Hilary Knight Joins Detroit PWHL Expansion Team

In early June 2026, a high‑profile sign‑and‑trade deal moved five‑time U.S. Olympian Hilary Knight from the Las Vegas expansion club to the brand‑new Detroit franchise of the Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL). The agreement was confirmed by an insider familiar with the negotiations, and it will become official once the league’s trade freeze ends on June 16, just before the upcoming draft.

The transaction follows the league’s Phase 2 expansion process, which allows each of the four new clubs to sign a “foundational” player on a guaranteed contract of at least $100,000 per season. Knight signed a one‑year foundational offer with Las Vegas, which then traded her rights to Detroit in exchange for the team’s first‑round draft pick. The move gives Detroit a marquee forward while providing Las Vegas with a valuable asset for future roster building.

Knight arrives in Detroit with an impressive résumé. She captained Team USA to a gold‑medal victory at the Milan Cortina Games, scoring the tying goal in the championship overtime against Canada. Though she announced that the Milan Olympics would be her last, she confirmed her intention to continue playing professionally. In her previous two PWHL seasons she recorded five goals and 14 points in 22 games, and a year earlier she tied for the league lead with 29 points.

Detroit’s roster already features three fellow U.S. Olympians—forwards Britta Curl‑Salemme and Hannah Bilka, and defender Cayla Barnes—plus a strong coaching staff led by former U.S. Olympic assistant Josh Sciba. The addition of Knight enhances an already talented core and positions the club to compete for a championship from its inaugural season. General manager Manon Rheaume, a trailblazer as the first woman to appear in a major‑league exhibition game, expressed confidence that Knight’s experience and leadership will help set a winning culture.

Following the trade, Knight signed a two‑year contract extension that secures her place in Detroit through the 2028‑29 season. She praised the enthusiasm of Detroit fans and the vision of GM Rheaume, noting that the team’s culture and community support inspired her decision. With a foundational salary guarantee and a growing roster of elite talent, the Detroit PWHL team is poised to make a significant impact on women’s professional hockey.

Overall, the deal underscores the rapid growth of the PWHL, highlights the league’s commitment to building competitive markets across the country, and places one of the sport’s most celebrated players at the heart of a new hockey community in Detroit.