion in the coming years.
With two back-to-back expansions, some teams have lost many players for two consecutive seasons. These losses hinder teams from forming a cohesive on-ice identity and chemistry. They also deliver disappointment to fans of the existing teams yet again in the league's short history. How can new fans connect to teams that have never been consistent from their inception?
Teams cannot grow into being strong and unified if they must rebuild every season. The league should invest more in the teams it already has rather than focusing on forming new ones.
4 months ago
