The Professional Women’s Hockey League will add a Las Vegas franchise for the 2025-26 season, the league announced Wednesday. The team will play at T-Mobile Arena, home of the NHL’s Vegas Golden Knights.
Las Vegas is one of three expansion markets joining the league next season, along with Detroit and Hamilton, Ontario. The expansion will bring the PWHL to 11 teams.
The team’s colors will be green and gold, which the league said are inspired by Southern Nevada’s natural landscape and a nod to the Golden Knights. The team name will be announced later.
“The arrival of the PWHL in Vegas is a milestone for women’s hockey and our entire community,” said Knights president John Penhollow. “We’re proud of how far youth hockey has come locally, and even more excited about the path forward and opportunities ahead for future generations with the PWHL’s arrival in Las Vegas.”
The growth of youth hockey in the area has been dramatic since the Golden Knights joined the NHL in 2017. According to USA Hockey, registered female players in Las Vegas increased from 107 to 5,305 as of the 2024-25 season, with 2,353 of those between ages 9 and 18.
The expansion also builds on the success of the Las Vegas Aces, who have won three WNBA championships in four years and set a standard for women’s professional sports in the city.
“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 Amy Scheer, the league’s executive vice president of business operations, in a statement. “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.”
Details on the expansion draft will be released later. Fans can place a $50 deposit for priority access to season ticket memberships.
