PWHL continues rapid expansion, adds Las Vegas and Ontario teams for 2026

The PWHL is doubling down on expansion, adding more teams in 2026.

On Wednesday, the league unveiled plans to add teams in Las Vegas and Hamilton, Ontario. Both teams will take the ice beginning with the 2026-2027 season. The PWHL Las Vegas team is slated to play its home games at T-Mobile Arena. The PWHL's Hamilton franchise will play in TD Coliseum.

“Hamilton and its surrounding communities have long been central to the growth of girls’ and women’s hockey, producing generations of talented players and passionate fans,” Jayna Hefford, PWHL executive vice president of hockey operations, said in a release. “This is a region with deep hockey roots, and the response we saw during our Takeover Tour game at TD Coliseum made it clear that fans in the region are ready to rally around a team of their own."

“From the staggering growth of youth hockey participation to the passionate support for the Golden Knights and Aces, the Las Vegas community has enthusiastically embraced both hockey and 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,” Amy Scheer, PWHL executive vice president of business operations, said.

The news of Las Vegas and Hamilton joining the PHWL comes on the heels of significant growth for the league. Detroit also recently landed a PWHL expansion franchise, bringing the league's current eight teams to 11 by the time next season arrives.

The PWHL is expected to reveal more details regarding expansion, including the roster-building process and how expansion teams will be integrated into the 2026 PWHL Draft in the coming weeks.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Las Vegas, Ontario land PWHL expansion teams as women's hockey booms