In just five months, Detroit will field its first Professional Women's Hockey League franchise, marking a milestone for the sport and the city.
The league, born after the Canadian Women’s Hockey League folded in 2019, has secured backing from billionaire Mark Walter, owner of the Los Angeles Dodgers, and was co‑founded by tennis legend Billie Jean King.
The inaugural draft already generated buzz when the first overall pick, Andrea Brändli, was announced; the Swiss goaltender earned an Olympic bronze medal at the 2026 Winter Games.
Draft buzz and roster building
A few selections later, the team chose Casey Borgiel, a Port Huron native, adding a local flavor to the roster and underscoring the franchise’s community ties.
Fan energy fuels the franchise
The excitement culminated in a March 28 game at Little Caesars Arena that drew nearly 16,000 spectators and became the first PWHL contest broadcast nationally in the United States.
Fans chanted “WE WANT A TEAM” during that game, prompting the league to respond by formally establishing a Detroit franchise.
Elle Hatje, a Detroit‑born forward with the New York Sirens, recently appeared on Local 4 Live to discuss what the new franchise means for the community and what fans can expect on the ice.