PWHL expansion marks major milestone for women’s hockey

The Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) has announced a significant expansion, adding teams in Detroit, Hamilton, Las Vegas and San Jose for the 2026/27 season. The addition of a Hamilton-based team brings professional women’s hockey closer to southwestern Ontario than ever before.

The league has already set a world attendance record for women’s hockey and has rapidly grown in popularity since launching in 2024. The expansion comes as the momentum of women’s sports continues to surge globally.

Erin Pearson is the program coordinator for Fanshawe’s Sport and Event Marketing program. She holds a PhD from Western University, where her research focused on how sport and events can be used as instruments of social change. She is available to discuss the recent PWHL expansion. 

“The pace of expansion shows how much momentum and demand the league has built in a pretty short time, which is something a lot of new leagues struggle to do,” Pearson says. “It helps grow the league’s reach, creates more opportunities for players, and increases sponsorship and media by getting into new markets.”

Pearson can also speak to what this rapid expansion means for the PWHL's long-term sustainability.