PWHL expanding to Las Vegas for 2026-27 season, adding 10th franchise
The Professional Women’s Hockey League is headed for Las Vegas, a source briefed on the situation confirmed to The Athletic on Tuesday. The league is expected to announce Vegas as the home of the PWHL’s 10th franchise on Wednesday afternoon, according to an invitation sent by Foley Entertainment Group, which owns the NHL’s Vegas Golden Knights. Vegas will be the second of what could be four expansion teams for the 2026-27 season; PWHL Detroit was announced last week.
“You’re invited to join us for a historic Las Vegas sports announcement,” the invite, which was sent to youth hockey teams in the area and obtained by The Athletic , said. “This event will bring together our sports and hockey community, recognizing our city’s passion and spirit, while celebrating the future of the sport in our city with a look ahead at what’s to come. ” A PWHL team in Vegas would likely play at T-Mobile Arena, home of the Golden Knights, which has a capacity of 17,500 for hockey and one of the best atmospheres in the NHL.
There’s also Lee’s Family Forum in Henderson, Nev. , home to the AHL Henderson Silver Knights. But a 5,567-seat arena is likely too small for the PWHL, which averaged 9,304 fans per game during its record-breaking 2025-26 regular season.
Las Vegas has quickly become a hub for major professional sports. After the NHL’s Golden Knights — led by owner Bill Foley — broke the seal on Las Vegas as a professional sports market in 2017, other leagues quickly followed suit. The WNBA’ Aces relocated from San Antonio in 2018; the NFL’s Raiders moved from Oakland for the 2020 season; MLB’s Athletics, also formerly in Oakland, plan to open a ballpark in 2028; and the NBA in March approved exploration of placing an expansion team in the city for the 2028-29 season.
The Aces have become a dynasty franchise in Vegas, winning three league titles in four years. In March, the team announced it was the first in WNBA history to sell out season ticket allotments for three consecutive seasons. The Aces play at Michelob ULTRA Arena and have drawn big crowds for select games hosted at T-Mobile.