The PWHL’s four new expansion franchises officially have their team names.
Tuesday morning, the league announced the full names of the franchises for Detroit, Hamilton, San Jose, and Vegas, all of which will play their inaugural seasons in 2026-27. The teams will wear city-name jerseys during their inaugural season, with their newly unveiled logos appearing on game jerseys beginning in 2027–28.
Merch for all the new teams can be found on the PWHL’s online store.
Detroit Clutch
The Detroit Clutch’s identity pays tribute to the Motor City’s automotive history while also referencing athletes who perform their best in high-pressure moments.
The team’s circular logo resembles an automobile wheel and clutch, featuring chrome, Art Deco-inspired lettering. Lines inside the wheel also pay homage to Motown’s musical history. The color scheme combines black, silver, white, and racing red, reflecting Detroit’s industrial heritage and reputation for resilience.
Team stars: Hilary Knight, Daryl Watts, Britta Curl-Salemme, Cayla Barnes, and Hannah Bilka
Intro story
Jerseys
Design details
Hamilton Havoc
The Hamilton Havoc’s new identity celebrates the Canadian city’s unique combination of industrial strength and natural beauty, drawing inspiration from its steel mills and the nearby Niagara Escarpment.
The team’s logo features a peregrine falcon, Hamilton’s official bird, reimagined as a fierce, steel-plated creature with glowing, molten eyes. The design incorporates rugged metallic lettering, while the color palette features rust, steel gray, ivory, and bright orange.
Team stars: Brianne Jenner, Alina Müller, Emily Clark, and Jade Iginla
Intro story
Jerseys
Design details
San Jose Sea Lions
The San Jose Sea Lions’ identity draws inspiration from the marine wildlife of Northern California and the Pacific coastline.
The team’s logo features a sea lion rising from the water, surrounded by waves and a setting sun. Its colors include coastal blue, sunset orange, navy, and sea mist.
The name also has a fascinating historical connection: the San Francisco Sea Lions were a Negro League baseball team in 1946 that featured pioneering female player Toni Stone, who later became the first woman to play regularly in a major men’s professional baseball league.
Team stars: Laila Edwards, Corinne Schroeder, Kristin O’Neill, and Rory Guilday
Intro story
Jerseys
Design details
Vegas Vanguards
The Vegas Vanguards’ new identity goes “beyond the glitz and glamour of the Vegas Strip to the beauty of the Mojave Desert and the American West.”
The team’s logo features a desert kit fox, an animal known for its intelligence, agility, and adaptability, and native to the Mojave. The fox’s angular silhouette subtly forms a “V,” while a star above its head pays tribute to the famous “Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas” sign.
Team stars: Erin Ambrose, Hayley Scamurra, Nicole Hensley, Tessa Janecke, and Lacey Eden
Intro story
Jerseys
Design details
The 2026–27 PWHL season begins Saturday, December 5, 2026, at 3 pm (EST), when the Seattle Torrent visit the Vancouver Goldeneyes. All 12 teams, including the four new expansion franchises, will play during opening weekend, December 5–6.
